When most people think of a witch, they probably recall some gruesome image of green skinned ugly Hag on a broom stick or some Caucasian lady they saw in a fantasy movie. Most people of color don't associate us with witchcraft in North America. I say North America because that's where I live and frequently see/hear these horrible associations. But I'm sure this is true for other parts of the world. Since modern media perpetuates this lack of color in fantasy and occult images. I remember watching AHS coven and I nearly shrieked in joy!
I was so excited to see black witches. I haven't seen such a good portrayal since the movie "the craft".
I'm still waiting for more. It's important we realize none of these new age practices would be as popular or as powerful as they are if it wasn't for US. US means the entire African diaspora along with indigenous cultures from around the world including the America's and the carribean. The media has done a great job of hiding our contritbutions to witchcraft culture in general. I laugh when new age yogis and hippies use sage and have no knowledge of its origin. I once asked a fellow yogi at a yoga class who was burning sage if she knew the origin of sage burning? She nervously laughed and stated " I bought it at a metaphysical shop, they told me it would clear my aura". I stated OK, and left it at that. I wanted to say it's part of indigenous culture however I didn't have the energy to give. Sage isn't even the tip of this iceberg, it's minuscule. When it comes to spells, herbs, rituals, cleansing, candles, gods and goddesses, altars, healing, energy, auras, ingesting herbs and shrooms; Spirit animals, tarot, we've started it all. It's all been done before. There is absolutely nothing new about the new age. I find it quite disrespectful that our ancestors don't get the credit they so deserve. While these new Agers plaster their pages with cultural heritage without acknowleging and paying homage to the ones who paved the way for this lifestyle. It's like adding salt to a wound that's already infected and damn near gangrenous. So let me break it down like James Brown. Let us bring forth the ancestors who made these things so damn popular.
First to bat is the world renowned hailing from Louisiana Marie Catherine Laveau the Creole practitioner of Voodoo who influenced so many of all races. Thousands would come seeking out her help. Marie began in humble beginnings as a hairdresser and later became a nurse during the Yellow Fever epidemics. She was skilled in the practice of medicine and knew the healing qualities of indigenous herbs. She was also an astute business woman. Marie was all-knowing and all-powerful. She could easily help you get a lover, keep a lover or get rid of a lover.. To this day, people still visit her grave with hopes that she will grant their wishes leaving her offerings of money, cigars, white rum and candy.
All the way from Sierra Mazatec, a indigenous village in southern Mexico we have the high priestess of the magic mushrooms Maria Sabina who had so many celebrities seek her out that the police started investigating.
María Sabina was the first famous Mexican curandera, aka native shaman. She conducted rituals called the "velada" where she would ingest psilocybin mushroom as a sacrament to open the gates of the mind.
Some of the Many 1960s celebrities that visited María Sabina, include rock stars : Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. To this day, she is still regarded as the shroom high priestess which is rightfully so.
According to Venezuelan legends, María Lonza was born a Nivar tribal princess, daughter of the tribes chief named Yaracuy. She was strong and powerful reigning over savage beasts. It is said she possessed qualities to speak to animals and nature. Her kingdom was filled with animals like turtles and snakes.
She is the owner of the lagoon, the river and the waters, the protecter of the fish, all the plants and animals.
To this day, she is regarded highly as the queen, recognized by Venezuelan governments (dictatorships and democratic), as a patron saint of Venezuela.
In California the Tongva Indigenous peoples once populated a territory covering almost 4,000 miles including the island Catalina, part of Orange County, and most of Los Angeles County where a Native tongva shaman known as Toypurina rose to greatness. She rebelled against the Spanish Christianity missionaries and padres using her magic skills against them, casting a death spell upon them.
She also used her influence to recruit others in a revolt against the soldiers. Toypurina was the leader in the 1785 native rebellion. To this day, she is historically known by many names : a warrior, a freedom fighter, a sorceress, a medicine woman, and witch.
Traveling back to the 17th-century all the way to Danvers, Massachusetts. We have the first infamous black witch from the west Indian shore, Tituba. She was the first to be accused of practicing witchcraft during the 1692 Salem witch trials. She was snitched on by a few English colony girls. Whom dabbled in her rituals and sought her guidance. Tituba was beaten by her slave master Samuel Parris until she confessed to being a witch.
She was the first to give the world the idea of broomsticks by mentioning that she traveled to different places on a stick.
Last but certainly not least, we have the Haitian Revolutionary Queen, the Vodou Priestess, a infamous mambo
Cécile Fatiman. She is famous for her ceremony at Bois Caïman, which is the starting point of the Haitian Revolution. Cécile educated many of the slaves and organized secret meetings. Under a week 1800 plantations were destroyed! Cécile would go on to become the First Lady living to 112.
Magick is apart of our heritage, one of our biggest strengths and tools.
I dream of a day where we too, in modern times find this strength within us to carry on new revolutions and legends. We must carry on the traditions.
I was so excited to see black witches. I haven't seen such a good portrayal since the movie "the craft".
I'm still waiting for more. It's important we realize none of these new age practices would be as popular or as powerful as they are if it wasn't for US. US means the entire African diaspora along with indigenous cultures from around the world including the America's and the carribean. The media has done a great job of hiding our contritbutions to witchcraft culture in general. I laugh when new age yogis and hippies use sage and have no knowledge of its origin. I once asked a fellow yogi at a yoga class who was burning sage if she knew the origin of sage burning? She nervously laughed and stated " I bought it at a metaphysical shop, they told me it would clear my aura". I stated OK, and left it at that. I wanted to say it's part of indigenous culture however I didn't have the energy to give. Sage isn't even the tip of this iceberg, it's minuscule. When it comes to spells, herbs, rituals, cleansing, candles, gods and goddesses, altars, healing, energy, auras, ingesting herbs and shrooms; Spirit animals, tarot, we've started it all. It's all been done before. There is absolutely nothing new about the new age. I find it quite disrespectful that our ancestors don't get the credit they so deserve. While these new Agers plaster their pages with cultural heritage without acknowleging and paying homage to the ones who paved the way for this lifestyle. It's like adding salt to a wound that's already infected and damn near gangrenous. So let me break it down like James Brown. Let us bring forth the ancestors who made these things so damn popular.
First to bat is the world renowned hailing from Louisiana Marie Catherine Laveau the Creole practitioner of Voodoo who influenced so many of all races. Thousands would come seeking out her help. Marie began in humble beginnings as a hairdresser and later became a nurse during the Yellow Fever epidemics. She was skilled in the practice of medicine and knew the healing qualities of indigenous herbs. She was also an astute business woman. Marie was all-knowing and all-powerful. She could easily help you get a lover, keep a lover or get rid of a lover.. To this day, people still visit her grave with hopes that she will grant their wishes leaving her offerings of money, cigars, white rum and candy.
All the way from Sierra Mazatec, a indigenous village in southern Mexico we have the high priestess of the magic mushrooms Maria Sabina who had so many celebrities seek her out that the police started investigating.
María Sabina was the first famous Mexican curandera, aka native shaman. She conducted rituals called the "velada" where she would ingest psilocybin mushroom as a sacrament to open the gates of the mind.
Some of the Many 1960s celebrities that visited María Sabina, include rock stars : Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. To this day, she is still regarded as the shroom high priestess which is rightfully so.
According to Venezuelan legends, María Lonza was born a Nivar tribal princess, daughter of the tribes chief named Yaracuy. She was strong and powerful reigning over savage beasts. It is said she possessed qualities to speak to animals and nature. Her kingdom was filled with animals like turtles and snakes.
She is the owner of the lagoon, the river and the waters, the protecter of the fish, all the plants and animals.
To this day, she is regarded highly as the queen, recognized by Venezuelan governments (dictatorships and democratic), as a patron saint of Venezuela.
In California the Tongva Indigenous peoples once populated a territory covering almost 4,000 miles including the island Catalina, part of Orange County, and most of Los Angeles County where a Native tongva shaman known as Toypurina rose to greatness. She rebelled against the Spanish Christianity missionaries and padres using her magic skills against them, casting a death spell upon them.
She also used her influence to recruit others in a revolt against the soldiers. Toypurina was the leader in the 1785 native rebellion. To this day, she is historically known by many names : a warrior, a freedom fighter, a sorceress, a medicine woman, and witch.
Traveling back to the 17th-century all the way to Danvers, Massachusetts. We have the first infamous black witch from the west Indian shore, Tituba. She was the first to be accused of practicing witchcraft during the 1692 Salem witch trials. She was snitched on by a few English colony girls. Whom dabbled in her rituals and sought her guidance. Tituba was beaten by her slave master Samuel Parris until she confessed to being a witch.
She was the first to give the world the idea of broomsticks by mentioning that she traveled to different places on a stick.
Last but certainly not least, we have the Haitian Revolutionary Queen, the Vodou Priestess, a infamous mambo
Cécile Fatiman. She is famous for her ceremony at Bois Caïman, which is the starting point of the Haitian Revolution. Cécile educated many of the slaves and organized secret meetings. Under a week 1800 plantations were destroyed! Cécile would go on to become the First Lady living to 112.
Magick is apart of our heritage, one of our biggest strengths and tools.
I dream of a day where we too, in modern times find this strength within us to carry on new revolutions and legends. We must carry on the traditions.