In the history of witch trials, we can go as far back as the beginning of Christianity and later on Catholicism. Being part of the church didn’t even ensure your safety among your people. History is cruel to those who dare be just a little different.
Women And Witchcraft
Throughout history, we have read about the various women who, back in the early days, suffered persecution and accusation of witchcraft. When anything wrong seemed to happen, they were the ones to blame.
The women were at fault, and they viewed it as suspicious if it happened more than once. The suspicion turned towards the idea that the female must be at fault and a witch.
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When we think about the European witch hunt, we think about the mediaeval period, but what if I told you one castle hosted children as its primary victims?
The Moosham Castle Purpose
The Austria spur castle can sit over a Roman fortress’ foundation. A spur castle is a term used to indicate a mediaeval fortress resting on the spur of a hill or mountain as a defence mechanism.
Another example is the Poenari Castle in Romania, which belonged to Vlad the Impaler. Usually, the only weakness of such a castle resides where the hill links to the spur from which it projects. It also means that the spur castle would have three sides by steep hillsides for the best protection.
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On Bookstagram of late last year, a new book was advertised and caught my attention. The book is loosely based on the true story of the Vardo Witch Trials.
About The Book
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave takes the readers to the island of Vardo. We are pulled into the very experience the witch trials caused in Vardø in the year 1621.
Through the eyes and mind of Maren, we see the stories of the women of Vardø. We also share the Commander’s wife’s point of view, Ursa, who is responsible for sending the authorities to the village.
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I am not ashamed to say I am a big fan of the Blair Witch franchise. But everyone despises the sequel, and it had me want to revisit it. Here is my review!
* WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!*
The Official Summary!
Do you remember Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows? No? Let’s dig in!
As it follows the twisted path traveled by five people fixated on The Blair Witch Project, Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows journeys into a dark and dangerous place where the line between truth and fiction blurs and perhaps vanishes altogether.
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Devil, demons, and witchcraft are three things that we absolutely enjoy over at Gothic Bite, and our amazing witch, L.A. Maciel, is tackling the overall subject!
Ah…The Good Ole Burning Times!
The silvery light of the full moon shines down on a circle of nude people, dancing hand-in-hand around a bonfire. From the flames comes a being with the head of a horned goat on a man’s body, where its feet should be are hooves…
This is a typical scene when you look into the history of the Witch Hunts of Europe or if you’re part of the Neopagan movement, The Burning Times.
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Welcome to our new weekly segment with L.A. Maciel and The Witch’s Corner! Here, you’ll find answer to questions about witchcraft you never thought about before!
A Witch’s Introduction
There’s a common phrase amongst writers that are writing about ourselves is difficult. I would have to agree. And it’s not just the concept of feeling narcissistic in this case.
It’s about self-preservation. You see, I am a witch. Well, I’m a pantheist pagan with animistic leanings, but I still practice witchcraft in one of its many forms. And this reality can cause problems.
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In 1999 a new genre of a horror movie made its entrance starting with The Blair Witch Project. Its prime marketing scheme selling it as a found footage inspired many movies ever since, and now it’s back.
*** minimal spoilers ***
Burkittsville Maryland Home of the Blair Witch
The Blair Witch is back with a vengeance but!
It is important to note that the town of Burkittsville in the American State of Maryland is real, but it is not where the movie happens when filmed. After the release of The Blair Witch Project in 1999, many fans harassed people from the village of 200 inhabitants to find the forest and more about the legend.
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For 300 years, the Witch Trial lasted. But, during the Salem Witch Trial happening long after the end of the 300 years of terror, one minister suffered the fate of the witches.
A Salem Witch
The Salem Witch trial is a popular name and term. However, not many people know the true story behind the trial that occurred more than four hundred years ago.
The Salem witch trials were a tragedy. It happened due to a group of young people who accused others of witchcraft. So, here is the article about the minister who died a Salem witch.
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Not too long ago, a new fantasy series hit our small screen. The Witcher, based on the work of Andrzej Sapkowski, is now part of the Netflix family! From an obsessive fantasy fan, here are my thoughts.
The Witcher
SPOILER ALERT is in effect! Movies and Series are dissected, and plots revealed.
MATURE AUDIENCE: Subjects of violence, torture, sex, and gore are part of this article.
TRIGGERS: Depression, Language, PTSD, ‘Racism.’
Consider yourself warned!
Now, Netflix‘s The Witcher invades small screens!
The Witcher is a fantasy series of novels and short stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The series revolves around the titular “witcher”, Geralt of Rivia.
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Witchcraft is the practice of magical skills and abilities. Witchcraft is a broad term that varies culturally and societally, and thus can be difficult to define with precision. — Wikipedia
L.A. Maciel — The Witch
I’m from a small town in the middle of the redwood forest, three hours south of the Oregon border, which is why I’m an avid hiker and nature lover.
I was told at a young age that I would have been a SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome statistic. It is why I’m a Death Positive Advocate. Death has always been an inspiration to me, and it has influenced me in my everyday life.
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A vampire is a being from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital force of the living. In European folklore, vampires were undead beings that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighborhoods they inhabited while they were alive. — Wikipedia
Debunking History
Throughout human history, the word vampire spread around the world since the dawn of humankind. Legends and myths from different civilizations nowhere near connected, share the same type of creature. Originally meaning: forceful bite, in my cultures, the creature itself seems to share common grounds. Its number one being the taste for blood.
We can blame the existence of vampires on the lack of knowledge around the deceased. Often people that were dead were accused of vampirism. Recently deceased people would show blood around their mouths, bloating, blush, and growth of hair and nails.
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Not long ago, Gothic Bite Magazine asked for people to share their paranormal stories with us. Some of you answered the call and now, here are some of your stories…
I Knew Better
It was the summer of 96 or better referred to as “The Summer of Hell.” I can’t help but to blame myself; after all, I’ve watched plenty of horror movies to know all the basic rules, but even then I ignored the most important one.
I was young and curious. So attracted to anything horror. I played with a spirit board by myself, and if that wasn’t enough, I had chanted spells that I found in a spell book written in another language.
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Trinitarians work exclusively with the Goddess-inclusive Christian Pantheon. Now, let’s take a deep breathe and learn about what this is all about. Continue reading The Christian Witches
The Bell Witch or Bell Witch Haunting is a legend from Southern American folklore, centered on the 19th-century Bell family of northwest Robertson County, Tennessee. — Wikipedia
Who or What is it?
There’s much controversy about the Bell Witch Cave. Some say she is the daughter of an abusive father. Some say she is an outside entity that came to torment the Bell Family. There are even other reports that the Bell Witch was a male slave killed by Bell in the past.
The most common telling of it is that the Bell Witch was a neighbor girl whose name was Kate Batts. Often reports show the girl to quarrel with John Bell’s daughter Betsy who’s engagement was to Joshua Gardner—later broke up in 1821.
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At Gothic Bite Magazine, we are lucky enough to work with Kendra, our Chief Editor. She is a special effect makeup artist.
This month, in honor of our Witch print magazine edition available on Amazon, Kendra used her blobette to pose as a witch!
Continue reading “The GBM Witch!”
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Everyone remembers the shaky running camera in the dark woods, the close-up on the girl’s blue eyes crying out of terror. The Blair Witch Project made its debut.
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T.A. Moorman is a busy writer and also part of Gothic Moms!
Her very successful series of Underlayes is gaining more popularity by the day and so, she thought about us, readers, and get us addicted to her series!
Continue reading “T.A. Moorman — Witch Wars Free for a limited time only!”
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We all heard of the Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, the Plague, or the Black Death, all synonyms for the same illness that killed a third of the world’s population. But do you know about the Dancing Plague?
But First, The Black Plague!
Europe in the Middle Ages suffered from many illnesses and diseases as they developed in various societies. The popularity of trading ports expanded the horizons of kingdoms but also had them face new pathogens, bacteria and germs their lives did not accustom them to.
Nothing prepared their immune system for the possibility of contagion. Their limited knowledge of medicine also led them to die in great numbers. The Church spread it was either God punishing them for their sinful ways or Satan spreading its diseases. Either way, the morale was down.
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Hi, I am Becki Kolodziej and I am a gothic woman from Wales and a professional reviewer who practices Witchcraft. Continue reading Becki Kolodziej
What is it called when your brain starts seeing shapes and changes your face when fixing your reflection for too long? Well, that is a question coming up often and here is the answer!
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall What’s Wrong With You?
I developed a mirror phobia called eisoptrophobia. My phobia is due to self-image issues. It can lead to dramatic changes in someone’s life. When I lost all of my excess weight because of my body dysmorphia, I still wasn’t looking at myself in a mirror.
I knew what I looked like despite avoiding cameras and trying to look away from mirrors as much as possible. However, one evening I brushed my teeth and looked in the mirror in the bathroom. It’s the only mirror in our house that isn’t covered.
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