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White magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for selfless purposes. [1] Practitioners of white magic have been given titles such as wise men or women, healers, white witches or wizards. Many of these people claimed to have the ability to do such things because of knowledge or power that was passed on to them ...
[4]: x-xi Alan McFarlane writes that they might be called 'white', 'good', or 'unbinding' witches, as well as blessers or wizards, but were more often known as cunning folk. [16] Historian Owen Davies says the term "white witch" was rarely used before the 20th century. [17] Ronald Hutton uses the general term "service magicians".
Alan McFarlane wrote that while cunning folk is the usual name, some are also known as 'blessers' or 'wizards', but might also be known as 'white', 'good', or 'unbinding witches'. [55] Historian Owen Davies says the term "white witch" was rarely used before the 20th century. [56] Ronald Hutton uses the general term "service magicians". [54]
The persecution of witches in history. Whether you call them shamen, alchemists, herbalists, Wiccans or witches, the practice of witchcraft, by any name, has been around almost as long as humans have.
These witch trials were the most famous in British North America and took place in the coastal settlements near Salem, Massachusetts. Prior to the witch trials, nearly three hundred men and women had been suspected of partaking in witchcraft, and nineteen of these people were hanged, and one was "pressed to death". [31]
Witches still go to cross-roads and to heathen burials with their delusive magic and call to the devil; and he comes to them in the likeness of the man that is buried there, as if he arises from death. [42] Merlin is said to have been born from the relationship of an incubus with a mortal (illumination from a 13th century French manuscript)
The Swedish cunning woman Gertrud Ahlgren of Gotland (1782–1874), drawing by Pehr Arvid Säve 1870. In Scandinavia, the klok gumma ("wise woman") or klok gubbe ("wise man"), and collectively De kloka ("The Wise ones"), as they were known in Swedish, were usually elder members of the community who acted as folk healers and midwives as well as using folk magic such as magic rhymes. [10]
SEE ALSO: Witches mobilize to cast a binding spell on President Trump "Both Protestant and Catholic churches tried very hard to make sure that nobody would make a manuscript like this," Fletcher said.