Do you believe in witches? The older I get the witchier I feel. I know people who practice granny magic and am very drawn to it. Here are a couple of quizzes for the final week of Spooky Season.
Would You Have Been Accused of Witchcraft in the 17th Century?
63% You’re a Witch!
Sorry, you’re probably a witch! Better watch out, or your neighbors might turn on you. Don’t feel too bad if you didn’t realize you were practicing sorcery. Just about anything could get you labeled as a witch in the late 1600s, especially if you were a financially independent woman, had an unusual birthmark, didn’t strictly obey biblical tenants, or just angered someone who might be tempted to spread lies about you. Best of luck at the trial!
I’m only surprised that the percentage wasn’t higher.
Kitchen/House Witch
The smell of a recently cleaned space or baked goods freshly out of the oven. Both scents are pleasing, along with the rituals that have satisfied the needs for replacing old protection spells around the house. You believe that rituals can bring good health.
I’m good with this. I have no interest in dark magic. More cleaning smells than baking lately but the holidays are almost here so that will change soon.
Will you hang with me, DeadSplinters? What sort of sorcery do you practice?
When I was a kid I really liked the book Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg, who also wrote the preposterously named (and great) book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
I was much more into typical boys adventure books but for some reason I picked up Jennifer Hecate…. It’s about two outsider girls who bond over studying to be witches. It’s not a supernatural book and not a lot really happens, but it’s quite engrossing to follow along as the girls dig deeper into witchcraft as a way to form identities.
And in retrospect it’s a good intro into the types of people who end up being accused of witchcraft in Colonial days.
I absolutely loved From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler as a kid. Probably read it a dozen times (there were only three TV networks, children). My wife’s even told me “I need to read that book because you reference it a lot.” So now I need to check out your recommendation.
I had that book. I think I got it from a school book fair. Scandalous! I’m sure the Moms for Liberty have made sure it’s off the library shelves.
Guys can be witches, right? At least Agatha All Along says so.
Moon/Ceremony Witch
Looking up at the night sky, burning incense. You believe in following cycles and going through routines with these different cycles.
I’m on board with this. I do like the night and routines.
One of the most haunting witch stories I ever read was a Swamp Thing comic book. Swamp Thing is fairly well-known now thanks to a spectacular comic run by Alan Moore (who also claims to practice magic). If you’re not familiar he was a man caught in an explosion at a laboratory that was trying to perfect a plant growth serum and was transformed into a plant-man. But before Moore there was a story (I think by Len Wein but memory may fail me) where Swamp Thing happens across a village — not really defined where but probably in the Northeastern US.
He meets a beautiful young woman and her brother who is basically autistic (they called him “simple” in those less enlightened times). I think she sold flowers and the townsfolk decided she was a witch because the flowers were always fresh and beautiful no matter what. She of course denies this nonsense, but the townsfolk are angry and jealous and decide to burn her at the stake basically in front of her brother.
Swamp Thing attempts to rescue her but things aren’t quite working out, but he manages to free her. At that point she’s had enough and blasts one of the townsfolk’s pitchforks with a lightning bolt, and then turns all the hateful lynch mob into a field of flowers.
Swamp Thing is shocked and she looks at him and says something like “I wasn’t lying. I’m not a witch. He is (pointing at her brother). I’m just his familiar. But all he ever does is make flowers.”
So another male witch.
I like this!
Same
Sure they can. And they can even be executed for the crime of witchcraft. I love the Giles Corey more weight story. But I don’t know if he really said it or not.
Hey now, I had that birthmark removed. But yes I knew the results of that quiz once I hit that question. 😀
…not completely wrong…not always a hobby & the cramped garden technically wouldn’t be mine at the minute…but…I dare say I might find healing a good use of my off-hours…& maybe if I messed with more herbs that would be one of those self-fulfilling prophecy kind of deals?
There are herbs and then there’s herb. All are good for messing with in my book. Or should I say grimoire. 🧙🏼♀️
I got: Green/Hedge/Herb Witch
https://www.buzzfeed.com/mmpepper03/what-witch-are-you-quiz?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bfsharecopy&quiz_result=132690250_1"e=I%20got%3A%20Green%2FHedge%2FHerb%20Witch#132690250
This tracks, I’m cool with this. Don’t mind me with my garden soil permanently under my fingernails and talking to my kale.
It’s a good sort of witch to be. Curious that anyone would object to a grower of plants and healer.
I assume it has to do with the half dozen plants offhand that I can recall that people thought could be used to induce periods. Or maybe actually do induce periods.
Can’t let women control their own bodies you know.
Or earn their own money by doctoring.
There are a lot of cunning women here in the mountains. It’s good to know that if the health care system fails or I need a love spell cast I have options.
I suspected you might know a granny or two in your region.
65% witch, hedge witch.
I would have guessed you were a kitchen witch.
My mom and three sisters were always referred to as “The Coven” by the rest of our religious Republican loving family. Of course, they thought they were low key making fun of us but we wore it as a badge of honor. In my Moms later years – she would call herself a witch and always dressed based on the Witches Calendar – which tells you what color you are supposed to wear each day.
https://www.chaucersbooks.com/book/9780738772035
I’ve always liked the illustrations from those calendars.
Moon/Ceremony Witch
Looking up at the night sky, burning incense. You believe in following cycles and going through routines with these different cycles.
i uhh….think they got me wrong
i kinda hate incense…..and anything resembling a routine i have is purely accidental
(in unrelated news…i think i need to leave the neighbourhoodwatch watsapp group….these people are nuts…apparently i need to be aware of catnappers as certain people have been spotted walking with cat carriers……..its worth noting theres a vet at the end of my street…and certain people means exactly what you think it does…)
I think you should just reply “well that’s why you should keep your cats indoors at all times. It’s safer for the cats.” And just see how that implodes.
Signed, any post in my local Facebook page about “hey our indoor/outdoor cat hasn’t been home for a few days has anyone seen them?” turns into a massive fight between people about having pet cats outside.
lol…thats a hot topic at my mums
seems the city folk what move to the countryside have a problem with free roaming cats invading their gardens and shit and believe they should be kept indoors
*shrugs*
we calls them mousers here in bumpkin land….and generally prefer them getting the meeses whilst they are still outside of the house
course…the city folk also have a problem with noisy tractors and the smell of manure….
really they have a fantasy of the countryside they want to live in that has very little to do with reality
😂 Not people taking their own cats to the vet!
the horror!