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moonstone-eyes · 3 years

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Magick: Legend, Fear and Power

When we think of magick the first thought that comes to mind is that of wizards, mages and harry potter fan fiction in the deep space of fan forums. I used to be this person so i can relate to swooning over hermione x harry fan fiction, no judgment.

This is then literally brought to shame and judgment through the screenplay of the play the crucible. Where young girls in a boring town make extreme accusations of witchcraft, lies, and ultimately murders that could have been easily prevented.

But what in reality is Magick and the Witch when we study them from a philosophical perspective?

This is Magick: Legend, Fear and Power. Let's dive in.

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(this is just an article written from my own thoughts and ramblings, any sources will be accredited at the end of the article)

You know the story, everyone knows of a town witch in their hometown. The one that everyone tells during Halloween season living in the creepy woods, or the sightings that swear to be true from your cousins. There's always one unfortunate ending to the woman of the woods who lived above all rules and men. Feared and estranged from society forever, this is our first encounter with a witch for many of us as children.

For me, its both.

I have come from a unique part of a culture that is enriched in magick, superstition and respect for those we call "medicine women". I have now taken it upon myself, 28 years later, to discover, unbind and reclaim that word "Witch". It also coming with great honor and uncertainty.

Part 1: Legend & Fear

witch

noun a woman thought to have magic powers, especially evil ones, popularly depicted as wearing a black cloak and pointed hat and flying on a broomstick.

There is many accounts of witches in history, dating as far back as any abrahamic religion. Although witches and pagans are considered different *least now with neopaganism* there was much of a similarity back when there were no words for it.

Pagans believed*believe* in guarding nature and utilizing it for purposes of healing community, nurturing families, creating societies. There was a respect and still in many pagan cultures to celebrate the spirits of the earth, the sky, and its universe for purposes of understanding more about ourselves and our ancestors. Before there was a thing as calendars and clocks, pagans would look up into the sky with Astro-charts and carefully crafted stones that forecast the shadow of the sun as a marking of a new season. This, long before being called science by man.

There was and still is the respect of deity and spirit. That many life forms come in diverse races, sexes, genders, and forms. To all which are sacred and hold divine purpose in ceremony. Some will bring fertilization to crops and women, others would be used to symbolize the start of a harsh winter. All created in honor and respect for the purpose of balance in life, so it is as well in death.

I will share from a personal perspective that of the indigenous witch, the medicine man/women, the elder, the wise one.

There is an association in western culture to criminalize the witch. As shown in books like the crucible, in movies like the wizard of oz, in churches and temples of faith all around the globe where ideologies of demons exist. It is mostly a woman, enticing the image of a goat-headed man, a goddess with venomed snakes in her hair, an old hag hexing a community from its riches. This is an extreme repellant for those to step into the spirituality of these ancient practices.

Then there are others;

"Mr. Gallegos, 48, is a traditional warlock, one of dozens who work in this idyllic town, nestled near the Gulf of Mexico by Lake Catemaco in the state of Veracruz. Like most witches here, he melds European and native traditions in his work, a special brew of occultism he learned from his uncle.

His cramped cement workroom holds an image of the Virgin Mary and a large crucifix with a bloodied Jesus. A six-pointed star is painted on the floor, with a horseshoe to one side and a St. Andrew’s cross on the other. Candles dedicated to various saints crowd his table, most with photographs lashed to them. Some are photos of men and women whom the client wants to ensnare in love. Others are of barren women who want children. Others are of people with maladies from asthma to cancer."(“Travelers in Search of Mexico’s Magic Find Town of Witches and Warlocks (Published 2008),” 2021)

Much like Mr.Gallegos, many indigenous communities around the world mix old-world paganism with catholic imagery and deities. This is not uncommon nor sinful in a culture where parts of the old world mix with that of colonized structures. This is also my introduction to witchcraft and witches from an early age, though we never really called it right out "brujas". I watched my grandmother heal swollen ear infections with sacred medicine leaves from her garden, would often sit next to her on our porch bench talking to each other and the moon, a crystal ball next to her bedstand was something I saw and never questioned. This was a world of magic that seemed beautiful, brave, and extraordinary. In many countries besides America, the healer is the most sacred person in a community. Many would come to this person for purposes of shamanism when western medicine could not be attained or failed to heal the sick.

So what to the white man and western society is a witch?

A woman who holds power and supernatural elements. A woman who rides on a broom and could command of any nature if intended. A woman with sacred feminity and masculinity to be seen as unshakable and ungovernable by many. A savage who holds pagan rituals and deities above their own ego.

This, to many, is the legend of the witch dying. When one story gets interwoven in the threads of perceived evil and deceit. When in reality there is a balance to all life and spirit.

Part 2: Power & Reclaim

On its heyday, feminism in the late 1960s found itself in the waves of the spiritual witch movement. There were women reclaiming themselves as witches and moving to the sounds of Stevie Nicks, out of the broom closet witch with lyrics of visions and crystals. There was the movement of the Hippies, which in itself marks that as a resurgence of pagan ideals and theories. This was a time of understanding, unity, and love. And to many where the witch finally got its recognition.

Quite literally called W.I.T.C.H. this feminist movement did some pretty gnarly things; "They were interested in a feminism based on several methods of social change, not just toppling the patriarchy, and viewed witches as “the first guerrilla fighters against women’s oppression." They spread their message by carrying out witch-like publicity stunts, such as protesting and “hexing” Wall Street, giving out garlic cloves and cards that said “We Are Witch We Are Women We Are Liberation We Are We” at a restaurant."(A Brief History of Witches in America, 2017)

There was also great interest in the pagan rituals from indigenous tribes all around the world, such as practicing Yoga from India, drawing/painting the ying & yang symbols from china, the textiles and native wear from indigenous tribes of the Americas. If there was ever a time for the witch to thrive it would've been then.

But what about now?

Where have all the Witches gone?

Some say that there is still a great interest in witchcraft still because of the media and its constant wave of movie after movie about Harry Potter. Other's find it in the solace of practicing Reiki or smudging their crystals. In either way, there is witches anywhere and everywhere now living amongst modern society. There is a great fondness for me in practicing indigenous witchcraft and finding it that other's are also interested in their root pagan beliefs.

It is a way of reclaiming healing for my ancestors and community. A means of creating magick in my own life, manifesting love and nurturing to the spirits of life around me. It's a word of power and greatness much like a family last name hold's legacy. Holding the word and qualities of a Witch means we hold the legacy of all healers in our past lives, thanking them, nurturing them for centuries of resiliency.

Bio: I'm R, a late 20 something queer non-binary weirdo whos interested in questioning the world and witchcraft. Support me by subbing!

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/87525/brief-history-witches-america

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/world/americas/28mexico.html

https://time.com/5597693/real-women-witches/

#witches #magick #witchcraft #witch community #article #online journal #journalism

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