Witches in Anglo Saxon England

Lundt, H. 2019. The Healing Word: Performative Speech in Anglo-Saxon Medical Texts. Masters Thesis.
Fell, C. 1984. Women in Anglo-Saxon Society.
See also the Zombie Fishbowl Podcast, run by my friend Danielle and a friend of hers - not necessarily witchcraft, but often tangentially related and it will probably be of interest to a lot of people who have enjoyed this video! Link below:
ZombieFishbo...[0]=68.ARCG0jBNTlijJVlSi3ecX9r2Iare8vQZjnEMI1KyvMlUCq-ObT02VILMbaHuN92pryHhHJ6eLxEucHPvYafwJ6jdNfvF8yBnaJoql98YastFZJxchr99zhauKSg1T_EBe9N49wYIvuxy8W2AX3tBhE1cRPlU2KINXH-jrPMPrMn2TiE6RYAN0FfC6jAfG4YgB7VUb1srY8c5_NLYNhrpmOiTywP8Q1QZKme1zGP0PWyjvHsXdX__DJpTu_ciB9TVPqQc-890ouZfGUFy_s0gBQSdXJl7DkWARyRZzlDooQGDRkINCy7FjIh5xQN1NSRoc1J1Db4hTC76Unuc72c

[@samuelgee6463]

Your videos always make me feel like you're talking to a friend about your interests. I really appreciate that -- you don't talk down to the viewer, you don't condescend to us, you just make us feel like we're someone in the chair across from you. Thank you for that.

[@brianpfoss]

Well said. Thank you for that.

[@smokeheaven2990]

Perfect way to put it! Its like hearing a friend talk about their passion.

[@trappistpreserves]

Spot on. Simon has no arrogance whatsoever. An absolute pleasure to listen and learn.

[@scarletpimpernel230]

Very true, he has a very relaxed and authentic style of communication. But I think someone as or even more relaxed-the ne plus ultra, if indeed possible-is Douglas Murray. Murray's style of expression is one of utter and complete serenity, at least when he discusses most topics.

[@letsnotgothere6242]

Yes. Sometimes it reminds me of a grandfather telling stories of the days of yore, as if he lived out these things himself

[@albertconstantine5432]

Mr. Roper Case Witch Signs: 1. Excessively long fingernails, like talons; 2. Strangely wild hair, including untrimmed and wispy sideburns; 3. Arcane knowledge, including ancient and mysterious languages; 4. Incantatory speech, leading to trance states among listeners; 5. Cunning. Conclusion: Additional evidence needed. Does he float if tossed into a pond? Otherwise, thank you for your always interesting - enlightening - programs. Witch or nay. valued.

[@maeveofthelongbows9552]

Albert Constantine 😊

[@matthewhopkins7042]

By your daft rules I wouldn't get to burn anyone! How about we stick with 'witches are flammable because they are made from wood' thus if I burn them and they combust they were witches.

[@albertconstantine5432]

@@matthewhopkins7042 Misunderstanding or misplacement. If a message were a fart this one would light yellowish.

[@c.norbertneumann4986]

@@matthewhopkins7042 Women under suspicion were put in barrels and thrown in a river or a deep pond. If the barrels stayed at the surface of the water, it was considered that this was only possible with the help of the devil, so it was proven the suspect was in a covenant with the devil. The convicted woman would therefore be executed. If the barrel with the woman within sank to the ground, her innocence was proven - but, unfortunately, the woman in the barrel drowned. In any case, this "procedure" led to the death of the women.

[@sirmount2636]

He’s a warlock

[@elderofzion]

this video brought an old memory back. my father used to keep bee hives and i remember this one time bees swarming outside of the hives, my grandmother hitting two pebbles against each other in her hands and saying/singing some word. "what are you doing grandma?" this will stop the bees from leaving the hive and going elsewhere, she said.

[@luminous3357]

Cool...do you recall what word she said?

[@elderofzion]

@@luminous3357 spelled into english it would be something like 'maitsa'. doesn't mean anything in my native serbian as far as i know

[@luminous3357]

@@elderofzion Oh...thnx. Fascinating story. My Slovakian great grandma on my dad's side used to say certain words at times that were supposed to ward off bad luck. She passed away when I was around 6 and I've never been able to find anyone that knew what the words meant. She had witchy powers too in terms of making predictions, as did my grandma. My mom and myself and sisters also have had many instances of such things. I think a lot of people do-- especially women. They just don't talk about it.

[@elderofzion]

@@luminous3357 that's very interesting. i know people don't like to talk about such things and i understand why. however if you would like to share some of your experiences here, i'd be very glad to hear

[@faithlesshound5621]

@@elderofzion It's common in Britain to say "Bless You!" when someone sneezes (supposedly they are vulnerable to demonic attack then) and Americans say "Gesundheit." There's an Arabic sentence that Muslims say when something is said that might tempt fate, something like, "I take refuge in the Lord of the Two Worlds." I suppose these are substitutes for the magic words.

[@sunwukong6897]

“Man” also can just mean “one” in OE (as in “one shouldn’t...” etc.). I think German (and probably other Germanic languages) still preserves that word for that use. Great video, by the way.

[@Hurlebatte]

Fancy seeing you here.

[@trevkyleaa]

Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch and German all use «man» or «men» (in Dutch) to mean «one». Germanic languages can be very passive and the word «man» come’s in handy when one does not want to be too direct. «Daß kann man tun» «Det kan man gjøre» In Norway it is pretty common also to hear «en» being used. Nynorsk does not permit the word «man» but rather «ein».

[@jaojao1768]

Yes, that is true in swedish as well. "man" would be standard in those cases, while "en" (one) is a dialectal form that some progressives also have adopted

[@sunwukong6897]

Hurlebatte Howdy, Hurlebatte!

[@frankydoodles5690]

That's correct. In Germany we use "Mann" to refer to a male and "man" to something along the lines like (some-)one

[@francesjackson2511]

As late as the l950s in some parts of the southern U.S., there were persons believed to have healing powers. When I was living in a small town in Arkansas, there was a woman in the community who was said to be able to "talk out fire." This meant that if you brought someone with burns to her, she would whisper some words in the person's ear that would take away the pain, heal the burn, and there would be no scar. There were others who had the ability to stop bleeding in severe injuries. It was a good thing to know who these people were. My small daughter received some burns and I rushed her to our doctor-- who told me he had been treating a child who had stumbled into an open fire, severely burning her feet, and of course she was taken to a fire-talker, and eventually developed a serious infection. When I asked people about these fire-talkers and blood=talkers, they were very cagey. The words of the charms were a closely guarded secret. My own grandmother was said to be gifted, because a child who never saw its father was believed to have powers, and her father had died before she was born. She was just a toddler when people began bringing their children who had thrush, a type of infection in the mouth. She was made to blow into their mouths. She said she hated doing it. By the time she was six , she put her foot down and refused to do it any more.

[@Haru23a]

Best is those personages what if they get bit by snakes God will protect them. This is cos when u got faith in the one true God nothing can hurt you. I believe it 100%.

[@lilafeldman8630]

That is neat. It's interesting to see these old anglo saxon traditions trickle down into the new world. My grandmother was from Virginia. If she were alive she'd be 107 this year. Certain expressions she said, I hear in English and Irish voices, too.

[@pacogimenez1356]

This might even be older than anglo-saxon. It still exist in France too, were those that have "the gift" are called "coupeurs de feu".

[@rabbithatz]

My great grandfather could take the fire out of a burn. We are in NC/Appalachia. My grandmother and great grandmother always had fantastic gardens. Lots of family members have dreams of family members who just died and they hadn't got word yet but knew because of the dream.

[@rabbithatz]

Also I know exactly what you are saying about them guarding the family fire prayer and not sharing it with anyone else. Only my great grandfather knew it and it was supposed to only pass it on to his first born or sons or something but he didn't pass it on. I assembled what I think is correct and seems to work from multiple Appalachia based folk magic spells but I can't say it's exactly what he would have said but it seemed to work when I used it. They have a interesting combo of slapping Christian names and iconography on magic spells and calling it a prayer instead of a spell. It's absolutely fascinating.

[@captainKangaaroo]

Is Simon a witch? Well, we need my larger scales and a duck. [wikkjaz playing in the background]

[@hicmad]

Be a lot simpler and more enjoyable to duck him in a pond.

[@Jane_of_Us]

Who are you that you are so wise in the ways of science?

[@empresshedo9350]

He is not a witch you fool.... he is a wizard

[@captainKangaaroo]

@@empresshedo9350 or maybe lounge lizard? 0_o

[@mmminno]

Fair trial

[@giapp3590]

i don't know if simon is a witch but he sure is enchanting

[@matthewhopkins7042]

The Witch-Finder General burns homosexuals, too. Not just witches. Discounts for bulk execution by holy pyre, book today! I am here for all your human immolation needs! No need for a trial, I bribed the local reeve. Anyone I burn alive is immediately found guilty! BYO marshmallows.

[@acchaladka]

@@matthewhopkins7042 as a part-time homosexual I find you thrilling, Mr Pratchett. That Simon Roper has lovely hands I do have to say.

[@djzipster147]

Really nice hands

[@cooper8515]

*what*

[@arma5166]

Im glad you noticed it aswell

[@awsmunicorn7488]

o so it's not just me

[@cherylsimpson4447]

Came here to say the same.

[@0urMutualFriend]

Why hasn't a hand model agency scouted his hands yet??!

[@ugly4711]

Sounds a lot like something a witch would say

[@juch3]

Makes you go hmmmmmm

[@malkomalkavian]

'this isn't my nose, it's a false one' :)

[@talebymail5448]

HAHA!

[@bunnybgood411]

I'm watching this at 5:00 a.m. in the USA 2 years after you posted this video.

[@koffski93]

In, at least, sweden and norway there were Völva (seeress) in the prechristian times. They are also mentioned by the romans when writing about germanic people too. They were exclusively women, from what I have read. They were staff/wand bearers that could foresee the future and make prophesies. They were high status women with a lot of influence.

[@marcovtjev]

When dealing with witches in any culture, it is often important to consider the position of widows. Usually women married into the community of their husbands. If they were widowed, and came from outside the community (which might be only from a different village only 10 miles away), and going back was not an option, their position was extremely vulnerable, both economically and socially isolated. Their in-laws might blame them for the husband's deaths, killing any social support in the community, but at the same time widowhood completely changed their economic position. They often took of all sorts of small business, healer, but also e.g. brew woman (making ale was typically women's business in the medieval period, though that is a bit later than what we are talking about here), and in some cultures also prostitute (certain about some north american tribes, don't know that bit about germanic tribes). So often going into the witch biz might also have been a necessity rather than choice.

[@ng.tr.s.p.1254]

@@jellyfishi_ ok grandma, back to your bed now pls

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

I am The God / The Goddess and The Witch - the creator of this beyond wrong world is the exact opposite of big terms like God!

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

....he created hum’ns and other mammaIz that are btg in the most sakryIegyuz way

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

btg = breeding

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

where they are literally jheeting / 💨ing out the most unfortunate unconsenting souls into existence thru the _ CAN’T / tunneIz of doom or thru the reehrarea if they’re cows etc

[@ollywhelan5377]

I love the conversational nature of your videos. It never feels like you're talking down or trying to lecture to me as a viewer and your enthusiasm for the topics you discuss makes it super engaging. Thanks for making the content that you do, in the way you make it.

[@megankelly612]

Another incredible video! You have such a soothing way of speaking and you explain things simply enough for people without backgrounds in this to understand really well, it really helps people get an interest in topics they might otherwise not have sought out. I've shown some of your content to my 10 year old sister and she even followed along and found it fascinating. Thanks so much as always!

[@Jane_of_Us]

When I imagine a witch I think of a woman who's lighter than a duck

[@longalexislong]

or a very small stone

[@ianbat7092]

and they turn people into newts! but they get better

[@RobWhittlestone]

Simon another fascinating glimpse into the more intangible side of life in early Britain. Every time I hear you say "cunning" I am persuaded it means "knowing" like "kennend" would be in German. In the article Alana (below) references the concept of a hedge, which is called Hag in Swiss German. Great content, Simon! All the best from Switzerland, Rob

[@GotPotatoes24]

Interesting that "knowing" is "kennend" in German- in Scots, as well as Scots-influenced English, "ken" is "know"!

[@margaretqueenofscots9450]

áine I speak a dialect of German and we use “ken” for know.

[@ninjacell2999]

Yeah in Scotland "ken" makes sense to us

[@_Dovar_]

"KNOwledge" - "GNOsis".

[@ajillfoster]

I quite enjoy watching the birds while listening to you talk.

[@biggusdave]

Just when you think this channel couldn't get any better... I like your witchy brew.

[@chrispiatt2235]

The absolute worst use of a mortar and pestle ever witnessed, ever not witnessed. Still a great video.

[@christopherlawley1842]

Why the spoon? Why the spoon?

[@luminous3357]

Was thinkin the same

[@ofpine]

ikr lol

[@BeatlesBiitch]

"Just because the popular religion changes doesn't mean a culture's cosmology changes at the same time." THAT part

[@leticiaalmenara3025]

damn he’s cute (and smart)

[@mesechabe]

I’m watching this video again 3+ years after you posted it & I had to wince at the “flawed” thought that some wise person or politician (obviously not the same thing)would not be able to convince the “average” person that antibiotics were ineffective because their use is so ingrained in our medical practices- how much things have changed in these 3 years.

[@kuroneko1125.]

It's interesting to note how the Christian culture has absorbed some of the old pagan practices, and how, while they have always been condemned or frowned upon by the Church, they are still handed down generation from generation. At this point these practices have become folklore or tradition, and lost the old and negative connotation that comes with the word "witchcraft". ps: I'm from Italy, where this phenomenon is very tangible.

[@iqracerrato1479]

Hello, can you give some examples? I'd love to hear more.

[@arandomyorkshireman9678]

@@iqracerrato1479 Easter. Comes from the Anglo Saxon pagan celebration of Eostre, the goddess of spring.

[@justinnamuco9096]

@@arandomyorkshireman9678 Maybe coincidental reappropriation.

[@anniesauras_rex]

I adore your videos. I could (and have) listen to you for hours!

[@masonsayers7437]

Simon i appreciate your videos greatly, your voice calms me and I always learn something interesting from every one of them, thank you, and keep up the brilliant work! : )

[@CL-tv7pz]

I have no idea how I stumbled upon your channel (actually, it may have been because I am a language learner and learning Spanish). However, I am grateful to the KZbin algorithm for introducing me to your content, as I absolutely love it. Bravo to you sir.

[@poppybell8217]

Your channel is endlessly fascinating. Thank you!

[@s_browning8676]

Your videos are so soothing to me and I have no idea why 😂 I haven’t been interested in linguistic topics before but you’ve actually gotten me into researching things now

[@dees3179]

Absolutely marvellous video Simon. Thank you so much. I love the referencing and the links to other sources, such good examples of how to research a topic. And particularly interesting subject also. Well done.

[@lmeadow8586]

lovely voice, lovely mind

[@astrogypsy]

I wish I had the resilience, but my eyes are bigger than my stomach for philology, but I keep liking your work more and more. Thanks, Simon.

[@ammobunny]

Thank you for this, it was fascinating both for the word etymology and the new (to me) concept of what 'witches' might have actually been in medieval times. Plus, like all the others, I think you have beautiful hands, and always enjoy the cut-in shots of birds, frogs, etc. And I never mind when the birds near you are chirping.

[@skipinkoreaable]

Thank you for this video and your frankness about what you do know and what you can't know or be sure about. It was a very interesting video. I would be most interested in hearing a follow up video later after you have received and investigated feedback from others who are knowledgeable about this topic. I'm not at all knowledgeable about witches, haven't read much further than Harry Potter and don't have any opinions on the topic so I'll refrain from trying to say anything clever about witches. I really enjoy all your videos, even the ones with jokes in them.

[@Qigate]

Simon Roper a witch? I certainly hope so !

[@servantofaeie1569]

*not

[@GotPotatoes24]

The mention of a spell to find cattle that had gone missing reminds me of something my Irish Catholic family often does, which is pray to Saint Anthony for help in finding lost things. It's always fascinated me how many pagan practices survived in Ireland just by demoting gods to saints and fairies.

[@leighjordine4031]

Pagan traditions never died. They are all around you. They just transformed.

[@luminous3357]

I'm a pagan of irish descent but was raised catholic and many times employed the st anthony prayer-- always to good effect.

[@mariadamen7886]

Same in the Netherlands. I remember and know it by heart, my nother saying the St Anthony (Heilige Anthonius) prayer.

[@lesmason7263]

My great great grandmother, whom I knew, was a Lancashire witch. A real one, she had the sight. But she was a good Anglican. Parson knew what she was ( and was not averse to seeking a philtre for his rheumatism), and gave her communion. So, by her time, in Lancs and Westmoreland, at any rate, witchery was apparently compatible with Christianity.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

You knew you great great grandmother, how old are you?

[@acchaladka]

@@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo irrelevant question in a way: any series of ladies having children at around 20 years old would have the youngest know their great-great-grandmother - she would be 80 years old at the youngest's birth.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

@@acchaladka That's why i said how old are you, also how old do you have to be to 'know' someone.

[@acchaladka]

@@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo I bet for most societies that 20 years old is also, kind of mid-stream for childbirthing age, i.e. a lot of women in history would be working on their 2nd or 3rd or even 4th child by 20 years old. So perhaps an average great-great-grandmother would be yet younger; in any case 90 year-olds can quite often have all their marbles and be 'known' as much as anyone but their ten year-old great-great.

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

@@acchaladka I had thought of the different possibilities and again the reason i thought they must be old, is there something i'm missing?

[@tomhaddon2252]

Super video. I enjoy your ability to "devine" etymology with the history of that time. Keep them coming!

[@kaiabea280]

This was so fascinating and really raised some questions I had never considered, so thank you

[@maiaallman4635]

Very interesting video. Thank you Simon.

[@plpsopa]

Enjoying this at 9:50 pm on west coast of U.S. (Portland Oregon).

[@jonnyrocket3659]

Simon, your videos are fascinating !

[@emilyhutchinson469]

just discovered your channel today. good stuff man!

[@lewismorrison4098]

Thank you Simon

[@wewantmoreboomboom8313]

I love ur work plz continue

[@drexelmildraff7580]

Another enchanting video from Simon. It contains more magic in it than any of the cunning folk of Anglo-Saxon times could have conjured up.

[@RebeccaBreukel]

People need to stop giving you the down thumb. Why are they disagreeing of your content? I really like the way you're talking about subjects as the message of the top of comment section says. "Your videos always make me feel like you're talking to a friend about your interests." Keep up the videos and I reallly look forward to the next

[@mmminno]

It's 1:44am here. I really enjoyed this video. The definition you are giving is fairly close to what I think of when I think about witches. Thanks for sharing :)

[@mmminno]

Also I love all your witchy stuff... For witchy practices... I'd ask if you want to be in my coven, but you live pretty far away.

[@robmillist]

I LOVE your videos. You're amazing, thank you for existing! 🤗

[@SadisticSenpai61]

Thank you for yet another fascinating video! Trying to reconstruct pre-Christian ideas (religious and cultural) is a particular passion of mine. Ofc we'll never know for sure and there's so much conjecture and guesswork involved that it's entirely likely that we could be entirely off-base and just plain wrong about so many things. One of the things that's fascinated me ever since I was a girl was how Christianity differs across the world and across different cultures. Initially, that lead me to try to find "true, pure Christianity." And the more I searched for that illusive "original" Christianity, the more I just found myself rejecting the religion entirely. And then during my "seeking" phase, I started looking into pre-Christian paganism and religions - which is frankly fascinating and extremely diverse. The clues are often embedded in how Christianity itself differs in different places (a lot of which was obscured by colonialism and then globalism). I never would have considered looking into etymology and cognates. Please note: I have nothing against Christians and Christianity in general. Nor do I have a problem with Wiccans and modern Pagans. I just don't believe. That's all.

[@maeveofthelongbows9552]

Tensai55 There is actually a lot to hold against Christianity when you dig into the real history of it.

[@windyworm]

Interesting you used the word “cunning” would that be the same as “canny” in Scottish, coming from the same root as the German “kennen” to know?

[@joesinclair8910]

Also i think scots say "ken" instead of know eg "ye ken" so you might be onto something

[@ohlamaria697]

Your hands are perfect. Great video!! I really enjoyed it

[@MildlyRabid]

I just attended (on Zoom) a seminar session on this!

[@LordJazzly]

It's interesting, because my upbringing is still very British but maybe more Scottish/Irish, and even those ideas about seeing the future, talking with the dead, influencing the weather etc. - we'd just put those under 'particularly odd personal talents' in my family. What _I_ would say makes a witch a witch is that they get the ability to do that sort of thing from somewhere _other_ than just within themselves - and somewhere bad at that. Not necessarily 'cosmic evil' bad, but definitely 'this will put people in danger' bad. Hoojums and boojums and all that.

[@JustDinosaurBones]

hi simon you're one of my favorite youtubers!

[@Schwarzorn]

Yay history! Thanks, Simon!

[@jonathanharvey5478]

Always enjoy your videos.

[@Diana-mu7pc]

It embarrasses me to say it but I get distracted watching his videos sometimes even though I'm really interested in the subject matter because his eyes are so pretty. 🥺😔 Great video as always Simon but don't read this comment xoxoxox also beautiful cinematography and birds.

[@leenobody3249]

Diana if you think his eyes are good you should see his chod !

[@Diana-mu7pc]

@@leenobody3249 😟

[@michael.bombadil9984]

Very interesting approach to the topic.

[@louisethomson3856]

Thank you. Excellent as always x

[@neilmeadows8641]

That was absolutely fascinating.

[@forestswaras]

Such beautiful hands! ❤️

[@mamacardinal]

This witch and English teacher can't get enough of these videos. Carry on, my dear.

[@valinhorn42]

Great content and delivery aside, your sideburns are magnificent!

[@daikayll1897]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@ossian1937]

Don’t know if it’s already been mentioned, but Professor Brian Bates who is a senior research fellow at Sussex University and visiting professor at Brighton University wrote a very good fictionalised account called “The Way of Wyrd”. It tells of a young, Christian Monastic , sent to observe and gather information ( no doubt for propaganda purposes) on the native Anglo Saxon Pagan practices. He encounters and then travels with an Anglo Saxon Sorcerer/Shaman and describes beautifully the process of hunting for power plants and working with the spirits to heal folk. Mine is not really a great description of what is a very vivid tale, that conjures up a liminal time in Anglo Saxon England. It was once described as a fusion of Tolkien and Carlos Castaneda if that helps. Professor Bates has also written another (non fiction), book on the subject called “The Real Middle Earth - Magic and Mystery in The Dark Ages”, which is also worth a read.. Thanks again for another very interesting video. My interests language wise are primarily Gaelic, but I’ve always been fascinated by The Anglo-Saxons linguistically and culturally too. 🙂

[@dahterrasse]

Your videos make me have more faith in humans. There are so many horrible things in the world but your channel reminds me of my deep interest is languages and how much they amaze me. Your style is always calming and relaxing, while also being extremely interesting and informative. It has a sense of being very grounded and mindful.

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

The little unliving birds / animaIs also made me _ - hope he didn’t redrum those birds himself, that would be beyond efft up also...

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

Also, I _ when btg without c-scn was mentioned at 7:30 and, the harrible payn that comes with it is a form of karma for the harrible zyn / beyond sakryIegyuz zyn that they ferce on the ones that they _

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

that are literally jheeting / 💨ing the most unfortunate unconsenting souls into existence thru the _ can’t / tunneIz of doom (or thru the reehrarea if they’re cows etc)

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

btg = breeding

[@thetrueoneandonlyladyprinc8038]

aka the most sakryIegyuz form of raap_

[@SickMask16]

Great video :) thank you for sharing.

[@bigbunsclassic]

Funny how I was looking for the pronunciation of the old english word for witch... and here u are... good stuff

[@hashshashiinme7656]

Outstanding

[@Rustsamurai1]

Very interesting, and something I've though of a while now. Thanks!

[@danielgoodwin543]

Thanks for the lessons on my ancestors

[@ceradaddygibson]

This is a very lovely video

[@caravaggiosaccomplice5103]

Simon, have you visited the witch museum in Boscastle, Cornwall? The operators are very knowledgeable and I’m sure you’d find the many old exhibits fascinating. The tiny fishing village is a great place to stay also. It’s near Tintagel....High praise from your great content from Australia,.

[@xgeex7540]

Oh my thank you so much

[@jacobbuxton932]

Awesome video

[@sangirardiecavicchi648]

Thanks for this interesting video!

[@stasnerovny]

Thank you!

[@winterwhite110507]

Keep up the research; I'd like to know what you find.

[@Soundwave._]

Is Simon a witch? Yessss... One of us, one of us, one of us!

[@leighjordine4031]

Very interesting video 👍

[@qetoun]

''You're a Wizzard Harry''!

[@leighjordine4031]

IM A WHAT!!!

[@sueoh4744]

Missed you!

[@loverory]

our witchy king!! great video

[@HiddenXTube]

In Wesphalian-Platt we say Wickenwief (Hochdeutsch: Hexe, Kräuterweib). In English that would be something like "Wiccen-Wife". Wicken are herbs - non-crop herbs. Inferior herbs in the eye of a farmer. "In die Wicken gehen" nowadays means in High German something goes wrong, kaputt.

[@RobMacKendrick]

Interesting. We have the same expression in North American English: "to go into the weeds." I always assumed it was a sports metaphor, but given the prominent place German peoples have in our history I'm not so sure. If it turns out to exist in Yiddish too, I'd say it's about certain.

[@mandarinablue8438]

Sounds a bit like the english wicked. Maybe I'm wrong but could there be a connection?

[@HiddenXTube]

@@mandarinablue8438 Sure - in Old English wicca means "wizard", and wicked is an extended form of earlier wick "bad, wicked, false".

[@wilhelm992]

love your videos, 11:38pm central USA lol

[@simonpenny2564]

Simon, toward the end of your video I was reminded of Goyas extraordinary series of etchings Los Caprichos that depict witches, riding broomsticks.. This is in Spain 1799, long after the period your'e talking about, but it does beg the question of whether that depiction of witches was carried into Britain by christian ie Vatican channels. It seems that the first depiction of women riding broomsticks is in a discussion of Waldendians, a christian sect that the vatical branded as heretical around C12th.

[@lookinfortime]

"Born at the instant church bells chime/whole world whispering, 'born at the right time.'" Paul Simon, "Born At the Right Time"

[@bzeljn]

god this channel is the best. i wish we knew more about the pre christian anglo saxon religion

[@Stoneworks]

nice

[@vipertwenty249]

Wicce has been co-joined in meaning with Wight, so it is well worth considering the changing meanings of the word Wight in conjunction with the word Wicce. Wight - a shield companion. Over time, this came to indicate an experienced warrior, and experienced warriors were the councellors of their lords, so thus a wise man. Next comes what at first may seem a digression, but it very definitely is not: Helmet cradles - the webbing suspension system inside a helmet - did not exist until very recently (mid nineteenth century I think). So a thick padded cap was required as the energy absorbtion element of this critical piece of military specific protection. Felt is easy to make, can be made thick, and keeps its shape. A thick conical felt hat made to wear under the helmet can - and is depicted being - be worn without the helmet whilst travelling or indeed at any other time. So a wise man wearing a conical hat as a symbol of status. You see late Anglo-Saxon illustrations of the king with his councellors grouped around him. They are all wearing conical hats. Those hats originated in an earlier garment, the helmet liner. Wise men. Wearing conical hats. Anything strike you as familiar about that at all? Centuries later the image acquires a brim to the hat, where originally there was none. Then the Normans turn up, and bebunk everything culturally English, so the wise man's hat becomes the dunces hat. Hereward arrives home (from Flanders) at one of his manors and finds the Normans there being entertained by a jester taking the pee out of the English, so he slaughters the lot of them and sticks their heads on spikes around the pale. This did not make his all that popular with the Normans, for some strange reason, but the old geezer in the pointy hat that once might have advised him otherwise is gone. So Wicce - a witch - a Wight - a wise man or woman.

[@therat1117]

The Old English word 'Wiht' just means 'a living being' as far as I know (vis a vis Dutch wicht). It does not have the same etymological derivation nor a commonality in meaning with 'Wicce', which explicitly means 'someone magical'. The Middle English homophone 'wight' meaning 'brave' is an Old Norse loan. You're reading far to much into somewhat trivial or tenuously connected things, and making spurious connections between them.

[@francesatty7022]

so the Isle of Wight is the Isle of Witches?

[@varana]

"Wight - a shield companion." Err... it already starts here. Where does the word have that meaning?

[@faithlesshound5621]

In later times there were "wise women." Witches? Herbalists? Were wizards the male equivalent? In France, midwives still have the title of "sage-femme."

[@elephantsmemory3142]

Blessed be

[@royseibel511]

And then there is the iconic conical hat. Those sort of hats were found in 3000 year old grave sites located the Tarim Basin.

[@TheOakleysworld]

When you said 'Wikkjaz', it sounded a lot like the word 'Witcher'. Reminding me of that popular series of books/games/tv. Unsurprising as witcher as a word comes from the same place, and basically means 'witch' too. All makes sense.

[@commonberus1]

It generally seems to be held that the main witch hunting happened many centuries later in the renaissance.

[@fayeverdunes]

I believe the first issues against witchcraft started to really rear its head in the Medieval period but it was most severe during the end of Medieval era well into the Modern era. I think the final remnants of laws against witchcraft wasn't repealed in the UK until 2008 or so. Modern day witches still sometimes face hate from Christians calling them Satanic or slashing their tires etc. but it's much more rare now than even a decade ago and you likely won't get burned because of it. At least from what I seen or heard of in Europe. I do not know about the US but seeing as the US is more religious it wouldn't surprise me if it's still quite hard to be a witch in certain parts of the US but even then it's nothing like the burning times. That said, witch prosecution still happens a lot in certain places in the world like Africa for example. But to be frank some of what these shamans or witches are known to do there is pretty diabolical like the maiming or killing of people with Albinism etc. and aren't at all like the neopagans of Europe and the US today. I'd imagine witches back in historic Europe may have done similar things but I doubt that they were all like that, in the same way they probably all aren't like that in Africa. So the reason for killing and prosecuting them there is often not simply based on their actions but just based on what they belief. Probably the same sentiment as burning times. Anyway rambling on!

[@luminous3357]

@@fayeverdunes It's not easy in the US. Persecution by Christians is pronounced and rampant.

[@ravenwolf7128]

Great video. Plenty of cunning folk still about where we live....smile knowingly....

[@AlexanderSilver1996]

Wikkjaz, a witch’s favourite genre of music!

[@blackbass4u2c]

I'm an Anglo Saxon and I know I have a gift in the craft... 3,6,9... 1,2,4,8,7,5... Wodin is the All Father... certain things you find in the wood can help people... Wodin is the Good of the Craft... I can cast to the protection of family...

[@vallewabbel9690]

Good video

[@d.2605]

this bodes well.

[@kailomonkey]

Thanks this has helped me conceptualise the division between church and witchcraft. As a person who seeks to unite things, I have felt for a while that the practices and notions of communing aren't so different... Having the gift of predicting the future is considered one of the gifts of the Spirit in the Christianity I know, so it seems hypocritical to be dividing one from the other and perhaps was more a political move... I've still had a cautiousness regarding the magic arts though, so this space has been useful thank you :)