Throughout history, religion, literature and cinema, witches and pagans have been regarded as evil or satanic women who spend their days making potions and terrorizing locals. Witches quickly became a typecast for female antagonists both in fiction and in real life. From the Salem Trials to the Wicked Witch of the West, witches have had quite an image problem over the years. However modern day witches, more accurately termed, Wiccans, are trying to change that.
Magic and witchcraft has been found nearly every corner of the world in every culture, but the Hollywood depiction of the crooked nosed fiend we love to hate originated in England in the early 1400’s. In an attempt to purge the world of “impure religions” the Christian Church of England began to persecute and execute those who practiced any pagan old world religion. During this literal witch hunt, known pagan worshippers were rounded up and executed. As Christianity and fear mongering continued spread throughout world, pagan worshipers were forced to hide their religion and practice in secret; few would re-emerge until the 1950’s.
Usually armed with a spell book and bad skin conditions, witches gained a reputation for black magic, evil, and toiling trouble. With pagans forced to practice in secret, this misrepresentation spiraled into ‘Halloween costume’ image it is today. By this day and age, the fear of witches has long subsided, but along with it, so has their culture. Before the pagan purge, this natured based religion was a widespread practice, however, much of it was lost or forgotten over the years.
In the early 1950’s, Gerald Brousseau Gardner, reinvigorated what became known as the Modern Pagan Movement, by creating his own coven of followers. Inspired by traditional pagan practices but driven by nature, Gardner created a niche of paganism known as Wicca. This modern practice spread like wildfire across the United Kingdom and North America.
While no longer burned at the steak, Wiccans still face a lot of scrutiny and misconceptions surrounding their beliefs. Contrary to popular belief, the nature of Wicca is not dark, but primarily based not healing and nature. Wiccans abide by a strict “do no harm” code of ethics. Wiccans believe in the power of nature, and rely on the natural curative natures of herbs, aromatic scents, and meditation.
Florida is home to over 3,500 registered Wicca, with central Florida as home to Cassadaga, one of the largest spiritualist communities in the state. Non- Christian, spiritual based worship has been at an all time high in the last decade. According to the latest PEW statistics, the percentage of 18-30 years old who believe in God had gone down from 81% to 67%. More and more millennials are finding themselves drawn to the loose structure and nature centric beliefs that this religion offers.
Lab Coats with Aubrey Coats 