witch
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Assorted References
- major reference
- In witchcraft
…in witchcraft is called a witch, while the act of causing harm may be termed cursing, hexing, bewitchment, or maleficium. A belief in malevolent witchcraft has been found across many societies throughout recorded history. Sometimes witches are believed to act alone and at other times to operate in tandem with…
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- accusation of satanism
- attendance by familiar
- In familiar
…or imp kept as a witch’s attendant, given to her by the devil or inherited from another witch. The familiar was a low-ranking demon that assumed any animal shape, such as a toad, dog, insect, or black cat. Sometimes the familiar was described as a grotesque creature of fantasy, an…
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- use of levitation
- In levitation
Levitation of witches and other figures of folklore is called transvection and is said to involve the rubbing of “flying ointment” on their bodies before flying to the sabbath (see witches’ sabbath). The levitation of saints is usually directly upward, whereas that of witches has the dynamic…
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- In levitation
association with
- lauma
- Wicca
- In Wicca
…called Wiccans, typically identify as witches and draw inspiration largely from the pre-Christian religions of Europe. Influenced by earlier forms of Western esotericism, Wicca publicly emerged in England during the 1950s. At that time most Wiccans were members of initiatory groups called covens, although by the early 21st century most…
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