At first witches began with a positive image. In the begin of the human race, the witches were known as shamans, tribe leaders with the ability to shapeshift and obtain knowledge through different states of consciousness. Between 10,000 BC and 6,000 BC, Celtic tribes were formed in the present day British Isles. The Celtic trides were female dominate societies which recognized the feminine powers. The Celtic beliefs were centered around the Goddess and the God, which were worshipped in the Otherworld, the magical realm of the Goddess. After the rise of Christianity, the Celtic tribes declined. During the time of King Arthur, those loyal to the Old Ways stayed in the Otherworld, or Avalon.
It was in the Middle Ages that the images of witches began to change. The clergy and the kings of many kingdoms considered these pagans heretics and burned them at stake. This period beacame own as the Burning Times, which led to witches living in absolute secrecy in order to stay alive. Other famous brutal acts against witches were the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. For monthes, dozens of innocent men and women were tortured and hung at Gallows Hill in Massachusetts. This victimes were worngly accused of cursing teenage girls who acted strangly because of an attact of meningitis.
Though witches have had a harsh past, the images of them is slowly beginning to change. Less than 30 years ago, witchcraft became viewed as an official religion by federal courts of America. The Council of American Witches decided to name this religion Wicca. To open the publics eye to Wicca, the most renowned witches began to write on the topic. For example Laurie Cabot, Sliver Ravenwolf, Raymond Buckland, Patricia Telesco, and Scott Cunningham are best-selling writers.
Heading into the new millennium, many people, especially young women, are returning to the Old Way. This is so because Wicca is a non-sexist, non-racist religion that teaches to live in harmony with nature and all its inhabitants. The magick used by Wiccan is white, and one can't coll himself Wiccan if he intends to do magic to do harm to himself of others.
Witches began thier long history as harmonious people pf the land, yet that image was destroyed after the Christians began to persecute them. To be a witch is to be kind, gentle and patient. To be a witches is to be the daughter of Mother Earth and Father Sky. To be a true witch is to be proud to say, "I am a Witch."
