Witchy Archetypes

Sluts, Lesbians and Hags

We often associate the word, "Witch" with certain elements: hat, broom, familiar, cauldron, wand, pentagram, and so on. The witch too quite often seems to be old, a woman, poor, outspoken, unliked, Catholic, antisocial, queer and/or disabled.

This session has been compiled upon interviewing Oxford University's leading researcher on Witch History, Professor Diane Purkiss.

A witch was portrayed with boils and pimples, short, plump, aged, grey haired, barren, sick and presenting thyself with all sorts of ailments known to humans at that time. For a woman, to the patriarchal society, was nothing but an object that could be owned, showcased and often bedded. We constantly seem to demonize independent women. Nothing threatens the patriarchy more than an independent woman, especially one who has autonomy.

As we experience Witch Trials today, let’s revisit the past, the politics, the perceptions that played a major role in the loss of lives by these women. Let’s draw parallels between the Witches of yesterday and those being condemned today.