325 years ago today, the Salem Witch trials began.
Ever since I first read (and acted) Arthur Millers The Crucible, I found it a fascinating story. So incredible the mass hysteria, that originated from a doctor’s word because he could find no other explanation for two girls ‘illness’.The belief and suspicion around witches and witchcraft at that time, that meant people were condemned to death on little more than the say-so of a child, caught up and encouraged in her fantasy, by the adults that surrounded her.
It’s amazing what fear does to us. Fear and imagination. Fear of the unknown.
The word WITCH has long been a word synonymous with Evil: Halloween, wickedness, ill-intent, magic, sorcery. It’s long been used to represent women who dabble with the occult, or fortune-telling.
It’s not what the word WITCH means to me.
The word WITCH derives from old English ‘WICCA’ or ‘WISE-ONE’, and has several meanings per Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_(word)
1. one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially: a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress – compare warlock
2. an ugly old woman : hag
3. a charming or alluring girl or woman
4. a practitioner of Wicca
(Really? Ugly old woman and charming or alluring girl?)
To me, it’s meaning is entirely different, it’s a word I lovingly use, for friends, colleagues and clients!
It’s a word that really needs to be brought into the 21st century in a much more positive light…
It’s a word steeped in history, yet I don’t associate it with the occult, or with paganism.
In some ways, it’s about spiritualism, it’s about working with nature but mostly it’s about being in control. It’s about personal power. It’s about utilising our gifts, using our intuition, being on purpose, being wise, being from the inside-out.
I believe it’s perfectly put in the acronym for WITCH: Woman In Total Control of Herself.
It’s a positive word, and it perfectly describes my tribe: Awakened creative women.
Women that have been on a journey, women that know who they are and where they are going. Women who are excited by life, its opportunities, and adventures. Women who know that it’s all about love, fun, freedom, joy and appreciation. Women who no longer hold themselves back.
Women who are In Total Control of their lives, their self and their business.
To all the WITCHES out there, I celebrate you!
My Facebook group is changing – I’m opening it up to more amazing awakened women – all there to help and support each other in business – if that sounds like you, click here to join us
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