I’ve got to say, when I first realised I’d upset some witches earlier this year, I was a bit panicked! I mean, it’s not every day you get a duo of witches telling you they are pissed off with what you’ve written about their craft, is it? Well that’s what happened to me – and quite rightly too. Dark Dundee loves everything dark, including witches, but it’s safe to say that witches get a pretty bad deal, and they have done for a long, long time. Witches are bad and evil and cast spells, right? There’s hardly any “good” witches, right? Well you’re wrong. Oh, so wrong.
Amidst some friendly banter (and a few thinly veiled threats to turn me into a toad or a frog or suchlike), I agreed to meet with the witches and hear their side of the story. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t apprehensive, but I diligently made a list of questions I wanted to ask them; not stupid questions, but honest, genuine questions that I thought would help shed some light onto the stigma surrounding witchcraft and what it really means.
We met at a local coffee house in town – I arrived first, armed with my questions, and totally bricking it as to what I was getting myself into. And then the witches arrived. No, there was no puff of smoke, no cackling (well there was, but that’s a whole different story), and there were certainly no broomsticks or capes. They just walked, like everyone else. Weird eh? Who would have thought?
What struck me about them was that they were genuinely warm and caring women, with no airs, graces or pretension. We grabbed coffees and sat down and the conversation flowed so naturally between us all that time had no meaning at all. I asked questions and listened as the women talked about their craft, completely absorbed in what they had to say. In the few hours that I spent in their company, I felt like I had known them forever. In fact, we talked so much that we ended up getting chucked out of the coffee house for staying well past their closing time! They were open, receptive and very willing to share their experiences with me.
All my fears and apprehensions were gone, and I realised that the crafts these women followed were nothing for me to be fearful of any more so than I would be fearful of someone who attended a church, mosque or any other place of worship. They teach love, compassion and inner strength; they follow patterns of lunar and solar cycles, greeting the morning each day with a prayer (where time allows) and enjoying everything the natural world has to offer. This is nothing to be fearful of, and, in fact, is somewhat inspiring. How many of us take the time to be truly thankful for what we have and what we’ve achieved? Don’t we always just want more of everything?
These women don’t even demand the respect they deserve, because they believe everyone has a right to believe whatever they want, even if that right isn’t exercised towards themselves. They are not out to do harm. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, as they believe that whatever you do will come back to you threefold, so to put out bad energy would not be advisable. I’m not saying they are saints by any stretch of the imagination – I reckon they’ve got a pretty good right hook on them – but they don’t believe in putting any bad vibes into the world intentionally.
We talked so much that I didn’t take a single note, but they have agreed to answer my questions and get back to me so that I can update the witchcraft and occult section with a more balanced approach to witchcraft in Dundee. When it boils down to it, you should never judge a book by its cover – or indeed a witch by preconceived stigmas. Perhaps we should take a leaf from their book and learn a bit more tolerance for others as well as things we don’t necessarily have the first clue about. Instead of making judgements, maybe we should be seeking to ask questions and listen to the answers before we go jumping to conclusions.
These “witches” weren’t wicked, evil or in any way disingenuous. I thought they were great, intelligent women with a brilliant sense of humour and real zest for life. I think they liked me too as I haven’t been turned into a frog…yet!
I’ll let you know as soon as the full interview is available online – you won’t want to miss it.
I should also note here that men can be witches too, as you’ll see when the interview is released; it just so happened I was lucky enough to have a date with 3 spectacular ladies. Maybe wishes do come true, after all.
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– DD Tours operates walking tours in Dundee city, covering dark local history such as wars, battles, murders, diseases, riots, disasters and executions. Walk with us for an unforgettable storytelling experience.
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