quotations about witches & witchcraft
Early this year, the witch camp in Bonyase was disbanded in an attempt by the government to erase what it considers as a stain on its human rights records.... The pervasive belief in Ghana that people can harm others through witchcraft is the elephant in the room that has to be called out, not the safe places which alleged witches flee to. The government of Ghana needs to retrace its steps and focus its energy and resources on addressing the phenomenon of witchcraft allegation. Witch camps are the consequences, not the cause of the problem. They are symptoms not the disease. The government of Ghana is correct in saying that witchcraft accusation leads to various human rights abuses. Now how is shutting down the witch camp the solution to these abuses? Most people living in these shelters did not just take up residency there without any reason. People in these camps are accused persons who were convicted at shrines or banished by families and would have been killed if they had stayed back in their communities, if they had not taken refuge at these shelters.
LEO IGWE
"Ghana: Witchcraft Accusation -- Is Disbanding 'Witches Camps' the Solution?", The Chronicle, November 17, 2015
It is an accurate statement that the followers of Witchcraft do not usually proselytize, which means you aren't going to find us standing on your local street corner thumping our Books of Shadows. Nor do you have to worry about jumping out of the shower to answer our serene and smiling faces at the door with your clothes stuck to various uncomfortable places on your wet body. But just because we (hopefully) aren't the forcible type doesn't mean we don't exist.
SILVER RAVENWOLF
To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft
In recent weeks alone, we've seen the devil pressing hard to bring witchcraft deeper into our schools, our homes and our entertainment venues. We reported on how a new witchcraft-inspired challenge is luring kids into summoning demons. It's called Charlie Charlie and it's sweeping the nation and the world under the guise of a carefree fortune-telling game. Faith leaders are sounding the alarm.
JENNIFER LECLAIRE
"A Revival of the Devil's Witchcraft Is Rising", Charisma News, June 15, 2015
Another theme unique to traditional witchcraft is the lore of the Witch Mark. This mysterious concept may have come from coerced testimony. However, a closer look reveals a deeper mythology with connections back to antiquity coming to be known as the Mark of Cain. The idea of an initiatory experience transforming one into something different, something other, is not new to human consciousness. In witch mythology the mark is transmitted from Cain, the first sorcerer, who was marked as other by God. It is seen as a spiritual fire that connects those of the Witchblood across time and space. The Mark is something that crosses the boundaries of all traditions, uniting those who seek a deeper truth. Individual spiritual growth is paramount to the witch, forging their own spiritual relationships while discovering for themselves the secrets of the Universe.
COBY MICHAEL SMITH
"A Traditional Witch's Love Affair With History", Patheos, March 22, 2017
People come into [witchcraft] because of ... dissatisfaction with the status quo of faith practice. They're seeking information that is not being fulfilled by traditional religions. People are tired of being sheep.
NICK KATSIKIS
"Contemporary witchcraft", The Temple News, October 27, 2015
I practice mostly solitary witchcraft, which means it's very inward focused and about finding your own way and meeting up with others when you have a question or want to try something new. That's one of things about witchcraft, it's less formal communing, but in many respects it's closer.
HANNAH THOMAS
"Student practices witchcraft, found communities within Des Moines, Drake, internet", The Times-Delphic, March 22, 2017
A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest ... because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her.
TERRY PRATCHETT
Wintersmith
The light in her Gypsy eyes
Fenced with saffron tongues
As they burnt off her skin.
And she wailed before she died,
Before the hush of holy sacrifice.
And her sinful thighs
Created for the danse macabre
Withered into ashes.
PETER HARGITAI
"Witch's Island"
When have I last looked on
The round green eyes and the long wavering bodies
Of the dark leopards of the moon?
All the wild witches, those most noble ladies,
For all their broom-sticks and their tears,
Their angry tears, are gone.
WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS
"Lines Written in Dejection", The Wild Swans at Coole
Witches don't look like anything. Witches are. Witches do.
FRANNY BILLINGSLEY
Chime
Numerous studies done on schizophrenia, including at Mayo Clinic, in the United States, show that its symptoms begin to show in early 20s and late 20s for men and women, respectively. These studies showed that it's uncommon for children to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and it's very rare in adults aged over 45. So for some Ugandans, when a previously healthy family member suddenly begins to exhibit these symptoms ... it's not uncommon for some patients and their relatives to jump on the witchcraft blame-game, a common diversionary mechanism that hinders timely and appropriate psychiatric treatment because we are in state of denial.... One only wonders out of the 41 million Ugandans, how many of those who need psychiatric healthcare are suffering silently in the shadows!
VIVIAN ASEDRI
"Uganda: Witchcraft is a Vulnerable Person's Quickest Antidote!", The Monitor, January 14, 2016
Being a modern witch not only adds a dash of magic to everything you do, but gives your life some serious hex appeal!
ELLEN RICKS
"Here's How Being A Modern Witch Is My Middle Finger To The Patriarchy", Vocally, April 6, 2018
There are spiritual forces of witchcraft working to destroy our marriages, families, relationships, ministries, faith and churches.... Witchcraft is a real force and Jesus has given power to every believer to break free from its deceiving clutch.
JONAS CLARK
Exposing Spiritual Witchcraft
To deny the possibility, nay, the actual existence of witchcraft and sorcery, is at once flatly to contradict the revealed word of God in various passages both of the Old and New Testament, and the thing itself is a Truth to which every nation in the world hath, in its turn, borne testimony, by either example seemingly well attested or by prohibitory laws, which at least suppose the possibility of a commerce with evil spirits.
SIR WILLIAM BLACKSTONE
Commentaries, 1765
Although the most acute judges of the witches and even the witches themselves, were convinced of the guilt of witchery, the guilt nevertheless was non-existent. It is thus with all guilt.
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
The Portable Nietzsche
I believe witchcraft is one of the powers in the hierarchy of demons Paul listed in Ephesians 6:12. Just as the Holy Spirit is the power of God, witchcraft is a power of the enemy.
JENNIFER LECLAIRE
"3 More Sure Signs Witchcraft Is Attacking You", Charisma News, October 17, 2015
Witchery is merely a word for what we are all capable of -- heightened nightsight, an empathy shared with the beasts, a utilization of the more obscure abilities of our minds. Nothing that science can't explain away. Wizardry is spells and enchantments. Fairy tales.
CHARLES DE LINT
Into the Green
For me "an act of Witchcraft" is one that brings me closer to the things I value in my spiritual life. In that sense gardening becomes an act of Witchcraft because it brings me closer to the Earth and the turn of the seasons. The simple act of putting a picture of my deceased grandparents up in my living room is an act of Witchcraft because it tells their spirits that they are welcome in my house and helps me to connect with them.
JASON MANKEY
"An Act of Witchcraft", Patheos, April 25, 2018
Witchcraft is the art of the Fallen Angels, the Watchers and the Children of Cain. It is the art of encircling the shadows of darkness and light to serve your will and create through your own being.
MICHAEL FORD
Luciferian Witchcraft: Book of the Serpent
One might think you knew all about witches, to hear you chatter. But your words prove you to be very ignorant of the subject. You may find good people and bad people in the world; and so, I suppose, you may find good witches and bad witches.
L. FRANK BAUM
"The Witchcraft of Mary-Marie", Baum's American Fairy Tales