Identifying as a witch as a feminist statement

[BilboBercow]

Is that a bit bonkers? I've been thinking about it for a while, I really enjoy a bit of woo although I'm not what I'd describe as a believer in magic.

I'm going through a period right now where I'm particularly angry with the patriarchy, trying to deal with an abusive ex, outraged at what I see as the escalation of femicide during the pandemic, I'm also listening to a podcast on Scottish witch trials and I particularly identify with these (mosty) women who were executed by the state for being a bit different. Scotland tried over 4k people for witchcraft, higher per capita than anywhere in Europe.

Has anyone done this, or considered it?

Just me being a weirdo then?

I get where you are coming from, I too am partial to a bit of female power witchy symbolism and general jungian artchetype woo,
but I'd give it a wide berth if I were you. That's been appropriated too.

Lots of very masculine presenting, female attracted, particularly violent transgender TRA's do it. I think it might have something to do with one (or several) of the RPG underworld fantasy games many of them seem to play (like warhammer). The witch/queen symbolism often seems to be combined with Briar and thorns symbolism. I don't quite understand it, some real gamers might be able to correct me, (I have only explored it in terms of trying to understand a certain mindset and my understanding is superficial) but the symbolism is quite stabby, penetretive, dominant. Freud would have a field day.

Oh no I didn't realise that. If anything I associated it with Rad Fems "granddaughters of the witches you couldn't burn" etc which is what I see more on Twitter

Very interesting to hear about the brutality towards women during the witch trials in Scotland in light of the way women are currently under threat there through changes to the definition of the word woman and other legislation.

Sadly most of the witches I know have gone full TWAW.

They think they are being kind and snorting people with dysphoria. Sadly they don’t know about autogynophelia or that they are simply providing wank fodder when they invite these males in to workshops designed to support women.

Hmm there's something very 'we are the daughters of the witches you couldn't burn' about this

I’m in. I’m identifying as Granny Weatherwax bit with Nanny Ogg's earthy humour. They wouldn’t have stood for this nonsense!

All woman centric groups, organisations and workplaces were top of the list to be targeted by queer theorists and gender ideologues to ensure inclusion and kindness (submission, disempowerment) in the very organisations which otherwise would have been most likely to resist the new belief system. There has also been a tendency to prioritise the removal of boundaries from woman centric groups and organisations for a variety of other reasons which some will know, others will guess and the rest will need to research on other platforms.

There are GC feminists who identify strongly with witches of the past and refer to themselves as witches. I have also seen the “this witch won’t burn” t shirts, didn’t J K Rowling sport one at one point?

You either are one or you're not.

@DaisiesandButtercups

All woman centric groups, organisations and workplaces were top of the list to be targeted by queer theorists and gender ideologues to ensure inclusion and kindness (submission, disempowerment) in the very organisations which otherwise would have been most likely to resist the new belief system. There has also been a tendency to prioritise the removal of boundaries from woman centric groups and organisations for a variety of other reasons which some will know, others will guess and the rest will need to research on other platforms.

There are GC feminists who identify strongly with witches of the past and refer to themselves as witches. I have also seen the “this witch won’t burn” t shirts, didn’t J K Rowling sport one at one point?

This. Where I used to live, one TW targeted every woman's group and organisation and got onto the management committees and boards of several. When last heard of they were on the women's committee of a trade union and a police advisory group. It felt at the time as if it was strategically planned and when I said so people laughed at me, but there's been a concerted, planned attempt to destroy women's networks.

OP, I read an interesting book on this recently; Tracy Borman's "Witches: A Tale Of Sorcery, Scandal & Seduction" which looks at the social and political backdrop to the anti-witch frenzy in Europe.

How dangerous it was to be female,poor, old and unattractive. Even wealthy women lived in fear of the accusation; I think it was part of Anne Boleyn's trial.

Count me in, I'm a practising pagan.

I'd love to join a Dianic coven, most of the rest of the pagan groupings have gone full gender woo-woo sadly. Funny for a belief system that worships nature in its immanent state, they don't understand basic reproductive biology and how life sustains itself

@EsmesRedPetticoat

I’m in. I’m identifying as Granny Weatherwax bit with Nanny Ogg's earthy humour. They wouldn’t have stood for this nonsense!

Basically my lifetime ambition. I'm in.

@BahHumbygge

I'd love to join a Dianic coven, most of the rest of the pagan groupings have gone full gender woo-woo sadly. Funny for a belief system that worships nature in its immanent state, they don't understand basic reproductive biology and how life sustains itself

Same here. All my wiccan/earthy groups are now believing in twaw and are so unbelievabley woke and vocal about it. I feel quite alone again.

@EsmesRedPetticoat

I’m in. I’m identifying as Granny Weatherwax bit with Nanny Ogg's earthy humour. They wouldn’t have stood for this nonsense!

DD always says I'm Granny Weatherwax crossed with Nanny Ogg so I'm in too.

Are the dianics still holding out? I hope so.

there's a witch thread going in the philosophy/religion section here, I don't know if they think TWAW it mostly seems to be appreciating nature when I've looked

In the very old days, pre Christianity, There was a lot of faith in Mother Earth and wise women and female elders held significant power and were respected members of the community. When Christianity came, the old symbols and gods were re-written and co-opted into Christianity and demonised (literally in some cases) and women’s power-bases were stripped away.

So identifying as a witch could definitely be a feminist statement!

And the original wise women would have laughed their heads off at TWAW, as they were .....well wise.

I've been listening to this podcast about the women who were tortured and executed in Scotland for being, well, mostly, women with opinions and skills. www.witchesofscotland.com/podcast

Well worth a listen, and yes, I'd LOVE to be in Granny Weatherwax's gang.

@viva it's Witches of Scotland I'm listening to too!

ISn't it good, Bilbo? I thought I knew a fair bit about the witches (some shockers happened near where I grew up so I heard the stories as a child) but, it's so thorough, I've learned loads.

Makes me angry.

You don't need to 'identify as a witch'; you could just investigate herbalism and so on. Keep a 'Wemoon' diary, if you still menstruate....get in touch with your own rhythms. Learn the tarot - it can be a really rich source of symbolism - and so on.....

www.rainbowcircle.co.uk/rainbowcircle.html

There are lots of camps and gatherings that celebrate the natural earth cycles, healing, dance etc - you can attend - once the lock-down is over.