The Salem witch trials, which occurred in colonial Massachusetts in the late 17th century, were a dark period in American history. During this time, the town of Salem was plagued by accusations of witchcraft and supernatural occurrences. Many women were accused of being witches and practicing the black arts. One of the most prominent figures in these accusations was Tituba, a slave from the Caribbean. Although she had a limited role in the actual trials, Tituba is often remembered as the witch of the black arts in Salem. Tituba was brought to Salem by her owner, Reverend Samuel Parris, who was the local minister.
Spells
So, if you were wandering the beach and saw the pattern of a heart in the sand, it could mean that love is coming your way, or someone who loves you is thinking tender thoughts for example. The Platonic Solids are sacred because their shapes consist of regular polygons with equal sides and angles, rather than irregular polygons whose sides and angles are not equal.
Tituba was brought to Salem by her owner, Reverend Samuel Parris, who was the local minister. She was known for her knowledge of voodoo and folk magic, which made her an easy target for accusations when the mysterious afflictions and fits started occurring in the community. In an attempt to rid themselves of the supposed evil, the townspeople began pointing fingers at Tituba and others they suspected of being witches.
Ostara: Light of the Earth – symbols of new beginnings
Partners Joe Longo and Craig Sloan of Blu Lotus, show off the fairy statues under their purple and pink lit tree, in preparation for Ostara, which will be March 20. The tree is the altar for their Church Street shop.
DEBORAH ANN TRIPOLDI/STAFF
Montclair resident Joe Longo, co-owner of Blu Lotus on Church Street, intends to balance a raw egg at precisely 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 20. Tuesday is the Spring Equinox, also known as Ostara or Alban Eilir ( Light of the Earth) in the Druid and Pagan traditions.
It is a customary tradition to try and balance an egg in an upright position on the Spring Equinox. The egg’s ability to stand upright is possible due to the earth’s position with the sun at that time on that day. The equinox is the balance point between day and night and is therefore is regarded as a time to balance our own lives. An egg balanced at the Spring Equinox
COURTESY JOE LONGO, CO-OWNER BLU LOTUS
“It does stand up for spring,” said co-owner and partner Craig Sloan.
Longo reveals a trick: “A room temperature egg works much better.”
Many Christian symbols have Pagan roots. In the Druid tradition, a life-giving symbol of Alban Eilir, is a hare protecting an egg. In addition to eggs and bunnies, other adopted symbols are chicks and ducklings, which all represent new life. Pagans also color eggs for the holiday, which falls between Imbolc — Feb. 2 and Beltane — May 1.
A symbolic plant of Celtic Druidry’s Ostara is the shamrock, linked to St. Patrick’s Day, which falls only a few days before the equinox.
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“At home we are gardeners. We love to start planting. Start indoors and do something the day of Ostara, seeds or herbal. I like to grow my own herbs such as passion flower, skull cap and peppermint. We bring bulbs in the house: hyacinths, daffodils, crocus and tulips,” Sloan said.
The foods for Ostara are also similar to traditional Easter meals. Sloan will be cooking a ham, stuffed cabbage, deviled eggs and homemade ice cream.
“We bake hot cross buns. The hot cross bun has roots with the Celts and is an offering to Eostre. They were adopted by Christians. Because the cross could be considered Christian but it actually isn’t. At one time, they were actually banned by the church. The [equal-armed] cross represents the four seasons and the phases of the moon,” said Sloan.
A spring goddess statue stands next to an egg. The egg is a symbol of new beginnings.
COURTESY CRAIG SLOAN, CO-OWNER BLU LOTUS
Eostre is the German Goddess of spring, from which Easter got its name.
Blu Lotus also sells more fairy statues in the spring.
“It’s more of a waking up, although they are around all year. I feel it most this time of year with creatures,” said Sloan.
Longo said, “Also you can hear the doves [at this time of year]. The Dove is my spirit animal.” It’s Sloan’s, as well.
In their home, the couple will have a statue of Gaia, the Greek Earth mother goddess.
“We will start our seeds and light candles. Go back to basics in spring. Turn on our waterfalls,” Longo said.
Sloan said it’s a time for new beginnings.
“My favorite time of the year, everything feels new. We clear out the old stuff and give it away; a spring cleaning. Also we go outside in nature. We always feed the birds,” Sloan said.
A large artificial tree in the center of the store changes colors according to the season and holidays.
“Pink and purple for the cherry blossoms, until May and then green for Beltane,” Sloan said.
Ostara Celebrations Spring Goddess statues sit under the tree at the shop.
COURTESY CRAIG SLOAN, CO-OWNER BLU LOTUS
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair
67 Church St. in the Mortenson Room
Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Free event, open to public.
For info: 973-744-6276
uumontclair.org
Mystic Spirit Metaphysical Shoppe
324 Bloomfield Ave.
Saturday, March 24 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Potluck meal and small fee for supplies
For info: 973-509-7155
mysticspirit.net
They symbolize the five building blocks of matter, according to Plato, who coupled them with the five elements (fire, air, earth, water, and aether).
The accusations against Tituba grew more intense as the trials progressed. She was arrested and held in jail for months, enduring harsh conditions and constant interrogation. During her trial, Tituba was coerced into confessing to being a witch and practicing the black arts. She described her encounters with the devil and the various acts of witchcraft she had supposedly performed. But beyond the accusations and confessions, Tituba's role as the witch of the black arts in Salem reveals much about the underlying fears and prejudices of the time. She was a foreigner, a woman of color, and a slave, all factors that made her an easy target for scapegoating. By labeling her as the embodiment of evil, the people of Salem were able to deflect their own anxieties and maintain their sense of moral superiority. Unfortunately, the witch trials did not end well for Tituba. She was eventually released from jail but disappeared from historical records, her fate unknown. However, her legacy lives on in the stories of the Salem witch trials. Today, Tituba is remembered as a tragic figure, caught up in the hysteria and ignorance of a community gripped by fear. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of prejudice and unchecked accusations, and the devastating consequences they can have on innocent lives..
Reviews for "The Curse of Salem: Blamed on the Witch of Black Arts"
1. John Smith - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Witch of the Black Arts in Salem." The storyline was incredibly predictable, and I found myself losing interest within the first few chapters. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or development. The author's writing style was also lackluster and failed to captivate my attention. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging or well-written story.
2. Emily Johnson - 2 stars - "Witch of the Black Arts in Salem" failed to meet my expectations. The plot was unoriginal, and it felt like a watered-down version of other witch-themed novels I have read. The dialogue was often cheesy and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters or believe in the story. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing moments. I had high hopes for this book, but sadly, it fell flat for me.
3. Samantha Davis - 2.5 stars - While "Witch of the Black Arts in Salem" had an intriguing premise, it ultimately failed to deliver. The writing felt amateurish, with clunky sentences and repetitive phrases. The characters lacked depth, and their actions and motivations often felt forced and unbelievable. The romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary, distracting from the main plot. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre at best, and I would not recommend it to others who are seeking a well-crafted and engaging witch-themed novel.