In a world where witches were believed to exist, one woman stood out as the most skilled and fearless tracker of these elusive beings. Her name was Eleanor Dupont, a woman who had dedicated her life to locating and capturing witches. From a young age, Eleanor had always been drawn to the supernatural. Tales of witches and their dark magic fascinated her, fueling her desire to learn more about them. As she grew older, Eleanor honed her skills in tracking and investigative work, determined to bring justice to those who wielded their powers for evil. Eleanor's unique abilities allowed her to discern the presence of witchcraft in any given area.
The Purple moon woman
To become more aware of the moon s phases and have the best chance of reconnecting and syncing your cycle to its changes, download a lunar phase calendar or use an app like MyMoontime - take a look every evening to see where the moon is that night in its cycle and then try to spend some time in view of the moon either meditating, reading, or just resting. There is a renewal and refocus, which is also goes alongside fertility literally making babies, or metaphorically, growing businesses, writing books and so on.
Eleanor's unique abilities allowed her to discern the presence of witchcraft in any given area. She had an uncanny knack for spotting even the most subtle signs of their presence, such as traces of mystical energy or unusual occurrences in nature. Armed with her extensive knowledge and experience, she traveled far and wide in her pursuit of witches, often venturing into dangerous and remote territories.
'In Defense of Witches' is a celebration of women
At the start of Mona Chollet's In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial, readers are asked to think of the first witch that made an impression on them.
For me, this was an interesting exercise because while all the witches mentioned in those first few pages come from literature, in my case, it was my maternal grandmother.
Very old, divorced decades, known for brewing bizarre concoctions for whatever ailed you, and perennially surrounded by dogs, my maternal grandmother spoke to the dead when we drove past a cemetery, had an "off-limits" bathroom that housed spirits, and carried pounds of laminated prayer cards and milagritos — small metal religious charms — strapped to her bra. She also had about five teeth left after a life of fearing the dentist. To me, she was powerful, a real witch, and I loved her. I also ended up loving In Defense of Witches because it celebrates that power.
Today we often hear "witch hunt" in a variety of contexts, but none of them are remotely close to the original witch hunts, which were almost entirely focused on women — and regularly included torture, rape, and death, always at the hands of men. While we no longer burn women at the stake, some of the anti-woman sentiment at the core of witch hunts is, unfortunately, alive and healthy. As author Carmen Maria Machado says in the book's introduction, we no longer burn, hang, or drown as many women now as we did in the past, "but there is no shortage of ways women's lives continue to be destroyed. Women are abused, assaulted, economically disempowered, raped, shoved into the margins, pressured, silenced, ignored, treated as guinea pigs, co-opted, stolen from, misrepresented, forced into pregnancy or servitude, imprisoned, and, yes, sometimes murdered."
In Defense of Witches takes witches — unmarried, childless, strong, independent women in control of their future, their time, and their sexuality — and uses those elements to explore how women who possessed those attributes, or who simply failed to comply with what men wanted of them, were accused of witchcraft and persecuted. Then the book focuses on how modern women who are independent, childless, and elderly must still deal with some of the same pressures as the witches of old did.
At its core, this is a book that deconstructs modern ideas that come from a much more misogynistic time and shows how they are still incredibly common. From religious reasons throughout history — "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18) — to contemporary events in which witches "take part in the Black Lives Matter movement, put spells on Donald Trump, protest against white supremacists and against those who question a woman's right to abortion," Chollet explores not only how anti-women sentiment is still prevalent but also how some of the ideas that were in vogue hundreds of years ago still oppress women today — and contribute to the perpetuation of patriarchy.
Chollet has a knack for entertaining prose, and that makes this dense narrative easy to read. She looks at the work of researchers, psychiatrists, actors, writers, sociologists, journalists, some of her friends, and even her own experiences and enters into a conversation with them, and with herself and the reader, to make her points. In the process, she asks important questions with a historical perspective — "What if this Devil were in fact independence?" — makes scathing observations about what many call "social institutions" --"It seems that single people dream only of marriage, while the married dream of nothing but escape" — and makes strong declarations that, given the amount of evidence presented, are impossible to argue with:
"Self-sacrifice remains the only fate imaginable for women. More precisely, it is a self-sacrifice that operates by way of abandoning one's own creative potential rather than by its realization."
In In Defense of Witches, witches only make occasional appearances, but they are always there in spirit as Chollet explores what society expects of women. For example, witches were healers and knew things about nature that others ignored. They had the freedom to pursue knowledge because they weren't married and had no kids. In modern societies, we encourage girls to get educated — and then push on them the idea that they are supposed to have children to fulfill their roles as women and to have a full life. Once they have "achieved" motherhood, they should take care of the house and the babies, cook, clean, and make sure their children get an education, but that all happens — and there are plenty of writers talking about that in the book — at the expense of the time these women could spend working on their passions, pursuing more knowledge, or, as in some cases here, writing masterpieces.
"There is room for every view, it seems to me," states Chollet. "I only struggle to understand why the one I subscribe to is so poorly accepted and why an immovable consensus persists around the idea that, for everyone, to succeed in life implies having offspring." This line, simple and personal yet, to some, very problematic, sums up the spirit of In Defense of Witches.
In Defense of Witches celebrates women, offers a plethora of reasons to accept a variety of viewpoints, and shows how women are still expected to act certain ways or be ostracized. Despite all that, the element that overpowers all others is the celebration of feminist minds and their work, our modern witches. Yes, this book will make you angry at the staying power of misogyny, but it will also make you scream "Long live witches!" — and that makes it a must-read.
Gabino Iglesias is an author, book reviewer and professor living in Austin, Texas. Find him on Twitter at @Gabino_Iglesias.
But being a female tracker of witches was not without its challenges. In a male-dominated society, Eleanor faced constant skepticism and contempt. Many believed that a woman could never possess the necessary strength or intelligence to track and capture witches. Yet Eleanor proved them wrong time and time again, using her wit and resourcefulness to outsmart her opponents. Eleanor's success as a tracker of witches brought her great notoriety and respect within certain circles. She became a beacon of hope for those who had suffered at the hands of witches and were desperate for justice. But Eleanor remained humble and focused on her mission, refusing to let fame or glory distract her from her purpose. Throughout her career, Eleanor encountered a wide range of witches, each with their own unique powers and motivations. Some were misguided individuals who had unwittingly delved into forbidden magic, while others were truly malevolent beings seeking to spread chaos and destruction. Regardless of their intentions, Eleanor approached each encounter with unwavering determination and a commitment to preserving the balance between good and evil. In the end, Eleanor Dupont's legacy extended far beyond her own lifetime. Her unwavering dedication and tenacity inspired countless others to take up the fight against witchcraft, ensuring that her work would continue long after she was gone. Eleanor proved that it was possible for a woman to be a formidable force against darkness, leaving behind a trailblazing legacy in the annals of witch hunting history..
Reviews for "Secrets of the Coven: Insights into the Lives of Female Witch Trackers"
1. Mary - 1 star - I found "Female tracker of witches" to be incredibly dull and uninspiring. The plot was predictable, and the characters felt one-dimensional. There was no depth or complexity to the story, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, I found the writing style to be lackluster, with weak descriptions and repetitive language. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book.
2. John - 2 stars - "Female tracker of witches" had an interesting concept, but it fell short in execution. The pacing was inconsistent, with moments of intense action followed by dull and slow-moving scenes. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. While there were some intriguing magical elements, they were overshadowed by a lack of character development and a shallow exploration of the witch-hunting world. I had high expectations for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them.
3. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Female tracker of witches" to be a slog to get through. The writing style was convoluted and confusing, with excessive use of flowery language that didn't add anything to the story. The protagonist lacked any redeeming qualities or relatability, making it difficult to root for her. The plot took too long to develop, and when it finally did, it was predictable and lacked any real tension. Overall, I was highly disappointed in this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written witch-themed story.
4. Tom - 2 stars - "Female tracker of witches" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on its potential. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and poorly explained plot twists. The world-building felt undeveloped, leaving many questions unanswered. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it hard to invest in their journey. While there were some moments of intrigue, they were overshadowed by the overall mediocrity of the storytelling. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations.