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Halloween witches are traditionally portrayed as old, ugly hags with stringy gray hair, long, warty noses, pointy fingernails, and clawed hands. They ride broomsticks, collect black cats, owls, rats, and other animals as familiars and pets, and cast maleficent spells on unsuspecting people. They exude malignant, negative energy wherever they go. They are evil beings who seek to do harm to others.
However, "witches" have served various purposes throughout history, from natural healers, midwives, oracles, spell casters, matchmakers, advisors to kings, devil worshipers, and evil conjurors. There is no single definition for "witch" since wise women have played significant roles through the centuries, and good witches have existed alongside bad ones.
When Gerald Gardner published The Meaning of Witchcraft in 1959, modern Wicca was born, which seeks to bring the natural and mystical worlds together in a positive and life-affirming form. Do no harm is the primary Wiccan motto, although traditionally expressed as "An' ye harm none, do what ye will." A far cry from the ugly Halloween crone!
Samhain (Halloween) is the most important festival in the Wiccan year, for it marks the end of the year's life cycle when the veil between life and death is at its most fragile. This is the night the dead are remembered and invited to partake in the festivities. As the old year ends, the new year begins. Celebrants look forward to new possibilities, more abundant harvests, and a happier and more fulfilled life.
As you sip your pumpkin spice latte and indulge in delectable chocolates and pastries this Halloween, remember it is a holiday that encompasses many layers of meaning. For some, it is "a night of frolic," as the Sanderson sisters would say (Disney's Hocus Pocus). It is a night of hope for others, looking forward to a new year. While there may be mischief makers and people with evil interests on the prowl, this is true every night of the year. The evening news reminds us every night.
So, take advantage of the holiday season and start partying heartily!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Dawn Pisturino
October 28, 2023
Copyright 2023 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
