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?

Dianic afaik (at least in the women I know) has not yet capitulated. Very much not so.

(and is what shall go on my census for religion)

I'd identify as a Discworld witch. Bags of common sense those ladies have.

Lammergeier

I'm pagan too. When the gender war is getting a bit much I indulge in a spot of moon bathing. Full moon is best, and I think of all the women throughout the centuries that may have stood in troubled times gazing at her face. It gives me a sense of connection, but that could just be because I'm an old romantic😊

Sadly I identify most as Magrat

Ha ha duffmcstockings there is an awful lot of anagram in me too! More so when I was younger.

Ugh Magrat!

How do we go about finding these dianic covens in the UK? Is there a website? I noticed that the book by Z Budapest is currently out of print.

@Justhadathought

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.....

Did any witches identify as witches? I thought it was an identity imposed on them, before they were hung, burned etc.

@Drinkingallthewine

I'd identify as a Discworld witch. Bags of common sense those ladies have.

Headology and herbs, definitely. Though maybe I identify as the coven's mascot/firelighter...

My ramblings quite often take me past a witch's grave - there are often a few flowers on it and someone has planted bulbs around it.

I think I’m going to investigate it more, there are definitely some appealing elements. I love the Discworld witches and I often think Terry Pratchett’s female characters are very interesting from a feminist point of view.

Did any witches identify as witches? I thought it was an identity imposed on them, before they were hung, burned etc

Precisely! Do away with the identity labelling, and just explore what moves you.

Melroses in fairness although most of the women were completely falsely accused, some were performing what would be classified as witchcraft. Pagan rituals and "spells" and indeed some did "curse" individuals, not that I believe this was the cause of genuine harm.

Witches, at least in England were hanged, not burned.

There is a lot of romanticised revision goes on with this. Some were extremely unpleasant people you would not want to cross and who terrorised local communities. Some were also men.

The Pendle witches were involved in extortion, demanding money with menaces, threatening to destroy crops and provisions, which could result in starvation, and probably serious child abuse

A lot of "witches" who were accused were bipolar, had mental health issues, alcoholics etc, rather than those who practiced witchcraft

However if you go further back there is some proof that the original shamans were female e.g. in the paleothithic era, theres a really interesting book about this called when the drummers were women, all around the frame drum through history and how historically it was a womans instrument. Theres also some interesting stuff about how the womens poistion in historical tribes is being reconsidered now they are not only studied by an inherently sexist bunch of people as has previously been the case.

Sorry not exactly witchcraft related but there is an element of reclaiming a power that was lost/stolen from us

My coven doesn't hold with TWAW.

Ruth Barrett is a Dianic leader and edited Female Erasure: What You Need to Know about Gender Politics' War on Women

I identify as a Viper.

It is interesting to me that women started to be persecuted as witches at the same time as medicine began to be established as a profession in Scotland. A lot of them were midwives, who were taking business away from the male medics.

@Giggorata very glad to hear it.

I lost touch with my coven a few years ago, and would hope that sense would prevail. However they were also quite high profile within the community so would no doubt have been targeted.

Google 'Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell'.

viva bilbo thank you for the heads up on the podcast. I’ve been listening today - really interesting. And a little shout out to TP’s witches too.

@alkanet I know what you mean about moon bathing. I like to have a moon bath on a new moon, it is very comforting to me. I like the idea of washing away on old month and preparing for the new.

Also a huge Pratchett witch fan- Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg would have had none of this bollocks.

If you practice witchcraft then you are a witch
If you don't you aren't you choose whatever occupation you do have.

If you wanna do it! I get frustrated by the transwomen getting into it, like not yours to explore mate, but I have my own conflicted feelings I';; share if thats ok.

When I was younger, like 9 up to my late teens, I was interested in witchcraft quite sincerely as a form of spirituality and neopaganism. I would still say I am into that sort of pagan/ritual spirituality but having read more about 'real' witches and knowing that they were either very smart herbalists etc (which I am not) or just normal women being horrifyingly persecuted (or sometimes not' normal' maybe with illnesses that made them seem 'scary' back in the olden days) I feel weird about claiming to be any sort of witch.
I'm not following the footsteps of powerful women with secret knowledge and a distinct faith, I would be helping to obscure the awful historical reality.

but idk I know my take is a bit left field and maybe 'oversensitive', and if its about finding power in yourself as woman, go for it!