The story of a witch who walks the earth even after death. Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the depths of a dense forest, lived a wicked witch named Morgana. She was feared and hated by the villagers, as she used her powers for evil and brought misery wherever she went. Despite her malevolence, Morgana took pleasure in tormenting the villagers and reveling in their suffering. She would cast spells on their crops, causing them to wither and die, leaving the people hungry and desperate. She brought illness and misfortune to those who crossed her path, delighting in their pain.
The Silver Bullet
In another, neighbor and husband of Esther Bell, Bennett Porter fired a shot at a knotty log that had been conjured upon by the witch. She struck the bark and cut into it; but, the conjuration vanished. Only the bent tree and bullet hole remained.
Betsy continued to endure the Spirit s abuse and after calling off the marriage to Gardner, Betsy was eventually courted by and married to her former school teacher, Richard Powell. The Witch and William Porter Family friend William Porter claimed the witch climbed into bed with him, allowing him the opportunity to seize the Spirit in the bed clothes and attempted to throw it into the fire, saying only the immense weight and terrible smell of it prevented him from succeeding.
She brought illness and misfortune to those who crossed her path, delighting in their pain. One fateful night, a group of brave villagers gathered their courage and decided to put an end to Morgana's reign of terror. Armed with torches and pitchforks, they stormed her cottage, determined to rid their village of her wickedness once and for all.
Your Questions: Do souls wander the earth, haunt people?
I read your answer regarding reincarnation in the WCR (Oct. 4). If we are judged right after death and sent to either heaven or hell, what happened to Lazarus’ soul while he was dead for four days before being brought back to life by Jesus? And how are we to explain the wandering on earth of souls after death who harass people in their homes to the point where priests have been called upon to do exorcisms?
John’s Gospel (ch. 11) gives us the story of Lazarus resurrected by Christ. When we express our beliefs through the Apostles’ Creed we say that Christ descended to the dead or to hell. This is not the hell of fire but rather the underworld or Sheol, the abode of the dead.
Lazarus was in Sheol, meaning he was dead. For the Israelites, Sheol was a place of total destitution (Psalm 88.66) where the dead could no longer praise God (Psalm 6.6) nor hope in God’s justice (Psalm 88.11ff) or fidelity (Psalm 30.10).
There seem to be only slight glimmers of belief in the after-life in the Jewish tradition before the second century BC. Christians believe that Christ’s death and resurrection overcame death and evil. Those who had died prior to Christ’s coming waited for Christ to open the gates of heaven and bring eternal life to all as he brought life to the dead Lazarus.
The Church believes that after death, souls are judged and sent to the appropriate place in what is called the particular judgment. Hebrews 9.27 confirms “man is destined to die once and then to face judgment.” It is heaven for the followers of Christ (2 Corinthians 5.6-8) and hell for those who do not receive Christ as saviour (Matthew 25.46; Luke 16.22-24).
Therefore, souls of the dead are obviously not roaming the earth and when houses are haunted it is not the souls of the dead. Who then?
GOOD AND EVIL SPIRITS
The Bible clearly teaches that there are good and evil spirits or demons who are active among humanity. Possession by evil spirits is evident in New Testament times and Jesus overcame their power by expelling them from the possessed.
Sickness often was attributed to the devil, but the message is Christ healed people of spiritual and physical illness.
The Church has affirmed the existence of evil and evil spirits and acknowledged their negative effects. We are called to work with God to struggle against evil in whatever form it takes, whether it be social injustice, poverty, sickness, dishonesty, etc.
Vatican II tells us: “Humanity is obliged to wrestle constantly if it is to cling to what is good” (Church in the Modern World, n. 37). The Church insists that all of creation is under God’s domain and evil cannot suppress our freedom and responsibility. God sent Jesus to save us from the power of evil and he overcame evil by his death and resurrection.
There is much more than this brief statement can say about evil spirits in the world. We cannot blame everything on them. We can’t always say, “The devil made me do it.”
Spirits who roam the earth and haunt houses often torment the living but sometimes they seem to act in good ways. According to Paul: “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11.14).
When the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being possessed in John’s Gospel, Jesus retorts that the devil is “a murderer from the beginning. . . . There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his nature, for he is a liar and a father of lies” (8.44).
USE OF EXORCISM
Since the goal of evil spirits is to deceive, there is no reason not to believe they can possess living human beings or impersonate deceased persons and haunt dwellings. That is why the Church continues to use exorcism.
In the final analysis, what can be said is that whatever or whoever haunts earthly dwellings and whatever we hear in the media, it is not the souls of human beings that remain on earth after their physical death. There is no evidence in Scripture that souls of the dead can remain on earth to haunt.
However, there are many references in Sacred Scripture to the evil spirit, the devil roaming the earth.
(Other questions? Email: [email protected])
Bell Witch: The Wonder of the 19th Century,
As they burst through the door, Morgana cackled with glee, knowing that her powers would soon consume them. But before she could cast her spells, the villagers managed to plunge a silver dagger into her heart, ending her life. The villagers rejoiced, believing they had finally freed themselves from Morgana's clutches. They buried her deep within the forest, hoping that her evil would remain locked away forever. Little did they know that Morgana's hatred and thirst for vengeance were so powerful that even death could not contain her. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but the village began to notice strange occurrences. Crops continued to wither, children fell ill, and whispers of Morgana's presence began to circulate. It seemed that the witch had indeed survived death and was exacting her revenge upon the village that had destroyed her. Terrified, the villagers sought the help of a wise old woman who had once been Morgana's most trusted friend. She revealed that Morgana had made a pact with dark forces, granting her the ability to roam the earth even after death. Only the purest of hearts and strongest of spirits could break the curse. Thus, a new group of villagers, fueled by love for their community, set out on a perilous journey. They traveled across treacherous terrain, facing monstrous creatures and navigating enchanted forests. Finally, they arrived at the tomb of Morgana, armed with ancient rituals passed down through generations. With trembling hands and unwavering determination, the villagers began the ceremony to banish Morgana's spirit. They chanted incantations, lit candles, and prayed for protection. In the final moments, the purest-hearted villager placed a dagger upon Morgana's tombstone and spoke words of forgiveness and peace. In that instant, a blinding light enveloped the tomb, and the villagers could feel Morgana's malevolence dissipate. As the light faded, they knew that their mission was complete. Morgana, the wicked witch who had haunted their village for so long, was finally at rest. From that day forward, the village flourished, basking in the newfound peace and prosperity that had eluded them for years. The tale of the witch who walked the earth even after death became a cautionary legend, reminding generations to come of the power of forgiveness and the triumph of good over evil..
Reviews for "The Witch's Shadow: A Darkness That Can't Be Escaped"
1. Sarah - 2/5
I was really excited to read "The story of a witch who walks the earth even after death" after hearing so many positive things about it, but I was left disappointed. The story felt disjointed and hard to follow, with random jumps in time and unexplained plot points. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with them on any level. Overall, I found the book to be a confusing and disappointing read.
2. James - 2/5
"The story of a witch who walks the earth even after death" had an intriguing premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was slow, and the story seemed to drag on unnecessarily. The author attempted to create a sense of mystery and suspense, but it fell flat, leaving me bored and unengaged. Additionally, the writing style was often clunky and awkward, making it a struggle to get through the book. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me.
3. Emma - 1/5
I can honestly say that "The story of a witch who walks the earth even after death" is one of the worst books I have ever read. The plot was convoluted and nonsensical, with no clear direction or purpose. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes and groaning at the absurdity of it all. This book was a complete waste of my time, and I would not recommend it to anyone.