Witches!

I think that everyone understands that witches were an actual, factual part of medieval Europe, and that they were, in fact, the continuation of a centuries old herbal healing and spiritual tradition. Kind of like an old-age new-age healing factory.

The interesting thing is that these witches were probably just on an awesome psychedelic bender. A recent book has exposed and explicated the strange mind-journeys which the witches (you try spelling that when you've had a couple) went on. I could spend all day quoting from this article, but here is one:

The boundary between the town or village (“civilisation”) and the wilderness beyond was freighted with dread meaning in Medieval Europe. Jackson points out that Saxon tribes referred to the night traveller as haegtessa, the “hedge-rider,” for she could traverse the mysterious “hedge” (boundary) that divided the worlds of the living and the dead.

I will just leave you with the quote that has forever ruined Bewitched for me:

Harner emphasises the importance of the greased broomstick or similar flying implement, which he suggests served as “an applicator for the atropine-containing plant to the sensitive vaginal membranes as well as providing the suggestion of riding on a steed, a typical illusion of the witches’ ride to the Sabbat.”

Typically, British children are taught the religions/philosophies of a wide range of countries and traditions, but are taught the spiritual past of their own nation simply in terms of the coming of Christianity. I think that it's a shame to rob them of this colourful and interesting part of their heritage. Read the whole story here.

On a similar note (in terms of physicality, not spirituality) a study on female sex toys at Duke University has come under fire from its own Catholic Center. Not for encouraging promiscuity, but for not "promoting relationships", as it will encourage them to "sit around and masturbate." Enjoy.