A Witch's Spell

AUTHOR’S NOTEThe belief in witchcraft is still very strong today and practised in parts of England and Europe. There are two types of witchcraft – black and white. White witches usually use herbs to cure wounds, sores and diseases. Ten years ago a white witch from a coven in the North of England was asked, “Does a witch possess what others would regard as ‘supernatural’ powers?’ The answer was, “A witch possesses nothing that is not basic in everyone. People in becoming ‘civilised’ have lost sight of these powers. A witch cultivates them, learns how to bring them back into use – how to control them and make the power work.” The terrible cruelty of the witch hunts in England between 1542 and 1684 resulted in a thousand witches being executed. In Scotland the number executed was higher and death was by burning. In Europe over two hundred thousand witches died at the stake during the same period. In England in 1736 the statute was repealed and the law no longer punishes witches. By the end of the century the mania for witch hunts in Europe had disappeared, but in rural districts, however, they are still revered or feared.