Witches, Witchcraft, and Witch Hunts

  Salem: Episode 1 After watching the first episode of the TV series Salem , a few key points stood out to me. First, I thought it was interesting to see the shows depiction of Tituba, who is much younger than the historical representation. Likewise, she appears to speak English well, which is contradictory to what we learned in class. In the show, Tituba is actually the one teaching Mary different magic spells, which is blatantly false from a historical lens. Based on this first episode, it appears as though Mary has a power element over the other characters, which could not be farther from the truth compared to those actually persecuted for witchcraft, who are helpless as they receive their sentences. The producers of the show have combined the characters of Mary Walcott and Mary Sibley to form a fictional character that remains in control at all times. Next, I think the target audience of this show is those who are seeking more of an entertainment outlet rather than accurate histori

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2YF8wnhuw/ A modern day potion that corresponds with someone's zodiac sign. Ingredients are as follows:  + Fire element: ruled by impulse, fire signs are exuberant, passionate and sometimes out of control!   + Cardinal modality: cardinal signs are motivating, driven and initiating. + Yang polarity: can also be called masculine/positive/diurnal (of the day rather than the night). Signs with Yang polarities are often more adventurous, sociable and extroverted than their Yin counterparts.  https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1yqFJAiEh/ This is a one of a kind "Wizard Shop" that specializes in magical potions and similar magical items. The grand opening will be held on May 1st of this year.  https://www.instagram.com/p/CMy7zrXnC5S/ Here is some information regarding the upcoming Supermoon on March 28th. 

Shamanism is often described as the oldest spiritual practice in the world. The faith is not rooted in a particular entity or God, but rather on animism, or the belief that everything on earth is living and has a spirit. Shamanism has dealt with oppression from governmental entities who belief the tradition is primal in nature. However, the continued practice, often in secret, has resulted in failed efforts from those looking to abolish the spiritual tradition.  At the core, Shamanism connects our plane of existence with higher planes of existence. Shamans unify our world with the spirit world to heal, contact dead relatives, predict and change the weather, and elevate one's consciousness.  Depending on the geographic location of the shaman, their duties can vary. Most Shamans deal with the overall health of the community, along with all plants and animals, and the entire surrounding environment. For this post, I want to explore the specific culture of the South American shamans. S

As we get older, society tells us to leave the nonsensical imaginary thoughts behind. The toys we play with gradually get traded in for more appropriate items that reflect our current age. For some, this phase of childhood never truly leaves, and they grow further into their fictional beliefs.  Currently, about 1.5 million people in the United States say they practice Wicca or paganism. The meaning behind identifying as a witch often symbolizes female power or reverting from the status quo. Likewise, witches embody a feeling of freedom. They are agents of change who believe they hold the ability to change the world for the better.  On social media, the posting and sharing of witchcraft has become more popular over the years. Many people use the hashtag #WitchesofInstagram, which has been used over 2 million times. These posts often share the users experience as a witch, along with other images of pentagrams or crystals. With the expansion of technology, it has become easier for witches

The word broom is derived from the physical plant that was used in making some of the earliest sweeping objects on record. Over time, the Old English word besom was replaced with broom, although both terms had been used interchangeable until the early 18th century. Even at the beginning of the existence of brooms, they have been primarily associated with women. As a result, this common household item developed into a powerful symbol representing the domestic nature of women.  However, the first witch to admit to riding a broom was actually a man. His name was Guillaume Edelin, and he was a priest from Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a city near Paris. Even after his arrest in 1453 for criticizing the church's handling of witches, the belief that witches ride brooms as a means of flight was already common knowledge. One of the original images of a witch on a broom dates back to 1451, when French poet Martin Le Franc depicted two witches riding brooms in his manuscript Le Champion des Dames (

Witches are one of the key daunting symbols associated with Halloween. The relationship between these two entities began thousands of years ago, when modern medicine was not imaginable. When a person fell ill, sage women who learned to harness the power of healing herbs and similar treatments came to the rescue. Although these women existed, little is understood about the specific practices and medicine used during this time. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, members of the clergy became unsettled at the sheer existence of women who had the ability to heal others. The Church believed all healing should come at the hands of a man. Over the years, women with healing abilities developed into an "anti-Christian" symbol and many were accused of worshipping Satan to achieve such ability.  With religious authorities planting the seed of fear into the minds of many, the idea of witches roaming free in the world began to run like wild fire in colonized civilizations. Those acc