"The History Behind the Black Hats" by PerriEllys Marable

When the month of October hits, the sky goes cold, the clouds turn into coal, and emotions start to dim. This is known as the “season of the witch.” Halloween to most is not a positive celebration but rather seen as a glory to the devil and other hidden spirits which we do not see. People believed that on October 31^st, the distance between the living and the dead grew shorter, which allowed the underground spirits to roam free on earth and haunt the living. In many religions, even such as dressing up or celebrating Halloween in any way can be seen as embracing the darkness or normalizing practices such as witchcraft performed by the underground witches. But what exactly are witches in our reality? Witches cannot fly on broomsticks, witches are not green, witches cannot shapeshift into animals, witches are not entirely evil, witches do not all worship Satan, and they cannot mark people with their eyes. These myths were all made up intoday's films and movies which took away the reality of what witches actually are. Witches are regular people who practic nature-based spirituality and folk magic. Witches today are usually casting spells by using candles and using words to manifest the change that they are seeking. Witches enjoy working with crystals, herbs and plants, because they are natural tools which help to connect with the forces. Witches also tend to track the lunar cycles so their rituals align with the moon's phases, “using new moons for a fresh start.” Tarot cards are used by many witches to gain insight into their lives and others as well, known as Tarot readers. Tarot is not inherently witchcraft, but it can be combined within witchcraft depending on what is being practiced.

Witchcraft is practiced more in today's day than it has been ever before. Social media and mainstream media has played a big part in the uprise of Wiccans and Pagens, rising numbers that were once a few thousand, to about an estimated 1 to 1.5 million in the U.S. Some of our minds are drawn to the idea of wanting to explore witchcraft, because we are wanting to stand out and be on the other side of the wall, where a whole new lifestyle meets us, rather than blending in. Our minds are also very curious, so when we discover something that isn’t taken upon by many, our minds become eager, and want to explore that tunnel, and see what kind of light it leads us to. Witchcraft is more than “casting spells, "or performing black magic, but rather more used as a way to connect with nature on a deeper spiritual level, outside of patriarchal religious structures.

Voodoo and witchcraft get mixed up with each other pretty often. Voodoo is an organized religion, while witchcraft is a practice of magic. Voodoo originated in West Africa and Haiti, which is involved with worshiping their supreme creator and spirits, while also performing community rituals. Witchcraft can be an individual or group practice of magic, while also practing spells with ones individual personal energy or with natural energy. Witchcraft is not a religion, but it can be connected to other beliefs of faith or none at all. Voodoo is made to seem like an evil practice, but it is quite the opposite. Voodoo is a structed religion that is centered on healing and ancestor reverence. When performing voodoo practices, a whole community is involved, with lots of dancing, drawings, drumming, and colorful alters, to cancel out the dark magic that is shown in movies.