There are several Wiccan shops in my neighborhood that offer a wide range of products and services for those interested in the Wiccan religion and practice. These shops cater to the needs of Wiccans and provide a space where they can explore their faith and find the tools and resources they need. One of the main features of these Wiccan shops is their selection of mystical and spiritual items. They offer a variety of products such as candles, incense, crystals, herbs, and oils that are often used in Wiccan rituals and spells. These items are carefully curated to ensure high quality and authenticity, and many are sourced from local artisans and practitioners. In addition to the physical products, Wiccan shops also provide a variety of services to support the Wiccan community.
In addition to the physical products, Wiccan shops also provide a variety of services to support the Wiccan community. This may include tarot readings, astrology consultations, energy healings, and classes or workshops on topics such as ritual practices, spellcraft, and spiritual growth. These services are typically provided by experienced practitioners who have a deep understanding of Wiccan practices and beliefs.
No, That Halloween Witch (Probably) Does Not Represent A Persecuted Beer Brewer
Two witches burned at the stake by the Inquisition. Woodcut colored, Germany approx. 1550. (Photo by . [+] Fototeca Gilardi/Getty Images).
Caution: some artwork may not be appropriate for some children.
Every year in the creep to Halloween, a handful of journalists, bloggers, and podcasters play a well-meaning yet dubious trick on their audiences. They write or republish stories — unedited and unvetted for the most part — that use unquestioning language to unequivocally connect the objects we associate with witchcraft with the tools of the medieval and renaissance European brewer. Most brewers at the time were female and a great many females were brewers; a lot of them sold the surplus from the low-alcohol beer they brewed to nourish their families for the fewest of coins and the minimum of autonomy.
Brooms, cats, cauldrons and pointy hats all had their place. But did they spell the ruin of these “brewsters” and “alewives?”
The media pieces accurately explain that the forces of politics, economics and religion often “conspired” to suppress classes of people, women among them, and that brewsters, with their relative independence, threatened the social order. Enter brewster-as-witch smear campaign to literally kill them off.
Execution by hanging of four witches. Colored engraving from 'Law and Custom of Scotland in Matters . [+] Criminal', by Sir George Mackenzie. Scotland, Edinburgh 1678. (Photo by Fototeca Gilardi/Getty Images)
Though the storyline makes sense, it’s very likely a fairytale or at best “inspired by a true story.” Ireland-based beer historian Dr. Christina Wade, who’s excruciatingly researched the intersection of gender and beer in medieval northern Europe, convincingly argues that enough dates and places fail to match up for it to unfold that neatly.
“These arguments aren’t historically accurate. At all,” she writes on her blog, Braciatrix. “Hello, my name is Christina, Crusher of Myths, and today I’m here to refute the idea that modern pop culture depictions of witches are rooted in the dress and culture of either medieval, or 16th century alewives.”
MORE FROM FORBES ADVISORBest Tax Software Of 2022
Best Tax Software For The Self-Employed Of 2022
Income Tax Calculator: Estimate Your Taxes
To provide a little more context, here’s an edited excerpt from my book, A Woman’s Place Is in the Brewhouse: A Forgotten History of Alewives, Brewsters, Witches and CEOs. The chapter is “Strange Brew: Did Renaissance Brewsters Practice Fermentation . . . Or Witchcraft?”
The History Channel estimates that European authorities hanged or burned alive up to eighty thousand accused witches between 1500 and 1660 (some sources tabulate up to two hundred thousand for approximately the same time period), with Germany massacring the highest number per capita and Ireland killing the fewest. It formed part of a mass control and terror campaign the Roman Inquisition, the Catholic Counter‑Reformation against Protestant reforms, and the fledgling professional class of male doctors and lawyers waged against a formerly feudal and newly liberal population as they sought to consolidate their power and redefine the social structure. Twentieth‑ and twenty‑first‑century scholars credit the rise of capitalism to their efforts.
(Original Caption) Picture shows a witch hanging in England in teh 17th Century. Undated woodcut.
“Is it a coincidence that the image of medieval brewsters so closely resembles the popular image of a witch, or was foul play perpetrated by persons who wanted to malign female brewers in an era when witch hunting was rife?” writes Jane Peyton, an alcohol historian and Britain’s 2014 Beer Sommelier of the Year, on her website, School of Booze.
The social structure increasingly stacked up against brewsters and alewives in the early modern era, with literature portraying them as sorceresses and the church preaching against the evils of alcohol and the female purveyors who lured men into sin. “If alehouses were ‘the devil’s schoolhouse,’” writes Judith Bennett in Ale, Beer, and Brewsters in England: Women's Work in a Changing World, 1300-1600. “Then women were the devil’s schoolmistresses.”
Let’s survey the evidence that suggests brewsters form a basis for our conception of witches.
Cats: Considered a familiar that accompanies a witch, cats made themselves valuable staples in the brewster home by devouring the mice and rats who fed on sacks of stored grain.
The pointy hat: Alewives in some regions donned it when they went on excursions to the market so potential customers could spot them above the crowd.
The broomstick: In some areas, regulations required the alewife to post an ale stake, a long stick adhered to twigs, which might have doubled as a broom, above her door to signal to customers and government regulators that she had beer to sell.
The cauldron: This is where the magic happened—literally. A massive cauldron of wort bubbles when it boils over a flame froths rabidly as it ferments.
For many thousands of years, a mostly illiterate European populace ascribed fermentation to magic.
Witches roasting and boiling infants, 1608 (19th century). Copy of an illustration from Compendium . [+] Maleticarum by Fr M Guaccius, Milan 1608, used in History of Magic, published late 19th century. Artist Unknown. (Photo by Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
It wasn’t just brewers, saints, and goddesses practicing the magic of fermentation. Up to and through the Renaissance, Europeans of all stripes used herbs and incantations for natural healing and other purposes—it was all they had. As schooling formalized, girls, whose household duties kept them from attending, couldn’t access this training. While young men earned degrees in the medical arts, increasingly Christian societies shunned the natural healing arts and the women who plied them.
“‘Wise women,’ herbalists, and old women have been looked on with suspicion in many cultures throughout millennia, so brewsters joined this group where superstitious, uneducated people considered such people to be ‘the other,’” explains Peyton in an e‑mail.
There's little, if any, historical evidence directly linking real brewsters to witch trials. A project to identify and map women tried as witches in Scotland, home to an intense witch hunt between the late sixteenth and early eighteenth centuries, turned up no direct correlation, and according to Christina Wade, a study of the assize records in Essex, England, between 1560 and 1680 found only one woman with a listed connection to a professional brewer—her husband.
The media pieces accurately explain that the forces of politics, economics and religion often “conspired” to suppress classes of people, women among them, and that brewsters, with their relative independence, threatened the social order. Enter brewster-as-witch smear campaign to literally kill them off.
Furthermore, Wiccan shops often serve as community gathering spaces. They host events and gatherings that bring together Wiccans and those interested in exploring the religion. These events may include full moon rituals, workshops on specific aspects of Wicca, and discussions on spirituality and personal growth. The shops provide a safe and inclusive environment where individuals can connect with like-minded individuals and deepen their understanding of Wicca. Overall, the presence of Wiccan shops in my neighborhood is a testament to the growing acceptance and visibility of Wicca as a valid spiritual path. These shops offer a range of products and services that cater to the needs of Wiccans, and provide a supportive community for individuals to explore and express their faith. The availability of these resources contributes to the diversity and richness of the religious landscape in my neighborhood..
Reviews for "Witchy Retail Therapy: Finding the Best Wiccan Stores in My Neighborhood"
- John Doe - 1 star - The Wiccan shop in my neighborhood was a disappointment. First of all, the store was extremely small and cramped, making it difficult to move around and browse the products. Secondly, the staff seemed incredibly disinterested in helping customers and lacked any knowledge about the products they were selling. I asked a few questions about specific herbs and crystals, and they couldn't provide any useful information. Overall, I was not impressed with this Wiccan shop and will not be returning.
- Jane Smith - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Wiccan shop in my neighborhood, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The selection of products was quite limited, and they did not have some of the essential items I was looking for. Additionally, the prices were much higher compared to other Wiccan shops in nearby areas. The store also lacked a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. It felt dull and uninspiring, which made my shopping experience quite underwhelming. I hope they can improve their inventory and create a more enchanting ambiance in the future.
- Samantha Johnson - 1 star - I had a terrible experience at the Wiccan shop in my neighborhood. The customer service was abysmal, with the staff being rude and dismissive. They seemed more interested in talking amongst themselves than assisting customers. Furthermore, the products were overpriced and of sub-par quality. I bought a few items, and they fell apart after just a few uses. It's a shame that such a promising shop turned out to be such a disappointment. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for genuine Wiccan supplies.