My mother was a witch. Growing up, I never knew exactly what that meant. It was not until after her death that I discovered the truth. As a child, my mother was different. She possessed a natural intuition, always knowing when something was wrong or when someone needed her help. She had an inexplicable connection to nature and animals, able to communicate with them in ways no one else could understand.

My Mother Is a Witch and This I Know to Be True: The Voices of Pendle

During the Lancaster Assizes in August 1612, a nine-year-old girl is ushered into the courtroom, placed high on a table so that all who had gathered there can see her, and from this position, she denounces her mother as a witch. Jennet Device was a star witness in the most notorious English witch trials of all The Lancashire Witch Trials. Twenty people living in Pendle Hill’s shadow were accused of using charms, effigies, and familiar spirits to harm and even murder their enemies. It is said that many of the accused also confessed to selling their souls to the Devil. Jennet’s own family and seven of the other alleged witches were found guilty, condemned, and hanged publicly on Gallows Hill. The magistrates (turned witch-hunters) who arrested and prosecuted them congratulated themselves for a job well done; King James I (a monarch hellbent on persecuting witches) was bound to be impressed by their endeavours to cleanse the land of evil. Justice had been served. But of course, it hadn’t … The so-called Pendle Witches have endured more than 400 years of wrongful persecution for crimes they could not have possibly committed. Combining a decade’s worth of research with her mother’s gift as a Spiritualist medium, author Charlotte Meredith’s unprecedented methods of investigation finally uncover the truth behind the claims, explode the myths, and reveal who the Pendle Witches really were , what they believed , and how they came to lose their lives . This is the true story, in their own words. It is time for the Pendle Witches to be heard.

312 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

Author Charlotte Meredith holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, with a focus on ontology and metaphysics. She writes a blog on the history of magic and witchcraft and is the founder of the Justice for Witches campaign.

She had an inexplicable connection to nature and animals, able to communicate with them in ways no one else could understand. I used to think she was just special, blessed with unique gifts. But as I grew older, I started to notice the strange occurrences around her.

Ratings & Reviews

Friends & Following

Community Reviews

I have read this book and giving my honest review.
A new author. What a book, interesting regarding accounts of the witches, from start to end.
Especially the Pendle witches. The reason as one of my ancestors was sent to Lancaster prison, the same time as Alice Nutter, but was released Jane southworth.
I visited the prison where they were held. Could only see from the first gate, dark, no light and would have been terrifying, at the thought of these poor people, waiting for execution.
I hope you enjoy as much as I have.

Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch

The story begins in 1618, in the German duchy of Württemberg. Plague is spreading. The Thirty Years' War has begun, and fear and suspicion are in the air throughout the Holy Roman Empire. In the small town of Leonberg, Katharina Kepler is accused of being a witch.

Katharina is an illiterate widow, known by her neighbors for her herbal remedies and the success of her children, including her eldest, Johannes, who is the Imperial Mathematician and renowned author of the laws of planetary motion. It's enough to make anyone jealous, and Katharina has done herself no favors by being out and about and in everyone's business.

So when the deranged and insipid Ursula Reinbold (or as Katharina calls her, the Werewolf) accuses Katharina of offering her a bitter, witchy drink that has made her ill, Katharina is in trouble. Her scientist son must turn his attention from the music of the spheres to the job of defending his mother. Facing the threat of financial ruin, torture, and even execution, Katharina tells her side of the story to her friend and next-door neighbor Simon, a reclusive widower imperiled by his own secrets.

Drawing on real historical documents but infused with the intensity of imagination, sly humor, and intellectual fire for which Rivka Galchen is known, Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch will both provoke and entertain. The story of how a community becomes implicated in collective aggression and hysterical fear is a tale for our time. Galchen's bold new novel touchingly illuminates a society and a family undone by superstition, the state, and the mortal convulsions of history. (From HarperCollins)

Rivka Galchen is a Canadian American writer. She is also the author of the novel Atmospheric Disturbances. She lives in New York City.

• 12 books for the historical fiction fan on your holiday shopping list
• The best Canadian fiction of 2021
• Rivka Galchen's reimagining of a 17th century witch trial is a story that speaks to our time
• 35 Canadian books to check out in summer 2021
• 13 great Canadian books to read this Halloween
• Rivka Galchen's Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch reimagines a real-life witch hunt — read an excerpt now

She would cast spells and perform rituals in the privacy of her room, and I would catch glimpses of her talking to spirits in the dead of night. She had a collection of herbs and potions, and her bookshelves were lined with spell books and ancient texts. My mother embraced her identity as a witch. She believed in harnessing the power of the universe to create positive change and healing. She used her abilities to help those in need, offering guidance and support in times of struggle. People sought her out for her knowledge and insight, knowing that she had a deep understanding of the unseen world. But with her powers came a darkness. There were times when she seemed consumed by her abilities, losing touch with reality and delving into the realms of the unknown. She became distant and detached, often disappearing for days at a time, leaving me to wonder where she had gone and if she would return. Despite the challenges, I loved my mother deeply. I admired her strength and her unwavering belief in magic. She taught me the importance of embracing my own uniqueness and following my own path, no matter how unconventional it may be. After her passing, I inherited her collection of spell books and mystical artifacts. I found solace in continuing her work, using her knowledge to help those in need, just as she had done. I realized that being a witch was not about wielding power or performing magic tricks; it was about connecting with the natural world and using that connection to make a difference. So, yes, my mother was a witch. She was a force of nature, a beacon of light in a world full of shadows. And though she may be gone, her legacy lives on in me as I embrace the magic within myself and strive to create a better world for all..

Reviews for "From skeptic to believer: How witnessing my mother's magic transformed my perception of the supernatural"

1. Jane Smith - 1 star

I was really looking forward to reading "My mother was a witch" after hearing such good things about it, but I was sorely disappointed. The writing was dull and lacked any sort of excitement or originality. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I found myself struggling to even finish the book. The plot was predictable and filled with cliches, making it feel like a poor imitation of other witch-themed novels. Overall, I found "My mother was a witch" to be a complete waste of time.

2. Mark Johnson - 2 stars

While "My mother was a witch" had an intriguing concept, the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the plot twists were predictable. It's a shame because I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

3. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars

I have to admit, I was drawn to "My mother was a witch" by its beautiful cover and promising synopsis. Unfortunately, the story did not deliver. The writing style was amateurish, with awkward sentences and grammatical errors throughout. The plot was convoluted and confusing, leaving me with more questions than answers. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied after reading "My mother was a witch".

Celebrating the witch within: Embracing and honoring my own magical abilities inherited from my mother