In folklore, there has always been a fascination with witches and their association with the supernatural. One particular aspect of witches that is often mentioned is their feet. It is believed that witches have peculiar and sometimes grotesque feet, which adds to their mysterious and otherworldly nature. This belief has been perpetuated through various mediums, such as literature, movies, and even Halloween costumes. The notion of witches having unusual feet can be traced back to ancient times. In Greek mythology, there is a story of the witch Eriphyle, who had the ability to transform into a wolf.
Manny Moreno (pro: he/él/lui) was born in Cuba and raised in the American South. He lives in South Florida and Nemi, Italy. He has been in the Pagan community for almost four decades. He is a Witch and was raised as a child of Oyá. He is encouraged by the Balance within the natural world and enjoys storms and the night. Manny is married and splits his free time between the Florida Swamps, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Alban Hills. He is also a beekeeper, orchid-grower, and builder of bat houses.
Moreover, a member who is part of a movement results in capitalization, such as a member of the Communist Party or an individual speaking for the Communist government. I don t have conversations with them as if they are hipsters at my local watering hole, but we communicate, and it s generally a very positive and often informal thing.
In Greek mythology, there is a story of the witch Eriphyle, who had the ability to transform into a wolf. It was said that her feet retained a wolf-like appearance even when she was in human form. This association between witches and animal-like feet has been prevalent in many cultures throughout history, fueling the belief that witches possess strange and abnormal feet.
The Trouble with Capital Letters
I’ve never worried too much about what I capitalize and what I don’t. I know that in English it’s about “proper nouns†as opposed to “common nouns,†and for a lot of people there’s this sense of respect that comes from giving something a capital letter. But I’ve never divided “proper†and “common†into “respected†and “disrespected,†just into the grammatical sense of “specific†and “categorical.â€
For example: My cat (common noun, a category referring to animals that purr and hack up hairballs = lowercase “câ€) Morgan (proper noun, referring specifically to my cat (who is finally eating her raw food YAY!) = uppercase “Mâ€) is sitting on my lap while I write.
My lackadaisical attitude was never a huge deal… until I started a blog about religion. And then what I did or didn’t capitalize suddenly became not just a big deal, but a political statement. And so even though I’ve never been a stickler, I suddenly find myself in a position where it matters to other people, and so it’s something I need to think about more seriously.
I really noticed it a couple weeks ago when writing something about the “Christian God†and the “pagan gods†and I realized some people might take it the wrong way that I capitalized the religion and the word “God†for somebody else’s faith and not my own. And, more important to my English major brain, it struck me how grammatically inconsistent I was being – and stickler or no for whether or not my own faith is capitalized, I do care about consistency. But p/Pagans across the board aren’t consistent about capitalization. Some p/Pagans capitalize the name of our faith and some don’t. Some capitalize “gods†but most don’t. We don’t have a Pagan-Chicago Manual of Style to go by.
As far as “g/Gods†goes, I blame the Abrahamic faiths for muddying the water here. (*stern finger shake along with a wink for my Christian friends*) Technically “god†is a common noun, therefore it should be lowercase (“the Christian god†or “the Norse pantheon of godsâ€)… but Abrahamic faiths only believe in one god: Jehovah. According to them, “God†is specific. In the Christian church, you can say, “Dear God, I need some help.†Whereas if polytheists said that, it would be too vague — who exactly are they asking for help? Vishnu? Quetzalcaotl? Hecate? Any of those can be referred to as “g/God.â€
Up until this point in the blog (and in life in general), I’ve been capitalizing God whenever I used it in reference to Christianity out of respect for their tradition (it’s certainly not my intent to give offense). However, when I analyzed the rule, I realized it isn’t grammatically correct for me to do so. To me, when I say the word “god†I never mean a specific entity; “god†is not interchangeable with a specific proper name. I have always and will always capitalize Jehovah because that is a proper name. But “god†is not.
So now I have a choice. Looking at it from a grammar perspective, it isn’t merely a token of respect to say “God†when discussing Christian beliefs. By capitalizing “god†I am agreeing the word is specific to Jehovah; I am grammatically stating that Jehovah is The God, something I do not believe. And yet it makes me nervous to make it lower case. Part of that maybe be my upbringing, but the majority of it is that I do not want to offend my Christian friends. This begs the question, must I subtly state an agreement with somebody else’s belief system or risk being called disrespectful?
Frankly, I think better of my Christian friends. I don’t think they expect me to behave as if they are right and I am aberrant. I certainly don’t expect them to behave that way to me. The fact that I practice a minority faith may make my beliefs less common, but it doesn’t make them less right. From here on out, I believe it would make the most sense to use “god†all the time.
The other capitalization that trips me up is p/Pagan. Technically, the names of religions are supposed to be capitalized, and when it comes to specific branches of p/Paganism, we’re all pretty consistent about that: Wicca, Ãsatrú, Druidry, etc. But p/Pagan? Not so much. I think this comes from a combination of having a borrowed word for our faith * and to the lukewarm feeling many pagans have about being called “pagan,†preferring their specific branch of choice over the more generic term. (For The Princesses’ feelings on that, check out our earlier post: Pagan, Heathen, Druid: What’s in a Name?)
However, we Pagan Princesses have specifically chosen the label “p/Pagan†as a unifying term, the most commonly used label to describe who we are and what we do. And so we are using it as a title for our faith, a name which refers to a specific type of religion. So to be grammatically correct, when referring to new religious movements that find inspiration in pre-Christian faiths, I should use a “P†instead of a “p.†**
So there I have it, “the Christian god†and “the Pagan gods.†It is not meant to give offense, but to be grammatically consistent. What do you think? Will this work? Will I offend people? How do you use capital letters when dealing with religious matters?
* Pagan (Latin paganus) originally meant “country dweller†and was the word the early Christian church gave to people who wouldn’t convert because rural Rome held on to the old ways longer than urban Rome.
** Referring to native faiths that never were converted, such as native African p/Paganism is a different question that I’m not going over in this essay. For now I’m only tackling the Neopagan definition of “p/Pagan.â€
+ Featured image by kvanhorn
The result on Wikipedia is equivocal. Some editors noted being torn while also noting that “modern paganism is certainly capitalized much less than recognized religions.”
Additionally, the Witch's Sabbath, an event said to be attended by witches and demons, often describes the participants as having hooves instead of feet. This connection between witches and hooves further adds to the notion that their feet are not ordinary. The association with hooves is thought to represent a form of rebellion against societal norms and an embrace of the wild and primal. In modern times, the depiction of witches' feet in popular culture has taken various forms. In literature, witches are often described as having long and bony feet, which contribute to their eerie and unsettling presence. Movies and TV shows have also depicted witches with contrasting feet - some showing them with beautiful and seductive feet, while others portray them with claw-like or deformed feet. These portrayals serve to highlight the duality of witches as both enchanting and unnerving beings. Furthermore, the idea of witches' feet is often seen in Halloween costumes and decorations. It has become common to see witches depicted with striped or pointed shoes, further emphasizing their supernatural nature. These visual representations of witches' feet have become ingrained in popular culture and contribute to the overall imagery associated with witches. Overall, the concept of witches' feet as strange and otherworldly is deeply rooted in folklore and has continued to be perpetuated through various forms of media. Whether depicted as animal-like, hoofed, or grotesque, the idea of witches having unusual feet serves to enhance their mystique and reinforce their connection with the supernatural realm..
Reviews for "Spooky Stories: Homeowners Share Experiences of Finding Witch Feet beneath their Homes"
1. Sarah - 1 star
"Witch Feet Under Home" was a total disappointment for me. I found the plot to be extremely predictable, with cliched characters and unimaginative storytelling. The writing was lackluster, lacking depth and complexity. The supposed thriller elements fell flat, as there was no suspense or tension whatsoever. Overall, it felt like a cheap attempt at cashing in on the trend of supernatural mystery novels without putting any effort into delivering a captivating story. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.
2. John - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Witch Feet Under Home" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. While the initial premise of a witch haunting a home seemed intriguing, the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and there were far too many unnecessary subplots that ultimately detracted from the main storyline. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often illogical. Additionally, the writing style was monotonous and failed to create a compelling atmosphere. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to fans of the supernatural genre.
3. Amanda - 2 stars
I found "Witch Feet Under Home" to be an underwhelming read. The plot had potential, but it quickly became muddled and confusing. There were too many characters introduced without proper development, making it difficult to keep track of who was who. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, and the attempts at humor fell flat. Furthermore, the paranormal elements were not well integrated into the story and lacked originality. While I appreciate the effort the author put into creating a unique concept, the execution left much to be desired. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to its promising premise.