The belief in witches and witchcraft has been present throughout human history, varying from culture to culture. While the concept of witches has evolved over time, there have been certain signs or traits associated with identifying a person as a witch. These signs are often steeped in superstition, folklore, and cultural norms. It is important to note that these signs are based on historical beliefs and should not be seen as factual evidence. One of the common signs associated with witches is having unusual or suspicious physical features. This could include having a birthmark, mole, or any peculiar mark on the body.
About Witches of Scotland
In 1563 in Scotland the Witchcraft Act was brought into law and remained in law till 1736. The vast majority of those accused, some 84%, were women. During this time witchcraft was a capital crime and those convicted of witchcraft were strangled to death and then burned at the stake so as to leave no body to bury.
When accused of witchcraft, people were locked up awaiting trial and tortured to confess. Torture in Scotland was usually by way of sleep deprivation – keeping people awake until they confessed.
We know now of course that sleep deprivation makes people confused and causes them to hallucinate so it is perhaps not surprising that it was a good method of getting “confessions” from people accused of witchcraft. Other methods of torture included “pricking”- the pricking of skin with needles and bodkins to see how the person reacted to the drawing of blood and whether they bled - and the stripping and examination of the body to see if any “witches mark” could be found on them. Often these torture methods were carried out in public. Torture by crushing and pulling out nails was also used.
Women were not even able to be witnesses in
their own right at trial because it was:
“ the uncontroverted lawe and pract’qs of Scotland woman no in civilibus and fare less in criminibus except in the caice of treason and some few excepted caices and occult crymes which are speciallie priviledged and as this is the undoubted law and pract’q.”
Taken from a debate in November 1674 as recorded in the Sourcebook of Scottish Witchcraft – see reading list
The signs associated with witches (broomstick, cauldrons, black cats, black pointed hats) were actually things those of “alewives” – women who brewed weak beer in medieval times, as a method of combatting the poor water quality at the time. The sign above their door was a broomstick to let people know they could buy beer, they used large cauldrons for brewing, cats were kept to keep the mice at bay and the black pointed hats were used to make themselves easily identifiable at market. Brewing was seen as “women’s work” it was not until the craft of brewing became a profitable business that women were ousted from the role. It may have been the very process of removing women from that role by making people suspicious of their “brews” that caused the link to be made with witchcraft and the brewery symbols to become those of witches.
King James the VI of Scotland (1566 – 1625) considered himself an expert in witchcraft
and he attended the North Berwick Witch Trials where one of the complaints was that witchcraft had been used to create storms to cause a bad crossing for James’ ship across the ocean. He was obsessed with witchcraft and wrote the book “Daemonologie” (1597) , which was a book about witchcraft and other occult matters. His obsession helped to fuel the Scottish “satanic panic”.
By 1736 it was recognised that the execution of people for witchcraft was wrong,
as indeed was the crime itself; the law was changed to “pretended witchcraft” and the maximum sentence on conviction was imprisonment for one year.
An estimated 3837 people were accused of witchcraft
and, if the known cases are to be considered a representative sample, two thirds of those were executed, some 2558 people. 84% of those accused were women and if those convicted were approximately the same split, 2148 women were executed and 410 men. Clearly these figures are an estimate, but they give an impression of how many women and men suffered this terrible injustice and lost their lives.
There are small memorials in some places in Scotland which remember those convicted of witchcraft, but like the Witches Well in Edinburgh they remember the witches, rather than represent an apology for those who lost their lives.
The witch trials of Salem are world famous : Approximately 200 people were accused and a small number, 30 were found guilty – of those convicted 14 women and 5 men were hanged. One man was crushed to death for refusing to plead and five people died in jail. Salem has, between 1711 and 2001 “reversed the conviction” of all of those killed as witches. In 1992 a resolution was passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives honouring those who had died. In 1992 a memorial park was created in Salem for those who had died. Stone seats for each of those who were executed were set in the park.
To date, there has been no apology, no pardon and no memorial to those who lost their lives i n Scotland.
It is Witches of Scotland’s campaign aim to bring what posthumous justice we can to those who were so cruelly and unfairly accused and tried as witches.
How to Know if You're a Victim of Witchcraft: Signs & Solutions
This article was reviewed by Stina Garbis and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Reverend Stina Garbis is a Psychic Astrologer and the Owner of Psychic Stina. With over 30 years of experience, she specializes in providing personal and professional advice through astrology and tarot card readings. Reverend Stina has experience working with high-profile celebrities, sports figures, politicians, and CEOs. She has been featured in many publications, including Bustle, Vice, The New York Post, and Readers’ Digest and she also has a 200k+ following on TikTok. Stina holds an Ordained Minister License from The International Metaphysical Ministry University Seminary.
There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Some people believe that curses, hexes, and other types of black magic are real, serious threats that can negatively affect their spiritual and physical well-being. Although there’s no hard, conclusive evidence that witchcraft exists, it can still be really scary to think about—especially if you suspect that someone has sent some bad mojo in your direction. To help ease your worries, we’ve outlined some commonly-reported signs of black magic, as well as some alternative explanations for these symptoms. We’ve even outlined a few ways to cleanse and protect yourself, so you can have some peace of mind.
Are you a witch or a fairy? We tell you the signs to spot your inner magical being
Do you ever feel that you experience the same world a little differently than those around you? For instance, you can immediately sense the energy flowing in people around you and your gut instinct hardly ever lets you down. You believe that you have strange healing abilities and an initiative power. It is said that our intuitive sense developed around the same time when the man used to wander in the forests. This innate sense of detecting hidden danger which is faster than rational thought is said to be crucial in human's survival back then.
02 /16 What are you?
Some people boast of a more developed sense of institution and often surprise others with the same. If you relate with most of the examples mentioned above, you may have some hidden abilities that make you a little different from other humans around you. A lot of people believe that the world is full of mythical and magical creatures including witches, fairies, and spirits. Are you one of these fabulous fabled creatures? We have listed down the signs for both a fairy and a witch, so which one are you? Remember, it is all for amusement and fun. Let’s find out:
03 /16 Signs that you are a witch
When we are talking about a witch, we are not talking about the satan-worshipping, stereotypical witches made popular by mainstream movies. Witches are nature-loving and are known to have wisdom beyond time. They are natural healers and drawn towards animals and birds. Here are certain signs that you may be a witch!
10 Ways to Identify a Witch
As we know today, some of the measures taken during the Salem Witch Trials to "prove" whether a person was guilty or innocent were ludicrous. But in case you'd like to employ some of them for yourself, here are 10 ways to identify a witch, according to those running the Salem Witch Trials.
This could include having a birthmark, mole, or any peculiar mark on the body. Sometimes, even having one eye larger than the other was considered a sign of being a witch. Additionally, an unnatural physical appearance, such as having an abnormally long nose or deformed body parts, was also believed to be indicative of witchcraft.
1. MAKE A WITCH CAKE.
What's a witch cake, you ask? It's not among the best gifts for witches, that's for sure, and it's definitely something you don't want to eat. You take the urine of the people who are thought to be under the spell of the witch in question, mix it with rye meal, and make a little patty. Then you feed the patty to a dog. Because some of the powers the witch used to cast a spell on the afflicted people were in their urine, when the dog eats the cake, it will hurt the witch, and she'll cry out in agony.
Behavioral characteristics were also considered as signs of witchcraft. Witches were often believed to be withdrawn or secretive individuals who kept to themselves and avoided social interaction. They were thought to possess an unnatural ability to control and manipulate others, often through mesmerizing or hypnotizing techniques. Furthermore, witches were believed to show a strong affinity for animals, particularly black cats, which were seen as their companions or familiars. Another sign associated with witches was the ability to perform supernatural or magical acts. This included cursing or hexing others, causing harm through the use of spells or potions, or even displaying an unusual understanding of plants and herbs. Witches were often believed to possess the power to fly, often through the use of brooms or flying ointments. Additionally, the ability to communicate with the spirit world or perform divination was seen as an indication of witchcraft. In some cases, accusations of witchcraft were based on societal biases or prejudices. Certain individuals, such as widowed or unmarried women, healers, midwives, or those with a knowledge of herbal remedies could be falsely labeled as witches due to their perceived nonconformity with societal norms. It is important to recognize that the signs associated with identifying a person as a witch were often based on superstition, fear, and cultural beliefs. Many innocent individuals were wrongly accused and persecuted as a result of these misguided beliefs. Today, the concept of witchcraft has largely been relegated to folklore, and it is crucial to approach such historical signs with skepticism and empathy..
Reviews for "Witch Trials Revisited: Signs That Indicate a Person Practices Witchcraft"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really interested in learning more about witchcraft and what signs to look out for, but this book was a major disappointment. It felt more like a hodgepodge of random information without any real structure or organization. The author jumps from one topic to another without any clear direction, and the writing style is dry and unengaging. I was hoping for a comprehensive guide, but instead, I got a mess of information that left me more confused than before.
2. Michael - 1/5 stars - As someone who is fascinated by the occult and witchcraft, I was excited to delve into this book. However, I was sorely disappointed. The author consistently made sweeping generalizations and relied on outdated stereotypes to identify "signs" of a witch. It was clear that the author had little understanding of modern witchcraft practices and relied on tired cliches. Furthermore, the book lacked critical analysis and relied on anecdotal evidence rather than providing factual information. Overall, I found this book to be misleading and uninformative.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - This book claims to provide signs to help identify a witch, but it falls short on delivering any concrete information. The author spends too much time discussing the history of witch trials and folklore without providing any substantial evidence for their claims. Additionally, the writing style is convoluted and hard to follow, making it difficult to extract any valuable insights. If you're looking for a well-researched and informative book on witchcraft, I suggest looking elsewhere.