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Witch
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A witch (from Old English masculine wicca, feminine wicce, see Witch (etymology) is a practitioner of witchcraft. The Online Etymology Dictionary states a "possible connection to Gothic weihs "holy" and Ger. weihan "consecrate," and writes, "the priests of a suppressed religion naturally become magicians to its successors or opponents." [1] While mythological witches are often supernatural creatures, historically many people have been accused of witchcraft, or have claimed to be witches. In "Some Reflections on the Relationship Magic-Religion", author H. S. Versnel writes: "Anthropologists in particular have argued that no meaningful contrast between religion and magic can be gained from this approach and that our notion 'magic' is a modern-western biased construct which does not fit representations of other cultures." [2] Witchcraft still exists in a number of belief systems, and indeed there are many today who self-identify with the term "witch" (see below, under Neopaganism).
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Witches were convenient scapegoats for doctors who failed to cure their patients, for it was the "received" belief that witch-caused illnesses were incurable. Weyer said, "Ignorant and clumsy physicians blame all sicknesses which they are unable to cure or which they have treated wrongly, on witchery." There were ... priests and monks who "claim to understand the healing art and they lie to those who seek help that their sicknesses are derived from witchery."23 Most real witch persecutions reflect "no erotic orgies, no Sabbats or elaborate rituals; merely the hatreds and spites of narrow peasant life assisted by vicious laws."24
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The events which led to the Witch Trials actually occurred in what is now the town of Danvers, then a parish of Salem Town, known as Salem Village. Launching the hysteria was the bizarre, seemingly inexplicable behavior of two young girls; the daughter, Betty, and the niece, Abigail Williams, of the Salem Village minister, Reverend Samuel Parris.
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The Witch of Wookey convulsively stiffened, as if held in an invisible grasp. The glare froze in her eyes, and her lips writhed back in an effort to frame a final malediction. Her evil figure subtly changed, appearing to solidify and straighten; the tattered garments seemed to sink in and merge with her aged flesh. A supreme tremor passed into an unbreathing, deathly rigour, and, as the monk's voice ceased, only a stony image reared itself by the unheeding river.
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Generally, if you hear of somebody making a dramatic public display of being a "Witch" with evil powers, that person is not accepted by real Witches as a sincere and responsible member of the religion. Most real Witches are embarrassed by such people, and upset about the harm they cause by encouraging negative stereotypes. But they are not considered powerful or dangerous otherwise.
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* A visit to "Experience the Magic of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in the Snow Globes," a groundbreaking display at the participating shopping centers. The interactive experience lets visitors experience the Land of Narnia depicted through giant snow globes, including a 20-foot, walk-through globe that actually puts visitors in the magical Land of Narnia -- complete with a blast of cool air, falling snow and Narnia movie footage. Visitors to the shopping center display will journey through the magic wardrobe to the Land of Narnia; view actual props and costumes used in the film; and see video insights from its director and video greetings from cast members, all made especially for the display.
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