The Memorial dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials is a powerful reminder of one of the darkest chapters in American history. Situated in Salem, Massachusetts, the memorial pays tribute to the 20 innocent people who were executed during the trials in 1692. The main idea behind the memorial is to honor the victims and educate visitors about the hysteria and injustice that unfolded during that period. The memorial consists of a series of stone benches, each representing one of the victims. The names of the accused are inscribed on the benches, allowing visitors to pay their respects and remember their stories. The memorial is designed to create a somber and reflective atmosphere.
“It was scary to be like, ‘Hey, by the way guys, I identify as a witch. I don't know exactly what that means,” Fjuna said. “But that's kind of the road I’m going down.’”
We ve never had a time where even celebrities are actually able to talk freely about being in practicing witchcraft or keeping crystals and manifesting. Garden Grove and Glendale weren t far behind, ranking above voodoo queen Marie Laveau s New Orleans which seems wrong somehow while Moreno Valley was almost dead last, at 199 out of 200.
The memorial is designed to create a somber and reflective atmosphere. The benches are arranged in a semi-circle, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the victims and the community that turned against them. Visitors can walk among the benches, taking a moment to reflect on the individual lives that were lost and the tragedy that unfolded.
Nearby witch practitioners
The Golden State is actually home to six of the top 10 “Best Places to be a Witch” in the United States of America, according to a rather singular data crunch by a company called Lawn Love that measured access to tarot readers, astrology classes, covens, natural healers, herbalists and metaphysical supply stores in the nation’s 200 largest cities. (Photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto)
By Teri Sforza | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: October 28, 2021 at 5:42 p.m. | UPDATED: October 29, 2021 at 9:04 a.m.Eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog … Disney apparently isn’t alone when it comes to making magic in California.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.
The Golden State is actually home to six of the top 10 “Best Places to be a Witch” in the United States of America, according to a rather singular data crunch by a company called Lawn Love that measured access to tarot readers, astrology classes, covens, natural healers, herbalists and metaphysical supply stores in the nation’s 200 largest cities.
Los Angeles ranked No. 2 in the nation — behind New York City — while Pasadena came in at No. 3, San Francisco ranked No. 5, Orange was No. 6, Torrance ranked No. 9 and Fullerton was No. 10.
Garden Grove and Glendale weren’t far behind, ranking above voodoo queen Marie Laveau’s New Orleans — which seems wrong somehow — while Moreno Valley was almost dead last, at 199 out of 200. Only Laredo, Texas, was worse.
High marks for health, spirituality
“Wellness, spirituality and harmony with nature are central to the tenets of the modern witch religion and synonymous with California (and the L.A. area, in particular), the national leader in wellness trends,” said a statement from the editors who worked on the study.
“If we zoom in on the individual categories … we find that those are precisely the areas — health and spirituality — where the Golden State dominates.”
The Golden State is actually home to six of the top 10 “Best Places to be a Witch” in the United States of America, according to a data crunch. (Photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It’s important to note here that we’re not talking about Shakespeare’s witches, stirring cauldrons and chanting “Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing.” We’re talking about pagans, who believe that nature is sacred and the natural cycles of birth, growth and death have profoundly spiritual meanings. And about the adherents of Wicca, a modern-day, nature-based religion, as History.com explains. Adherents often celebrate solstices and equinoxes, and incorporate herbalism and other natural objects into their rituals.
‘Perfectly normal people’
“Witches are perfectly normal people — we just have a spiritual path that is pagan,” said the founder of Bewitched OC, who goes by the name Zelda Twinkletoes. “We are your workmates. We are your neighbors.”
She lives in Garden Grove — one of America’s best cities for witches — and is not a Wiccan, but a pagan.
They do spells, but it’s not quite like what you see on TV, she laughed. “It’s about personal growth. That’s the aim of the majority of the work that I do.”
Groups of Wiccan practitioners are usually called covens, and the practitioners themselves are usually called witches, whether they’re male or female. Los Angeles ranked high in covens — No. 2 — and was No. 3 in supplies, meaning there are plenty of fellow witches to meet and stores to fulfill witchcraft needs.
Pasadena ranked second in both the health and spirituality categories thanks to an abundance of healers, herbalists, tarot readers and supernatural experts.
Orange also ranked ranked high in spirituality (No. 4) and health (No. 5) — thanks to plenty of psychics and reiki healers — while Torrance placed first in the health category by virtue of its many healers and yoga classes.
The Antique Street Faire in downtown Torrance in 2018.
Mayor confirms health focus
Some city leaders were taken aback by the rankings.
“Any time our city is on a top 10 list, it gets my attention. And ‘Best Cities for Witches’ sure piqued my interest — especially at this time of year!” Torrance Mayor Patrick J. Furey said by email.
“I must confess that I was relieved that our ranking was based on health. We do have an active, healthy population with many, many yoga studios and health clubs. Match that with our two major hospitals within our borders and two more just outside, it is no surprise that Torrance ranked number 1 in the health category.
“I don’t think I want to know what it would take to move up in the rankings!” he added.
Lawn Love compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities and drew its data from sources such as the American Herbalists Guild, Facebook, Find a Grave, Findastrologer.com, Gemstone Well, Herbalists Without Borders, Meetup, The Real Yellow Pages, Unitarian Universalist Association and Yelp, said spokesman John Schmidt.
Why, exactly, would a lawn care matchmaker crunch data on witch havens?
“We have an in-house data team whose knowledge extends beyond lawn care and has access to all of this data, so we figured why not?” Schmidt said. “We’re just having fun while hopefully providing useful insights to the public through (our other, more serious) data-driven stories.”
Thankfully, the company says, you don’t need magic to have a nice lawn. “Lawn Love pros across the country are ready to cast a spell on your landscape and transform your backyard into a haven for relaxation or your favorite late-night rituals,” it punned.
Some events
Seeking more magic? There’s a Dia de Los Muertos ceremony and celebration at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Golden Lotus Oasis in Garden Grove, and there will be a Pagan Pride Day Los Angeles/Orange County from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 in El Dorado Park, Area III, Golden Grove, Long Beach. It’s a family-friendly event with children’s activities and food trucks, organizers say.
It’s about getting back to nature, adherents say, and has given birth to the goddess movement. Schmidt quotes Quartz writers Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz and Dan Kopf: “The mainstreaming of mysticism makes sense when you consider how it overlaps with the interests of the millennial women. … (W)itchcraft is the perfect religion for liberal millennials who are already involved in yoga and meditation, mindfulness, and new-age spirituality.”
And that’s so California.
2.) That all witches are white. In every culture and in every tradition, there is a witch. The folk healer, the medicine woman, the midwife; these women would have all been considered dangerous at some point in time. They would have been labeled as witches. Witches come in all colors, shapes, backgrounds, and beliefs. The only requirement is that you feel it on the inside. It is not a path for everyone.
One of the most impactful features of the memorial is the stone wall that encloses the site. Inscribed on the wall are quotes and passages from the trials, highlighting the fear, paranoia, and accusations that plagued Salem during that time. These quotes serve as a haunting reminder of the hysteria and the consequences of unchecked accusations. The Memorial dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria and the importance of justice. It encourages visitors to reflect on the past and recognize the lasting impact of these events on the community. By honoring the victims and retelling their stories, the memorial seeks to ensure that the lessons of the Salem Witch Trials are not forgotten..
Reviews for "The Salem Witch Trials Memorial: A Site of Historical Significance"
1. Sarah - 1 star: I was extremely disappointed by the Memorial dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials. It lacked any substantial information about the events that took place and failed to capture the significance of the trials. There was minimal signage and no guided tours available to help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the historical context. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to honor the victims and educate the public about this dark chapter in American history.
2. John - 2 stars: I had high hopes for the Memorial dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials, but I left feeling underwhelmed. The overall design of the memorial seemed uninspired, and the statues did not effectively convey the sense of fear and hysteria that characterized the trials. Additionally, the lack of interpretive panels or plaques made it difficult to fully comprehend the events that occurred in Salem. I believe it could have been much better executed and more engaging for visitors.
3. Emma - 2 stars: I visited the Memorial dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials with great anticipation, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The memorial lacked a cohesive narrative or storytelling element, making it difficult to understand the sequence of events or the impact it had on the community. The signage was also limited, providing minimal information about the individuals involved and the historical background. Overall, I found it to be a rather lackluster experience, leaving me wanting more substance and context.