Dressed in black, with her pointed hat and broomstick, frequently accompanied by a black cat, the witch of our childhood nightmares used her magical powers for evil purposes. Her wicked cackle and bad complexion served as identification and emphasis of her cruel intentions. She could turn you into a frog, cause you to do things against your will, and throw fireballs at brainless scarecrows, among other horrific spells. And of course, we all knew that her power came from consorting, conversing and otherwise hobnobbing with evil spirits. Naturally, since Halloween was a time when evil roamed the earth, she became closely associated with this holiday.
In actuality, there are real witches, but they are nothing like the vicious harridan who chased Dorothy down the yellow brick road, locked Rapunzel in her tower, or built a gingerbread house to lure greedy children. Witches have been practicing their craft and living among us peacefully, down through the centuries, since before history was recorded. They practice their faith and their rituals privately or within their spiritual family, or coven, not for the sake of secrecy, but because their faith is a personal relationship between the witch and the divine. Their theology venerates the Goddess and the Horned God, polar opposites, but complimentary facets of a single godhead, although some groups believe that they are individual beings. As a matter of strict fact, witches don’t believe in the devil or demons. They celebrate nature and its cycles. They draw strength from the seasons and the phases of the moon. The elements, fire, water, earth, and air, are the symbols of their sacraments. This inspires the witch with an involved concern for the environment and all living creatures.
A practicing witch may be male or female. The word “warlock” is never used to refer to a male witch, because it is a term that means “oathbreaker” and indicates a traitor to the faith. This nature-based faith encourages its adherents to seek the divine in all things, all people. Their law is simple. “‘An it harm none, do as ye will.” It celebrates free will and the choice to do good without prescribing the manner or method. A witch will use natural remedies for common ills, sometimes brewing “potions” that are really home remedies for common ailments. They may actually cast spells, but their magic is usually used for healing, love, wisdom, creativity and other positive outcomes. Oh yes, witches do believe in magic. They believe it is a law of nature, and the science of using nature to produce change.
Just as in any other faith, there are a few practitioners of the craft who would use the powers of the divine, through nature, to harm others or gain personal power. Fortunately, witches also subscribe to the “Law of Three”, which states that anything they do, for good or ill, will come back to them threefold. It is far less likely that a witch will use his or her faith for selfish purposes when they know that it will return to them bigger and badder than they sent it out into the world.
Some modern day witches use the name Wicca, to label their faith. Wicca is a relatively new term, introduced in the 1950′s by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant to describe the Neo-Pagan faith. Since the 1960′s, Wicca has come to incorporate many “denominations” of practicing witches, who, although their methods may differ, their basic tenets of harmony with nature and all its creatures remain firmly fixed. Witches celebrate four to eight seasonal festivals throughout the year. These Sabbats include the Greater Sabbats of Samhain (October 31, Halloween), Imbolc (February 1st or 2nd, first signs of spring), Beltaine (May Eve or May Day, May 1 or 2), and Lughnasadh (Lammas, Harvest August 1 or 2). In many cases, the equinoxes and solstices are also celebrated.
Just for informational purposes, that pointed hat that is so often associated with witches, is called a steeple hat or “Hennin”. It was worn in medieval times by both men and women, to concentrate “wisdom from above” into the mind of the wearer. Remember, in some cultures and societies, the witch was far better known as a wise woman and healer.