Witchcraft - The Witch Flight to the Sabbat - From Inquisitional Myth to Psychedelic Flying Ointment

Witches' flight astride a broom to the sabbat is the cornerstone of what scholars refer to as the "elaborated theory of witchcraft" that underwrote the witch trials of the late-middle ages and early modern period. Despite the enduring power of this image, the notion of flight and the sabbat actually developed over the course of several centuries. This episode studies that develop from Inquisitional myth to psychedelic flying ointments.
#witches #sabbat #flyingointment

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

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[@katharina5841]

have you looked at the “thanks button” that KZbin offers? I just saw it for the first time on another channel - Idk how it works but thought I’d mention!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

@Patricia Avant I believe in them but I don't think they have or can reach our planet. Basically I'm convinced by the statistical likelihood not any evidence of contact

[@actually_a_circle]

Jonathan Pageau has a great video on this. A collaboration video on esoteric topics might be a hit.

[@savantofillusions]

I have to listen to this at least ten times

[@TheMainemetalman]

I took a middle ages history class in college and we spent 3 weeks discussing plows...your class is much better. 😉

[@user-xq4st9ie7r]

I can imagine that plows can be important from a certain point of view.

[@TheMainemetalman]

@@user-xq4st9ie7r true, but three weeks was a bit much 😉

[@willbass2869]

3 weeks on plows?..i understand COMPLETELY! Wrote my semester term paper at U Texas about land usage differences of Angles, Saxons & Jutes. How topography, soil type, PLOW varieties and legal land tenure terms determined size/shape of fields and later inheritence customs. I feel your pain.

[@oaxacachaka]

Ooohhhhh, what kind of plows?!!!

[@drjohndee4322]

Wow I took a world history class and never once got to actual history. A student bring up ancient aliens and the whole class was conspiracies, ancient aliens and pyramid power etc. Found out he loved that stuff ! Never had a test nor papers To do ! He decided to give all of us a A ! Just talking about weird stuff that has nothing to do about history......lol. it was actually kind of fun and stress free :) !

[@paigemprice]

As a modern-day witch, and former Christian I appreciate your work. Thanks 💖

[@artkoenig9434]

Your delightfully deadpan sense of humor is always appreciated! Thank you for this presentation!

[@thelemite935]

Agreed.

[@amanitamuscaria7500]

I love it. Has me laughing out loud

[@L3N0R4L4N3]

'Man the middle ages was completely crazy.' That line had me ROLLING omg 😂

[@henrimourant9855]

The thing is it wasn't really the middle ages it was mostly the early modern period.

[@andythedishwasher1117]

I propose a metal festival called Sledgestock where all of the bands who picked up your names come together and open portals in the space-time continuum with their riffs. I'll probably be heading up Apostasis Of The Archons.

[@jmiller1918]

Thank you for not using the inflated figures of estimated witches who perished during the trials. The lower numbers are certainly significant and we gain nothing by exaggerating them. Your position on the "flying ointment" question is also sensible. I don't close the door to there having been use of hallucinogens by certain "cunning folk", but we need to separate attractive ideas from ascertainable facts if we have too little evidence to make a reasonable conclusion. As you say, "scholarly content" is found here.

[@anthonystark6379]

At our last sabbat, we arrived in cars and planted herbs in lil jars and ate a frankly frightening amount of cheese. So I guess as much as things change, they stay the same. I mean, whats more hedonistic than cheese? And internal combustion engines are pretty magical.

[@turbopowergt]

Cheese based hedonism… I think I just found the base of my occult powers.

[@meechipeachi]

I just enjoy the heck out of KZbin. From silly entertainment to deep thought provoking content, just about anything can be found on here. And many different content creators are sharing the same information. And I have found that some people's voices I like listening to, and some people's I do not. But I'm glad there's such a variety, because I know what works for me is not going to work for everyone. Butcher type of speech is one that I can enjoy it usually. Thank you so much

[@t0xcn253]

"Wow Bartholemew, did you draw this all by yourself? Emilio come look! Look at the very nice Ritual and Sabbat imagery Bartholemew has drawn!" "Very good, it shows their little hats and everything! "This is going on the door to the ice room."

[@ziggyzoo9335]

I think the flight trope was created by an early tortured victim accused of witchcraft. The inquisition would’ve wanted information on how they would get to the sabbath, as well as what they do there. Being honest and saying that they never did such a thing would just incite more torture, which is why they probably made flight up in hopes that the torture would cease, if only for a while. Afterwards, it just caught on and became a trope

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

It goes back to the canon episcopi in some form

[@andreab5356]

I'm from Newfoundland. I'm always surprised at the context in which our island comes up! Love your channel, thanks.

[@nodancingpalmtrees7931]

You have me thinking about how I can work the word “heretification” into more conversations. …I may need to get some new friends for this. 😉😂 Thank you for your excellent, informative, and humourous content. 🙏

[@fallionwater117]

You have just spoken my new wise saying... If you slow down crazy far enough, the people falling into that abyss don't tend to see it. Sir, you are admirable. :)

[@issuma8223]

It's interesting to learn how the structure of a mass psychosis could develop over centuries, like the building of a great cathedral, so as to establish a system of legal scapegoating that might exorcise longstanding psychic conflicts.

[@artemismoonbow2475]

We are no different.

[@DawnHub666]

Existence is a psychosis

[@inisipisTV]

Still happening now but more of a secular ideologue whether it's Socialism, Capitalism, Communism, and in some way much worse.

[@garethsmith3036]

That would be a really interesting project

[@garethsmith3036]

Like why is blood libel such a common conspiratorial claim, how contingent is it and does it pop up in any other societies and how

[@loriallen67]

Thank you for this!!! Really enjoyed hearing the scholarly history of witches. My birthday is near Halloween and the image of the witch has always fascinated me. Loved this explanation.

[@Marion10610]

Wow! I have always wondered about the historical origins of witchcraft...Very clarifying. Thanks.

[@elliotyu6573]

Having recently read The Witch by Ronald Hutton, for me this video was a nice refresher. Also love the phrase "conspiracy comorbidity" :D

[@Rutibex]

If they believed that flight potions really existed they would have tried to get some for their soldiers

[@artemismoonbow2475]

Apparently the Norse Berserks did trip out and shapeshift with psychedelics.

[@charlesstanford1310]

The resemblance to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s is ... not surprising.

[@drphosferrous]

Bored rural religious people can be very dangerous. Biblical tales of stonings seem similar as well.

[@SW-ii5gg]

I was born in 74, I had a difficult childhood and the Satanic Panic was about 20% of the problem.

[@connor991]

I’m always excited when a new video comes out. They’re so densely packed with information but are still easy to understand. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@meptune]

You always have the best band names.

[@oathboundsecrets]

Wow this is really intriguing

[@andresschiffino1262]

I would love to see you do a video on the Benandanti.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'll cover them more in depth in the episode on shapeshifting

[@QUIRK1019]

I love this channel. These videos are so fun, with the Chopin and the woodcuts. They just have a great "feel" to them that's perfect for the subject matter.

[@WendysOccultCompass]

Your videos are so much more exciting and interesting than my so-called academic training. I'm so grateful you are in KZbin. Thank you!

[@WendysOccultCompass]

Uh, you're not actually in KZbin...🙃

[@bethdoublekickchick8007]

The trials break my heart, especially when I read in Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft, an estimated 9 million women, men and children were murdered in the name of eliminating Witchcraft. Astounding numbers. Thankyou 🤘💜🤘~🦘🇦🇺🦘

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

No scholars accept such estimates now - the numbers are now thought to be between 40-60k between 1450-1750

[@Redemtor62]

In Denmark the most wicked witches flew on priests at times :P

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

lucky priests

[@alexanderleuchte5132]

The scariest part about witches as a small kid was actually none of the evil magic, being abducted and having your fat rendered to make flight ointment was the real fear lol

[@dennismartin5821]

That is pretty damn scary.

[@LadyCoyKoi]

Even in modern times, through Black market sells, there are nasty evil people who take abandoned, neglected children off the streets in many second and third world nations to sell their parts. Believing there is magical properties in them. Even Santeria has its darker sister Palo and there are some who worsen the practice doing this shit. Not all who practice Palo does this, but the few who do really messes it up for the rest of us. Even if there were bones involved, we make sure it was from a volunteered donator within the family so that there is concentrated positive energy when doing some rituals. We never use children, because children could never consent. They don't have enough knowledge to do it correctly and their energy is actually weaker, despite what people say. That is why I don't understand child sacrifice. It is evil onto itself, but it also doesn't make any sense from a magic/spell casting sense. I personally don't even like to use young animals in some rituals in Santeria, because it feels weaker to me. I feel that age has more potency to it. Anyways those who do sacrifice humans and especially do rituals using children, make the rest of us of the practice look like horrible people. It sickens me at times, because originally it was a way to communicate with ones ancestors for guidance (a sort of ancestor worship using actual body parts of ones ancestors like the ancients did) and it has been turned into something ugly.

[@senecanzallanute4066]

may be it motivated you to exercise more? Just trying to see the bright side... :-)

[@alexanderleuchte5132]

@@senecanzallanute4066 That was when i was still very small, generally the fear of being abducted by a witch was scarier than the "black magic" aspect, maybe our german fairy tales played a role in that. A bit older but still pretty young i saw the movie "Warlock" that also has the flying potion trope but gladly i didn't "get inspired" like these two in this article lol: "Two boys kill another to make flying potion from victim’s fat Sandy Charles (14) and an unnamed accomplice beat and slash the neck of Johnathan Thimpsen (7), and cut strips of his flesh believing they will be able to fly According to Charles, he had watched the movies Warlock and its sequel Warlock: The Armageddon approximately 10 times preceding the murder. In the first movie, fat cut from an unbaptized male child can be used to make a flying potion, and Charles was convinced he could make such a potion." 1993 Associated Press

[@philthycat1408]

“Baby Lotion” ? maybe it’s really, ‘Flying cream’?

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

This is quite fascinating! I'm really enjoying this playlist - thanks for making & sharing it with us! ❤️❤️

[@timetogoahead3029]

Amazing episode!! I love the topic and I love your approach!!!

[@artemismoonbow2475]

I just love that spirit flight was condemned by the church when all three synoptic gospels refer to Jesus's shamanic flight after a 40 day fast in the desert and confrontation with his shadow. It's almost like these things are pretty universal to our species. Oh, I forgot, it is about control and power. Did the church adopt Jesus's shadow?

[@SW-ii5gg]

They became the type to recrucify him.

[@onerom_evad]

Love your style brother, thank you for shareing your passion! Keep it up.

[@gunkwretch3697]

always good to learn about heretification

[@nycgweed]

I love your channel content and they way you present this subject

[@thomasdolcelli4969]

I love the academic turn "crazy" 😀 very relatable for some like me, with out a doctorate.

[@bobaldo2339]

I think "Critical Witchcraft Theory" would be good too.

[@LailokenScathach]

Excellent video, thank you so much for doing this series. :)

[@annjones9635]

I was hoping you would do something like this before Samhain, thank you 💕

[@williammartinactor]

You. Really Took Wing & Flew With This One Dr. Sledge. TY

[@andythedishwasher1117]

Thanks again, Dr. Sledge. This gave me some great inspiration for the channel I'm working on. I'm going to take on some of these topics from a less academically constrained (since I have no degree or institutional affiliations), but hopefully almost as well researched angle. My goal is to present some of my perspectives in a rather unfiltered way while inviting dialogue with trained academics on the topic and referring my audience to the academic material that informed those perspectives. It seems likely that I may end up referring to your material with some frequency, but if I do I will be sure to let you know ahead of time so you can correct any misunderstandings or distance yourself from opinions you'd rather not be connected to. My understanding of these topics is evolving, but I'd like to expand the process by opening it up to an online community in the most honest way I can. I feel like we need more data about how the academic process works for people outside the patronage of academic institutions, so I'd like to provide about 8 years worth of it.

[@michelletoni3067]

Great Topic, thank you 🙏

[@timflatus]

Great episode! It would be interesting to know how much was a genuine survival from a pre-Christian past. What happened to cause it to be called a new heresy in the 15th century if it already existed in the 9th? A lot of medieval witchcraft seems to owe more to Jewish, Christian, Alchemical and Hermetic traditions.

[@veritasetcaritas]

The new heresy was the supposed pact with the devil.

[@reviewsfromasocialjusticel8558]

Great video, Dr. Sledge. Interesting connection there to the Waldensians. Will you do a video on that “heresy” at some point? I also thought the psychedelic drug component was pretty interesting. Some of the stuff I have read suggests that cunning folk or midwives used ergot for childbirth, while I have heard others suggest that mushrooms were likely the psychedelic of choice. But recently I found a book about the uses of daturas in the Western Hemisphere-I know that users report a sensation like flying as an effect of datura and I wonder if this plays into the “witch’s flight” phenomenon at all?

[@franchi8601]

The main ingredient was Henbane in western europe, just as Henbane was common in Greece, Middle East, Egypt and North Africa. Henbane is a common plant in the mediterrean coast. India was also using a datura species within the Brahman religious rituals. Alot of people believe it was datura. But it was Henbane, in Egypt that was first documented for divination uses by the religious monks. The Hebrews were using Mandroga. Spelling may be incorrect but it is a Mandrake species used by Rachel to be able to reproduce and also as an aphrodisiac. Mandrake is also common in the mediteranean coast. Also there was the Belladonna plant which is more common in Great Britain, France and Germany. Not as common in mediteranean coast. The Germans were steeping dried Belladonna leaves in the making of Pilsner beer. It was the original bitter ingredient before the use hops. The Germans used something else after Belladonna and before hops for the bitter flavoring of Pilsner beer. Also throughout North, Central and South America the native aboriginal were using many varieties of new world nightshade plants, with the exception that North America had mandrake just like europe, and the Indians were using that too. From my info findings the Indians were using ayahuasca, eggplant leaves, potato leaves, tomato leaves, mandrake, just to name some, but there were more plant species. The plants use were only relevant to the natural landscape it was commonly grown same as with European nightshade plants. You mention Datura, but datura did not exist in the old world (europe). Datura is a new world plant, known as Jimson weed. As for the flight sensation it does play into the modern images of witches flying because Dr.Sledge missed out the manner the ungent was used. It was made with fats/lard of an animal preferably the fat surrounding the intestines. Then it had to be mixed, beaten to fluffy cream, then it had to sit for 2 to 3 days or more to saturate the lard before using it. And it was applied in a ritual ceremony setting to specific body parts. They fasted days before the ceremony as not to vomit from the Atropane/Scopolmine effects. Typically the unguent was rubbed on the mucous membrane. That means the groin and anus area with a broom stick for witches. The arm pits were sometimes used because of the sweat glands were closest to the skin surface. But most importantly they applied it to the soft skin of the wrist and the ankles, the veins are closest to the skin surface there too. And thats where the person will have the first disassociated feeling of watching their own body starting to fly above ground before they go into a hallucinogenic trance. Their body actually is laying paralyzed when they have these vivid illusions. Many came out of the trance not knowing how they got there. The ungent is known to block the memory for some people. The image of the frenzied witch is real too because repeated use or to much Atropane/Scopolmine at its worse level actually can cause a hypermaniac frenzied energy of restlessness, permentant irreversible psychosis, and death. Similar as how horror movies portray witches. Look at Witchy Poo Poo of the 70's tv show flying in maniacal frenzy, because datura in over dose cause frenzied psychosis. Carlos Constenada and Don Juan were known shaman practitioners and he describes in detail how they used the nightshade the same way as the European witches did. They did it in a ceremonial manner while fasting, prepared it with animal fats and filler ingredient, then rubbed the ungent on the wrist and ankles for the flying sensation. Carlos Costenada described it as an out of body experience where he became disassociated and watched himself start to fly up to the clouds before hallucinating crazy stuff. He mentioned walking was not possible at all. Alot of this knowledge can be found in Ethnobotany books of the ancient worlds, like 'Foods of the Gods' or in Theobotany books. I used to have some Ethnobotany books of shaman practices as i learned from shamanism first before other areas.

[@jayphleming5816]

Wonderful analysis. Thank you.

[@richardgoreilly4706]

Incredible lecture! Incredible lecturer.

[@mau48310]

I really enjoy your scholar approach and quite frankly neutral and understanding view of all subjects , ty for all your hard work 😊. BTW I'm a "demonolater"/ demonosapher, not worship but to convene and understand spirits and their points of view, I really enjoy your work.

[@vegastrina]

So...I looked that up. Demon vs Daemon/Daimon spellings of your words and my already current understanding that the origin word has been altered over time, like so many words in any language..not only in spelling, but also in meaning..from just meaning spirits in general to something not kind at all..with all the programming over the centuries, it is difficult for most people, including myself, to not immediately think something nefarious, even if false, until new learned interpretations kick in. My search was quick, with a gloss-over, not in-depth. Images I saw appeared to be related to a type of belief system, you say you study...not worship. Are you studying all aspects old and new... meanings, interpretations, changes, etc...or are you focusing on the newer more modern interpretations...or only the older interpretations? (I know your words were 'convene and understand'...I took that as study regardless of actual convening..as you want to understand their points of view.) My curiosity stems from my personal current study of religions/beliefs, their origins/changes, similarities/differences, and so forth as I try to expand my current understanding and knowledge.

[@mau48310]

@@vegastrina If I may recommend there is a lecture on Egyptian demonolatry I saw here on KZbin by a college professor, both the names of the school and the teacher escape me though . Personally my research has come from my own curiosity as well. My own experiences have left me speechless, they are definitely not the bad guys in a black and white world.

[@vegastrina]

@@mau48310 Thank you for responding. I just subscribed to this channel today and came here from Let's Talk Religion. I have also recently subscribed to Religion for Breakfast. Perhaps the video you are referring to is located in one of those places. I feel that all aspects of study help to broaden the mind and understanding, even if someone doesn't believe it, having knowledge regardless, from as many angles as possible, is beneficial. Edit: I'm not saying there are no negative entities...but I definitely understand that misunderstandings exist.

[@joeroubidoux2783]

Super awesome as usual. Can’t wait to become a patreon supporter. Student loan is just a few payments away from ending “Gott sie dank!”

[@UFEDUC3]

I absolutely love your demeanor lol

[@senecanzallanute4066]

We seem to underestimate the intellectual revolution that was, in a late Medieval and early Modern context, to think that an ointment could cause hallucinations -- the imagining of unreal events. I don't know of any such clear understanding before three Renaissance scientists: Andres a Laguna, who described his own experience with a witch ointment when he was working in Alsace (in his commentary on Dioscorides), Girolamo Cardano, who provided a list of ingredients in the ointment (in his De Subtilitate) and Giovan Battista della Porta, who in part copied the list from Cardano (with some interesting variations) in the first edition of his Magia Naturalis libri IV (he removed any mention of it in the second edition, libri XX, after a rebuke from the Church). The idea that a chemical can change our minds seems obvious to us now, but was far from so before the birth of modern science.

[@franchi8601]

The ancients of various civilizations knew about chemicals changing people. Thats why it was always done for a reason, carried out through rituals and in a religious ceremonial setting. As to reduce the negative consequences that the transcendence entailed. Examples are the scytheian sweat lodges using cannabis smoke as a ritual rite. Moses and his Holy Anointing oil. Banned by Moses as to not be used in a desicrated manner by the Hebrews. One ingredient was sweet calamus known to cause changes and could have only come from India at the time. Another ingredient was cannabis. Another was laubanum also extremely debatable as to what it was as it gave a sweet smell to the Anointing Oil. I personally believe it was a mixture of opium of some sort. This oil was only anoint and consecrate the altar in the house of the Holy of the Holy (temple). Or to anoint religious priests (Levies) and King/Prince on their foreheads as was Jesus anointed for initiation rites of passage. And was known to cause changes in the person. Usually with stupification. The ancient egyptians made high purity oils from various plants for alchemy, medicine, and perfumery. Moses knowing this used some of those oils for his altar incesnse. The expensive Spikenard oil used to wash Jesus feet by a poor woman before his execution. Was a known perfume and a sedative more likely to aleve anxiety. The ancient shamans from the Tuva and into Siberia would have religious ceremonies where they would eat Fly Argic mushroom=Muscurine mushroom or have an animal like a horse or cow eat the mushrooms and then they drink the urine that contained the chemicals to a drunken stupor. They did it to go into trance to communicate with spirits and divination. All the while someone played the ancient jew harp and drums during the ceremony. These are just some example there are more when other geographical areas are looked at.

[@chriszielonka]

"Heretical Witch Army" - definitely a Ritualistic Black Metal band

[@starwars90001]

It's interesting the type of fantasy people when driven by fear. This idea that there were armies of witches serving the devil sounds like it's from a tabletop plot not real life. But that's how illogical one's mind becomes when you believe there's an invisible enemy out to destroy you.

[@iv7796]

lol how is it in any way made up? Is it that hard to imagine that women would abort their kids and people would act out their sexual kinks? We literally have abortion clinics and pride/furrie parades in San Francisco, how is it any different or unrealistic?

[@src3360]

Same mindset it takes to believe in demons, angels and tribrid holy ghost...

[@kayelfern2605]

I recently read "Night Battles". Fascinating stuff

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Indeed!

[@senecanzallanute4066]

Ginzburg did know how to waive a tale, with thousands of scholarly notes! But beware, his fuzzy thinking ('aria di famiglia') can lead you astray. His "Cheese and worms" (Il formaggio e i vermi) and "Night battles" are still grounded in data -- but his most recent scholarly work ('Storia notturna') is way too speculative.

[@dmtripreport8542]

Loved this one

[@Psiconauta-cabalista]

Hi, I recently found your channel and became a fan. Watched videos on necromancy, Kabalah, Crowley, enochian magic, gnostics, and a few more. Found your channel through your Collab with let's talk religion, another great channel. I deeply appreciate your content but a great curiosity arose within me. The same I have regarding let's talk religion. Wich is: are you a practicioner of something?(no need to tell me what you practice I'd just like to know if your interest in the esoteric is purely scholar or if it goes beyond academic research. Even if you don't wish to answer, I'm very thankful to you and your work. Much love brother!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'm just an academic - thanks for the kind words!

[@snuffpuppy1]

I always enjoy your videos; this is a scenario though where you just need to experience it. I went to the Sabbat once, as part of the Trident craft workings by Mark Alan Smith. It follows initiatory workings and is an initiatory experience itself. The ‘flying’ is due to it being done in a dream state/astral. It is an ecstatic experience and it is sexual, but no infants are harmed etc, the Goddess would not allow that. It is not ‘demonic’ and you don’t need psychedelics to get there. Have you ever done the actual work? The experience is worthwhile and it stops you tying yourself in knots overthinking things. It’s a lot more simple (and beautiful) than your academic ruminations here. Thanks again for your brilliant videos. X

[@dpc3324]

What a passive aggressive comment lol

[@dudleybarker2273]

27:05 Psilocybe cubensis is often found in horse dung, so that's a definite possibility, although far from conclusive

[@rebellerevelle]

#hereticalwitcharmy, band name alert 😆 Love it! New to your channel, and appreciate your work! Many thanks and blessings! 🙏✨

[@bobmcbob9856]

Some things here reminded me of South Slavic magic & witch & dragonlore. In Serbian, Romanian and Bulgarian mythology, benevolent shapeshifting dragons and, to use the Serbian name, Zduhači (male magicians who control the wind using their disembodied spirits while sleeping) fight witches, demons, and malevolent dragons, all of which at least sometimes fly, who seek to undermine the fertility of the land, I wonder if they have more of a connection to human fertility and children, following the pattern of other early European witch and wild hunt lore. The benevolent dragons are individually fertile (they seem to always produce a son) and horny and can stop defending the land and start spending all their time having sex with noblewomen but I have yet to find any mention of dragons protecting from human infertility in secondary sources or the Serbian epic poems that I have read so far. Instead the traditional protection is to proclaim that you will name your next child Wolf (Vuk or Valk) because the witches that cause infertility, miscarriages, and infant deaths are afraid of wolves. Most of the stuff I described here is Serbian centric because l have the most access to Serbian primary sources, but many of the ideas apply to the Bulgarosphere (Bulgaria & Slavic Macedonia) and some to Romania, the dragon format at least is universal, Macedonia has Zduhači but calls them Dragon Men, and the closest thing in Romania are Solomonari wizards, also notably Zduhači only protect their region and will actively undermine neighbouring areas, with there being 6 known Zduhač alliances (Herzegovinian, Bosnian, Rascian/inland Serbian, Zetan/Dioclean/Montenegrin, Albanian, and Ultramarine/Italian/Apulian, the last two maybe only consisting of local Slavic communities) and even a king of the Zduhači that united them all for a time

[@franchi8601]

Interesting to read about south Slavic magic and mythology.

[@joekennedy5110]

this was very good

[@NullStaticVoid]

I just want to know what your google search terms are to get these amazing images. You always have such a bunch of perfect album covers for underground blackened death metal. As far as the "witch ointment applied with broomstick to nether regions" thing. I have repeated this for years myself, but later came to understand that a lot of what we call Wicca or European 'shamanism' is derived from 19th century spiritism and wishful thinking. There is no evidence or concrete connection between the current movement and what was going on in pre-Christian Europe. The witch ointment thing is a nice idea. It's fun to banter about at cocktail parties, but basically fantasy. In Buddhism, martial arts and eastern philosophy lineage is very important. Not just who your teacher was, but that you have a teacher, who had a teacher and so on into the mists of history. This means that you don't just represent what you figured out on your own, but are preserving a tradition. It's kind of filial piety but also a signifier of authenticity. There just isn't a lineage there. PS:I'm gonna snatch "heretical witch army" for a song title.

[@SciPunk215]

This is great !!

[@nishachanelle9153]

Thanks!

[@fallingdream]

there's a paper I read a little while ago, Babyfat and Belladonna: Witches’ Ointment and the Contestation of Reality by Michael Ostling (2016), basically arguing that the historical evidence doesn't support the psychoactive ointment model. I'd like to compare it to Hatsis 2015 if I can ever actively focus again. It's a little combative, and personally I'm still a big fan of the phytochemical... hypothesis, but I'd be interested in your thoughts [edit] for anyone interested in this topic or who just enjoys an academic slapfight, Hatsis clapped back in Those Goddamn ointments: Four histories in Journal of Psychedelic Studies Volume 3 (2019): Issue 2 (Jun 2019), which is Open Access, meaning it's free to read online

[@kendalbrenneman]

Going to put that on my reading list! Right now I’m reading The Immortality Key, which you might like. I’m not finished it but it’s basically about psychedelics being used in Greece snd then in early Christian rituals.

[@DawnHub666]

Ud be surprised what some people do with a good baby. Or any baby

[@franchi8601]

The Atropine/Scopolmine/Hyoscine was the main pychedellic ingredient in the ungent. Animal fat was the norm carrier of the ungent, pork fat was far more common. Without going into the detail why human fat was mentioned. In short worshipping the devil required desicrating any covenant and sacridness with God. This is why they performed certain ceremonies or ritual practices like incest and indescriminate sex orgies, and more likely performed before the ungent was applied to the body. Atropine/Scopolmine cause paralysis during OBE trances and thus they could not perform any of their ceremonies effectively. For some it caused memory loss, or paranoid frenzy, or restless psychosis, at worse death. Also in some countries witches were adding other stuff to the ungent recipe. Some added mandrake, some added henbane, some added absinthe, some added frog skin, this is relevant to the area it was available. There is a species of European frog that is hallucinogenic when licked. It is more likely the milder of the Bufotine species.

[@DawnHub666]

Cool info

[@nigelbayley1171]

Gqaqq1âââââ

[@LadyCoyKoi]

Middle Ages were crazy, but lets be real nothing beats the psychosis that went afterwards during the Tudors and Renaissance times, don't get me started how messed up the Restoration was with the belief that reading was "bad" for women. Remember, Hammer of Witches was made AFTER the Middles Ages, not during. By 1480s we were already at the early years of Tudor England and the Renaissance in Italy. Even during the Enlightenment era were darker times than the actual Dark Ages, especially towards the treatment of women. That was the start of really telling women they can't get an education or read... and we didn't start getting our books back till late, very late Victorian era. It would also be nice to see this subject be studied into further in the sense of how different parts of the world at that time actually viewed witches. I have a feeling they weren't ALL burning people with different beliefs and practices like this everywhere. Again, England had the Tudors, while Italy was going through the Renaissance during the time Mallevs Maleficarvm publication. I know by that time Germany was the worse place to be born as a female at all and there were cities that had none at all. Very scary indeed. The devil was working out that nation, big time.

[@src3360]

I always find it interesting when religious people say that witches are just silly notions and could never be real but demons, angels and a tribrid ghost is most assuredly real. How do you decide witch psychosis is worst??

[@ryanwhitaker4444]

The invisible ones that can't be tested are surely more believable.

[@DonovanWert]

Awesome 😎 thanks brother 🙏

[@tugger]

man if I could fly on a broom I could get so much more done

[@franchi8601]

Buahahaha 😂

[@complimentary_voucher]

Transformation, trance battles, spiritual flight and flight 'vehicles' are all extremely ancient and widespread shamanic principles. It would have been really important for the church to literally demonize these practices (which were usually assisted by hallucinogenic compounds) precisely because they were so universal, deeply historical and presumably trusted. Don't try datura or henbane, kids; the last person I knew who did the former spent three days puking and literally shitting his pants hiding under a car thinking a demonic swat team was perched in the trees around him. Three. Damn. Days.

[@xaosbob]

Another of your videos had me wondering about the use of Jewish/Hebrew terms like "sabbat" and "synagogue" in association with witches as just one more way to be anti-semitic on top of all the other awfulness. I appreciate you discussing it here!

[@robininelphame19]

Can you please talk more about the Goddess related to the pre-Malleus witchcraft? So can you talk about the worship of the Queen of Elphame, Perchta, Holda, Herodias, Abundia, Madonna Oriente, the Lady of the Game, the Ladies from Outside, Irodeada, etc? And its connection with the Wild Hunt/Procession of the Dead phenomenon and wild hunters such as Hellequin? Thank you!

[@anthonywall5227]

Thank you

[@Allanhorns]

Dame Alice was the original OG Witch. She said, I'm out, hey Pertranella, take this one for the team. Bye, Pertranella!

[@morriganwitch]

How lovely xxx

[@kennyshortcake999]

Brilliant😳🤩

[@Allanhorns]

Modern Traditional Witchcraft uses Medieval Witchcraft mythos as a visionary esostasis for dream hibernation/incubation and ritual drama for means of poetic liberation. Not so much the inquisition side of it, but the folk lore of witch-flight (Pythonic-vehiculation), spirit revelry (Malefi-Phantasmagoria) and ritual structure (Modus-Pythos). Much of the lore surrounding the witch craze, outside of the devilry, the fearee traditions were quite real and has roots in previous magico-spiritual relationships of an animistic nature within the Old Faith.

[@jankowalski9213]

That Beastie Boys line made my day😂😂😂

[@nodancingpalmtrees7931]

I always make sure to read the captions of the images he includes as he always slips some humour in there. 😉

[@zigguratband3001]

Can't find anything about that term you mentioned fascinorum. can you please elaborate?

[@LordMatria]

If you enjoyed this informative video you may enjoy my similar video What Really Caused the Witch Hunts? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGnSl5h9n9iZkJo

[@fennel1798]

I know you don't often talk movies, but have you seen Haxan (1922) and if so what were your thoughts?

[@Gypsyqueen246]

Thank you as a baby wiccan I never truly understood what the broom really was for. I finally understood it later and through the years the flying ungent that helped them to experience a sort of OBE experience. Thank you for elaborating. Very timely 👏 #herticalwitcharmy

[@franchi8601]

The placement of the ungent on specific body parts is upmost important for the flying OBE. It must be also rubbed on the ankles first and wrist next for the true flying experience as described by the ancients.

[@iknowyouarh]

Two words... Rosemary's Baby

[@mau48310]

Interesting how they accused so much that was actually being practiced by the Roman catholic church🤣

[@mikehunt8375]

That's what evil people do, they accuse people of doing the very thing they're doing. Works every time!

[@artemismoonbow2475]

Shadow projection

[@bagsogee]

The first time l heard the term 'Synagogues of Satan' was in a poem written and published in the 1930's. It appeared in an Irish right wing newspaper and the author was a fervent activist in the Anti Jazz League. I kid you not. I can't remember it exactly but the imagery used was quite similar to medieval witch paranoia/propaganda. The idea of young people especially young women meeting up at night in dancehalls and taking part in a frenzied sexual delirium(dancing) and, gasp in horror, smoking cigarettes. I have to say the most scary thing l find about this medieval conspiracy theory is that it never really went away. You can find it catholic denial of child abuse, in the pro life movement and even the anti maskers. Truly scary stuff.

[@drphosferrous]

Well said...in fairness though, most jazz musicians have probably kissed a goat under the tail.

[@GuiltyFighterX]

This episode reminded me of the book The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name by y Brian C. Muraresku. Have you read it Dr. Sledge? I'm curious to know what do you think about the religion with no name?

[@mmbell]

For me the best representation is the movie Haxan from 1922

[@01real1]

22:40 - Who's the author of this painting? Thanx!

[@Rosemaryluna206]

I would like to see your books you have behind you please

[@robinswampangel]

If you hadn't told me I was gonna die, I'd have tried a flying ointment

[@vikkiwilson5069]

Why were the inquisitors so credulous about the evidence obtained from terrified people by torture?

[@PathOfAvraham]

Yeshiva pro tip: Never rub occult substances in your eyes 👍🏾

[@stevenv6463]

I noticed that in some Islamicate stories, Jewish characters are often sorcerers and magicians as well. I wonder where this idea came from. As it seems to mirror the antisemitic tropes in Christian Europe. However isn't it also influenced by Kabbalistic practices that would seem like magic and demon communion to outsiders?

[@towardstar]

So let me make this question clear, flying ointments are based in lost pagan practices and rituals?

[@GreenSage307]

Yes,

[@matthewwilliams4065]

6:34 "heretical witch army, band name alert" lol

[@dennismotari1657]

If my grandmother was not afraid she has to tell how to flight with animals or broom I got her earlier night buy told never say this she can talk to animals like wild animals to take her to where the herb is in the forest like a hyenas and elephants👂👂👂

[@gregcampwriter]

Perhaps the broom association was Freudian in nature.

[@isacvlad]

🙏

[@andytuesday500]

There goes what read about ergot and broom stick theory’s. 😂👍.

[@a.6900]

"not these guys, thats who'

[@naomicook9295]

The moment when you realize you have found your tribe based on a gd KZbin algorithm. Shout to all my Mr. Mythos followers here also. Great taste guys

[@kemonoyama2084]

The nature of Alchemy is personal experimentation...