How Do You Know If She is a Witch?
We all know that there are witches amongst us, in the communities in which we live. They could be our neighbors, our friends, or even our own family members. But, how do you know if someone is really a witch? First of all, what are the signs that there has been some sort of witchcraft at work? Witches may participate in divination of the future, possession, or most commonly bewitching. Whether it is black magic or white magic, witchcraft is equally punishable under the law, although black magic is much easier to prove because it is more harmful. If someone divines correctly the location of lost object, that is proof of witchcraft, and moreover theft, because knowing where it was means that you were the thief. Witches will often charge desperate people for their services in divining or bewitching. Deceit may also be a sign of witchcraft. Has any young person in your family, particularly a young girl, been afflicted with an inexplicable illness or died suddenly? Young girls are often the object of bewitching. Some of the symptoms of bewitching are mental problems of some sort, fits, fainting spells, lameness, and also general pain without any apparent cause. Infants and other small children are frequent targets as well, of bewitching. Has some sort of natural disaster, like a drought, a flood, or a bad storm occurred? Has anything happened to disturb the peace of the community? Has your family had any other great misfortunes occur? Any of these events could well have been caused by a witch.

After you have recognized signs that witchcraft is afoot, you need to think about whom it could be that is causing this harm to you, your family, or your property. Witches are almost always women, first of all; cases of warlocks are extremely rare because the nature of woman makes it easier for the devil to corrupt their souls. Firstly, you must think about who might want to do such things to hurt you. Persons below you, especially those dependent on you often resent you for your power over them. Some such people may wish to harm you for spite or might think to harm you and take your power from you, because of their maliciousness or greed. Is there anyone else who may harbor a grudge against you or your family? Someone who may claim to have been wronged by you or your family may wish to revenge him or herself upon you. Is their some sort of family grudge or an ongoing feud between your family and another family? Revenge is a common theme in witchcraft, especially bewitching. The person who wishes to harm you may be a witch or may be in league with a witch.

What kinds of women are commonly found to be witches? Generally witches can be identified as women who operate outside of the community structure; they are outsiders within the community. They do not conform in manners of dress or behavior to what good citizens do; most of them do not go to church on a regular basis either. Any woman who is rumored to have a gift for healing animals is likely a witch, as witches seem to have some connection with the animal world. Are there any women within the community that have a reputation for causing trouble? They are usually older women, perhaps widows or unmarried women who live alone. Those women without husbands are subject to suspicion because they may do as they will without a man to oversee their activities, they are free to practice their craft unnoticed. Do not be deceived that all witches must not be married, for there are some married women that practice the black arts as well. Are there any women who have attempted to take on male roles within the community, or that have gained power beyond the woman’s sphere of influence? These women who wish to gain power or influence, are likely using witchcraft to rise from their position. Women who try to go into business or continue in a trade that is not a family business are subject to suspicion as well.

I myself have had dealings with a witch, who spirited my only son and heir away. I noticed that my son was away from home much of the time and decided to find out the cause. I found out that he had been visiting the house of a mere farmer who so happened to have a daughter. I disguised myself, in order to observe them without being noticed. I found them at the cottage and caught them making a pledge to marry. Imagine it, my son, a nobleman, wishing to marry a farmer’s daughter! My son would not and must not marry some commoner. He would never give up his wealth and position in order to marry such a thing. Then, I realized that she had bewitched him, it was the only explanation. She even made him say that he no longer had a father, when asked if he had consulted him, then denounce everything that was his inheritance in order to marry her. I unmasked myself; but he would not listen to reason, but flew off in fit of rage. Then she spirited him away from me, and fled when she realized that she would get nothing from me.

Polixenes

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