Help
I was wondering why Witch was so feared and despised, particularly throughout History.
Renaissance artists such as Hans Baldung portrayed Witches in a depraved light and almost always Female.
Descriptions of a Witch, their craft and Sabbats included such words as Travesty, Disorder and Ambivalence. Witchcraft was deemed to be an act of pure inversion and a perversion of natural order which disrupts and subverts reason. It was contrary to orderly conduct and overturned perceptions. Is this how Witch originally was?
How does this compare with today’s modern Witch and their praxis?
Any thoughts?
Page 1 of 1
Why was Witch feared?
Rate Topic:
#2
- Gandreidh
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 546
- Joined: 10-June 09
Posted 01 September 2010 - 06:30 PM
Throughout history the Witch has been feared - the Pagans of Greece and Rome had a deep fear of Witchcraft and Sorcery and Witches where often penalized by exile or death. The Witch was feared because they lived "outside" the natural order, they contained an essence that was "other." The Witch lived on the edge of societal "consciousness" and flew between the worlds. Stories abounded of the Sabbath featuring rituals of social and religious inversion such as reading the Lord's prayer backwards, trampling the Cross and kissing the arse of the Devil - these all encode specific ritual focses aligned to the inversion of the natural order; within the Sabbath circle Foul is Fair and Fair is Foul.
I personally think that the historical image of the Witch is a powerful reflection of the current that I work within, and do not wish to distance myself from it.
I personally think that the historical image of the Witch is a powerful reflection of the current that I work within, and do not wish to distance myself from it.
"Nothing is truly forgotten about the Arte, for within it's own domain - The Circle - the spirits will speak to those with ears to hear." - Andrew D. Chumbley
#3
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 384
- Joined: 02-May 10
Posted 02 September 2010 - 01:35 AM
I think a lot of it has to do with human nature. Majority of people fear what they don't understand and the basic unknown. Most need someone to thank when all goes well and someone to blame when things go sour. A lot of organized religion feeds on these concepts. Witchcraft, however, is seen by many to be liberating to these concepts. Witchcraft puts one at ease with themselves, what the personal belief and in many ways gives individuals answers and understanding to most of those unknowns, as well as giving you the ability to truly seek those answers out. You mix all this together, along with those who want to keep people afraid and use that power of fear to control people and of course witchcraft and witches comes out to be a very bad thing.
Then there's also the people who seek out to understand what they don't know or at least get a glimpse, and to anyone, someone who has the ability to make things happen, get what they want and strike against those who cross them with what's considered spellwork, can seem like and be a very scary thing. To some it would seem as your tip toeing along the lines of godhood. Another reason to fear witches.
For women mostly being depicted as witches, that has something to do with culture and religion. Menstrual blood is said to be one of the most powerful ingredients in magic. This is because it is the blood from the womb that carries and has the ability to create and hold life, plus it's the only blood that comes naturally, not having to pierce, injure or kill something in order to acquire it. Only women/females have this. Most religions brand a woman's menses as unclean and as punishment, making many men believe they shouldn't have contact with this blood or even with women who were currently menstrating. You put this with the belief that men are superior in every way and you can start to see why people would think that only women who want power over men and to be superior, which would be considered unnatural, would be practitioners or witchcraft.
As far the old versus modern, I think in many ways it's the same. I think some of the methods in some ways have changed, but the essence of it is all the same. Witches gaze into the unknown and grasp their destinies with both hands and decide their fate. The influence the world around them and make that world their own. They don't need to ask or plead for anything, as they provide for themselves. This in many ways has always been the basis of what a witch is, it's just went from being a bad thing to being something more desired.
Then there's also the people who seek out to understand what they don't know or at least get a glimpse, and to anyone, someone who has the ability to make things happen, get what they want and strike against those who cross them with what's considered spellwork, can seem like and be a very scary thing. To some it would seem as your tip toeing along the lines of godhood. Another reason to fear witches.
For women mostly being depicted as witches, that has something to do with culture and religion. Menstrual blood is said to be one of the most powerful ingredients in magic. This is because it is the blood from the womb that carries and has the ability to create and hold life, plus it's the only blood that comes naturally, not having to pierce, injure or kill something in order to acquire it. Only women/females have this. Most religions brand a woman's menses as unclean and as punishment, making many men believe they shouldn't have contact with this blood or even with women who were currently menstrating. You put this with the belief that men are superior in every way and you can start to see why people would think that only women who want power over men and to be superior, which would be considered unnatural, would be practitioners or witchcraft.
As far the old versus modern, I think in many ways it's the same. I think some of the methods in some ways have changed, but the essence of it is all the same. Witches gaze into the unknown and grasp their destinies with both hands and decide their fate. The influence the world around them and make that world their own. They don't need to ask or plead for anything, as they provide for themselves. This in many ways has always been the basis of what a witch is, it's just went from being a bad thing to being something more desired.
#4
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 71
- Joined: 11-May 10
Posted 02 September 2010 - 02:20 AM
o_O, on 02 September 2010 - 01:35 AM, said:
Menstrual blood is said to be one of the most powerful ingredients in magic. This is because it is the blood from the womb that carries and has the ability to create and hold life, plus it's the only blood that comes naturally, not having to pierce, injure or kill something in order to acquire it. Only women/females have this.
I never knew that, I find it fascinating!
"My, what beautiful blossoms we have this year. But look, this one's late. But I'll bet that when it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all."
#5
- Member
-
- Group: Seekers
- Posts: 15
- Joined: 17-June 10
Posted 11 September 2010 - 08:57 PM
I think it's also todo with thinking differently.
In addition to o_O's great post - witches see the world differently. Although witchcraft and religion are not explicitly exclusive, religious organisations often see those that think differently (other religions and practitioners of witchcraft) as a threat. To associate or interact with a witch would have been seen as a threat too.
In addition to o_O's great post - witches see the world differently. Although witchcraft and religion are not explicitly exclusive, religious organisations often see those that think differently (other religions and practitioners of witchcraft) as a threat. To associate or interact with a witch would have been seen as a threat too.
#6 Guest_Ophelia_*
Posted 12 September 2010 - 12:19 AM
Shaman Drummer, on 11 September 2010 - 08:57 PM, said:
I think it's also todo with thinking differently.
In addition to o_O's great post - witches see the world differently. Although witchcraft and religion are not explicitly exclusive, religious organisations often see those that think differently (other religions and practitioners of witchcraft) as a threat. To associate or interact with a witch would have been seen as a threat too.
In addition to o_O's great post - witches see the world differently. Although witchcraft and religion are not explicitly exclusive, religious organisations often see those that think differently (other religions and practitioners of witchcraft) as a threat. To associate or interact with a witch would have been seen as a threat too.
Witches have been feared, but with that fear, also came respect. The Craft has always existed, where multitudes of people (mostly women), were tortured by their "peers" (mostly men) and were put to death for "crimes" that today we wouldnt blink at. Ppl who were accused of being Witches, were not so much condemned by the lower class of people but mainly by the most wealthy, intelligent and religious men of power. The most critical time for Witch hunts in history was the time between the 1400's - 1700's...during this period the church (and the powerful of the "state"), sought to exterminate those who practiced witchcraft.....ridiculous accusations of women flying on brooms as the work of the devil; until the church actually changed their law that said to their followers that it would be heretical to NOT believe that this actually took place! Brianwashing. It was one of the ways the church become so strong, they gave ppl the choice: convert to christiantiy......or die. It was all about power, control and domination. Some believe, that the church actually attacked women..killing as many as possible, trying to "get at"...Mary Magdelene...they wanted her gone...sort of like harrod giving the command to kill every male baby under a year old (or something on that line), hoping to kill the baby Jesus. The church instilled fear into the minds of peasants as well as the wealthy...The Witch is an archtype. The witch-craze, hunt, was a way of protecting the wealthy and the church officals of any blame, so...they used women (mostly)...as their scapegoats.
The power of the Dark Moon is the strongest of the Moons' phases esp regarding our deeper selves. This was the time that women would gather and joining together to draw wisdom from the powerful energy. ..this time was often the merging of womens' cycles, resulting in collecting power. Bloodwork during the dark Moon then, is a very powerful time for a female practioner.
This post has been edited by Ophelia: 12 September 2010 - 12:20 AM
#7
- .........
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 4,147
- Joined: 13-October 07
Posted 12 September 2010 - 02:51 PM
I think there are many reasons that witches were/are feared. But I very much go back to Grimr's reference to "fair is foul" regarding other. Things are opposite in "the land of the midnight sun" and I think there must have been some who wrote of and faned the flames of hatred who had knwledge of this. They were threatened by that which they did not understand and which (in their eyes)took away their "earthly/governing power". But the references to witches engaging in atrocities (sp) were not, I believe, always incorrect. The average cunning-person or midwife or healer was not of that ilk or nature, but for the ones who did delve deeply into other, they experienced and worked with these "opposites". We know a candle is lit because we can see it in the darkness; if it wasn't for that dark, we wouldn't be able to see the flame. What happens in other is often at opposites to what happens here just like two spinning circles that can "contain" each other simply because of the opposing force. I think this is an incredibly important concept for the witch to work with. I don't claim to have even an "nth" of a degree of understanding of these opposites, but I think them well worth delving into. I also think one should be very well prepared to not judge what they see in other lest they end up going crazy or hating themselves. But anything misunderstood is feared by the general populace. Also, it was a very xtain time. ANd I think a lot of the lord's prayer backwards, etc., is cultural "unconditioning." I actually tried doing that once, and I consider myself a very culturally unconditioned person, but I still felt both silly and weird doing it. It was an act that actually taught me quite a lot about myself and my own inhibitiions, thereby helping me grow.
Re the stories of orgies and the "devil" who is "hard as wood and cold as a stone" when one rides him, that I think is probably spot-on. Congress with the "witch ancestors" and the gods was, and I beleive is still, a hugh part of attending their realm - but not with the "human culturally perceived" concept of the reasons to just go buck-wild and fuck everything in sight. This has been misinterpreted over the years, and also been used by many as a pagan excuse for promiscious "merry making" at the agrigcultural sabbats. Okay - it's sex and it's orgasm, but it is about so much more than the "human" definitions and meanings and reasons for same. Sex and the creative force and the joining of opposites (which can include same-sexes of opposing energies) is a GIANT part of the workings of the witch.
When one reads the word "devil" many react by saying "but witches don't even believe in the devil!" because they are drawing on the culturally-defined xtian defiinition of the satanic boogeyman. And I do not think that is the "devil" with whom the witches dance.
M
Re the stories of orgies and the "devil" who is "hard as wood and cold as a stone" when one rides him, that I think is probably spot-on. Congress with the "witch ancestors" and the gods was, and I beleive is still, a hugh part of attending their realm - but not with the "human culturally perceived" concept of the reasons to just go buck-wild and fuck everything in sight. This has been misinterpreted over the years, and also been used by many as a pagan excuse for promiscious "merry making" at the agrigcultural sabbats. Okay - it's sex and it's orgasm, but it is about so much more than the "human" definitions and meanings and reasons for same. Sex and the creative force and the joining of opposites (which can include same-sexes of opposing energies) is a GIANT part of the workings of the witch.
When one reads the word "devil" many react by saying "but witches don't even believe in the devil!" because they are drawing on the culturally-defined xtian defiinition of the satanic boogeyman. And I do not think that is the "devil" with whom the witches dance.
M
Know who came before me
And who will come after me,
And know that I keep
The Faith of the Elder Tree
And who will come after me,
And know that I keep
The Faith of the Elder Tree
#8
- Wild Witch of the West
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 880
- Joined: 10-November 08
Posted 14 September 2010 - 12:44 AM
I think witches were feared because when people messed with a witch, bad things happened to them!
"A Craft, a calling, a set of Keys to unlock a particular cosmology that is borne, and born, in the blood of the practitioner, and sets the Work to be done with which one may commune with those who hold the patterns and keys of the life of the practitioner and hir stream. The Work is to be done, and we are to do it." --Aiseling the Bard
#9
- The Dominatrix
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 1,760
- Joined: 19-December 09
Posted 14 September 2010 - 02:47 AM
sarasuperid, on 14 September 2010 - 12:44 AM, said:
I think witches were feared because when people messed with a witch, bad things happened to them!
It's a nice idea. Wouldn't that be perfect? The only problem is when bad things happened, people tended to blame Witches; whether the Witch had anything to do with the outcome or not.
Totally not fair . . .
Jevne
Share this topic:
Page 1 of 1
