Fiction Writers

Witches have haunted myths and legends throughout history.  The witch represents the dark side of woman, powerful, vindictive and frightening.   

Greek Mythology has sorceresses as beautiful as they are deadly. Circe detained Odysseus on her island and turned his men into swine; Medea helped Jason win the Golden Fleece but then spitefully murdered his second wife and her own children Hebrew tradition tells of Lilith, Adam’s first wife, cast from the Garden of Eden she became a vampires who would kill children and rob men of their seed while they slept. Early goddess cults had very different views of witches.  Goddess figures were revered for their magical ability to enhance fertility and nurture the land.  The Creation Goddess was recognized as supreme ruler of life and death and she was called by many names: Thesis, Isis, Asura or Yemaya,   

Throughout the Middle East, priestesses trained in the holy arts- Wise Women – were the predecessor to the Witch. Their ritual objects were believed to possess powers for healing and abundance.  The transition from benevolence to wickedness occurred when male dominated religions spread through the worlds. Eve bears responsibility for the fall of humanity according to Hebrew and Christian bibles.   Witchcraft was expressly prohibited and considered the most heinous form of heresy, because it was believed that in order to possess magic, witches must give their soul to the devil.  It was also believed that witches could fly and they would gather for a nighttime “Black” Sabbath. Rumors of cannibalistic rituals and orgies with the devil had a fascinating appeal to the public.   

In 1486, an instruction book for witch hunters, linked lust and demonology to witch craft.  It described women as sexually vulnerable beings, vessels for the devil’s evil doings.  Women who were proficient healing with herbs, such as midwives or caregivers, were accused of evil deeds.  A frenzy of judgments and presumed guilt led to thousands of deaths during The Inquisition. The accused were prodded with needles and tortured until a confession could be extracted.  The Third Degree was the degree of torture that killed the victim.  Even under torture the witch was considered dangerous, because compassion for the victim was viewed as a spell.   

Swimming the Witch was a term used to determine if a woman was a witch: if she floated, she was a witch, if she sank and drowned, she was innocent.  The Burning Times was a period when suspects were burned at the stake. Victims were tortured until they turned on neighbors and friends. Women would confess to anything to stop the pain. Records show that on one signal day 139 women were burned to death at the stake in a small village in Germany.  There were towns that had no women or girls left.  The frenzy spread to the new world.

In 1692, The Salem Witch Trails condemned 200 people as witches; 14 women and 9 men were hung.   Sara Good, Sarah Osborne and a household slave, Tituba, were accused by young girls, striking the first flame to the religiously divided community.  The parents and relatives of the girls used the accusations to attack their political enemies. The hysteria spread to other communities and more innocent women were hanged, their bodies left to rot.   A better understanding of the scientific causes for unexplained phenomena previously attributed to the supernatural, helped end the hunt for and prosecution of witches.   

Wicca is a growing religious movement for modern day witches.  They rely on simple earthy elements to harness the forces of nature to direct positive, healing energy. Midsummer night Sabbath is a celebration of seasons. They live according to the creed:  “Do what you will, but harm no one.”