The term "Witch way woman" refers to a woman who practices witchcraft or identifies as a witch. This can encompass a wide range of beliefs, practices, and traditions, with various interpretations and understandings of what it means to be a witch. In many cultures, witches are associated with supernatural abilities, such as casting spells, reading fortunes, or communicating with spirits. They are often seen as wise, powerful, and connected to nature and the spiritual world. However, the perception of witches has varied throughout history and across different societies. In some cases, witchcraft has been demonized and associated with evil or dark forces.
Also? Who doesn’t want to be able to poof a glass of champagne that doesn’t make you too soused into existence? So settle in for sexy spies and witches, hijinks, hemlock, combat brooms, and blowing up the patriarchy (with the help of a few good hunters and a lot of powerful witches).
So settle in for sexy spies and witches, hijinks, hemlock, combat brooms, and blowing up the patriarchy with the help of a few good hunters and a lot of powerful witches. So it s not surprising at all to me that traditions that empower folk wisdom and intuition and so many other things we tend to align with the feminine end of the spectrum are having a renaissance.
In some cases, witchcraft has been demonized and associated with evil or dark forces. This led to the persecution and execution of countless women (and occasionally men) during the infamous witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries. Many innocent people were falsely accused of witchcraft and suffered unimaginable torture and death.
Witch Way Forward
Currently I’m reading a book called The Witches, a historical retelling of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Much of the book is context with large chunks of chapters dedicated to explaining the prevailing cultural and religious ethos of the time, which gave rise to what was effectively the callous mass murder of (predominately) women.
So turns out seventeenth century New Englanders believed in witchcraft – like reaaaaaally believed in witchcraft. This was thanks in large part to books: one being The Bible and the other being Malleus Maleficarum, a late 15th century treatise written by two Catholic clergymen that became the authoritative text on witchcraft.
Several centuries’ worth of hindsight later, Malleus – and its ensuing popularity –proved extremely problematic not least because witches (of the levitating, broom-riding variety described in the book) don’t – and have never – existed but because of what Malleus meant for the women of the time.
Now, I’m not quite sure exactly how much cry-wanking the two men who wrote Malleus had to do in order to finish the book but judging by their –shall we say – tainted view of the opposite sex, I would guess quite a bit. I give you the following pearlers.
“When a woman thinks alone, she thinks evil.” [Women] are evil, lecherous, vain, and lustful. All witchcraft comes from carnal lust, which is, in women, insatiable.”
To quote the great philosopher Ru Paul in Season 2 of Drag Race All Stars: “as it was written so it shall become”. Post Malleus women were disproportionally accused of witchcraft and either hung, burnt or beheaded for their sins.
Let me come to my point!
It’s a strange moment when you realise that two dudes furiously cry-wanking into their feather pens one evening would lead to the violent death of thousands of women across several continents. But it did. And to some extent still does.
India allows rape in marriage. El Salvador jails women for stillbirths and miscarriages. Saudi Arabia requires women seek men’s approval before travelling. And yes it’s very easy to tut-tut at these countries from an ocean and several decades of UN-sanctioned progress away but I am reminded here of another great philosopher, Dr Evil, who upon meeting his antithesis, Austin Powers, had the smarts to know that “we’re not so different you and I.”
The things that happen to women in these countries don’t just happen. They are written. They are law. Just like that feather pen danced about the candlelight in fifteenth century Europe it dances today. Someone somewhere at some point contemplated the nature of womanhood and went, “yep, it’s cool to rape a woman if she’s your wife because women are property. Let me write that down.” I’ll wager a bet that someone was a man. A man surrounded by men.
Now Australia doesn’t allow rape in marriage (not legally anyway) and nor do we jail women for suffering a miscarriage but we are not short on fluttering feather pens either. We’re not short on men in positions of power who read and write and speak on behalf of women to very real effect.
As a country we deny mothers adequate parental leave, we excuse – in some cases even condone – revenge porn, we tolerate a gender pay gap, we criminalise abortions, we blame women for inciting sexual assault, we accept harassment in the medical and legal professions, we turn a blind eye to domestic violence and close shelters, we don’t fund women’s sports, we don’t promote women as much as men, we don’t protect sex workers, we shame women’s bodies, we accept unequal superannuation schemes and so on.
And there’s a simple reason for this, the same the world over. It’s because our decision makers are dudes. Our judges and justices, our lobbyists and legislators, our bankers and brokers, our CEOs and CFOs, our film directors, ad execs and movie producers, our bosses and businessmen are all overwhelmingly male and if you have an overwhelmingly male dominance in public life you’re going to have an overwhelmingly male perspective…on everything.
Now that’s the simple reason. Changing that reality is far more complicated but it starts with the belief that men and women should have – could have – equal rights and representation. It starts with feminism! We are half the population and until we are equally represented in public life (and men in the home – but that’s a whole other story) we won’t really have equality. It’ll continue to be a man’s world that we inhabit. So, there’s good news and bad news. For one, two Catholic clergymen with a feather pen don’t yield quite the same sway they did in 17th century Salem but the bad news is a President with a Twitter account might.
Join Jan Fran along with over 100 other movers and shakers in the fight for gender equality at Breakthrough 2016. Tickets on sale now!
That’s from the dedication to Mr. & Mrs. Witch, my new novel out today. And, if you’ve ever seen Bewitched, or even a clip of Bewitched, I bet you know exactly what I mean. I thought instead of telling you — again — just about the book, I’d instead write about why I love witches and why I think they’re having a moment (besides that we all love them, duh)…and a little about the book.
Despite this dark history, there has been a resurgence of interest in witchcraft and the figure of the witch in recent years. Many women now adopt the label of "witch" as a way to embrace their own power, spirituality, and connection to nature. For these individuals, being a witch is about self-empowerment, reclaiming feminine energy, and practicing rituals and traditions that promote healing and personal growth. Modern witchcraft often incorporates elements from various spiritual and religious traditions, such as Wicca, neo-paganism, and indigenous practices. It can involve rituals, spellwork, divination, meditation, and herbalism, among other things. Some witches also emphasize the importance of community and activism, using their spiritual practices to promote social justice and environmental sustainability. On a personal level, being a witch can be a deeply meaningful and transformative experience. It can provide individuals with a sense of purpose, connection, and personal growth. For many, witchcraft is a way to explore their own spirituality and develop a relationship with the divine or the universe. However, it is important to note that not all women who practice witchcraft identify as witches or use that term to describe themselves. Some prefer to use other labels, such as spiritualists, healers, or practitioners of alternative medicine. Similarly, not all witches are women; men can also identify as witches or practice witchcraft. Ultimately, the concept of the "Witch way woman" is a complex and multifaceted one. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs and practices, reflecting the diversity of human spirituality and the ongoing search for meaning and connection in the world..
Reviews for "Balancing the Light and Dark Sides of the "Witch Way Woman"
1. Alex - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Witch Way Woman" as I love fantasy novels, but I was disappointed with this book. The plot felt disjointed and there were too many characters introduced without much development. I also found the dialogue to be quite stilted and unrealistic. Overall, it was a struggle to finish this book and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I cannot express how much I disliked "Witch Way Woman". The writing was incredibly amateurish, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentences. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with any of them. The story itself was predictable and lacked any originality. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Mark - 2/5 stars - "Witch Way Woman" had potential, but it fell short for me. The pacing was off, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused about the magical elements and how they worked. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary, taking away from the main plot. Overall, it just didn't captivate me like I was hoping it would.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch Way Woman" as the premise sounded intriguing, but I found the execution to be lacking. The writing style felt choppy and inconsistent, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. The characters were also underdeveloped, making it difficult to root for them or care about their fates. I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied after finishing this book.