Once upon a time, in a small village called Ouss, there was a poor orphan boy named Bot. He had been living with his mean and greedy stepbrothers ever since the death of his beloved parents. Bot was known for his hardworking nature and kind heart, but his stepbrothers took advantage of his innocence and made him do all the household chores. One day, while Bot was working in the fields, he stumbled upon a mysterious old man. The old man, who turned out to be a powerful sorcerer, was impressed by Bot's selflessness and decided to reward him. He handed Bot a small bag of magic beans and promised him that they would prove invaluable.
A quick note: The term wizard has traditionally been used to label male spellcasters, while witch has been the female opposite. You can do this, but it doesn’t need to be the case. There are plenty of female wizards in literature today.
Witches and warlocks are gendered terms for the same type of magic user, though witch is gaining popularity as a moniker for any character like this. Some have a long life span, some very short, some could have 5 people some 50 or more, she explains, adding that, for the most part, practitioners of witchcraft tend to be solitary.
He handed Bot a small bag of magic beans and promised him that they would prove invaluable. Excited by the opportunity to change his life, Bot rushed home to show his brothers the magical beans. However, his brothers only laughed at him, calling him foolish and gullible.
Are witches real? What to know about spells, magic, covens and beyond
If you took movies and TV shows seriously, witches, or those who practice witchcraft, would all be wearing pointy black hats, riding broomsticks and wickedly cackling over cauldrons.
Unsurprisingly, it's these stereotypes that have influenced essentially everything we think and know about witches, whether they're actually true or not.
In fact, these perceptions are so widespread that come October, it’s impossible to go anywhere without seeing witches on Halloween decorations or worn as costumes by trick-or-treaters and party revelers.
But is this kind of witch actually real? As in, the sort of mystical person who casts magic spells and dances beneath the full moon?
Yes and no. Beyond the commercialized versions of witches we've all been exposed to, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to those who practice witchcraft.
“Your average witch is just somebody who lives next to you and has this spiritual practice you don’t know about,” Deborah Blake, a self-identified witch and the author of “Llewellyn’s Little Book of Witchcraft,” tells TODAY.com.
Unlike today, the spiritual practices Blake is referring to were once the basis of persecution, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent men and women in witch trials that spanned centuries.
It's only in more recent history that Blake, and others like her, are able to openly participate in the rituals, spells and ceremonies that define their spirituality.
TODAY talked to the experts to better understand the beliefs of modern witches, as well as breaking down the origin of witch stereotypes in pop culture.
Here's everything to know on witchcraft, spells, magic, covens, broomsticks and more.
Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker in "Hocus Pocus." United Archives GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo
They threw the beans out the window, leaving Bot devastated. Unbeknownst to his brothers, during the night, the beans began to sprout and grow into a gigantic beanstalk that reached the sky. As Bot woke up in the morning, he couldn't believe his eyes. Without wasting a moment, he began to climb the enormous beanstalk, filled with anticipation and hope. As Bot climbed higher and higher, he found himself in a magical land above the clouds. He came across a castle, where a fearsome giant lived. Determined to make the most of this opportunity, Bot sneaked into the castle and noticed bags of gold and treasures scattered throughout. Bot carefully gathered the gold and treasures, making sure not to alert the giant. With each visit to the castle, Bot would take a little more, until he had collected enough to change his life forever. One day, Bot spotted a beautiful golden harp, which was said to have the ability to sing and generate happiness. Unable to resist its enchanting tunes, Bot grabbed the harp and made a run for it. However, the harp's melody woke up the giant, who began to chase after Bot. With the giant hot on his heels, Bot rushed down the beanstalk, sliding down the leaves as fast as he could. Once he reached the ground, Bot quickly cut down the beanstalk, causing it to crash to the ground. The giant, unable to follow, perished in the fall. Bot returned to his village, now wealthy and prosperous. His stepbrothers, seeing the change in his fortunes, begged for forgiveness. Bot, being the kind-hearted person he was, forgave them and shared his newfound wealth with them. From that day forward, Bot became a hero in the village of Ouss, and his story of bravery and kindness spread far and wide. The magic beans had not only brought him wealth but had also taught him the value of forgiveness and the rewards of a generous heart..
Reviews for "The Art of Brewing Ouss in Bots Magic Bean Elixir"
1. Emily - 2/5
I found "Ouss in bots magic beans" to be quite disappointing. The story seemed disjointed and lacked a clear plot. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, making it difficult for me to feel invested in their journey. Additionally, the writing style was overly simplistic and didn't engage me as a reader. Overall, I was left underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. David - 1/5
I have to say that "Ouss in bots magic beans" was one of the worst books I've ever read. The story was convoluted and confusing, and the author seemed to rely on random and bizarre events rather than a well-crafted plot. The dialogue was unnatural and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The book had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. I would advise others to steer clear of this one.
3. Sarah - 2/5
"Ouss in bots magic beans" did not live up to the hype for me. I found the writing to be overly descriptive and lacking in substance. The pacing was slow, and I struggled to maintain interest in the story. Additionally, the characters felt underdeveloped, and their motivations remained unclear throughout the book. Unfortunately, this novel didn't engage me as a reader, and I wouldn't choose to read any other works by this author in the future.