The history of witches is long and rich, although the truth of the things they faced was not always pleasant. The wise men and women were respected one day, and not long later, convicted for their knowledge. The Shamans or the priests who had all the answers, and if not could divine one were at one time considered holy, and later accused of witch craft.
Being a witch in ancient times was a respectable title. People who could interpret dreams, prophecize about the future, or cure ailments were looked to for advice and help while being revered by the people around them. People such as the Oracle at Delphi in ancient Greece fit the profile of an ancient witch. These were venerated positions. These were a group of people with the abnormal ability to affect change for the continuing good of the village or community. Then Christianity spread around the world, and the religion of witches or Pagans went on the decline. No longer respected, they were made to worship in a monotheistic religion, with their Gods portrayed as evil. If they did not conform to the Christian faith they were tortured and condemned. It took many centuries for the religion of witchcraft to make a favorable return to history.
The Witch in Art and Literature
Witches show up throughout history since the beginning of the written word. Good or bad, it seems that people are fascinated by their stories no matter the century. Some famous witches in literature are; Circe in Homer’s Odyssey, the Witch of Endor in the Bible. the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S Lewis, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glenda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, by L Frank Baum, and the Mayfair Witches in The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. Other characters not referred to as witches in the works but that exhibit the same sort of abilities and characteristics are those like Gandalf the Grey, in the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by JRR Tolkien, and Harry Potter in the seven book series by JK Rowling, both commonly referred to as wizards. The most infamous book about witches and witchcraft is Malleus Maleficarum, written in 1486 by Heinrick Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, which gave uprising to the Witch Trials.
It seems there was not a favorable outlook on witches in art throughout history until recent times. From the 12th to 18th century, witches are depicted in art consorting with the devil, deformed in some way, and even bewitching or eating children. Most of this art shows up in pamphlets during the persecutions of witches starting in the 1200s, although the movement for persecution did not gain momentum until the 1300s. Some famous artists of today like Jessica Galbreth and Nene Thomas are showing a softer, kinder witch.
Recently witches have gained a somewhat favorable image through the medium of film. Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Witches of Eastwick, Practical Magic, and The Seeker are all movies to have portrayed witchcraft as a blessing rather than a vile hobby. Witches have shown up on television in Charmed, Bewitched, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch as well. Even now, witches are shown as having fantastical abilities that stretch the most liberated of minds.
Witches in History
There were some very famous witches in history. Figures such as Merlin, whose existence is still widely debated as fact or fiction are a perfect example of a being whose story is so mystifying, it's hard to believe he could truly have existed. Some scholars say he is just a made up character by Geoffrey of Monmouth, and others say he is actually Myrddin the madman and prophet of Welsh legend, who first shows up in an epic poem around 930 BCE. This character is said to be based on the 9th century legend of Suibhne Geilt about a warrior named Lailoken, who was most likely a prophet. The truth may never be known.
Agatha Southeil, in the 1400’s was one of the youngest Witches in history. She was made to confess that she had a child with Satan although most people did not believe this. She was tried but acquitted. She died at age of 16 giving birth to Ursula Shipton, who became known as Mother Shipton and is said to be one of the most powerful healing witches of all time.
Florence Newton in Ireland in the 1650’s was another woman accused of bewitching people, causing fits, and leading people to die of contortions. She was tried and convicted. Other famous women accused of witchcraft include Joan of Arc, condemned and burned at the stake as a witch for hearing the voice of God, Anne Boleyn, wife to King Henry VII who was said to be a witch and beheaded, and Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo queen of New Orleans. There are also the witches of the Salem witch trials and the European Witch Craze.
The Witch Trials and the Accused
In Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, the witch trials were started by two young girls who threw fits and went into trances they claimed were brought on by their slave, Tituba, who admitted to being a witch hoping to avoid a beating. This led to a massive outbreak of “witch” hysteria.
The first three women to be arrested during the trials were Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and Tituba. Sarah Good was a poor beggar, known for begging shelter from her neighbors and pregnant with her second child. Sarah Osborne had sex with her servants, ran a tavern, dressed in flashy clothing, and rarely attended church meetings. These women each fit the description of witches and no one stood up for them. Sarah Good’s five year old daughter gave testimony against her, only to later be tried and convicted as a witch herself. The three women were brought before the local magistrates on charges of witchcraft, they were interrogated for several days beginning on March 1, 1692, and sent to jail. Sarah Good could not have her sentence carried out while pregnant. The child born in the squalor of prison soon died, and not long after so did Sarah Good by hanging.
One of the most famous accused of witchcraft was Giles Corey, who was an 81 year old prosperous farmer accused in 1692. In order for his children to keep their lands and money (his wife Martha, had also been accused), he refused to enter a plea with the court, and was pressed to death. Never once uttering a plea, he did curse the sheriff before he died though and it is said the position is cursed to this day.
Torture of the Accused
Accused witches were shaved of all hair and “examined” for witch’s marks. This involved taking hot pinchers and pins to the breast and genitalia. Children were flogged or beaten while they watched their “witch” parents being burned at the stake. One judge was even said to regret being to lenient to this torture. Some withes were stoned to death, others dunked in water until they floated, which meant they were witches, or they drowned, which meant they were innocent. Some had bootikens placed on their feet that went to their knees. Wooden wedges were placed inside until the bones were crushed. Another terrible form of torture and execution was pressing. Pressing was done by placing the accused on the ground with a board on top of them. Heavy stones were placed on top of the board until they were crushed to death. This took days and caused excruciating pain until they died. Techniques varied from country to country, but if a person was accused of witchcraft, torture was sure to follow.
Witches and Medicine
White witches, or good witches are known for their abilities of healing. Most witches accused in Europe were midwives or healers in their villages and communities. Their ability to know how to make someone feel better or worse was a sin and for it they were punished. They knew that Valerian would help a person sleep, St John’s Wort would brighten a mood, or Chamomile tea would calm the nerves. Healers would make tisanes, or potions (now called prescriptions), for an individual person based on their needs, not unlike a doctor today. They would experiment with different herbs and poisons to see the cause and affect it would have on the health of a person. They would write, if they could, their findings or pass the tradition down orally from generation to generation. They could be very effective in the healing of a person if they were skilled or they could be dangerous if they didn’t know what they were doing.
Before the witch trials in Europe and America, healers and midwives were prized for their unusual abilities to heal, and when the trials started, were usually the first to be suspect.
Types of Witches
There are many different types of witches. The Kitchen Witch who practices at home mainly dealing with the practical side of the religion, the elements, and earth magick. Celtic Wicca, goes by the elements, the Ancient Ones and nature. They are healers or if they don’t have the talent for healing, they respect those who do highly. They work with plants, stones, flowers, and trees. The Eclectic Witch doesn't follow any particular religion or tradition. They learn other magicks and use what works for them. Pictish Witchcraft was originally from Scotland and is a solitary form the religion. It is more magical than religious. A Hereditary Witch is someone who has been taught witchcraft through the members of their family. Strega Witches come from Italy and are the smallest group in the US. It is said their craft is wise and one of the most beautiful of magickal religions. There are Wiccans, which have a belief of spell and nature magicks. Paganism, believes in a worship of nature to meet needs, Druids worship the Mother Earth and the Oak Man focusing on the elements. There is also Voodoo, a religion based on African beliefs and Christianity.
Symbols
Brooms, cauldrons, black cats, even pumpkins are some symbols associated with witchcraft. The broom, once used by the witch to sweep evil from their path is now depicted as the vehicle the witch uses to get around. Pumpkins were used to ward off evil spirits. The pentagram, now a sign of Satanism, was, and is now, a very real symbol of protection and power. Salt, which was said to melt any witch, is actually a tool. When a circle of salt is drawn around a witch’s alter it encloses the witch and her power, allowing nothing but positive energy to flow through unless invited. The athame, once thought to be the instrument used to harm others, is the instrument the witch uses to invoke a spell. The magic wand is just another instrument to invoke a spell, and the same thing goes for crystals, runes, and tarot cards. Just tools used for divination. Mirrors are not portals a witch can travel through, but a mean of divining the future.
Article written by Janice D. McDonald