I love these pics....

So many people associate Witches with evil, colluding with the Devil, Black Magic, and somehow, eating children ( probably because of the story of Hansel & Gretel)...but these pics (of course exaggerating capabilities of a witch)allow me to discuss a few things...

Let’s start with riding brooms....It’s kind of an adult explanation, but I will try to make it G-rated. 

Long ago, people had not idea about fungi or mold, and many people ate Rye bread, as they do now...but long ago, rye bread could get a fungus called Ergot...Those who practiced the Craft, found out that Ergot was a hallucinogen (LSD is derived from it) after the 17th Century affliction of the “dancing mania” in Europe, and that it also helped with headaches (who knew?) Anyhow, they wanted to use this Ergot, and also distribute it to others...Kind of like an olden day drug dealer! LOL... 

There was a big problem though. They knew that they couldn’t consume (eat or drink) it, because it was so unpleasant and would cause nausea, vomiting, etc...so they made these drug laden salves and balms, “Witch’s Brews”, to be absorbed through the skin...They realized that through the skin, they would get the desired hallucinogens, without the bad side effects, and the fastest, most effective and receptive areas of the body for absorption were through the sweat glands in the armpits, and the mucous membranes of the genitals.....

Ok...now the kicker...to distribute these salves or balms with maximum effectiveness...the used the handle of a broom....hence the term “witches riding broomsticks”....and because they were high...they were “flying”...I know..shield any child’s eyes from this note!! 

On to the next images....

Cats, bats, owls, ravens, crows, goats, and almost every other animal, arachnid, reptile, amphibian, fish or aves on the planet, have been written, sung, or spoken about being a witch’s “familiar”. I’m sure I don’t have to explain what a familiar is, but in actuality...we’re just like any other person, and love animals...Ours just happens to be very special to us, and we respect them, as part of nature...Familiars’ and their energies are believed to help with spell casting, protection, warding off evil entities,etc...In my family, we grew up surrounded by many different kinds of animals, and not all were familiars (we each had our own...an animal that picked us, and not the other way around)...and I continue to have many animals in my home...Again, we each have our own, that picked us..* Just a quick note here...A familiar, is one energy, that can live as a cat in one life, and then perhaps as a dog (as an example), throughout a Witch’s life...My first Familiar animal, didn’t actually find me, until I was 12,...until then, I was watched over, by my mother’s...I’ve had a couple of other’s since then...and currently have one, that likes to sleep in my large cauldron (it’s a family heirloom..about the size of a large pumpkin)...

Ok now, the “Witch Aesthetic”...

Yeah, you’re going to see a lot of black...not because we feel dark and mysterious in it, or that it looks good on everyone and with everything (that’s just the bonuses)..but it’s because black “absorbs all colours of our visible spectrum” and enhances the strength of our powers and energy. Colours are important to us. Colours represent different things, such as green for money, red or pink for love, etc., and so some will wear a colour, to draw or repel, whatever they want. It wasn’t always the clothing that would be coloured and worn. Sometimes flowers, herbs, or feathers would represent the colour wanted, pinned inside or on clothing, in the hair, on the shoe, or in the hat or bonnet. Sometimes even carried in a sachet, worn against the skin.

Crystals, a pentagram, which is a 5 pointed star - upright (not angled or it would be a Devil’s pentagram), talismans, sachets with herbs, oils, powders, or what have you, a spell book or two (otherwise can be known as a Grimoire or Book of Shadows), an unusual hat ( perhaps wide brimmed or a little pointed), are all things that can be seen on a witch...but not all witches. Some witches do not dress, at all what you would think a witch would dress like. In fact, you probably wouldn’t know that you were around a witch, unless they wanted you to know. Most wear just regular clothing, and may not have anything “witchy” showing..

By the way...

The whole thing about people sensing a witch around...that’s not entirely true. In my experience, only a handful of people have ever come up to me, and told me that they knew what I was (not including other witches)...but I am a people person, too, so people gravitate towards me anyhow...and then there’s children and animals..They can sense who is good and who is bad. Most witches have balance in their Craft, often tipping towards positivity, and kids will pick up on it, and are often drawn to us, because for the most part, we are good. The same goes for animals...If you find that your child or pet, steers clear of someone...listen to them. there IS a reason...

As well....none of the “witch tests” actually work, our wands don’t actually shoot lightning or energy of any kind, out of the tips, not all of us can predict the future or see the past, we can’t turn you into a frog, and we don’t eat babies! Not all of us live in haunted houses, with cobwebs and weird friends, either. I have some weird friends, but that’s besides the point! Ha! 

We can attend church, live within a religion, have families, swim in water, go in the Sun,...any and everything else, anyone else can do....We are as different to each other, as any other person is, to us...and we all follow different paths, in the Craft. We are from all walk of life, all ages, genders, etc...but we are ALL HUMAN. We laugh. We cry. We get angry. We bleed. We all have feelings....

Ok...I could go on...literally for hours, but I think this is long enough...If you have questions, message me...If you’d like me to write about anything witchy, let me know,...I think this blog will be about real life, as a witch, without the fluff. Maybe even a little about history, or where stigmas and assumptions come from. 

I won’t be sending spells, in any private message, or posting spells. That would be irresponsible, and I don’t want to be responsible for what someone else does. I won’t be posting the typical pics or memes, that others have, either...because that’s not what I’m about. I may post pics or memes, in order to discuss fantasy vs. reality, though, or how magic is already in your life and you may not have even known it! I never really know what I’m going to write about, until I start writing, unless there’s something that I just need to get out!