The Truth About Witches and Halloween

Whenever one hears the word ‘witch’ it calls to mind an image of a green-skinned, black-clad, hooked-nosed old woman, gray hair dangling from under her pointed hat, muttering a spell into the night air as she stirs a mysterious mixture in a smoking black cauldron.  Her broom stands nearby at the ready, and her trusty black cat lurks in the shadows, his yellow eyes piercing the darkness.

Because of their nasty reputations witches are usually associated with Halloween.  But what exactly is a Halloween witch?

The Witches of Halloween

In the supernatural world of Halloween, with its inherent forces of doom and gloom, witches are considered evil.  Here are some basic rules about Halloween witches:

1.  When a witch wants to visit another witch all she needs to do is hop on her broomstick and fly on over.

2.  Most witches have a black cat, but those who don’t have either a white mouse, a black raven, a toad, or a lizard to carry out their spells.  

3.  Every potion a witch concocts must be boiled in a cauldron, and must be stirred anti-clockwise.

The Witches Caldron

“Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog

Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting,

Lizard’s leg, and owlet’s wing

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and babble

Double, double, toil and trouble,

Fire burn, and caldron bubble”

– William Shakespeare

4.  For centuries black cats have been associated with witches.  It was believed that witches could change themselves into cats.  Further, many people believed that cats were the spirits of the dead.  Thus we have the superstition that if a black cat crosses your path you have to turn around and go back the way you came because if you continue on your way bad luck will strike you.

5.  On Halloween witches can transform themselves into different forms and create havoc.

6.  If you want to meet a witch, you have to put your clothes on wrong side out and walk backwards on Halloween night.  At the stroke of midnight you will see a witch.

7.  Mistletoe can be used to ward off witches.

Witches in the Real World

Yes, they do exist.  In fact, witches are as real as you and me, and they are living among us.

The term ‘witch’ comes from the words wiccan, wiccer or wicca; all meaning ‘wise woman’, or in the plural, ‘wise women’.  In the old days the term witch referred to someone who knew about the medical uses for certain plants, charted the course of the moon, stars and other planets, gave council and was keenly familiar with nature in general.

Probably the largest group of practicing witches are called Wiccans, but there are others who call themselves ‘witches’ and do not follow the Wiccan religion.  Here are some basic rules that all Wiccans follow:

1.  Contrary to the popular belief that all witches are evil, Wicca is a peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and living the aim of which is oneness with the divine and all the world.

2.  Wicca is a belief system and a way of life.  Wiccans seek to learn about and use the many natural remedies that exist and are loath to use synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary.

3.  Wiccans believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exists in all things.  They revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

4.  Wiccans also practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions as long as those faiths do not persecute others or violate the tenant of “Harm None.”

Of course there is much more to the Wiccan religion than what’s been mentioned above, but this is a simplified explanation of its meaning and reason for exisiting.  These are the real ‘witches’ of today, and unlike the spell-casting, mischief doers of the past, these ‘witches’ desire only to better themselves and the world we live in.