The Witch Hunter Book is a highly acclaimed novel written by Virginia Boecker. It is set in a fictional world where witches and magic exist, and follows the story of Elizabeth Grey, a young witch hunter. At the beginning of the book, Elizabeth is a loyal witch hunter for the king, dedicated to capturing and eliminating witches. However, her world is turned upside down when she is accused of being a witch herself. With her life on the line, Elizabeth must flee and seek refuge with people she once considered enemies - the witches. Throughout the book, Elizabeth navigates through a complex web of politics, betrayal, and danger.
Menstrual Blood Magic
Is there anything more taboo about women's bodies then our menstrual blood?
It's something we painstakingly hide, cover, soak up and medicate away throughout our reproductive lives. It's seen as a nuisance. The amount of time, mental and physical energy we put into making sure ABSOLUTELY NO ONE EVER sees a single drop of our blood is quite frankly, exhausting (also super grateful to be with a man that appreciates and is unfazed by menstrual blood and makes me feel even more feminine and beautiful when I have my period - shout out to the other partners who do this too!).
Women as a collective have an inherent shame about our blood, thinking it is gross, dirty and just want it to go away. This mindset is a relatively new phenomenon for the human species. For a long time womens blood was something that was deeply revered and respected. Which is a perspective I am WAY more interested in.
This respect and sacredness has its roots in the fact that menstrual blood is different to the rest of the blood that circulates throughout our body and was seen as magic due to its special properties.
In ancient times menstrual blood was seen as a potent elixir, a life giving substance that could heal and be used as medicine for longevity and regeneration.
Whilst this notion has been dismissed over time as nothing more then folkloric tales, science is now backing this up in a big way.
Researchers have discovered that menstrual blood is full of unique stem cells that have the ability to grow and differentiate into almost any kind of cell in the body, any organ or tissue as needed.
Let that sink in for a second. The implications of this are ground breaking. This information has the capacity to completely change medicine (and how we view our bodies and periods) as we know it.
There has been research demonstrating menstrual stem cells transforming into heart cells that will begin spontaneously beating. In traditional cultures menstrual blood is often affectionately referred to as the elixir of life, and its now it's being demonstrated that it really is.
There are companies beginning to establish whereby a woman collects her menstrual blood each month that is then deposited into a menstrual blood bank that can be there for her should any of her organs or tissues become damaged – she can use her own menstrual stem cells to heal herself. They also contain the capacity to reverse the effects of aging, not just external signs but internal signs also.
This is such a new and exciting area of science and research that is only beginning to be tapped into and explored. What else is going to be discovered? There is so much to this topic and I can’t wait to see what else is waiting to be uncovered.
But for now we truly have evidence that our menstrual blood (and by extension women’s bodies) have the profound ability to deeply heal the body. And not just our own, but also others. The most exciting part is that there isn’t anything we need to do to be able to use our bodies or our blood to heal and have this special power. We don’t have to take a course, this isn’t something we need to learn, practise or perfect. It’s something our bodies just DO, an inherent wisdom embedded in our cells.
As I write this, I have my period. I’m bleeding and I couldn’t be more happy or grateful for it. My blood is not something I am disgusted by or feel shame about, I am proud of it!
I hope women everywhere feel the tight restraints of menstrual blood stigma begin to loosen and fall away.
There is nothing to feel shame about. It is okay to bleed. You are not unclean or dirty. Embrace your blood as a sign that you are healthy and that you have cycles just as nature does. You ARE nature.
So how to we tap into and use this new information? Accept your cycle, place your hands over your womb and breathe in fully and feel the creative power originating from this center flowing through the rest of your body. Get to know your blood and your body. Don't be afraid of it. There are long held traditions of women collecting their menstrual blood and use it to fertilise their plants and watch them come back to life, thrive and flower. Use your blood practically in this way if it feels good to you! If nothing else, just walk around with the knowing that you are a badass and quite literally, magic. That would put the sass in anybodies step.
Have this knowing anchor deep within you that you contain enormous energetic potential within your body. Whether we want to call it magic or menstrual stem cells, there is a well of creative power inside you that is just waiting for you to tune into and explore.
How could there be anything ‘gross’ about that? :P
Alma Gottlieb
First published by the University of California Press in 1988, this volume redefined the anthropological study of menstrual customs. Examining cultures as diverse as long-house dwellers in North Borneo, Welsh housewives, African farmers, and postindustrial American workers, it challenged the previously widespread image of a universal “menstrual taboo” as well as the common assumption of universal female subordination that underlay it. Offering feminist perspectives on comparative gender politics and symbolism, the book has interested students and scholars in anthropology, women’s studies, religion, and comparative health systems. Originally listed as a “Notable” book in Choice, it later won the first Most Enduring Edited Collection Prize, awarded by the Council for the Anthropology of Reproduction (a unit of the American Anthropological Association). The book continues to be taught regularly around the world.
You can listen to me discussing menstrual practices cross-culturally with biological anthropologist, Kate Clancy, on her podcast series, Period, here (episode title: “Blood Coming out of Her Wherever”).
If you’d like to buy a copy of the book, you can find it on many online retailers, including:
- On the publisher’s website (University of California Press) here.
- On Books-a-Million here.
- On Amazon U.S. here.
- On Blackwell’s here.
- On Amazon France here.
- On Amazon India here.
Selected reviews of Blood Magic:
“The first major collection on anthropological interpretations of menstruation. . . The editors contribute a lengthy, useful introduction to this biological phenomenon and the interpretations given to it by different peoples; moreover, they provide discussions for each section . . . A well-edited and useful contribution to the continually growing literature on the cultural constructions of gender.”
-L. Beck, Choice, “Outstanding Title! ”
“Blood Magic [is] the first book on the anthropology of menstruation to be published by a major university press.”
-Becky Vorpagel, Journal of American Folklore
“[A] major innovation is the deliberate and consistent focus on women’s views and their participation in social responses to bodily processes.”
-Terence Hays, Journal of the History of Sexuality
“Reclaiming the female body, retrieving it piece by piece from the grip of patriarchal culture and medical practice, has been a central feminist goal for each of the last two decades. Menstruation . . . is now front and center on the feminist agenda as a topic that needs to be rethought . . . Blood Magic . . . [is] among a larger set of books that are seeking simultaneously to dismantle the traditional formulations and to replace them with a woman-centered set of understandings . . .[the book]. . . not only clear[s] and point[s] the way for a new woman-centered scholarship on menstruation but demonstrate[s] its significance to the feminist agenda.”
-Anna Meigs, Signs
“Menstrual taboos have long been a favorite subject of ethnographic inquiry, but in the past their study has suffered from both an ethnocentric and male-centered bias. Burdened by their own set of ‘menstrual taboos,’ ethnographers have too often assumed they knew what those of another culture meant. Blood Magic, a collection of essays by nine fieldworkers in anthropology and related disciplines, marks a welcome departure from earlier studies in a number of ways. It derives its perspective from women’s studies in recognizing the need to focus on women’s experiences as well as those of men, and in recognizing the importance of female fieldworkers to do this. This is the first book-length collection of essays to grow out of recent cultural anthropological research on menstruation. Never before has the study of menstruation been so well informed by a combination of fieldwork and theoretical approaches to the study of gender and the symbolism of the body. This is the first book-length collection of essays to grow out of recent cultural anthropological research on menstruation. Never before has the study of menstruation been so well informed by a combination of fieldwork and theoretical approaches to the study of gender and the symbolism of the body. . . This is a well-constructed and well-researched collection, grounded in received anthropological theory, yet looking far beyond it.”
-Jennifer Livesay, Folklore Forum
Blood Magic The Anthropology of Menstruation
Examining cultures as diverse as long-house dwellers in North Borneo, African farmers, Welsh housewives, and postindustrial American workers, this volume dramatically redefines the anthropological study of menstrual customs. It challenges the widespread image of a universal "menstrual taboo" as well as the common assumption of universal female subordination which underlies it. Contributing important new material and perspectives to our understanding of comparative gender politics and symbolism, it is of particular importance to those interested in anthropology, women's studies, religion, and comparative health systems.
Throughout the book, Elizabeth navigates through a complex web of politics, betrayal, and danger. She learns that not everything is as black and white as she once believed, and that the lines between good and evil are often blurred. As she delves deeper into the world of witches, Elizabeth discovers hidden secrets and ancient magic that challenge everything she thought she knew.
About the Author
Thomas Buckley is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He Specializes in North American Indian ethnology and history, with particular interests in religion and language. Alma Gottlieb is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her area of interest is Africa, with emphasis on gender, religion, and family structure.
The Witch Hunter Book is a thrilling and fast-paced read, filled with memorable characters and a captivating plot. Boecker's writing style is engaging and keeps readers on edge until the very last page. The book explores themes of power, morality, and the consequences of one's actions. Overall, The Witch Hunter Book is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. It takes readers on an exciting journey through a world of magic, where loyalties are tested and the true nature of good and evil is revealed. Whether you're a fan of witches or just looking for an engaging story, this book is sure to capture your imagination..
Reviews for "The Enchanted Forest: Exploring Nature-based Magick in the Witch's Grimoire"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch Hunter Book." The story felt slow and underdeveloped, and the characters lacked depth. I had high expectations for this book, but ultimately, it fell flat for me. The writing style was also quite plain, and I struggled to stay engaged throughout the entire story. Overall, I cannot recommend this book as it didn't meet my personal expectations.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - While "Witch Hunter Book" had an intriguing premise, I found the execution to be lacking. The plot felt predictable, and the twists were easily foreseen. Additionally, the world-building felt incomplete, leaving many unanswered questions. I wanted to be immersed in a richly detailed magical world, but I couldn't fully connect with the setting. Although the writing was decent, I believe this book had the potential to be much better with more originality and in-depth storytelling.
3. Emma - 2.5 stars - Unfortunately, "Witch Hunter Book" just didn't captivate my attention. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on and others rushing through important events. The protagonist lacked relatability, and her motivations seemed inconsistent. The romance subplot also felt forced and out of place. Overall, this book failed to engage me emotionally, and I struggled to feel invested in the outcome. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are a die-hard fan of the witch hunter genre and willing to overlook its flaws.