History and the Old Witches
Here is a wee potted history It is far from being complete and it leaves several things out. 
Some are on purpose, some because I couldn’t be arsed putting them in and some because they would incriminate me. Years ago I was accused rather snottily of being very selective with my retelling of history. As Bill Hicks would have and did say:
“Yeah? And? So? What?”
I understand there is a difference between Witches & Wicca.
Although the jury is still out in many ways and some outrageous claims are made either way ... the way I see it is this ... there were pagans and heathens (both originally meaning simply "country folk"- usually used in the context of "Hick" and "Bumkin"/"Hillbilly") which is where the pointy hats comes from (the pointed hat was a fashion that went out in the city but remained quite popular in the rural areas - and amongst travelers which are both suspect to the city mind!)
Both of these terms (and some other less used!) in time come to refer during on set of Puritanism and such like to the remnant folk practices from the past. In some places this means folk cures, superstitions and even occasionally (no way near as commonly as is dearly wished!) the odd Old God and seasonal rites (most often in even these rare cases in a garbled, half made up mixed with other stuff format). - It is this that much of the "Wiccan" stuff about refers.
Other than this there have been since ancient times all over the world usage of words that basically meant "Witch". Contrary to the wish lists - it generally means poisoner, frightener,- basically a dodgy sort that cannot be trusted to stick to the state approved religio-magical practices. There were terms for this sort of practice as early as Sumeria - possibly before.
The rise of the Judeo traditions stipulated various codes of personal hygiene in their religion (hence no menstruating women in religion - because not only is it a hygiene risk - it also attracts the wrong kind of spirits!) .. they also adopt a "Shaitan" - an opposer which the Manicheans would later expand. This basically means they have a good god and a bad one - by no means original but when allied to the might of their army (Judeans and Israelites kicked ass on much of the world for a while there!) swiftly implanted and adopted. Over time with the adoption of wishful thinking biographies of the Nazarene agitator called Jesus the Messiach (this spellings used advisedly - in the Hebrew it has some wide reaching extra meanings - not necessarily a nice thing to say!) there is by the fall of the Romans a “good god” and a “Satan”. The rise of the “Church mentality” literally starts here.
The Church was not really all that worried about Pagans .. it largely bought them out during the last days of the Roman era ... with roads, maps, plumbing etc .... what remained was not as disturbing to them as dissenting voices in their own ranks. Heresy is anything not in accordance with the party line of the place and time. Hence the Inquisition. While certainly the odd and occasional witch found their way in to these categories amongst some of the more woolly deviants of the middle ages such as Waldensians and Cathars etc and were therefore meted out nastiness - the inquisition regarded witches as small fry heretics. Most of it is actually Catholic vs. protestant vs. Jew. The more exotic bunch were fairly easy to deal with. Much of the blart about burning times comes from oversimplification, wildly inaccurate stats and wishes and confusion with some decidedly geographic church practices. Certainly witch finders flourished briefly but by and large they were not part of a major pogrom - rather they were socio political manifestations and excuses. Gets the church more land, more power, gets rid of nosey or irritating socialites ... and so on. Certainly therewas wide spread witch panic especially in certain places at times but largely the so called “Burning Times” had little to do with witches - save to bring about a new breed.
There were pagan survivals of all kinds, and much ceremonial magical activity - and they were both equal parts foolishness and pageantry - with a side salad of reality. The church expanded its demonology section - so it could blame particular aberrant behaviors upon particular demons (again a word it stole - originally tending towards spirit of place or idea). This plus the brimstone “pulpit pounders” of the time gave the perfect excuses. Some witches went further underground - largely the folk cure people -with no real religions save basic eco-management (hell you got to eat and live after all!) and no real political agenda (ok so I am a “church goer” now ... so I go once a week and not use old names ... so what). Some of the witches adopted the new info and used it for fun and profit. Some of them used it, went one further and allied with the occasional Saracen traveler ... giving the political and religiously heretic witches we know of from the middle ages sermons. When the church says they do this - these bunch say "Hmmm well why not - worth a try!" Add to this the ignorant who'll do anything to get ahead in a world that keeps them in poverty - well it's easy to see how the witch hysteria becomes real.
After all this in some areas you have various peoples who exploit one trick for profit - horse whisperers and the like. You have witches who practice in varying degrees of reality.
You have ceremonialists who have books - and agendas. Sometimes these would all get on well - sometimes not. So you have stories of witches with books, of magicians under the cloven hoof .. and so on. As it is all largely being described by the same people you'd NEVER talk to it all gets mixed about. Then you have witches and cunning folk and in many places they were openly at war - cunning folk often had a vested interest in turning the witches in - it kept them in business and out of trouble with the local vicar! Much like the underworld of today - payoffs secret deals and the understanding that if no one is too public everyone prospers - even the police. Some of the above don'tgive a hoot about the church some hate it actively. Some covens survive, some die, new ones a re formed and etc - all in varying degrees of use and reality. So the world turns and the years pass - the 50s come about and Gerald takes a bold step in public that no one else wants to. He describes as much as is prudent about a public friendly version of certain witch practices he knows of (read as: “he has come up with”). He uses anold word that was used and says he talks of the "Wica". These bend forces in order to benefit their communities etc - hence the name. He also speaks of some of the witch cultists - and others again giving the names for each. This tends to be missed by many and soon becomes confused. Doreen is surprised when she says to Gerald that witches should have laws. He says they do and gives them to her. To her surprise they are nothing she's ever heard of. She is further surprised when he says well of course not - you are the wica - not a witch. The years pass and the early Wica give up on requesting the correct spelling and grammatical usage. Soon there is "Wicca".
This then alters again and is in certain circles highjacked by the rise of feminism ... and then again with the rise of the modern new age. Soon there is what we see about on the web - and most people actually loose access to actual background.
So I use them thus –
Witch: practitioner of non state approved magics. May be any or no religion - hard to nail down but tend more towards a softened mediaeval view.
Wica: Vague possible groups and individuals who make use of magical practices to the benefit of their self and their community as required - these practices vary enormously from one to another and likewise for place.
Gardnerian: Initiate of Gerald Gardner's group - has been inside the circle (initiated) and has lineage that can be traced back to Gerald. These tend to be sticklers for oaths, initiations and for balanced God and Goddess works of a practical and positive nature. Have a moral and religious code that is widely disregarded and bastardized by others.
Alexandrian: Initiate of the off shoot from Gardner's groups whose line can be traced back to Alex Sanders. Likewise have particular God/ess orientations, moral and religious codes.
Wiccan: Modern usage to denote practitioner of a set of practices that are very roughly derived from reports of certain beliefs and practices of initiates of Gardner's, Alex Sanders and others. These have moral and religious beliefs that are largely a hotchpotch of modern and selective understandings of various western and eastern philosophies - greatly slanted by the New Age.
Personally I find that the second a socio political agenda is introduced - it tends to get a bit testy and nasty! Bigotry isn’t confines to the pews after all! Gods forbid you should point out that the largely shared myths of the quasi social reform groups about these days are just that. Should you then suggest that the "wI/Ytch(E)craft(E)/cK/Ca (add the silent "Q") that is currently being touted as “the real ancient practices of the (fill in blank)" never existed before the agenda which it oh so coincidentally supports ... well better have the helmet on! If nothing else it is also a phase we all go through in one way or another - it helps I find to make us feel secure. We belong etc ... eventually all being well you end up notreally giving a damn either way ... you know what has happened has happened ... and what you do now is what you do now. Personally I find it difficult to ascertain why what the individual does is really of any business of anyone else but hey that is me at the moment.
One thing that is of interest also is the idea of being “marked” and no I don’t mean a tattoo or piercing you got when you joined such and such a group. Seriously though, the fact is that the old witches also talk of a mark - as well as what the finders called “marks”.
What they spoke of was the fact that witches can "see" each other - even at a distance. They KNOW - who they should say "I RECOGNISE you .. never met you but I KNOW you". This sometimes even extends to the “herd” so to speak who feel unnerved, worried, often even scared of us – even when we are doing our level best to fit in and look like everyone else. They tend to be deferential, subservient, frightened or suddenly defiant ... for no reason they can pin point. It's "the mark".
There is also the old saw of witch teats. Well depending on what line you are you may very well get them. I have seen a new initiate develop them within the year of their rite – and yes the same number as familiars they have – and in the traditional spots!
Another of the so called myths I would like to take this moment to say a word on is that of the city vs. country. While a witch can work equally well in either realm, still “rurality” tends to pull us back ... a stifling feel of too many people who cannot see the consequences of their actions ... it tends to cause depression and an often almost irrational need to escape - even if it is only to a darkened room to shut them out. Sense deprivation however is a pale comparison to sitting and allowing immersion in the natural vibe. Consider for example Reiki, it is interesting as it really is simply an eastern version of what primitive witches used for various purposes - healing being one of them! The primitive witch gets to know the trees, herbs,flowers, rocks and places around them - talks to them, listens to them and shares with them. Like a library of experts willing to help. These are obviously benefits that can then be passed on.
It is important to note that the old witches offer the initiate a connection to larger sources rather more than the “join this group and get access to our spell books”. The energetic connection allows for the sight and for information gathering and access to the power. It is basically saying here is a connection, I've opened your eyes now here are a few tricks I have used ... off you go. The raising of the Kundalini is much a part of this in a sense. (Rather more to the point that if someone with an eastern background were to comment on the process they might say that it is LIKE this!) It allows for cleansing of the vital areas of the body, the perception and senses and the correct flow of energies through the body. When all this is achieved access to various mental states and etc becomes facilitated. Memories of past lives and vision into the past and future is possible ... in essence in many ways they do tend to cause many of the same things. These processes allow access to many abilities.
Summoning is one that is often only tangentially dealt with in public. Any number of deities are accessible in the modern era to such as these initiates - it is worth examining all the folk lore and myth on any given deity - as well as actual historical accounts of worship - there is far too much made up stuff in most occult books these days. Many old witches make use of deities for various reasons - and are somewhat jealously secretive about whom and for what for precisely these same reasons.
The Runes are one that get bandied about a bit these days. To begin with there are no witches runes and no dragon runes! The Runes are a particularly raw and powerful current. The tradition I belong to make use of them in some ways but more often as not do so very slightly and in primitive fashion - if at all. There are so many different things associated with them one needs must be rather more careful than many of the modern pundits suggest. They do bring the party with them so to speak though – even if it is a particularly hazardous party from which it would be wise to cleanse yourself after! It is well worth to my mind cleansing ones self and one's environ at least once in the season - more so if there is a lot of contact with others or various forms of work and experimentation. This should be considered a “do even if I don’t think it is needed – when you least think it is needed is when it is generally required MOST.
So all of the above taken on board, what should the modern practitioner know about their path and that of the old witches? Well … to be honest what most would have described as their day to day studies is more than many of the old witches started with! I'll bet that you find also that when you are checking out diff books you find yourself reading some bits and saying “Yes”, some “NO”, some “useful” and some “Nice story - possibly useful too”. That I think is the next best bit! VERY useful .... read see and understand other people's views but at the endof the day your voice is what you should follow - not what others do. Books by people who are saying they are a thing and then saying "I have heard that they do this or I believe they do this - or research says they do this" is my polite way of saying “Crap”. They all have their place and are useful in one way or another. But that is another big subject for later. It is much akin to the FACT that anthropology is the child of being not included in games that are desired most. These and more I will deal with later – when I am less tired and less angry for no good reason.
Some are on purpose, some because I couldn’t be arsed putting them in and some because they would incriminate me. Years ago I was accused rather snottily of being very selective with my retelling of history. As Bill Hicks would have and did say: “Yeah? And? So? What?”
I understand there is a difference between Witches & Wicca.
Although the jury is still out in many ways and some outrageous claims are made either way ... the way I see it is this ... there were pagans and heathens (both originally meaning simply "country folk"
Both of these terms (and some other less used!) in time come to refer during on set of Puritanism and such like to the remnant folk practices from the past. In some places this means folk cures, superstitions and even occasionally (no way near as commonly as is dearly wished!) the odd Old God and seasonal rites (most often in even these rare cases in a garbled, half made up mixed with other stuff format). - It is this that much of the "Wiccan" stuff about refers.
Other than this there have been since ancient times all over the world usage of words that basically meant "Witch". Contrary to the wish lists - it generally means poisoner, frightener,- basically a dodgy sort that cannot be trusted to stick to the state approved religio-magical practices. There were terms for this sort of practice as early as Sumeria - possibly before.
The rise of the Judeo traditions stipulated various codes of personal hygiene in their religion (hence no menstruating women in religion - because not only is it a hygiene risk - it also attracts the wrong kind of spirits!) .. they also adopt a "Shaitan" - an opposer which the Manicheans would later expand. This basically means they have a good god and a bad one - by no means original but when allied to the might of their army (Judeans and Israelites kicked ass on much of the world for a while there!) swiftly implanted and adopted. Over time with the adoption of wishful thinking biographies of the Nazarene agitator called Jesus the Messiach (this spellings used advisedly - in the Hebrew it has some wide reaching extra meanings - not necessarily a nice thing to say!) there is by the fall of the Romans a “good god” and a “Satan”. The rise of the “Church mentality” literally starts here.
The Church was not really all that worried about Pagans .. it largely bought them out during the last days of the Roman era ... with roads, maps, plumbing etc .... what remained was not as disturbing to them as dissenting voices in their own ranks. Heresy is anything not in accordance with the party line of the place and time. Hence the Inquisition. While certainly the odd and occasional witch found their way in to these categories amongst some of the more woolly deviants of the middle ages such as Waldensians and Cathars etc and were therefore meted out nastiness - the inquisition regarded witches as small fry heretics. Most of it is actually Catholic vs. protestant vs. Jew. The more exotic bunch were fairly easy to deal with. Much of the blart about burning times comes from oversimplification, wildly inaccurate stats and wishes and confusion with some decidedly geographic church practices. Certainly witch finders flourished briefly but by and large they were not part of a major pogrom - rather they were socio political manifestations and excuses. Gets the church more land, more power, gets rid of nosey or irritating socialites ... and so on. Certainly therewas wide spread witch panic especially in certain places at times but largely the so called “Burning Times” had little to do with witches - save to bring about a new breed.
There were pagan survivals of all kinds, and much ceremonial magical activity - and they were both equal parts foolishness and pageantry - with a side salad of reality. The church expanded its demonology section - so it could blame particular aberrant behaviors upon particular demons (again a word it stole - originally tending towards spirit of place or idea). This plus the brimstone “pulpit pounders” of the time gave the perfect excuses. Some witches went further underground - largely the folk cure people -with no real religions save basic eco-management (hell you got to eat and live after all!) and no real political agenda (ok so I am a “church goer” now ... so I go once a week and not use old names ... so what). Some of the witches adopted the new info and used it for fun and profit. Some of them used it, went one further and allied with the occasional Saracen traveler ... giving the political and religiously heretic witches we know of from the middle ages sermons. When the church says they do this - these bunch say "Hmmm well why not - worth a try!" Add to this the ignorant who'll do anything to get ahead in a world that keeps them in poverty - well it's easy to see how the witch hysteria becomes real.
After all this in some areas you have various peoples who exploit one trick for profit - horse whisperers and the like. You have witches who practice in varying degrees of reality.
You have ceremonialists who have books - and agendas. Sometimes these would all get on well - sometimes not. So you have stories of witches with books, of magicians under the cloven hoof .. and so on. As it is all largely being described by the same people you'd NEVER talk to it all gets mixed about. Then you have witches and cunning folk and in many places they were openly at war - cunning folk often had a vested interest in turning the witches in - it kept them in business and out of trouble with the local vicar! Much like the underworld of today - payoffs secret deals and the understanding that if no one is too public everyone prospers - even the police. Some of the above don'tgive a hoot about the church some hate it actively. Some covens survive, some die, new ones a re formed and etc - all in varying degrees of use and reality. So the world turns and the years pass - the 50s come about and Gerald takes a bold step in public that no one else wants to. He describes as much as is prudent about a public friendly version of certain witch practices he knows of (read as: “he has come up with”). He uses anold word that was used and says he talks of the "Wica". These bend forces in order to benefit their communities etc - hence the name. He also speaks of some of the witch cultists - and others again giving the names for each. This tends to be missed by many and soon becomes confused. Doreen is surprised when she says to Gerald that witches should have laws. He says they do and gives them to her. To her surprise they are nothing she's ever heard of. She is further surprised when he says well of course not - you are the wica - not a witch. The years pass and the early Wica give up on requesting the correct spelling and grammatical usage. Soon there is "Wicca".
This then alters again and is in certain circles highjacked by the rise of feminism ... and then again with the rise of the modern new age. Soon there is what we see about on the web - and most people actually loose access to actual background.
So I use them thus –
Witch: practitioner of non state approved magics. May be any or no religion - hard to nail down but tend more towards a softened mediaeval view.
Wica: Vague possible groups and individuals who make use of magical practices to the benefit of their self and their community as required - these practices vary enormously from one to another and likewise for place.
Gardnerian: Initiate of Gerald Gardner's group - has been inside the circle (initiated) and has lineage that can be traced back to Gerald. These tend to be sticklers for oaths, initiations and for balanced God and Goddess works of a practical and positive nature. Have a moral and religious code that is widely disregarded and bastardized by others.
Alexandrian: Initiate of the off shoot from Gardner's groups whose line can be traced back to Alex Sanders. Likewise have particular God/ess orientations, moral and religious codes.
Wiccan: Modern usage to denote practitioner of a set of practices that are very roughly derived from reports of certain beliefs and practices of initiates of Gardner's, Alex Sanders and others. These have moral and religious beliefs that are largely a hotchpotch of modern and selective understandings of various western and eastern philosophies - greatly slanted by the New Age.
Personally I find that the second a socio political agenda is introduced - it tends to get a bit testy and nasty! Bigotry isn’t confines to the pews after all! Gods forbid you should point out that the largely shared myths of the quasi social reform groups about these days are just that. Should you then suggest that the "wI/Ytch(E)craft(E)/cK/Ca (add the silent "Q") that is currently being touted as “the real ancient practices of the (fill in blank)" never existed before the agenda which it oh so coincidentally supports ... well better have the helmet on! If nothing else it is also a phase we all go through in one way or another - it helps I find to make us feel secure. We belong etc ... eventually all being well you end up notreally giving a damn either way ... you know what has happened has happened ... and what you do now is what you do now. Personally I find it difficult to ascertain why what the individual does is really of any business of anyone else but hey that is me at the moment.
One thing that is of interest also is the idea of being “marked” and no I don’t mean a tattoo or piercing you got when you joined such and such a group. Seriously though, the fact is that the old witches also talk of a mark - as well as what the finders called “marks”.
What they spoke of was the fact that witches can "see" each other - even at a distance. They KNOW - who they should say "I RECOGNISE you .. never met you but I KNOW you". This sometimes even extends to the “herd” so to speak who feel unnerved, worried, often even scared of us – even when we are doing our level best to fit in and look like everyone else. They tend to be deferential, subservient, frightened or suddenly defiant ... for no reason they can pin point. It's "the mark".
There is also the old saw of witch teats. Well depending on what line you are you may very well get them. I have seen a new initiate develop them within the year of their rite – and yes the same number as familiars they have – and in the traditional spots!
Another of the so called myths I would like to take this moment to say a word on is that of the city vs. country. While a witch can work equally well in either realm, still “rurality” tends to pull us back ... a stifling feel of too many people who cannot see the consequences of their actions ... it tends to cause depression and an often almost irrational need to escape - even if it is only to a darkened room to shut them out. Sense deprivation however is a pale comparison to sitting and allowing immersion in the natural vibe. Consider for example Reiki, it is interesting as it really is simply an eastern version of what primitive witches used for various purposes - healing being one of them! The primitive witch gets to know the trees, herbs,flowers, rocks and places around them - talks to them, listens to them and shares with them. Like a library of experts willing to help. These are obviously benefits that can then be passed on.
It is important to note that the old witches offer the initiate a connection to larger sources rather more than the “join this group and get access to our spell books”. The energetic connection allows for the sight and for information gathering and access to the power. It is basically saying here is a connection, I've opened your eyes now here are a few tricks I have used ... off you go. The raising of the Kundalini is much a part of this in a sense. (Rather more to the point that if someone with an eastern background were to comment on the process they might say that it is LIKE this!) It allows for cleansing of the vital areas of the body, the perception and senses and the correct flow of energies through the body. When all this is achieved access to various mental states and etc becomes facilitated. Memories of past lives and vision into the past and future is possible ... in essence in many ways they do tend to cause many of the same things. These processes allow access to many abilities.
Summoning is one that is often only tangentially dealt with in public. Any number of deities are accessible in the modern era to such as these initiates - it is worth examining all the folk lore and myth on any given deity - as well as actual historical accounts of worship - there is far too much made up stuff in most occult books these days. Many old witches make use of deities for various reasons - and are somewhat jealously secretive about whom and for what for precisely these same reasons.
The Runes are one that get bandied about a bit these days. To begin with there are no witches runes and no dragon runes! The Runes are a particularly raw and powerful current. The tradition I belong to make use of them in some ways but more often as not do so very slightly and in primitive fashion - if at all. There are so many different things associated with them one needs must be rather more careful than many of the modern pundits suggest. They do bring the party with them so to speak though – even if it is a particularly hazardous party from which it would be wise to cleanse yourself after! It is well worth to my mind cleansing ones self and one's environ at least once in the season - more so if there is a lot of contact with others or various forms of work and experimentation. This should be considered a “do even if I don’t think it is needed – when you least think it is needed is when it is generally required MOST.
So all of the above taken on board, what should the modern practitioner know about their path and that of the old witches? Well … to be honest what most would have described as their day to day studies is more than many of the old witches started with! I'll bet that you find also that when you are checking out diff books you find yourself reading some bits and saying “Yes”, some “NO”, some “useful” and some “Nice story - possibly useful too”. That I think is the next best bit! VERY useful .... read see and understand other people's views but at the endof the day your voice is what you should follow - not what others do. Books by people who are saying they are a thing and then saying "I have heard that they do this or I believe they do this - or research says they do this" is my polite way of saying “Crap”. They all have their place and are useful in one way or another. But that is another big subject for later. It is much akin to the FACT that anthropology is the child of being not included in games that are desired most. These and more I will deal with later – when I am less tired and less angry for no good reason.
posted by BissekArt at 11:04 pm
0 comments
