#witch archetype

[nosferatu-roberteggers]

At what point does The Witch portray religion as evil? Evil is what's expressed in this film. The devil. There's no emancipation for the heroine. She just falls to the dark side in the end. There's no nuance. Damn it, they killed babies and twins. The father was a religious fanatic and was taken by the devil because of it.

I’m confused why I got this ask. The story of “The VVitch” is, essentially, about a Puritan family using their teenage daughter as scapegoat for everything bad that happens to them (due to her gender and awakening sexuality) because of their religious patriarchal beliefs. That’s what causes them to believe Thomasin is a witch and the responsible for everything happening to the family. It’s considered a masterpiece of Folk horror; the folkloric witch is not the same as real witches, but many missed that detail. Moving on.

“Ultimately, as far as the end of The Witch, it’s real if you believe it is real. And that’s sort of the stance for the characters in my films”, said Eggers. When asked how his four films are connected, Eggers answered: “I have a primal narrative that comes out. It's not something that's designed, it just sort of happens. Everyone likes to die naked and insane…! I'm interested in folklore, mythology, fairytales, and archetypal stories.” He said this about “The VVitch”, but it’s true to every one of his films: “The plan was to make a world that’s utterly believable so that you can invest in the world and invest in the characters. You can be transported into their worldview as well. That’s what helps you believe in witches the way that these people would have. You can believe in supernatural stuff. Even the supernatural is articulated in a way that could, aside from a few shots, be explained scientifically.”

This is the collective psychosis angle of interpretation; Eggers creates his stories in a way the audience can choose either to believe the supernatural is real, or it’s a case of mass hysteria with characters using the supernatural as scapegoat for their inner demons. The meaning of the story is the same. Which, of course is the main reason the mainstream interpretation of Eggers’ “Nosferatu” is a load of rubbish.

Eggers wrote an entire essay about the role of the supernatural on his stories: “My interest in the macabre is often one of liberation. It is liberating to control my fears by recreating them cinematically. It is liberating to feel close enough to the darkness of death to fear it less. […] In earlier periods witches, vampires and werewolves could be the external scapegoats to our inner fears.”

The folkloric witch kills children because it’s the anti-mother archetype, the dark feminine archetype. As Eggers explained: “it's clear that in the early modern period, the evil witch [represents] men's fears and ambivalence and fantasies about female power. And in this super male-dominated society, the evil witch is also women's fears and ambivalence and fantasies and desire about their own power. It's a tragedy to read about a young girl upsetting someone, and since she didn't think she could have the kind of power to create that reaction, it has to be the devil. And thus, she thinks she's an evil witch”. Which is an idea he discussed in another interviews, at the time: “The evil witch of the early modern period [represents] men’s fears, ambivalences, desires, and fantasies about women and female power. And she also manifested herself as women’s own fears and ambivalences about themselves in this male-dominated society.”

Eggers called his “Nosferatu” “a more commercial version of The Witch” because Thomasin and Ellen are different sides of the same coin. Thomasin represents men’s fears about female power, while Ellen is women’s fears about their own power, in deeply patriarchal societies.

[neurodiversitysci]

This is only relevant to people interested in creating your own life myths using archetypes and other stories and symbolism. Which often means dipping into the woo-woo world. (To me, that kind of stuff is fantasy, and fantasy is wonderful in all kinds of ways, as long as you don't take it literally).

End of disclaimer.

...

I am highly sensitive (sensorily, emotionally, and physically). I have empathy, in the sense of feeling other people's emotions alongside my own. I have experienced trauma...

... and the only archetype out there for me seems to be "the (wounded) healer".

I tried to do that once, and it does not fit me. At all.

Healers are great, but that's not me. Surely that can't be the only path people like me are walking?

Apparently there are also "protectors". I was intrigued by that archetype because when other people are being hurt, I feel intensely angry and yearn to Do Something about it. I have also been told I am nonjudgmental and emotionally safe to be around -- Protectors are said to act as a refuge for sensitive souls. I (Indigo child age) am extremely protective of my younger sibling (Crystal child age). But I'm the opposite of practical, action oriented, and secure. I hate and avoid taking responsibility for anyone but myself. Frankly, the archetype feels very masculine, and I've never been drawn to that -- I run feminine to neutral.

The only archetype I've ever seen that remotely fits me is witch. Or high priestess, in tarot.

I'm hanging out in my remote, comfortable little cottage in the woods, hugging my cat. I'm trying to improve the world from afar, or just have fun, with my spells. I'm not here just to heal. I'm here to enchant and conjure and transmute, and maybe cast a few illusions and throw a few fireballs. I'm the Cool Weird Auntie, like Miss Frizzle.

I'm aloof, a little selfish, and easily angry. I will help you if you ask, but I'm not out there looking for people to help. If you treat me and others badly, I will not hesitate to tell you, and warn other people about you.

I can heal you, but I'm more likely to teach you, or shatter an illusion you had, or give you a sword like Excalibur or some other magic item so you can go on your own quest.

The problem with Healer is it's necessarily part of a pair. Healer and healed. Giver and receiver. One needs someone or something else to live one's life purpose. No thank you.

I am here for myself and have my own life path. Plus, binaries are boring.

So, for now, I'll be a Witch/Sorceress/Wise Woman.

What other archetypes/life myths exist for highly sensitive, empathic types? Have I missed anything interesting?

What are your favorites? Do you have any?

[magdalene-spirit]

The Witch Archetype, awakening her gifts & qualities 1/2

Slides continued in next post.

Awakening the Witch allows qualities of feminine consciousness to surface, to be remembered, integrated & embodied.

Qualities such as: deep knowing, self knowledge, independence, sovereignty, agency, understanding, insight, intuitive knowledge, compassion, responsivity, creativity or craft, natural magic & reconnection with Nature, body intelligence, the spirit of wisdom, truth & right.

[divaricca]

Gods? I don't know for sure, but I'm sure of archetypal forces that go around in our limited human consciousness that we can work with. Oh, the divine paradoxicality...

[unlikelystarfishgladiator]

Edgy over-the-top character concept for pathfinder 2e #1: Female Hobgoblin fighter with the witch archetype, who is also a changeling, learns over the course of her adventure about her heritage and her patron. (The patron granting her power in order to defeat her mother’s coven for... whatever reason, it’s up to you / your dm to decide) Has only one eye left. The hag-eye was removed by other hobgoblins thinking it was infected OR believing that by removing the eye the child won’t become a hag. Overall all the symptoms of a changeling are ignored / misinterpreted / down played by the character and her family: Long, sharp, strong nails? Yeah, she worked hard (e.g. miner background) in her childhood, that’s why her nails are so tough. It’s not that uncommon! The calling? Just weird dreams from reading or listening to too many stories about otherworldy creatures.  (for the witch archetype) That small, normal looking animal being around her all the time? Yeah, it just imprinted itself on her for some reason / she found it next to its dead siblings and took care of it / it’s her favourite animal and she “tamed” one to become her new pet, because she is soooo smart. Trained in occultism and arcana? You need to know more about elf-magic in order to defeat it. She’s just studying the enemy. Trained in crafting? Potions / elixiers are overall very useful and the local alchemist (maybe her father?) taught her some common formulars while she helped around in his shop. Can speak Aklo / sylvan? Well, fey are unpredictable, learning their language makes communication easier and they can’t insult you without you noticing. --- Feel free to add more or ask questions. Maybe I can upload a full level 1 character sheet one day. Or maybe not.

[2mysticmoons]

WE ARE BONES; “In archetypal symbology, bones represent the indestructible force. They do not lend themselves to easy reduction. They are by their structure hard to burn, nearly impossible to pulverize. In myth and story, they represent the indestructible soul-spirit. The soul-spirit can be injured, but it is very nearly impossible to kill.”

Beautiful words from @onewillow_apothecaries 🌿 RG: @themojomecca 🌲🌿🌕

[teawithmilkstudy]

Witches Brew: How the Patriarchy Ruins Everything for Women, Even Beer

An old woman with a pointy hat, cauldron, broom, cat, and smelly brew? Why, she must be a witch! This tableau has titillated and thrilled an