I AM A WITCH . I LOVE WIZARDS.... :) ( Portrait & Blog by Neha Bisht)

Pencil Portrait - "Glance" .....................Watercolour Portrait "Burning" ....

Once, a clairvoyant friend and follower of my art (I have never seen his face) posted a comment under one of my artworks. He commented, “It is your destiny to burn!” (He often gives a psychological analysis of my artwork). I jokingly commented back, “Well ! the stakes have been piling up for a long time. I can feel the heat ” . He replied with a smiley. At that time I did not understand what did he mean. I do today !

He was telling me that I am free spirited like a witch & society doesn’t like such people ! The stakes will always be piled up high !

Ah !! witches, witches, witches .
Flying on broomsticks, brewing dangerous potions.
Hunted and persecuted. Yet feared by all !!
Devil’s accomplices? Who art Thou?

I have always been fascinated by this intriguing topic of Witches.

Living far away from people, at the edge of dangerous forests. All alone, with animals and plants for company.
Beautiful and intelligent sorceresses and sirens. Luring “hapless” men to their death and doom. Casting spells. Sought by the daring. Forbidden to all !

Down the ages, beautiful, intelligent and independent women have been accused, hunted down like animals and persecuted and burnt at the stakes by the religious orders, clans and powerful men of the time. And the practice still continues in many parts of the world.

Joan of Arc was burnt at the stakes. Today she is worshipped as a saint !

So, what is this mystery called “Witches”.

I have read some texts on witches. I will not bore you with details already available on the net. I will tell you my observations.

There a few common threads I have found amongst all the women who were accused and burnt at the stakes as witches, across the cultures and across the globe.

1  - These were often women of great intelligence and awareness and were very independent. They refused to cower down to the threats of a male dominated society.

2 -  Often these were women of great beauty. Powerful men sought them. But these women, for whatever reason, refused the advances of men of power and prestige.

3 -  Many of these “witches” were gifted and blessed women. They were gifted with talents and knowledge and skills. Perhaps they had the knowledge of herbs. Or they were gifted in communicating with animals. Perhaps they understood the winds and the clouds. Or perhaps they were intuitive and clairvoyant. Is this witchcraft or talent ?

4  -  In a few cases, these were women, who inherited property and wealth but did not choose to have a man with them . The churches and the princes wanted to acquire their wealth and businesses .

Here I would like to tell you of an interesting fact. -
In Spain, a group of women got together, brewed beer and sold beer to the sailors. Their kitchen was the first beer brewery of the world. They went to ports to get their customers. The women , to attract the sailors and to stand out in the crowd, wore long, black, pointed hats. In their inns, these women were often seen with brooms. They were hardworking business women after all.
And then there was the problem of storage and rodents. So they kept cats. And they shared a beautiful emotional bond with their adorable cats.

These awesome and beautiful, independent business women were called ALE WIVES !!

The Religious Order …. (Oh! these religious orders have caused much mayhem ! ) urggggghhhh !!!))))

The Church and the Powerful Men wanted control over the beer business. They wanted the “Ale Wives” out of the scene.
Hence were born “Ugly Witches With Crooked Nose, Wearing Pointed Black Hats, Flying On Broomsticks With Cats, Brewing Dangerous Potions” !! Hmmmmm !!!

WOW ! What Imagination !!

So what is the picture that emerges ?  —

My mind deduces and draws a picture of a beautiful, intelligent, aware, courageous, talented, wise woman who dares to live by her own sceptre ! (in this case, by her own broomstick :D ) .
She dares to think and have opinions.
She refuses to cower down to a patriarchal society.
She rebels against being enslaved or oppressed by men in the garb of unequal relationships.
She dares to stand alone and say NO to a man in a man’s world !!!
She is a threat.
She is a threat to women who think that their power comes from their men, and not from within their souls.
She is a threat to the power of masculinity in a man’s world !!
Blasphemy !!
She is a WITCH ! Just like an independent thinking man is a heretic and a wizard !

The only difference is that, in a man’s world we do have Kind and Benevolent Wizards and Wise Heretics too . Such is not the case with Witches ! Witches are out and out ‘evil’ …How convenient :)

In my opinion, Witches were and are, simply women of substance who are beyond the comprehension and beyond the oppressive control of the Society of their time.

I prefer to think of a witch as Sabrina and Wendy ( accurate comic book creations)- Spirits of Freedom and Beauty and Independence.

In fact, comic book series have been very kind to witches and wizards. Their depiction is way more correct than the interpretation of mainstream society.

The witches and wizards of the dark ages are the Super Heroes of today — Avengers, Justice League, Black Widow, Poison Ivy, Dr Strange, Valkyries — are they not awesome ! 😎😊

So ladies, it is an honour and a compliment to be a Witch !!

Well ! Well! Well! I have a black dog that catches rats like a cat. I am blessed with a few talents, by the grace of God and Devil both ! And Hell, ! I think !!!
Perhaps …. I am a witch. I love wizards. 😎

Pencil Portrait “Glance” by Neha Bisht / style - expressionism

Watercolour Portrait “Burning” by Neha Bisht / Style — Expressionism

My artwork is in support of my writing, as an illustration.

I present the indigo streak of mystery & spiritualism in my “Burning” Witch, for the Saturday Indigo Colour Challenge :)

Thank you for reading and viewing :)