Popular in Germany, an Alraun was an image usually made from the root of a mandrake, although sometimes from an ash or other tree. It was supposed to be wrapped in a white cloth, offered food daily, bathed on Fridays, and kept in a box. If you did this it would bring good luck. If you didn’t, it would shriek until you paid attention to it. Alrauns could bring good luck and were used in various magickal rituals. Supposedly you can’t give it away or throw it away; you must sell it at a higher price than you paid for it.

The name Alraun is derived from the mythic Teutonic sorceress, Alrunes. The term was sometimes used to describe a magician or Witch.