What do we think of when we hear the word "Witch"?
For too many, the word 'witch' implicitly or explicitly brings about thoughts of "devil-worshiping", "servants of Satan", "evil sorcery", etc. (thanks Christianity and later, Hollywood); but that couldn't be further from the truth. Witchcraft is much older than Christianity and is rooted in 'nature-worship', healing the sick, and living in connection with all life to guide, benefit, and bring harmony to people's lives and the planet.
The origins of the word 'Witch' continues to 'stump' etymologists around the globe, and the history of witches and witchcraft is even fuzzier. You can find references to support just about any opinion on the origins of witches...
But the few things that are clear should be taken into consideration:
From the earliest recordings of civilizations, people revered and relied upon 'healers' (one of the many and accurate names for a 'witch'), and their knowledge and uses of plants, roots, shrubs, and flowers to save lives
Throughout history it was completely acceptable, and common practice to have a village 'Seer/Oracle/Divination Sorcerer/Sorceress and often, they served at the side of royalty
The human species has a documented bad-habit of labeling anything we don't understand as "evil". The further back in time you go, the more we didn't know, ergo, the more we labeled as 'evil'
Throughout history, as far as historians can trace thus far, more murder has been committed in the name of God by self-proclaimed Christians than any other religious group. No evidence has ever been found that proves (by our standards of evidence today, a murder was committed in the name of witchcraft, yet Christians have declared openly, their acts of war to be 'just' because of their belief in God.
History books are written by men and support their own claim and grip of power. The percentage of documented, female achievements throughout history verses the achievements of men is staggering. Women were not valued enough to give credit or acknowledgement to ever since early-Christian laws were passed, outlawing Goddess-worship practices. The natural power that resides within all women is so intimidating to Man, that the sacredness of women and the celebration of the Divine Feminine without persecution, has only begun to resurface within the last 10 years.
For centuries women were viewed and treated as property. Any variance or deviation from this belief was considered threatening, unacceptable, and automatically gave men certain rights to punish the women how they saw fit. Punishments included: rape, torture, maiming, disfigurement, throwing their wife off a cliff, drowning, a release from their marital vows coupled with imprisonment &/or execution of their wife, to name a few...
In 1486 a Catholic clergyman published a book called, Malleus Maleficarum (more commonly known as "Hammer of Witches" ) that roused centuries of manipulation and fear to encourage the extermination of witches and the people's obligation to see it done. This book held a strong influence over centuries of cultures; and whether by this book or by royal decree, thousands were condemned and put to their deaths over superstition and rumors.
The word 'witch' never made an appearance in the Bible, until King James the VI of Scotland, who later became King James the I of England, created his own version of the bible in 1611. He himself changed a translation in the bible that used to say, "Thou shall not suffer a prisoner to live" to "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live". This modification he made was prompted in 1590-1591 from what became known as the North Berwick Witch Trials. King James VI believed there was a "Satanic-conspiracy to have him killed" and it was the King's involvement in these trials that gave royal approval to hunt and execute those practicing witchcraft.*
In 1603 King James I published his own book called Daemonologie (Demonology) that stated the responsibility proper-authorities had for identifying and persecuting witches, that witches ("who were all Satan's helpers) were real, and that if you didn't believe they were real, then you were likely in league with Satan yourself." This is how King James I introduced himself to his new subjects when he became England's new sovereign. *
The word 'witch' was used as a huge "smear-campaign" by King James I and the church to remove anyone who posed an obstacle and/or threat:
- Shop competitors
- Single women
- Women who refused to marry a particular man
- Women who refused to lay with their husband at any point in their marriage
- Women who won the affection of a man who was secretly admired by another
- Free-thinking women and men
- Women who knew anything about medicine
- Midwives
- Any woman who possessed a trade and made money from it
- A woman not seen in church
- Etc. etc.
Self-confessing witches during the centuries of witch trials, confessed to being "in league with the devil" while under duress of the most egregious of tortures. Torturers would only cease punishment if the prisoner "confessed". I don't know about you, but most people would confess to being the Easter Bunny, the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, or Satan himself to end the pain; even if it meant their execution.
All one had to do in the 14th-18th century, was simply 'point the finger' and shout "Witch"! Friends turned on friends, neighbors on neighbors, and women lived in a constant state of fear and survival.
Women didn't just endure centuries of witch-trials and witch hunts, it was centuries of persecution for being female. The word 'witch' is one of MANY used throughout history to belittle woman, declare them "lesser-than", and to use as justification to enslave, rape, torture, objectify, imprison, and murder us. Ex: "bitch, whore, succubus, stripper, prostitute, 'resting-bitch-face', calling a woman 'little girl', 'must be that time of the month','you hit like a girl', 'grow a pair of balls', 'not bad for a girl', cunt, twat,..." and that's only the tip of the iceberg.
Yes there were men who were tried and/or executed for witchcraft over the centuries but they made up less than .0005% of the estimated 100,000 dead women...and those are only the documented ones
There has never been anything evil about being a witch. A Witch's first "code of ethics" -if-you-will, is DO NO HARM. Are there people in existence that do bad things and have ill-intent? Absolutely. But an evil witch is evil not because she's a witch, but because she's a human that does bad things. Period.
Though historical documentation of the use of the word "witch" is predominantly reserved for females, ANY GENDER can identify as a Witch.
To sum up: Don't use words you don't understand. Calling anyone a 'witch' is not an insult; it's actually a title of reverence and means of honoring that person and the power they contribute to others.
*Witches: A Century of Murder. (2020) Netflix, 29 October.
* Photo: "The Wizard of Oz" 1939 film, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
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