MY BELOVED WITCHES

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Happy to tell you that I am a witch! I assume it and I’m pride of it. Do not run away, I’m not here to throw you black spells. I only want the good for you. Beyond the prejudices, magic potions and pact with the devil, the word Witch is for me a symbol of my sacred femininity retrieved. In a world at the edge of a spiritual change and hopes for the environment, it is good to reconnect with our inner self and make a deep clean of all the prejudices accumulated over the past centuries. So, ready to talk about my beloved witches?

I think it’s the best time to talk about it. It’s autumn, Samain just get celebrated. Sit comfortably and warmly if possible near by a crackling fire with a plaid and a magical comforting drink.

Photo by Bee Felten-Leidel

The word Witch is vast and full of ideas. Such as having a “diabolical” connection, going through its prejudices, its esoteric mystery .. It is fascinating and has been talking about it for centuries!

Photo by Neven Krcmarek

The etymology of the word Witch means spells caster! When I was little this word had for me a negative magical connotation. Before Harry Potter entered the Sorcerer’s School, I mistakenly thought (because it was in the collective idea) that the witches were old, ugly, with a hooked nose covered with a hairy pustule, that they dressed in black and sneered diabolically. When I think about it now, I find it horrible to make children believe that this word, Witch, can only mean this evil and unattractive imagination. Just like the wolf in children’s stories (I’ll have the opportunity to talk about it in another article) the image that was given to them in his children’s stories and that stick to their skin once the children become adults , influence, misinform and manipulate a hidden truth. By this unsaid and this “since we were told children = it’s the truth”, without questioning yourself, a generational butterfly wings takes place. And very few of us are trying to get rid of this illusion.

William Mortensen, Off For The Sabbot, 1927

Hopefully, this recent years have seen an awareness growing on a large scale where we are increasingly looking for a spiritual path in ourselves and outside sectary religion. For us women, that means being aware of our sacred femininity and claiming to be a Witch. It would be our most beautiful thumbing nose against all the bad European history women got. Under heresy cover, the very essence of femininity got annihilated through the witch-hunt. This untold genocide killed thousands of women between the sixteenth and seventeenth century. This part of our history is still influencing our present daily lives.

I’m not here to tell you all the story, others can do it very well, like Mona Chollet in Sorcières, La Puissance Invaincue des Femmes (only in French for now). The first part summarizes very well the history of the witch-hunt in Europe and the consequences in our present society. The first part was exciting, full of untold information about our history. The second part is, in my opinion a bit too feminist. But it is interesting to see a different point of view than mine.

In my family, the witch-hunt would have made victims. With a midwife mother (considered as woman of powers and knowledge in all times, they were the first one to be killed during the witch-hunt), our desire to leave a sectarian religious community during my teenage time and therefore this community tell you you are lost and heretic, our interest in the universal spiritual quest, esotericism and having a black cat with a hook tail at home, they are no more excuses to be burned ! Fortunately, the witch-hunt no longer exists ! Even though, sexist discrimination is still a reality.

Feminism, through its fight for the rights of women, has brought us power and a femininity regain these recent years. Although there is still some way to go in. Women are gradually freeing their fears and bring a new breath of equality to our world.

Our new found femininity means that today we have the possibility of being able to choose who we want to be. Being careerist, wishing no children, being a housewife, adventuress, refusing marriage, loving a woman, being polygamous … as long as each of our choices is plainly assumed and we find a balance in our femininity who can be unveiled and fortified. I see my femininity in fulfilling my dreams and my happiness.

Photography : Lauren Bamford, Styling : Sarah Trotter, Model: Chloe Stevens

Nowadays, we could think that to be a witch we must use magic potions, candles, meditations, card draw, feminine gatherings … Yes, these are mediums that will help us refocus on our inner self but it’s not an obligation. You can be a witch only by being a woman connected to yourself and listening to your body and your desires.

Since I am aware of my inner power and that I assume my Witch side, I feel happier and master of my destiny. This makes my actions more assumed. It is a powerful power that is in each one of us and just waiting to be unveiled and used for yourself and others.

And you ? Are you a Witch ? Feel free to tell me your thoughts and your personal opinion on the subject !

Happy November Month to you all !