Halloweenology - The Witches of Halloween
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Halloween Witch hits pole picture copyright of Halloweenology

Witches

The popular icon of a witch is an ugly old woman riding across the sky on her magic broomstick and wearing a pointed hat. But as with all mythologies there is an element of truth behind the image. Witches did ride brooms, after a fashion, the brooms were magic, in a way, and the pointed hat was the mildest of the punishments inflicted on them for their activities!

At one time, Halloween Witches were thought of only in Fairy Tales, however the art of being a Witch actually comes out of the Wiccan religion and includes the use of all the natural elements of earth for personal improvement and to help family and friends. A true Halloween Witch cannot help someone unless they are directly asked because it would be a violation of another beings will.

Casting spells is done with the earths elements and its fruits and with alot of emotion, energy and visual stimulation. Halloween Withces believe that there is a balance in all of nature, male/female, god/goddess or Yin/Yang. For example, the Halloween Witch's broomstick which is actually called a besom is a handmade ritual tool which is a Phallic Symbol that was used in Fertility Rites. The stick was the male part and the broom herb on the sweeping end was a feminine herb, thus making a male and female representation all together. Soaking the brush herbs in salt water prior to making the broomstick is supposed to release prior energies.
Interestingly, in the far east paractice of Feng Shui, salt is also used to absorb or get rid of negative or prior energies. A broomstick or besom can be used to sweep negative feelings out the door.

When the early settlers came to America, they brought along their belief in witches. In American the legends of witches spread and mixed with the beliefs of others, the Native Americans - who also believed in witches, and then later with the black magic beliefs of the African slaves. The black cat has long been associated with witches. Many superstitions have evolved about cats. It was believed that witches could change into cats. Some people also believed that cats were the spirits of the dead. One of the best known superstitions is that of the black cat. If a black cat was to cross your path you would have to turn around and go back because many people believe if you continued bad luck would strike you