Shamans are specialists in herbal lore, and the Witches of Pagan
Europe were no exception. Usually, but not exclusively, women, they
practiced herbal medicine, midwifery, augury, spellcasting, and
counselling. Often dwelling alone out in the woods, Witches lived close to Nature, and attuned to Her cycles. Their gardens grew not only food, but also many kinds of herbs, including those valued for their medicinal, anaesthetic and hallucinogenic properties. In a period of time when good Christian folk maintained only those domestic animals that could be considered “livestock” (i.e., useful to humans), Witches frequently kept wild animal pets: foxes owls, ravens and of course, the ubiquitous cat. Such became known, appropriately enough, as familiars. When Witches came to be persecuted, so did these familiars and the torture and burning of millions of cats accompanied the Witch burnings
For those that think spellcasting is wicked….Christians sometimes pray to their God with the intent of obtaining God’s power to change their life or to heal friends and family. Some light a prayer candle in their home or church. Such rituals have many parallels with Wiccan spells. What some Christians call prayers, Wiccans may call magickal spells. The intent and method are often identical. Maybe christians need to understand that which they condemn
