Enchantress Archetypes Past and Present

Spirituality that fell outside of organized religion was once regarded as a fringe hippie hobby, but times are changing. Metaphysical pastimes like crystals, essential oils, energy healing, and tarot cards are now more popular than ever. The archetypal Witch has become the new symbol of the feminist movement. It's my belief that this is exactly what feminism needs, a ritual fire that reignites the weary warrior, the magick potion that soothes those whose voices have gone hoarse from protesting. Maleficent the enchantress has had enough of men's greed and heartlessness and is reclaiming her power. Women are no longer afraid of being badass and intimidating and I couldn't be more thrilled. Today's political landscape is mobilizing Millennial women to become both activists and priestesses, and that's one giant leap for woman kind. At least some positive change has come out of this mess.

Women from all walks of life are getting into the so-called "New Age" movement, but it is anything but new. Women have always been powerful because of their intimate connection with nature and their intuitive understanding of the intangible. They were revered in the cave dwelling days for their ability to miraculously create and sustain life with their bodies and were seen as goddesses. Indeed, they were and are. In the words of Z Budapest, "Thou art Goddess." This movement is more than a fad because it speaks to a woman's cellular memory. Her body's wisdom is awakening to its power, drawing her to create a personal yoga practice and adopt a plant based diet. She is honoring her body temple and her microcosmic healing helps the macrocosmic planet, Mother Earth, whose body is not separate from her own. The Goddess is woman's Higher Self. Both feminism and environmentalism can benefit from this much-needed infusion of spirituality.

Throughout the world in ancient times, women were the first shamans. In fact, a Chukchee proverb says, "Woman is by nature a shaman." The male shamans that would later go on to follow in her footsteps would cross dress and behave in a stereotypically female manner, presumably to harness her feminine power and wisdom. It is thought that female Shamanism can be traced back to our earliest upright walking ancestors 5 million years ago.

In ancient China, the Wu were female ecstatic dancers with power over the spirits known as Shen. They had the power of healing, levitating objects, swallowing swords and fire, as well as the power of prophecy. In Japan, female shamans were as respected as males by the Ainu natives. Females still dominate shamanism to this day in Asian cultures such as modern day Korea and Mongolia.

Today's homeopathic healers and the high tech allopathic doctors of modern times both owe much to the wise women of the past. Because there were no hospitals widely available even in fairly recent history, the woman of the household was the family physician. She had to have a working knowledge of herbs as well as discover new cures for various ailments, making her one of the first scientists. It certainly appears that medicine has come full circle as more people seek out the natural healing that began in the country witch's kitchen. Feminine wisdom is rising from the ashes of the burnt witches who dared to threaten patriarchal power. As long as there have been mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers, there have been women who possessed healing abilities.

The archetype of the enchantress is an important part of history. Smokin' hot Circe, the most powerful sorceress of her time, was known to Homer as a living Goddess. Circe would certainly make a good role model for us today. Morgan Le Fay, sister of King Arthur, was a powerful witch of her time. She was regarded as Fay, meaning she was no ordinary human, she was actually part fairy! These witchy women can inspire us to go beyond the mundane, to awaken to our potency beyond the human realm. You really are a goddess, you're actually a fairy princess, a mermaid, an angel! Empower yourself with these archetypes.

Modern women have been paving the way for the up-and-coming millennial magicians for decades now. For inspiration, look to old witches like Doreen Valiente, Starhawk, and Z Budapest, for whom witchcraft and feminism have always been interwoven. Research their stories. Learn from the masters. Listen to the music of Stevie Nicks and Lana Del Rey. The magickal women of the past and present are far too numerous for me to include all of them here, their stories could take up entire books. I'm very excited about the direction the Divine Feminine is taking and look forward to seeing the impact this will make on the world.