Vancouver Island, it seems, is chock full of witches.
But, according to Lynn-Anne Hill, the producer of the recent Summer Witches Market in Metchosin, that may be a very good thing.
“There are hundreds of covens on the Island. There are a lot here in Victoria and all over. There’s a great coven up in Nanaimo,” said Hill, who readily embraces her ‘witchiness’, although she does not, herself, belong to a coven.
“I’m a singular believer – a nature-based witch – and I live in the forest where I attract owls, bears and cougars,” said Hill.
“These are positive, wonderful, loving people,” she added, looking around the hall where dozens of witches had gathered. “And each of them finds their magic in their own way.”
Moving around the market, it became apparent that Hill’s assessment of the witches in attendance seemed to be spot on.
Karen Jones, for example, was entirely non-threatening as she tended to her broomstick sale.
“I’m 100 per cent witch,” she said. “I’m called upon to work my energy and these brooms have been made with intention.
She pointed out a broom made for a crone who needs help walking and another that draws on the energy of the ocean. Another broom had two heads attached to a single handle.
But do her brooms fly?
“Oh, they will fly. Of course it depends on who’s riding them. If you have the power and want them to fly, they will absolutely fly,” said Jones.
Notably absent from the Witch’s Market were any of the negative characteristics of witches that have infested our folklore and media depictions. There wasn’t a single cauldron full of hell-broth, newt eyes or toes of frogs.
In fact, the witches in attendance displayed none of the stereotypes that tend to accompany witch lore. Absent were the double chins, warts or toothless sneers that have come to characterize fairy tales and films. Instead, the witches in attendance appeared to be completely enchanting, blithe spirits.
And the people coming to visit the market and speak to the witches appeared to be quite at ease.
Of course, that hasn’t always been the case.
In the fall of 1982, allegations surfaced of witches having formed a satanic cult that was sacrificing babies stolen from a Victoria hospital. The “Satanic Panic” put Victoria on the map for a time as the police even investigated the allegations.
Not surprisingly, those claims were soon debunked, and the hysterical fears abated.
Still, it wasn’t until the summer of 2017 that the Canadian Government repealed the last laws against witchcraft. (In fairness, those laws stated that it was illegal to "fraudulently pretend to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration". Presumably, if the witchcraft was real, it wasn’t illegal.)
Actually, a lot of the discrimination against witches it seems, has always been found in a response to a feminist agenda.
“Witch means ‘wise woman’ a woman who tends to her own feelings and checks with her own intuition before making decisions,” said Jordan Griffin, another of the witches at the Market. “It’s really more of an intuitive, spiritual factor. Or sometimes, it’s someone who believes in and understands magic … in things that are unseen.”
Griffin explained that she used to host circles for women who understood the nature of the craft.
Sue Ferrie, another witch, reiterated Griffin’s viewpoint.
“Modern religion is all about fear. Wicca is not. Wicca is about looking after nature and people. It’s about women being in total control of herself, with no harm to anyone," said Ferrie.
Weighing in on the feminist side of witchcraft, Ronalda Katherine added, "I think all women are witches… and I don’t mean that in a bad way. We all have women’s strength and the ability to make things happen. Women can use their energy to make things happen. They’re more in touch with their feelings and can project that more.”
With that in mind, don’t imagine that Vancouver Island’s witches are all about potions and secret incantations, or about some modern-day women’s movement.
At least that’s not all it’s about. Witches seem to have some fun, as well.
There’s the British Columbia Witch-camp, for example. That’s where witches come together each year for one week to celebrate, learn, teach, and be together as community. Although they don’t specifically say so, there are some great bonfires and conversations and jokes as well.
Then there’s events like the one hosted by the coven in Royston, BC. They dress in their witchiest outfits and paddleboard for charity.
Prizes are awarded for the best costume as well as the best cackle.
“We bring a lot of energy to our events,” said Hill. “There’s no recruitment, and no judgement. This is just a wonderful, positive and loving community.”
And yes, they do have the odd love potion available for those in need.
