October 20. 2024
In this Samhain season, there is much to share about Crones and wise women. And I will. There is much to celebrate. But there was a time when such celebration was dangerous. There was a time when being such a woman was dangerous.
There are those in this nation who would have us return to those times. There are other nations who are already returning. In our nation, the intention is clear and bold. We can read these words of Fia Forsström and shift them into the context of these times. The horror of it is clear. We must not go back!
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
Women who were seen as;
Too beautiful,
Too outspoken,
Had too much water in the well
(yes, seriously),
Who had a birthmark,
Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine,
Too loud,
Too quiet,
Too much red in their hair,
Women who had a strong nature connection,
Women who danced,
Women who sang,
or anything else, really.
Any woman was at risk of burning in the 1600’s.
Sisters testified and turned on each other
when their babies were held under ice.
Children were tortured to confess their experiences
with “witches” by being fake executed in ovens.
Women were held under water
and if they could float, they were guilty and executed.
If they sank and drowned they were innocent.
Women were thrown off cliffs.
Women were put in deep holes in the ground.
Why do I write this?
Because knowing our history is important
when we are building a new world.
When we are doing the healing work
of our lineages and as women.
To give the women who were slaughtered a voice,
to give them redress and a chance of peace.
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
Fia Forsström
We must not go back!
Beannacht,
Judith
Kyri Koniotis Artwork
Powerful work by you both. The past was appalling, and certainly we should not return. Not to that past. Not to the past when women were killed by improper uniqueness determined by agenda-ridden men. Well, society in general, maybe. The destruction of women and womanhood is deciding it’s excusable while in fact it’s murderous toward more than half the population. Let wholeness and peace prevail, instead. Thank you.
Thank you! Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for bringing us back to the the reality of what has been and oh so quickly can be again.
Never would I ever have thought to see the rights of women attacked and in danger of being destroyed. To see so much taken away and so fast. That our daughters are living with the fears of our great-grandmothers.
Thank you for reminding us the power is in our voices, and for the strength and clarity in yours.