In a fascinating twist on the traditional Amish way of life, there have been numerous reports of supposed Amish witches within their tightly-knit community. These alleged witches, who blend traditional Amish customs with witchcraft practices, have become the subject of intrigue and speculation. This note aims to review the existence of Amish witches and explore the impact they may have on the Amish community. Firstly, it is important to note that the Amish community is known for its strict adherence to traditional values, including a rejection of modern technology and a devotion to living a simple, religious life. The emergence of Amish witches challenges this perception and raises questions about the extent of change occurring within the community. The existence of Amish witches is controversial, with some arguing that it goes against the principles and beliefs of the Amish faith.

Heal the Witch Wound

Celeste Larsen’s book encourages witches to embrace their magic and reject the stigmas associated with practicing their craft.

The book begins with an exploration of the Burning Times, a period spanning more than three centuries that resulted in the deaths of an estimated fifty thousand people. It looks at who the victims and the persecutors were, examining the environmental, economic, and religious conditions that lead to witch trials. It then draws a compelling parallel to modern conditions and the continued persecution of witches in parts of the world, including in Africa, where executions still happen, and in Western society, where role-playing games and books are banned and burned for fear that they are linked to satanism and witchcraft.

Larsen follows this history with a discussion of the ways in which it continues to affect people. This can be seen when practitioners hide their magic or limit themselves and their ambitions in order to appear ordinary. It may manifest through feelings of shame or distrust in regards to women’s energy. It may even show up as past-life memories. The book makes it clear that anyone might feel this pain and benefit from working to heal it. Replete with activities to help witches begin their healing process, the book’s later portions include journal prompts for self-reflection, advice for setting up magical and mundane boundaries, and simple, evocative rituals to connect with the wounded self, the divine feminine, and the natural world to reclaim one’s personal power.

Larsen is careful to state that the book’s recommended activities are not intended to replace professional therapy; she does not claim any easy fixes. Still, her book is full of opportunities for profound healing and growth—an illuminating, gentle, and thought-provoking self-help text for those experiencing many levels of hurt.

Reviewed by Catherine Thureson
May / June 2023

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Witches

Common Sense Media reviewers include writers, editors, and child development experts. They're trained in creating high-quality parenting advice based on best practices in child development.

Campy but creepy Dahl adaptation has lots of spooky stuff.

The existence of Amish witches is controversial, with some arguing that it goes against the principles and beliefs of the Amish faith. Traditional Amish communities believe in the power of prayer and divine intervention, rather than the use of magic or witchcraft. However, proponents of the idea argue that Amish witches practice a form of "white magic" aimed at helping individuals and communities rather than causing harm.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Encourages communication, courage, teamwork. Close

The children, particularly the main boy, are brave

Lead character and his grandmother are played by B

An 8-year-old's parents die in a car accident (cam

"Stupid," "brats," "disgusting," "poop," "crap," "

Witches are shown drinking a green drink out of a

Parents need to know that The Witches is director Robert Zemeckis' spooky, creepy adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 children's book, which was previously made into a movie in 1990. This version is set in 1960s Alabama; like the others, it chronicles how a boy (Jahzir Bruno) and his grandma (Octavia Spencer)…

Positive Messages

Encourages communication, courage, teamwork. Close relationship between grandson and grandmother is affirmed, as is importance of kids having trusted adults, period, because every kid deserves to be loved, listened to, cared for, no matter what. Also has a clear, overt good-versus-evil theme.

Positive Role Models

The children, particularly the main boy, are brave, willing to put themselves in danger to defeat the witches. Grandma isn't just loving and kind, she's courageous and defends the kids against the witches. On the downside, the witches themselves are scary and evil, and the way their hands are depicted contributes to the harmful idea that limb differences are unnatural and/or frightening.

Diverse Representations

Lead character and his grandmother are played by Black actors. Supporting and minor roles also cast various Black actors. Writers include well-known Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro and Black producer and TV showrunner Kenya Barris. Unfortunately, film demonizes disability by relying on limb differences to portray witches as evil: Villains like the Grand High Witch have hands and feet that mimic ectrodactyly, are bald, and experience wig rash.

Violence & Scariness

An 8-year-old's parents die in a car accident (camera shows only the boy, who survived). The witches are depicted as creepy when they take off their disguises, unfortunately relying on limb differences to paint a menacing picture: "claws" for hands, no toes (or, in one case, a single toe with a big claw), arms that extend threateningly, and unnaturally wide, gash-like mouths with sharp teeth. They also have "wig rash" sores on their scalps and bleed black blood. Several scenes in which kids (and then kids-as-mice) are in peril. A witch turns a child into a chicken. Some of the special effects when the kids are turned into rats or chickens might be scary for younger children. Grand witch also announces her hope to get rid of all children in the world. She kills another witch for asking a question, turning her into ash. Viewers see two children turned into mice. Lots of witches are turned into vicious-looking rats and then killed or injured with brooms and feet.

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Witches is director Robert Zemeckis' spooky, creepy adaptation of Roald Dahl's 1983 children's book, which was previously made into a movie in 1990. This version is set in 1960s Alabama; like the others, it chronicles how a boy (Jahzir Bruno) and his grandma (Octavia Spencer) encounter a coven of kid-hating witches who plan to transform the world's children into mice. It's a dark but comic fantasy with plenty of peril, and kids are indeed turned into rodents. The witches' appearance and demeanor are pretty scary: They have claws, no toes, sores on their scalps, and unnaturally wide, gash-like mouths (reminiscent of Venom's and the Joker's) with razor-sharp teeth. The way in which their limbs are depicted (especially their webbed hands) has drawn criticism from disability advocates for making limb differences seem unnatural and frightening. The head witch (Anne Hathaway) kills a fellow witch for insubordination and tries her hardest to exterminate the main characters. An early scene reveals that the boy's parents died in a car accident (the camera shows only the boy, who survived). The movie, which is considerably more diverse than other movies based on Dahl's work, encourages communication, courage, and teamwork and affirms the importance of trusted adults in kids' lives. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

Reports of Amish witches often involve stories of healing or hexing, adding to the mystique surrounding these individuals. It is said that these witches possess a deep understanding of herbal remedies and natural healing, utilizing their knowledge to help those in need. However, there are also claims that some Amish witches use their powers for darker purposes, casting spells or curses against those they perceive as wrongdoers. The impact of Amish witches within the community is difficult to determine. Some argue that their existence challenges the traditional authority of Amish bishops and ministers, creating tension within the community. Others suggest that the presence of Amish witches reflects a natural evolution of the Amish way of life, as the community seeks to adapt and incorporate new ideas and practices. Ultimately, the existence of Amish witches remains a contentious and complex topic within the Amish community. Whether they are seen as a threat or an opportunity for growth depends on one's perspective. What is clear, however, is that the presence of these alleged witches adds an intriguing layer of mystery and curiosity to the already fascinating world of the Amish..

Reviews for "Uncovering the history of Amish witches: A historical review"

1. Rachel Smith - 2 stars - I found "Amish witches review" to be a confusing and poorly executed film. The plot was all over the place and the characters lacked depth and development. It felt as if the movie was trying to incorporate too many elements without fully exploring any of them. The dialogue was also subpar, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and wouldn't recommend it to others.

2. Michael Thompson - 1 star - "Amish witches review" was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The acting was atrocious, the writing was laughable, and the special effects were simply terrible. I found it hard to take the movie seriously due to its poorly executed attempt at blending the Amish culture with witchcraft. The film lacked proper direction and seemed more like a parody than a serious film. My advice would be to avoid this movie at all costs.

3. Jessica Lee - 2 stars - While "Amish witches review" had an interesting concept, the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and the story failed to captivate my attention. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or complexity. I also found the ending to be unsatisfying and anticlimactic. Overall, I felt uninvested in the film and was ultimately disappointed by its lackluster delivery.

4. David Baker - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Amish witches review," but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The premise was intriguing, but the movie failed to fully explore and develop the storyline. It seemed as though the filmmakers were unsure of the tone they wanted to establish, which left the film feeling disjointed. Additionally, the performances were lackluster, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I found this movie to be a missed opportunity and a disappointment.

Examining the practices and beliefs of Amish witches: A critical review