Cels' Supernatural in Focus: Witches

Published March 3, 2011
Category: Cel's Says

Cels Says:

You have to feel a little sorry for Witches. After all, who wants to be instantly thought of as an ugly, cackling, evil old hag or have ugly caricatures of themself strewn everywhere on Halloween? Thankfully, modern media has lessened some of the sting with portrayals of Witches like Sam on Bewitched, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and, of course, the fabulous Charmed girls, all of whom have made magic a housewife’s best friend and have a broom and vacuum cleaner riding hight on their wish list. But just where do Witches come from and do they deserve the bad/evil rap?

Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer to the origin of the modern day Witch. Some are adamant that Witches aren’t Human—that, in fact, they came across to the Earthly Realm with creatures like the Fae and first Weres, bringing their blend of magic and healing abilities, which they readily shared with the Humans amongst them. Believed to have been beautiful and ethereal, kind and caring (unless threatened) modern day Witches are said to have descended from the “mingling” with the humans and the resulting offspring. Although not immortal, they are meant to have been very long lived.

Then we have the other camp, firmly believing that all Witches are human, but not necessarily evil. From the Stone Age to Modern times, often women who threatened conventional stereotypes were labeled witches, from the village midwife/healer to the unwanted wife. The Church leaders at the time also twisted and used Christianity to provide justification for many paranoid fantasies when it came to Witchcraft (the Salem Witch Trials being the example that has struck a cord with all through the ages).

As for the white verses black Witch conundrum, how can we say for sure if Witches are just plain evil or mostly misunderstood? Whichever school of thought you subscribe to about their origin, both seem to mostly agree that, just like in our human nature, there is the possibility for evil or wrongdoing but that, on the whole, most were harmless “white” magic casters. The Celtics, in particular, held the belief that the power came from nature and those that harnessed the energy for malice would face dire consequences. Modern day Wiccans follow the same principles as the Three-Fold Law. (Just doesn’t seem worth the risk to if you ask me!)

It wasn’t until the rise of the Church and the ancient Pagan rituals and beliefs being classed as evil that Witches were suddenly shifted to “Satan’s Brides” and lumped in with many who deserved the title “evil”. A case of “we don’t understand it, so let’s disband it”.

One of the best examples of misconception of motives in modern fiction and theater is “Wicked”. “Wicked” brings us the story of Elphaba, who ends up the Wicked Witch of the West after a journey of suffering and heartbreak, and who essentially at heart is still good-her choices are just bad. How human is that?

So when it comes to Witches, making your own informed decision may be best, and, as rough as the bad rap they cop is, what would a Fairy Tale be without the wicked Witch? Just don’t instantly write all Witches off as evil-— but if the Wicked Witch does exist, you certainly don’t want her flinging her curses at you.