Yesterday I began an online course with Sharon Blackie, a story-teller who wrote 'If Women Rose Rooted'. The course is called 'Someday Your Witch Will Come'. I am one of 2 men amongst 200 participants. Come on guys!
Sharon distinguishes between the historical witch, and what they have become in the modern imagination, a woman who is part of the natural world, and with the power that comes with that. Exactly how I describe the foundations of Shamanism. (And the real meaning of 'core shamanism' IMO.)
The execution of witches occurred over a 350 year period in Europe, and detailed records were kept, on which Sharon based her account. She was sorry to disappoint people, but the figure of up to 9 million women burnt at the stake is simply not the case (I'd watched that figure inflate over the years, but didn't feel it was an arena into which I could go.) The true figure is between 40 and 60 thousand. And was about 75% women and 25% men.
A 'witch' always had negative connotations. It described someone who was malevolent. The church was behind the persecution, and their real motive was to root out heresy. But it was the local community - women as well as men - that accused people of witchcraft, ie acts intended to harm others. The accused were usually people who were outsiders in some ways, a bit odd or difficult, or kept themselves to themselves. The women who performed the work we now associate with witches - midwives, herbalists etc - were valued members of the community, and unlikely therefore to be accused of witchcraft. So it all seems a bit topsy-turvy compared to how we are used to thinking of it.
At one point during the seminar we divided into small groups. It was suggested that we discuss the 'witch wound' and ways it can be healed. The women in the group talked about it in terms of how difficult they can find it to put themselves forward and be fully themselves. It was interesting for me to be part of this and hear the women's point of view. There has indeed been a 3000 year suppression of the feminine in Europe, as we have become increasingly distanced from nature. It is, however, more complex than that. My experience as an astrologer has shown me that the Jungian model of men finding their feminine half, and women finding their masculine half after midlife is broadly true. It is a natural process. So I think the issues of men becoming more connected and feelingful, and women finding it hard to be fully who they are and not what others want them to be, is perennial and part of our wiring. So yes, part of the issue is to do with a cultural suppression of the feminine. But part of it is also wiring that seems to balance out at midlife.
Sharon recommended 'The Witch' by Ronald Hutton.
Hmmm, there is so much to this issue. I think that in general this mid life "finding" of the other half is true. Men will often soften, women no longer as concerned with the perceptions of others, but there is often more. Take a woman (in this lifetime) who has had many lifetimes in male form, and perhaps is, at mid life, just finding her wounded and exiled feminine. Or the reverse, or the many variations thereof. Was I the witch or the executioner, or more likely, both.
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