Arithmomania

There is a theory that has been passed down from our ancestors: if you want to ward off evil spirits, scatter salt (or rice) around you, and they will be compelled to count the grains, thereby distracting them.

At one level, that seems fantastic. At another level, it demonstrates what OCD actually is: warding off disaster by using a ritual of counting things. Hmm.

It’s like a reverse magic spell: if you do it ‘right’ the evil will be repelled. The Devil’s in the details.