A Brief History of Witchcraft and the Archetype
You’re in the right place if you want to…
learn a brief history of witch craft
understand the archetype of the witch and how to embody that as you practice
discover ways of using the tarot in your every day life
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To start off the show, we look at our Tarot Card for the week and we look for moments that relate to this card in our daily lives.
For this week, we chose the four of pentacles. The theme of this card is stability.
The Four of Pentacles is a person who is in control of their money. The pentacle on his lap is held inside the square he makes with his arms. And two pentacles are secure under his feet. The fourth pentacle is balanced on his crown which is less secure. This could represent some different type of investments that are risky and safe.
We can see the theme of rest because this person is not stressed about money, they can rest their mind.
Now, Pentacles aren’t just about money. Pentacles are about all the different material possessions and physical realm experiences. So these different secure and risky investments and the supporting coins could be having a secure job that pays the bills and testing out starting a business on the side. It could be building up your skills by investing time in practice but taking chances on new techniques that will help you improve more quickly. So, don’t limit your interpretation to only considering money.
You can hear Erica’s and Maggie’s stories related to the Seven of Wands by listening to the episode.
The word Witch seems to have power all its own. No matter who you say it to, they will have some sort of reaction. The word contains all the mysteries of humankind in five letters. It encompasses fear, magic, mysticism, nature and more, a swirling potion of history.
In this episode we will talk about about the history of witchcraft and the changing archetype of the witch.
The History of Witchcraft
I highly suggest the book a History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult which was produced by DK Publishing and written by several historians. It is 300 pages of exactly what the title promises, beginning in prehistory and documenting witchcraft up through the internet age.
Which is good, because humans have used magic since we first became aware of the environment we live in. There are clues about prehistoric rituals such as the Carnac Stones in Brittany, which are aligned with the rising and setting sun at various points throughout the year. Additionally, there are various artifacts found in Asia, Africa, North and South America before 400 CE such as spell books, protection wards, amulets and talismans, and more.
Medieval Period
During the Medieval period, between 400 and 1500 CE, as Christianity spread West and North and Islam spread East and South from Southwest Asia, witchcraft began to be seen as a sin against these dominating religions. Both religions believed ancient magical traditions were a challenge to their authority. Those magical practitioners—high priests and priestesses, monks, healers, and wise ones—who were once revered, became ostracized and driven to practice in secrecy.
Renaissance Period
The persecution of witches—or anyone who was outside of the patriarchal status quo—reached its peak during the Renaissance, between 1500 and 1700 CE. At the time, a dichotomy emerged in Europe where things were classified as "good" or "evil" with little room for the spectrum that truly exists. Anything that opposed their power was evil. European colonizers spread this simplistic lens of viewing the world as they expanded their territory to North and South America.
This was also a time when new branches of magic based in the science of the time were developing such as Hermeticism, natural magic, and alchemy.
Enlightenment Period
Between 1700 and 1900 CE, a period known as the Enlightenment, prosecution against witches lessened as new enemies of the powerful religion prevailed: science and industry. People revolted against the oppressive religious power in the name of individual freedom and creative expression. This created space for magical practitioners to reemerge from the shadows with traditions such as the Golden Dawn and Voodoo.
Modern Period
From 1900 to the present, the popularity of witchcraft and the use of magic has only grown. Witches have been represented in media such as the Wizard of Oz, many Disney classics, and television shows like Sabrina and Charmed. The witch has become an empowering symbol of the feminist movement.
This is a very brief history but it illustrates the way the perception of witches and witchcraft has changed across time and space. Witches are benevolent spiritual healers in some views, and to others witches are dangerous beings who cause harm.
The witch archetype
An archetype is a universally recognized and easily identified symbol, myth, or pattern of behavior. Archetypes can be defined by symbols, images, and concepts. For example, the mother figure is the best representation of nurturance and care-taking.
Unlike the mother archetype, who remains consistent throughout history, we have seen how the witch has been defined changes throughout history. As such, the archetype of the witch reflects each of these different perceptions and embodies them.
The witch archetype is the healer, high priest or priestess, wise person, and shaman of prehistory up to the rise of patriarchal religions. The witch is also the sinner, the marginalized, and the secretive person of the medieval and renaissance periods. And the witch is the empowered person, the rebel, and the untamed person of enlightenment and modern day.
The witch archetype has been explored extensively by writers and filmmakers over the years, and continues to fascinate us to this day.
This archetype is immortalized in literature such as Shakespeare's Macbeth, Morgan Le Fay of King Arthur Lore, Hecate and Circe in Greek Mythology, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, or Roald Dahl's The Witches.
The witch has also been featured prominently in films such as The Wizard of Oz, Hocus Pocus, and Practical Magic. But no matter how the witch is depicted in popular culture, this archetype will always reflect the beliefs, fears, and anxieties of the time period. And that's what makes the witch so interesting.
So if you're interested in embracing the witch archetype and living as a modern day witch, here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Embrace your receptive power
The witch archetype is all about tapping into the power of the receptive, so it's important to embrace your own passivity. So much of our culture is about pushing forward, being productive, and taking action. We can restore some of the natural balance by intentionally making space for reflection, destruction, and rest.
2. Connect with nature
One of the core principles of witchcraft is to live in harmony with nature. Spend time in nature, and connect with the natural world around you. Listen to the wind, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the fresh air. When you take the time to connect with nature, you see the cycles of growth and decline, creation and destruction, movement and rest more clearly. You also open yourself up to receive its wisdom and guidance.
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Send us a voicemail
We play one listener voicemail on each episode of Talk Witchcraft, with a few exceptions. To send us a voicemail, record a voice memo on your phone and email it to welisten [at] talkwitchcraft [dot] com. Please keep in mind that we only choose voicemails that are two minutes in length or shorter (even if they’re great!).
What we’re looking for in a voicemail
Share from your personal experiences (especially experiences that we could never have) and use that to illuminate the zodiac season or theme in new ways.
Ask questions of Erica and Maggie, so we have an opportunity to respond meaningfully to your voicemail during the podcast.
Use one of these prompts: Is there something happening with you and your life that aligns with the current zodiac season or a Tarot card? How do your experiences show us something new about the magic, something that we haven’t talked about so far?
Send a voicemail even if you’re behind on the podcast. If your voicemail is about a previous episode, zodiac season, or tarot card; that doesn’t mean we won’t choose it!
Tips for recording a great voicemail
Make sure you’re somewhere quiet.
Plan what you’re going to say ahead of time, because two minutes goes quickly.
Opt for talking freely based on a bullet pointed list rather than reading word-for word from a script.
Let us know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.
Wait, don’t go yet!
Thanks for hanging out with me today. If you’ve enjoyed this post of Talk Witchcraft, I invite you to check out mumblesacademy.com.
Mumbles Academy is the place to be for intuitive souls at any stage on their WitchPath. Whether you are a Wildling at the very beginning of witchcraft journey and looking for a safe learning environment, a Creator who is already committed to their practice and wants to develop their witchcraft skills even more, or a Sage who full of wisdom already and is ready to share that with others, Mumbles Academy was designed for you.
With monthly masterclasses and live Q&As, an extensive archive of courses and training, and a supportive community to help you along the way with encouragement and advice, Mumbles Academy is the perfect place for you to be as you as you continue on your WitchPath.
Now it’s your turn!
Share how you came out of the brook closet. Or if you’re not out yet, tell us why.
