At least ten millennia of patriarchal projections and language reversals are the bedrock of all of contemporary human ills. Along with Mary Daly I claim the identity of a revolting hag.
“Hag: the hægtesse once was a powerful supernatural woman (in Norse it is an alternative word for Norn, any of the three weird sisters, the equivalent of the Fates), Later, when the pagan magic was reduced to local scatterings, it might have had the sense of "hedge-rider," or "she who straddles the hedge," because the hedge was the boundary between the civilized world of the village and the wild world beyond. The hægtesse would have a foot in each reality. Even later, when it meant the local healer and root collector, living in the open and moving from village to village, “
Thank you, Donna 💜🖤 I love that you claim the identity of a revolting hag, especially after reading the beautiful description you shared on the hag archetype. 🌹
You know I love this Alysia! You're right a witch is not what "they", "the man", CHIP. says they are. I loved how you turned it into a projection of their own sadism and a coveting of what they wanted. These patriarchal forces are about having all the power, all the toys, resources, etc. And a women in her power as a witch is quite a force!
“Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live: A Murderous Mistranslation?
Not everybody agrees that the biblical reference in Exodus is to ‘witches’ as we understand them.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” – Exodus 22:18 (22:17 in Hebrew)
This quote, found in the King James Version of the Bible, has been widely held responsible for the witch burnings that plagued Europe, and later America, in the Early Modern Period (1450 C.E. – 1750 C.E.). But the murderous practice may have all been the result of a Biblical mistranslation.
The original Hebrew word used in Exodus, translated as “witch,” is mekhashepha. But what that word actually meant when Exodus was written thousands of years ago, we cannot know, leaving us with only modern interpretations.”
Yes! I got the English translation of the Jewish scripture, and the passage in it is, “You shall not tolerate a female sorcerer.” But male sorcerers got a pass?
Yes and for a witch not to be evil her title is good witch. And the idea that only women are witches, when men do magick they’re wizards, magicians, and alchemists. None of these words have an inherently villain association. But which is automatically seen as so bad you have to say good to tell folks she’s otherwise.
This perspective was illuminating! I've known that what they think a witch is, is clearly not what a true witch is. But I love this clarification of the word "sadist." That really nails it in a way I hadn't fully thought about 👏🏼
Thank you, Carmen! I love that it resonates with you. I felt it inside for quite a while and it took some time to weave it out onto the page so I could grasp it better. Then, I had to share it.💜💜💜
Very beautifully written. It is an unfortunate joke in our home when I reach into my apothecary cupboard my spouse jokes of “telling the church” because being a healer, a woman wise to herbal medicine would make me in turn a witch. I am grateful I wasn’t born during a different time!
Thank you for sharing @Dixxiee The Spiritualist Girl 💜
Of course ❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing @Francesca Aniballi ❤️🔥💜
Thank you for sharing @Elaine Jeyes 💜🌹
Thank you for voicing my own thoughts but not quite knowing how to articulate it all for some reason! 💞
It makes my heart smile that it resonates with you! 💜
An excellent piece! 🖤
At least ten millennia of patriarchal projections and language reversals are the bedrock of all of contemporary human ills. Along with Mary Daly I claim the identity of a revolting hag.
“Hag: the hægtesse once was a powerful supernatural woman (in Norse it is an alternative word for Norn, any of the three weird sisters, the equivalent of the Fates), Later, when the pagan magic was reduced to local scatterings, it might have had the sense of "hedge-rider," or "she who straddles the hedge," because the hedge was the boundary between the civilized world of the village and the wild world beyond. The hægtesse would have a foot in each reality. Even later, when it meant the local healer and root collector, living in the open and moving from village to village, “
Thank you, Donna 💜🖤 I love that you claim the identity of a revolting hag, especially after reading the beautiful description you shared on the hag archetype. 🌹
You know I love this Alysia! You're right a witch is not what "they", "the man", CHIP. says they are. I loved how you turned it into a projection of their own sadism and a coveting of what they wanted. These patriarchal forces are about having all the power, all the toys, resources, etc. And a women in her power as a witch is quite a force!
Yes. Yes. Yes! I was interested in your thoughts on this one. Thank you for the love, Julie 💜❤️🔥
Fun fact!
“Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live: A Murderous Mistranslation?
Not everybody agrees that the biblical reference in Exodus is to ‘witches’ as we understand them.
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” – Exodus 22:18 (22:17 in Hebrew)
This quote, found in the King James Version of the Bible, has been widely held responsible for the witch burnings that plagued Europe, and later America, in the Early Modern Period (1450 C.E. – 1750 C.E.). But the murderous practice may have all been the result of a Biblical mistranslation.
The original Hebrew word used in Exodus, translated as “witch,” is mekhashepha. But what that word actually meant when Exodus was written thousands of years ago, we cannot know, leaving us with only modern interpretations.”
https://claudemariottini.com/2017/08/17/witches-and-witchcraft-in-the-bible/#:~:text=But%20the%20murderous%20practice%20may,us%20with%20only%20modern%20interpretations.
110%. This is amazing, Erica. Thank you for sharing it! 💜🔮
Yes! I got the English translation of the Jewish scripture, and the passage in it is, “You shall not tolerate a female sorcerer.” But male sorcerers got a pass?
Wow, thank you for sharing this Cecilia! Exactly. It’s been so misconstrued and yet, here we stand still in our power 🌹💜🌙
Yes and for a witch not to be evil her title is good witch. And the idea that only women are witches, when men do magick they’re wizards, magicians, and alchemists. None of these words have an inherently villain association. But which is automatically seen as so bad you have to say good to tell folks she’s otherwise.
I love this perspective. It adds another layer of truth. 💜🌙
Excellent essay. The persecution of "witches" is just an attempt by the patriarchy to oppress the divine feminine.
Thank you 💜🌹 Yes, it truly is to oppress the divine feminine. But, we are rising. 🔥🌙
Indeed!
Definitely not a witch. 💝
An article dear to my heart… thank you 🙏
🌹🌹🌹
This perspective was illuminating! I've known that what they think a witch is, is clearly not what a true witch is. But I love this clarification of the word "sadist." That really nails it in a way I hadn't fully thought about 👏🏼
Thank you, Carmen! I love that it resonates with you. I felt it inside for quite a while and it took some time to weave it out onto the page so I could grasp it better. Then, I had to share it.💜💜💜
well thank you for sharing it!!!
Very beautifully written. It is an unfortunate joke in our home when I reach into my apothecary cupboard my spouse jokes of “telling the church” because being a healer, a woman wise to herbal medicine would make me in turn a witch. I am grateful I wasn’t born during a different time!
Thank you, Allysia ❤️🌹 That joke has so much truth to it. Grateful we’re moving into a time where we can express our voice again.
Sadly it does. I am grateful too! How much knowledge we must have lost during unfortunate times and unnecessary lives lost due to fear and ignorance.
Beautiful
I loved this posts even before I read it, purely on the title. It’s time for us women to reclaim our witchy, intuitive, healing powers 🌿
🩷🌹🧙🏻♀️
It’s time for true witches (women in their power) to rise again. We (men) need you. Humanity needs you. Gaia needs you ❤️🙏
❤️🌹
The patriarchy has done a very thorough job spinning everything to do with feminine power into something evil.