Few archetypes in history have been more demonized than witches, or anyone called a witch.
Included is and was any wo(e)-man or woman living by choice al(l)-one or in a coven of similarly unmarried wo(e)-men.
Hers is often the path of detective and healer; until recently she was periodically imprisoned, tortured and murdered for being different -namely by refusing male-obligated domesticity.
Because she doesn’t need men, some of whom feel they should be indispensable, she is disliked by them. But as they demonize her, by his words and deeds, he elevates her into a broader consciousness – turning her into a near-mythical being.
Unlike wizards who obtain answers from books, and sorcerers who conjure from within, she’s a natural shaman and receives her power and info from Gaia.
She’s often a natural visionary. Spirit comes to her in omens, glimpses, and dreams. Earth speaks to her- and she does listen and heed. Because she has ‘sight’ from many senses, she doesn’t need much sun’s shine. In fact for her the sun’s a distraction. You could say, she’s not much of a day person.
She’s most comfortable under the guise of night.
Being a witch myself, though I’d hate to admit it, I can attest she has an incessant sense of curiosity – which she must satisfy. So, she studies plants and creatures and collects specimens. She knows life by its shapes, sizes, and sounds.
One is born a witch, mostly, not made – until now that I know of.
(Though cultivating some qualities of a witch are very helpful to heed. Like being a good listener, witnessing, observing, offering a version of succor, and drinking tea regularly. Doing anything for doing’s sake, is not on her list.)
Unless she’s wearing her hat, carrying a broom, and with a crow on her shoulder signaling to the world at large of her immodesty, as she is certainly not of anyone’s “mode”(!), she tends to be plain.
She doesn’t stand out in a crowd. Even if she tries to shine, she’s naturally forgettable. This can be frustrating. One could have a conversation with her, and unless she has a wart or other blemish, be completely at a loss to describe her later other than she seemed quietly and unshakably confident.
(That’s why men had to burn so many until they burned the right one the ones with the real power. No one was really sure if it was actually her or not – so they rounded up the look-a-likes who were near or walking by when some idiot’s cow gave birth to a deformity.)
That is, unless she puts on her hat.
Then she’s gets everyone’s attention. With its tall black point, everyone remembers her hat, and all the related lore they heard and read. From a distance, you can see a witch’s hat easily – especially in a gathering of fair-headed individuals – all those born under “luckier stars”.
As she has at times chosen to stand out, this has led to several unfortunate episodes in history.
Because witches use their power by their choices, they tend to emanate sobriety – even when they aren’t. G-d gives them a big sense of consciousness; such is their calling (whether they believe in Him or not).
Her outlook naturally adds weight to a party. Until a witch is ‘freed’, they tend to feel “on call”- waiting to be needed.
This makes jollier folks a bit uncomfortable; they can’t wait until she leaves and the place lightens up. But when she smiles, everyone feels better for some reason.
*
Her dominion is the energy world as it manifests; this makes her sensitive to fluctuations. How she got to her present state of living ~ hermetically, if you ever heard it, might seem a sad tale but please know this is her ‘path’ which her soul needed to walk on.
While she is at-one with all the elements, secretly she’s a fire bug – so she likes to keep a little fire going as a friend- in addition to her typical familiars. Sometimes this is a candle- not flame in brazier.
(As I was writing this I ‘got’, ‘For a generally cozy ambience, it’s easier to stick a log in regularly than to start a fire fresh from cold hearth.’ I’m guessing this relates to being in warm intimate relationship…give the other one solid fuel for attention.)
A witch usually has a strong Pluto and Mars. Venus and relationships are expendable and she bounces back after a brief period of sadness. She’s got lots of “helpers” from her strong 6th house; including her cats. Typically, she’s comfortable working with iron tools, including her pots.
Usually, she has a little special odor because she’s often cooking something aromatic. This could be beans too with their sulfurous poop-like stench.
Ok, with “stench” a little bit of her is left in your nose after you get personal, which is never. She can get funky. Known for her layers, she’s all covered up and doesn’t air out much.
*
Along with surgeons, as a messenger of Mars red ray, she acts and reacts. She chooses her medicine with her eyes and being. She is naturally very sexual which you know isn’t too welcome, especially by the wives and girlfriends! No wonder they rat her out even if coupling with their husbands was the last thing on her mind.
She often has an active quality quite out of keeping with her peers; she makes excuses to walk instead of drive or ride, and might busy herself with helpful chores- according to her preference and priority, no one else’s. She doesn’t often polish her jewelry nor iron.
As a creature of desire, her houses and signs ruled by Mars are enhanced. The house(s) with Aries on the cusp, (personal qualities of leadership and soldiering may be issues) and Scorpio (our self’s value to others)- since Mars, like Venus and Mercury, rules two houses. Houses 1 and 8 get access to more power. So these traits are fortified. She typically has persistence and intensity in her personality.
A witch rules with her “eyes” (and ~genitals) to leave entities of immortality behind her such as her talismans.
*
Yet as strong as she is, her energy cycles in keeping with the moon. She’s sensitive to its ebbs and flows. She must pace and periodically take rest. With one ear open, you could say she’s a light sleeper – unless she’s half-dead for some reason.
For these reasons, she often prefers her solitude.
Ideally, she lives al(l)-one in a homely abode surrounded by birds and other creatures which she ‘talks’ to telepathically. She goes out and communes with local tree elders –or visits a vista, not men with long beards. Because she has nature at her ‘bidding’ – as she gives to them by her acknowledgements, they ‘give’ to her with helpful signs.
When I was younger, I used to dislike the idea of witches, not having actually met one, because they ‘used spells to hoping to change outcomes’ instead of trust in present circumstances. But how is she different than one who’s stands praying towards a higher power or visits a doctor?
But then I got to using spells, amulets, jewelry and props myself. I understand their helpful value.
As a witch, not warlock, she is and was once a menstruating wo(e)-man. She usually knows the pain of childbirth, in addition to a broken heart. And yet she thrives today especially as she’s less persecuted.
Though instead of everyone being a little bit witchy and having some of her power for themselves, we mostly have extremes.
*
As a natural healer, while she loves being in her gardens, she also l’oves being of service to otherwise unserved local ‘villagers’ . She’s the one they call to minister a mother having her baby or attend an elder’s last breaths in homes with otherwise limited social net.
(Do you think anyone really wants to call a witch as in ‘which’ medicine? Couldn’t we just call on someone who “knows” (and says “yes” and “no” as if they know us) like powerful white-coated light beings? As it turns out, such an illusion is madness.)
Unlike the shamans’ medicine bringing psychedelic visions to those bored and seeking more, her spells and potions bring a being back to a new normal.
She is often the one called to serve as midwife and death doula- and administer medicaments to all between those states.
Her medicine is of a milder nature than man’s. Unlike the sorcerer, she’s no transformational master at shape-shifting– at least not at surface level. Her works create shifts of a deeper nature affecting another’s version of situational intimacy.
She utilizes nature as it is, letting Gaia guide her hands and fingers. With alchemical insight, a witch carefully casts oaths of words; she knows their spellbinding influences.
Like any magician, she stands in her power untamed. With her intentions she emanates paths of possibility from Gaia’s boundless invisible realms- using her potion and amulets as Gaia’s tokens.
Hers are tonics and potions which she makes and distills from plants locally. Her medicines support one’s devic essence by protecting the chrysalis that was once skin – until a spirit is freed again.
Such is the power of spells and bindings –or any ritualized activity or behavioral repetition.
She often has extra sensory perceptions and experiences spirits spontaneously. Information about a situation comes to her unbidden. Why would you punish her?
*
From her menses, she knows the power of bloodletting. She uses no version of western world’s pin pricks and blood essences- unless she is in dire personal circumstance.
She understands how any form of bloodletting (and its metallic odor) will motivate a man to ‘help’ in atypical ways -so he doesn’t have to see or smell it any more. The idea is foreign to him and represents primal versions of death.
Men are especially stirred by bloodletting of wars, menses, and child birth. Though each red is toned differently the site of blood is instantly arousing. No wonder there’s so much male red color-blindness and there’s a reason it’s x-linked! Those with less sensitivity to red tend to be more level-headed. PS this latter is conjecture but I bet you could study it.
While blood’s medicine as an activator only stands out when its well-lit, a witch’s medicine tends shine in moonlight.
Then her creature’s cool illumination is variably visible depending moon’s phase. Then, blood is just another black liquid which one can’t identify unless they taste, touch, or smell it. To the soma it’s invisible – unless she’s bruised.
*
Like the Voodoo queen Marie LeVeaux, witches are respected while f’eared. Both emanate ‘paths’ from Gaia’s unseen and therefore unutilized, but organized, boson field waiting for Yod (the hand of G-d- usually via another’s mouth) to tap into.
She’s often f’eared – which she yields to her advantage (even if she needs abluting later).
F’eared because folks come to her to get out of their present state of discomfort – she doesn’t come unbeckoned.
(F’ear is an emotional response to an entity or idea based on fiction-another’s tale of possibility, and fantasy. It is often used to manipulate and ply a heart to bend towards them).
*
Usually, a witch helps others both known and unknown. She is generally indiscriminate. She’ll guide helping the other who believe they can’t do it al(l)-one – even if they can, like birthing or dying. She sees people when they’re vulnerable and doesn’t take advantage- that’s why they call her back every single time they need someone.
For those resistant to growth and change witches (and warlocks, sorcerers, and magicians) are considered e-vil as people are out of their comfort zones when they need her.
E-vil because she listens to men’s and wo(e)-men’s hearts when they come to her questing. With that, they leave their once-comfy state of villa of self, abandoning others who took them for granted, to seek and obtain changes. They exert their will instead of enduring.
*
Here’s the rub, each witch, and witch look- alike man burned at any stake had the same effect – made her spirit stronger.
Flames fed by wood, once tree elder mitochondrial beings, fuel her transition with its pyres, with that she returns to Gaia’s substance reenacting the myth of Haumea. Gas is of our ancestors – who more than anything support enduring truth of spirit; then her spirit becomes an unstoppable force.
Imbued by all the hu(e)-man witnesses at her flaming spectacles – their displaced lust feed the flames too.
At the same time, they lose their own inner vitality. As their spirit soars with hers when her flames roar, but then turn to ash and cinders.
Later, witnesses go home and hide their own healing gifts and talents. Yet, as witches are crucial to hu(e)-manities sobriety, their gifts persist.
It is time to stop outsourcing a witch’s work and do your own.
***
For a sensitive and hilarious – you will laugh out loud at least once portrait of witches, please refer to Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series.
