Every woman would like to have magical abilities to solve her problems and help loved ones. Sometimes this is actually within the power of certain representatives - witches. Supernatural abilities can be passed down the female line over several generations. The word "witch" means "to know" or to know. So a witch is a person with secret knowledge that is not available to an ordinary person.
The appearance of a witch
If earlier the witch was perceived as a negative character, since it was believed that she could damage, send a curse, ruin food or destroy pets, now the image of a witch is not completely negative. And if earlier the witch was painted as a hunched, terrible old woman, with disheveled hair and in torn clothes, today it is a young attractive woman with a beautiful figure. So, in Russian folklore, an ugly old lady who could turn into a beautiful young girl was called a witch. But in Ukraine, the witch was represented as a young and beautiful woman, more often a widow, who lures the souls of men into her witchcraft networks. Many also believed that a witch has the ability to cause various natural disasters: hail, hurricane, fire or storm, can enchant a person or turn him to stone.
Outwardly, a witch cannot be distinguished from an ordinary woman, although it was such that they were credited with the presence of horns and a tail. In addition, it is noticed that the witch has a heavy gaze and never looks a person in the eye for a long time. But if this still happens, and the witch kept her gaze on the person, then this becomes a trap for him, because the witch can easily bewitch with her spells. However, even in ancient manuscripts it was written that it is possible to protect oneself from witches. To do this, they talked about the chimneys through which she could get into the dwelling, put a consecrated candle on the gate, turn over the broom and put it at the threshold, like a guard. And under the threshold they put various sharp implements: axes, knives, forks. In addition, they sprinkled poppy seeds in the courtyard, drew crosses with lime on the door frames. Also protected and field herbs - wormwood,thyme or regular garlic.
Popular rumor says that the broom or poker was considered the favorite vehicle of witches. However, on a full moon, as well as in a thunderstorm, they love to fly on a horse's skull, scythe, or even a pitchfork.
Ancient witches
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In the Middle Ages, women were called witches who made a deal with the Devil. They specially flew to the Sabbath, which took place on Bald Mountain. It was believed that their annual meetings took place on Walpurgis Night from April 30th to May 1st, when sorceresses entered into contact with demons. In the same place, sacrifices were made to the Devil.
The Inquisition of the Middle Ages led the persecution of witches. In those days, very strange criteria were used to identify them. Any girl or woman could fall under the concept of "witch": beautiful, or vice versa - ugly, with large birthmarks, red-haired or simply black-eyed. They were tied up and thrown into the river. If the girl was drowning, it meant that she was innocent and the "brand" of the witch was removed from her. And if she was saved, she was burned at the stake.
Since the Middle Ages, the misconception has come down to us that a witch only deals with black magic. However, it is not. Witches can help sick people and heal livestock, warn of danger and give helpful advice. At the same time, they are considered intermediaries between people and representatives of the other world. However, witches were treated very wary, especially after Christianity was adopted in Russia.
Death of a witch
One way or another, the witch has always been considered a "fiend of hell", and for her relationship with the Devil she was punished with severe death throes. When the witch died, a strong storm arose and dogs howled, and a huge black dog appeared nearby, which did not disappear until the time when she was buried in the grave. According to some reports, the witch could not die until she passed on her knowledge to some young girl. But if a successor was not found, people dismantled the ceiling or covered the dying witch with a calfskin so that the deceased's magic would leave the house. However, even after death, the witch continued to pose a danger to humans. That is why she was buried in a cemetery separately from others, laid on her stomach, or pierced her coffin with an aspen stake.
Witch's favorites
It is noteworthy that the sorceress always had her own patron spirits, which could appear in the form of animals such as a toad, ferret, mouse or cat. The witches fed their favorites with bird meat, gave them milk and even spoiled them sometimes - they let them suck out a little of their blood.
The English preacher of the 16th century, George Gifford, in his scientific work, said that the witch received the patron spirits as a gift from the Devil. He handed them over as a wedding gift for a contract with him. Such spirits were the lowest demons and fit perfectly into the daily life of a person. They could have the appearance of a spider, dog, frog, black crow, or thrush. However, the witch's favorite animal was still a black cat.
In whatever form the patron spirits appeared, they always provided invaluable assistance to their mistress: they carried out small assignments, gave advice and helped with black magic. Sometimes they were their personal secretaries, and also served as a means of transportation.
Today, there are many witches among people who keep secret their magical abilities, and in everyday life are no different from an ordinary person. However, depending on their surroundings and circumstances, witches can behave very differently. Whether it is possible to recognize a witch in the modern world is difficult to say. Fortunately, human society has excluded all the means of the Middle Ages: rack, drowning or tongs for pulling out nails. If there are such "researchers" capable of subjecting women to sophisticated torture, then in the modern world they are called dangerous criminals and maniacs. Therefore, we have nothing left of the "legal means" of recognition.