In the depths of the dark, mysterious forest, there is said to reside a witch. Whispers of her existence spread like wildfire among the villagers, causing fear and trepidation to seep into their hearts. Legends and tales depicting her as an evil sorceress, capable of unspeakable acts, have been passed down through generations. Yet, those who dare venture into the forest speak of an aura of mystique surrounding her, an enigma that beckons the curious and the brave. The witch's hut, nestled amidst the towering trees, exudes an eerie vibe with its weathered wooden exterior and twisted branches enveloping the structure. Moss-covered stones line the pathway leading to her domain, as if nature itself guards her abode.
"Most customers come in for career questions," she said. "But I also see couples come in together."
Voith offered me coffee and we sat at a table in the middle of the store surrounded by voodoo dolls, magical herbs and books about the afterlife, werewolves and witches. Reading palms has often left Voith feeling sort of like a counselor, she said, particularly when she notices bothersome trends in a couple s palm reading.
Moss-covered stones line the pathway leading to her domain, as if nature itself guards her abode. The air surrounding the hut is thick with an otherworldly presence, an amalgamation of fear and fascination. Legends speak of the witch's power to manipulate the forces of nature, to control the elements at her will.
Store owner reads palms, practices witchcraft
I was beyond enthused when my editor proposed that I get my palm read at Milwaukee's new witchcraft hub, Bewitchingbee, 2456 N. Murray Ave. But it didn't last long. On the walk home I started to panic, visualizing myself sitting in a foggy room, palms spread, hearing that my lifeline ended at 22 or that children weren't in my future. I'd become an apartment hermit in fear of freak catastrophes.
Deborah Voith is a psychiatric nurse and practices witchcraft. She opened Bewitchingbee last July and said she has seen steady business since. Voith holds an advanced diploma in palm reading from Palmistry International.
"Most customers come in for career questions," she said. "But I also see couples come in together."
The small store smelled like incense has been burning around the clock. Voith offered me coffee and we sat at a table in the middle of the store surrounded by voodoo dolls, magical herbs and books about the afterlife, werewolves and witches. Clad in black with her blonde ponytail up high on her head, she was hardly similar to the image of witches mentally ingrained from all those childhood Halloween nights spent watching "Hocus Pocus."
Voith said she first became interested in witchcraft and spiritual communication as a child.
"Both of my grandmothers had spiritual flare, if you want to call it that," she said.
She has combined traditional, modern and medical palmistry into a trinity of sorts. Voith said that palm readings are more scientific than tarot cards or crystal balls, and medical background as a nurse has led her to observe illnesses like heart disease, alcoholism and cancer in people's palms.
"It's unprofessional to look at someone's hand and say, 'Oh, holy moly, it looks like you're going to die!' I just tell them to get to the doctor and take care of yourself," she said.
Her background in psychiatric nursing has also led her to work in prisons, where she has seen some of palmistry's truths manifest. Men may have violent tendencies when their ring fingers are extremely shorter than their index fingers. Voith commonly saw this among men in jail, she said.
Reading palms has often left Voith feeling sort of like a counselor, she said, particularly when she notices bothersome trends in a couple's palm reading. Voith, however, keeps her witchcraft and medical career separate. She doesn't want to "muddy the waters" for her patients by analyzing lines in their hands.
I lay my palms beside a pile of tarot cards and crystal ball (no joke) and I wonder if this makes me a sucker right now. I think about what Voith already knows. I'm a student. I write. I was a bit late for my appointment. But really, that's about it. How much can she really fabricate from those tidbits of personal information? That could describe nearly anyone.
First she classified my hand as one of air, rather than earth, fire or water, meaning I have abundant mental energy. Voith said the distance between my head line and lifeline from the very edge of my hand meant I've had a mind of my own since the start. My parents probably would've found comfort in that piece of knowledge when I would run around neighborhood garage sales wearing nothing but a Nancy Reagan mask when I was 2-years old.
According to Voith, my attention has been extremely divided lately, and that'd be correct. After all, I lost my wallet four times last semester. Luckily it was always returned – I think my karma is up in that department.
Voith said my fate line is deep — meaning I know what I want and where I want to go. What 21-year-old doesn't like to hear that? She saw two lines that intersected and called it a poet's cross — meaning I am passionate about words. Then again, she did know I was a reporter. I wasn't completely sold on that one. But maybe a palm reading isn't that out of the question if you're having an academic or life-future crisis. Bypass your academic advisors and visit the witch. Just don't tell her your major beforehand.
All in all, it wasn't scary. It was actually pretty entertaining — some revelations were rather generalized but others were right on the money. The jury may still be out on the credibility of palm reading. But as long as my lifeline's okay, it's all good.
The small store smelled like incense has been burning around the clock. Voith offered me coffee and we sat at a table in the middle of the store surrounded by voodoo dolls, magical herbs and books about the afterlife, werewolves and witches. Clad in black with her blonde ponytail up high on her head, she was hardly similar to the image of witches mentally ingrained from all those childhood Halloween nights spent watching "Hocus Pocus."
She is said to possess a vast knowledge of herbal remedies and potions, the secrets of which she guards fiercely. It is believed that those who seek her aid must pass rigorous tests and prove their worthiness before being granted an audience. But what drives the witch to dwell within the confines of the forest? Some say she was banished from society due to her dark practices, while others believe she chose a life of seclusion to protect her secrets. The truth remains obscured, concealed within the depths of the forest, waiting to be unraveled. However, not all tales spin a wicked image of the witch. There are those who claim she offers solace and guidance to lost souls who venture into her realm. They speak of her as a guardian of the forest, attuned to the delicate balance of nature. To them, she is a symbol of wisdom, a keeper of ancient knowledge. But regardless of one's beliefs, the witch in the forest remains an enigma, a figure caught between light and darkness. Her presence continues to captivate the imaginations of those who have heard her name, daring some to journey into the heart of the forest in search of truth, while instilling fear in the hearts of others. So, the witch in the forest remains a mysterious entity, a subject of both fear and awe. Perhaps the truth of her existence lies in the shadows, waiting to be discovered by those willing to break the barriers of superstition and explore the depths of the unknown..
Reviews for "The Forest Witch and her Connection to the Elements"
1. John - 2/5 - I have to say I was disappointed with "Witch in the Forest". The storyline felt disjointed and the characters were underdeveloped. There were several plot holes that were never explained, leaving me feeling confused and unsatisfied. The writing style itself was also quite bland and lacked creativity. Overall, the book failed to capture my interest and I struggled to finish it.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Witch in the Forest" was such a letdown for me. The premise seemed intriguing, but the execution was poor. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of nothing happening. The dialogue was awkward and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The ending was also unsatisfying and left many loose ends. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
3. Tom - 2/5 - I found "Witch in the Forest" to be quite dull and uneventful. The plot lacked excitement and the characters felt one-dimensional. The world-building was minimal, leaving me with little sense of the setting or the magic system. The constant repetition of certain phrases and ideas became irritating after a while. Overall, the book failed to engage me and I was left feeling unsatisfied with the overall reading experience.
4. Emily - 1/5 - I honestly couldn't get into "Witch in the Forest" at all. The writing felt amateurish and the plot was predictable. The characters lacked depth and I didn't feel any emotional connection to them. The story overall was quite boring and I struggled to maintain interest. There are much better fantasy books out there, so I would recommend giving this one a pass.