The Big Witch Twitter is a term that refers to the online platform Twitter and its role in promoting or spreading misinformation, conspiracy theories, and harmful ideologies. The term highlights the power and influence that social media, particularly Twitter, can have in shaping public opinion and shaping narratives. Twitter, with its fast-paced and real-time nature, allows information to spread quickly, often without proper fact-checking or verification. This has led to the dissemination of false information, rumors, and conspiracy theories that can have significant real-world consequences. The term "witch" in The Big Witch Twitter alludes to the notion of a witch hunt, where individuals or groups become targets of collective outrage or condemnation, often based on false or exaggerated claims. In this context, it refers to the way Twitter can amplify and perpetuate false accusations or wrongful condemnations against innocent individuals or groups.
After the Christian Church was established, solstice celebrations were combined with St John’s Day, commemorating St John the Baptist. In the 19th century, Christians used St John’s Day to act out the baptisms of children who had died as ‘pagans’.
Poles, Latvians, and Lithuanians with the names Jana, Janina, Jan, Jonas and Jonė receive many greetings from their family, relatives and friends as this is also their Name Day which is a Slavic tradition stronger than an actual birthday. Summer Solstice marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making.
In this context, it refers to the way Twitter can amplify and perpetuate false accusations or wrongful condemnations against innocent individuals or groups. The Big Witch Twitter has also been associated with the phenomenon of "cancel culture," where Twitter users collectively "cancel" or call out individuals or organizations for their alleged wrongdoings. Sometimes, this can result in severe consequences for those involved, such as loss of employment or reputational damage, without due process or consideration of all the facts.
Ancient Slavic rituals to celebrate Summer Solstice
In ancient Slavic and Baltic traditions Summer Solstice, just like in the Sumerian and Babylonian cultures, is the most important ritual within the Alchemical Wheel of the Year. We welcome Solstice with a large bonfire, jump through it and dance around it, letting the fire burn through what needs to be released and cleansed. We also make Solstice wreaths and throw them on the waters of rivers, lakes, streams making intentions and sending our prayers to the Goddess of Water, Kupala also known as Mokosh which has roots in ancient Vedic texts as Moksha, enlightenment.
photo Jana Astanov + Niko van Egten collaboration, She Who Manifests Life: Summer Solstice &New Moon in Cancer Ritual, Rosekill, 2017.
In my art practice I follow the cycles of nature and the cosmic events such as planetary alignments that heighten our ability to connect with the Universal Wisdom, with The Queen of Heavens, with SheUniverse. For many years I have focused on creating a ritual, a performance art piece, or a gathering to honour the Summer Solstice following the Slavic and Baltic traditional beliefs. In the ancient pagan culture Summer Solstice was the most important of all the annual ceremonies. As in the past, also nowadays the Solstice occurs at the same time all over the world, when the Sun is directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer. The first day of summer can be on June 20, 21 or 22… Even though most people consider June 21 as the date of the June Solstice, it can happen anytime between June 20 and June 22 (very rare – the next one in 2203!).
During the pagan times the celebrations lasted for at least 3 days during which the people would give their prayers and ask for prosperity to the female deity of Water known as Kupala or Moksha depending on the Slavic tribe. Girls would dress in white, and throw wreaths made of flowers into lakes or rivers at the sunset making their wishes and intentions.
Historical background of Slavic &Baltic traditions of Summer Solstice
Solstice night is celebrated in a very similar way in Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Mazury Lake District of Poland where I was born. In all of these countries the rituals of Midsummer night have very strong folkloric roots.
Solstice Wreath
One of the strongest tradition that is cultivated to these days in all of the Slavic and Baltic countries is Summer Solstice wreath making. Young girls, dressed in white float flower wreaths on the water of rivers, streams, lakes, or even the Baltic sea.
Fire Jumping
The best-known ritual is the lighting of the bonfire and jumping over it. This is seen as a way of guaranteeing prosperity and avoiding bad luck. Likewise, to not light the fire is to invite the destruction of your house by fire. The fire also frightened away mischievous spirits who avoided it at all costs, thus ensuring a good harvest. So, the bigger the fire, the further the mischievous spirits stayed away. The purpose of jumping over the fire is partly to purify, partly because they believed that those whose jump is very successful will get married during the following carnival.
photo Jana Astanov+ Niko van Egten collaboration, She Who Manifests Life: Summer Solstice Ritual, Rosekill, 2017.
The other traditions include singing songs and dancing until the sun sets, telling tales, searching to find the magic fern blossom at midnight, greeting the rising midsummer sun and washing the face with a morning dew. These are customs brought from pagan culture and beliefs. The latter Christian tradition is based on the reverence of Saint John. Poles, Latvians, and Lithuanians with the names Jana, Janina, Jan, Jonas and Jonė receive many greetings from their family, relatives and friends as this is also their Name Day which is a Slavic tradition stronger than an actual birthday.
photo Jana Astanov, She Who Manifests Life: Summer Solstice &New Moon in Cancer Ritual, Rosekill, 2017.
The celebrations of Midsummer in Poland vary depending on the region. In Mazury Lake District in northern Poland it is called Noc Świętojańska which means St. John’s Night – the Eastern Pomeranian and Kashubian regions – midsummer is celebrated on June 23. People dress in traditional Polka dress, and girls throw wreaths made of flowers into the Baltic Sea, and into lakes or rivers. In many parts of Poland the Summer solstice is celebrated as Kupala Night. In the Mazury Lake District – North East of Poland the celebrations are more similar to those in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and are based on folk ritual of setting the bonfires.
Summer Solstice marks a change in the farming year, specifically the break between the completion of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making.
Photo Jana Astanov+ Niko van Egten collaboration, She Who Manifests Life: Summer Solstice &New Moon in Cancer Ritual, Rosekill, 2017.
JADEIVE, Self Proclaimed Goddess, is one of Jana Astanov’s performance personas. Jadeive, is the name derived from Polish and Lithuanian and referring to an ancient Baltic tribe Yatvingians that lived in the current Mazury Lake District where Astanov was born, a region known for its magnificent nature and the oldest European forest, also known as the Country of Thousands Lakes. Jadeive, a mix of Polish (Slavic language) “JA” meaning “SELF” and Lithuanian “DEIVE” meaning “GODDESS”, etymologically derived from Sanskrit: devi – the feminine form, and deva – the masculine form, meaning “heavenly, divine, anything of excellence”.
Photo Jana Astanov+ Niko van Egten collaboration, She Who Manifests Life: Summer Solstice &New Moon in Cancer Ritual, Rosekill, 2017.
While Twitter can be a powerful tool for sharing information, connecting with others, and promoting positive change, The Big Witch Twitter highlights the dangers and pitfalls of this platform. It serves as a reminder to be cautious and critical consumers of information, to fact-check and verify before sharing or believing anything blindly. The Big Witch Twitter phenomenon underscores the need for responsible use of social media platforms, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking, media literacy, and fact-checking in today's digital age. It also raises questions and concerns about the role and responsibility of social media companies in curbing the spread of harmful information and fostering more responsible online discourse. In conclusion, The Big Witch Twitter is a term that highlights the power, influence, and potential dangers of the platform in spreading misinformation, promoting harmful ideologies, and perpetuating false accusations. It serves as a reminder to be vigilant, critical, and responsible when engaging with social media..
Reviews for "From Broomsticks to Tweets: The Evolution of Witchcraft on the Big Witch Twitterr"
1. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Big Witch Twitterr". The storyline felt forced and the characters were underdeveloped. The dialogue was cringeworthy and lacked any depth. I also found the pacing to be extremely slow, making it hard for me to stay engaged. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book.
2. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - I could not get into "The Big Witch Twitterr" at all. The writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow the plot. The author seemed to rely too heavily on clichés and overused tropes, which made the story predictable and uninspiring. Additionally, I found the protagonist to be unrelatable and unsympathetic. I regret wasting my time and money on this book.
3. David - 2 out of 5 stars - While "The Big Witch Twitterr" had an intriguing premise, the execution fell short for me. The characters lacked depth and their motivations felt contrived. The dialogue was unrealistic and seemed forced at times. The pacing was uneven, with moments of action dragged out and moments of introspection rushed through. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 3 out of 5 stars - "The Big Witch Twitterr" had its moments, but overall it failed to captivate me. The plot had potential, but the execution felt messy and the storylines seemed disconnected. The character development was inconsistent, with some characters being more fleshed out than others. The pacing was also a bit off, with some parts feeling rushed and others dragging on. While not terrible, I think there are better books out there to spend your time on.