A few days ago, I received a message from my friend Krissa, who also happens to be my yoga teacher and the leader of a women’s circle I attended recently. She shared a passage from Fia Forsström, a Swedish singer-songwriter known for her soulful and reflective lyrics. The paragraph she sent me felt like an invitation to explore the history and meaning of a word we hear so often: “witch.” It was a reminder of how words can carry weight, sometimes in ways we might not fully recognize.
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
Women who were seen as
Too beautiful
Too outspoken
Had too much water in the well (yes, seriously)
Who had a birthmark
Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine
Too loud
Too quite
Too much red in her hair
Women who had a strong nature connection
Women who danced
Women who sung
or anything else, really.
ANY WOMAN WAS AT RISK BURNING IN THE SIXTEEN HUNDREDS
Sisters testified and turned on each other when their babies were held under ice.
Children were tortured to confess their experiences with “witches” by being fake executed in ovens.
Women were held under water and if they float, they were guilty and executed.
If they sunk and drowned they were innocent.
Women were thrown of cliffs.
Women were put in deep holes in the ground.
The start of this madness was years of famine, war between religions and lots of fear. The churches said that witches, demons and the devil did exist and women were nothing but trouble. As we see even today, there is often a scape goat created, and the chaos escalated in Sweden when the Bible became law and everything that did not line up with what the church said became lethal. The Bible fanaticism killed thousands of women. Everything connected to a women became feared, especially her sexuality. It became labeled as dark and dangerous and was the core of the witch trials through out the world.
Why do I write this?
Because I think the usage of words are important, especially when we are doing the work to pull these murky, repressed and forgotten about stories to the surface. Because knowing our history is important when we are building the new world. When we are doing the healing work of our lineages and as women. To give the women who were slaughtered a voice, to give them redress and a chance of peace.
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
Author: Fia Forsström
The word “witch” is woven into so many of our stories. We picture characters like the Wicked Witch of the West or think of the classic Halloween costumes complete with black hats, broomsticks, and cackling laughs. I'll admit, I’ve mimicked the “evil” witch laugh while telling magical stories to kids, fully embodying the stereotypical spooky figure we’ve come to know. I’ve even worn the pointy black hat countless times. But reading Fia’s words made me pause and wonder—what is a witch, really? And why has this image become a staple of our language, storytelling, and celebrations?
Historically, “witch” was often a label assigned to wise women, healers, and those deeply connected to the natural world. The term “witch” was later twisted into something dark, a way of suppressing those who didn’t conform to societal norms or who seemed to possess knowledge outside the accepted boundaries. This shift wasn’t just about storytelling; it was a reflection of societal fears and control mechanisms. Witch trials and hunts led to the persecution of countless women, many of whom were likely healers, midwives, or women who dared to live independently. By branding them as “witches,” society could justify acts of violence and suppression, turning them into outcasts rather than figures of wisdom.
It’s natural to celebrate Halloween with our children, donning costumes and indulging in a bit of spooky fun. I certainly don’t want to cloud the joy of this big day for anyone. But maybe Halloween is also an opportunity for us to reflect a little deeper. It could be a chance to explore the richness of these words and symbols and to share a piece of history with our kids that goes beyond the black hats and cackles.
So, the next time we talk about witches, maybe we can add a bit of nuance. We can explain that witches were often healers and wise women, figures who once had great respect before being feared or misunderstood. Perhaps we can share stories of women who shaped history with their resilience, those who didn’t follow the expected path but paved the way for others in quiet, powerful ways.
Words matter. Stories matter. And maybe, by re-framing “witch” and other words like it, we can pass on a legacy of respect, curiosity, and understanding to future generations. Halloween can still be magical, playful, and fun—a chance to wear our hats and tell our tales. But perhaps this year, it can also be a time to bring a little more light to the history behind the “witch” in our language and celebrate the wisdom and strength hidden within her story.
And, yes, I do have a book recommendations for you.
