"The Lost Witch Paige Crutcher" Paige Crutcher was an ordinary girl living in a small town called Willowbrook. Life was peaceful and predictable until her 15th birthday when strange things began happening around her. Objects would move on their own, and lights flickered whenever she was nearby. The townspeople whispered that Paige was a witch, but she didn't believe them. She thought it was just a prank or a coincidence. However, as days passed, Paige started to develop supernatural abilities.
Although contemporary witches are connected by a belief in magic, what this magic looks like can vary hugely. While their craft typically draws upon folk traditions, mythology and pre-Christian beliefs from around the world, 21st-century witches span a variety of genders, cultures and religions. Some might adopt complex rules and rituals, while for others, simple acts of cooking and creating are powerful enough to be considered magic. Witches can be found in druid groves, heathen temples, Wiccan covens and even on TikTok, as young witches use modern technology to connect with other members of the global community.
Later scholars who have studied the New Forest Coven have concluded that the connection to Margaret Murray was much closer than Gardner had thought The Coven probably originated in the mid-1930s, just a few years before Gardner encountered it, and was built around folk magic traditions and Murray s theories. He spent time in Nice, the Canary Islands, and Ghana before spending nine years in the Madeira Islands where he developed an intellectual interest in Spiritualism.
However, as days passed, Paige started to develop supernatural abilities. She could control fire, levitate objects, and even communicate with animals. Frightened and unsure of what was happening, Paige decided to keep her powers a secret.
Pittchcraft: The true history of Wicca and Witchcraft
Witches walk among us — seriously. Pittchcraft is a blog written by staff writer Emily Pinigis about her life as a college student and practicing Witch.
By Emily Pinigis, Staff Writer | March 2, 2020
In modern times Witchcraft is often portrayed as an evil and mythical practice. As a young Witch, I often find myself hesitating to identify publicly as such due to the inevitable comments that Witches don’t exist. In fact, before I started this blog, there was only one person in my life who knew I was a Witch — the Witch who introduced me to the practice. It seems that even today, people only think of Witches as the villains in Disney movies. While there are many secrets surrounding the practice, it is far more rooted in established religion than many people think.
A Google search of the term Witchcraft leads to various different definitions. Many of them relate to sorcery or exaggerated supernatural powers, while only a couple actually talk about the Wiccan religion. Even Merriam Webster defines Witchcraft as “the use of sorcery or magic” or “communication with the devil or with a familiar.” The definition is not entirely incorrect, though it leaves out all mention of Witchcraft as a real religious practice. The mentions of sorcery and devil worship are rooted in fiction as Satanism is a different religion from Wicca.
As with most religions, it’s fairly difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the practice — and the timeline is further confused in Witchcraft, where the practice may also involve worship of deities of other religions like Christianity or Buddhism. Some definitions of the practice even go so far as to claim that Witchcraft originated with civilization itself. Overall, the religion that is most commonly associated with Witchcraft is Wicca.
Wicca centers on pre-Christian beliefs that Magick exists within the universe and is practiced in such a way that honors nature and the elements. Wicca is also a Neo-Pagan religion, and most of the beliefs of Wicca are the same as Pagan beliefs, except without the same deities as Paganism. There are only two deities within Wicca — the God and the Goddess. They are also sometimes referred to as the Horned God and the Moon Goddess.
On a very basic level, these two deities represent the masculine and feminine forces of nature and the universe. The relatively simple nature of the Wiccan deities is what allows for the practice to overlap with deities of other religions. When it comes down to it, Wicca is different from Paganism in that it allows for more religious freedom depending on the preferences of the practitioner. Paganism has strict deities that one must worship to be a Pagan. In Wicca, however, the deities need not be worshipped in such a way — they simply exist as the opposing forces of nature. No matter the deities, the practicing Witch must always follow the Wiccan Rede, “As it harms none, do as thou wilt.”
The very first and perhaps most famous Wiccan was Gerald Gardner, a British occultist born in 1884. In 1934, he joined the New Forest Coven, a group of Witches who practiced their own Magick in a way diverged slightly from Paganism. Gardner went on to work with the teachings of Aleister Crowley — another British occultist who dabbled in Witchcraft — to found the modern religion Wicca. His practice began to spread from Britain into Australia and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.
Gardner’s development of Wicca began shifting society’s perception of Witchcraft into a more positive light. Throughout history before him, Witchcraft was seen as barbarous and often associated with devil-worshipping.
Gardner also began an era in which men could be seen as Witches. Prior to the official creation of Wicca, those being accused of Witchcraft as a blasphemous practice were almost solely women. A woman that stood out for being too promiscuous, intelligent or independent could be accused of being a Witch because she deviated from the expectations for women at the time. Men were rarely accused of being Witches, and, if they were, it was usually only if they were homosexual or flamboyant.
Witchcraft may have existed since the dawn of civilization, but it has grown and changed over the centuries. The creation of Wicca as recently as 1950 makes the entire practice very new and unknown to many people. As the definition of a Witch grows, and the societal views surrounding the practice become more positive, it is important that even those who do not practice Witchcraft understand what it means to be a Witch.
The media plays up the dark and mysterious history of Witchcraft, leaning into the supernatural elements, but it is important to remind society of practicing Witches and the very natural practice of Witchcraft. For many living Witches, it feels like an innate need to speak proudly of who we are and to educate those around us in the hopes that one day, Wicca will be normalized like every other socially accepted religion. That is precisely what I hope to achieve through these writings, if only to a small degree. I hope to normalize the practice of Witchcraft and bring more public awareness to Wicca as a legitimate practicing religion.
The media plays up the dark and mysterious history of Witchcraft, leaning into the supernatural elements, but it is important to remind society of practicing Witches and the very natural practice of Witchcraft. For many living Witches, it feels like an innate need to speak proudly of who we are and to educate those around us in the hopes that one day, Wicca will be normalized like every other socially accepted religion. That is precisely what I hope to achieve through these writings, if only to a small degree. I hope to normalize the practice of Witchcraft and bring more public awareness to Wicca as a legitimate practicing religion.
She didn't want to be labeled as a witch or treated differently. But hiding her abilities proved to be a challenge. One day, while attending school, she accidentally set her desk on fire. The incident created chaos, and everyone was convinced she was responsible. Paige became an outcast, and even her closest friends started to distance themselves from her. Feeling lonely and misunderstood, Paige decided to search for answers about her powers. She delved into ancient books of magic, studied potions, and practiced spells in the secrecy of her room. As she became more skilled, Paige realized that her abilities weren't a curse but a gift. She could use her powers for good and make a difference in the world. With newfound confidence, Paige embraced her identity as a witch and decided to use her powers to help others. She aided the sick with her healing abilities, protected the weak from bullies, and used her magic to bring joy and happiness to those around her. Word of the powerful witch soon spread, reaching the ears of the evil sorcerer, Darken. Darken wanted to harness Paige's powers for his own wicked purposes. He set out to capture and control her, unleashing his army of creatures to hunt her down. Paige found herself on the run, seeking refuge in the enchanted forests and haunted caves. With every encounter, she grew stronger and more determined to defeat Darken and his minions. Along the way, she found a group of other magical beings who were also fighting against the darkness that threatened their world. Together, Paige and her newfound allies battled Darken and his forces. It was a climactic battle of light against darkness, love against hate, and good against evil. In the end, Paige's determination and courage triumphed, and she vanquished Darken, banishing him forever. With Darken defeated, Paige finally returned to Willowbrook, where she was welcomed as a hero. The townspeople saw her true power and realized she wasn't a threat but a protector. Paige's journey from a lost witch to a powerful warrior taught her the importance of embracing who she truly was and using her gifts for the greater good. From that day on, Paige Crutcher became a legend, a symbol of hope and inspiration for young witches and magic-users everywhere. Her story continues to be told and serves as a reminder that sometimes, even in the face of darkness, a little witch can make a big difference..
Reviews for "The Vanishing Witch: In Search of Paige Crutcher"
1. John - 2/5
I found "The Lost Witch" by Paige Crutcher to be a rather disappointing read. The plot felt disjointed and lacked coherent development. The characters were underdeveloped and I struggled to connect with any of them. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors throughout the book which made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I feel like the potential for an interesting story was there, but the execution fell flat.
2. Lisa - 1/5
I couldn't even finish reading "The Lost Witch" by Paige Crutcher. The writing style was dull and uninteresting, and the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic. The pacing was extremely slow, and I found myself losing interest after just a few chapters. The lack of depth in the characters and the predictable plot twists further added to my disappointment. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written fantasy novel.
3. David - 2/5
"The Lost Witch" by Paige Crutcher had potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The world-building was poorly executed, leaving me confused and struggling to understand the setting. The protagonist was unlikable, and her actions often felt nonsensical and inconsistent. The romance subplot felt rushed and forced, lacking any real chemistry. Additionally, the ending felt abrupt and unsatisfying. Overall, I was left feeling unengaged and unsatisfied with this book.