Throughout the world, accusations of witchcraft are often linked to social and economic tensions. Females are most often accused, but in some cultures it is mostly males. In many societies, accusations are directed mainly against the elderly, but in others age is not a factor, and in some cultures it is mainly adolescents who are accused. [1] :15 a b William Wyatt Gill (1892). "Wizards". The south Pacific and New Guinea, past and present; with notes on the Hervey group, an illustrative song and various myths. Sydney: Charles Potter, Government Printer. Igwe, Leo (September–October 2020). "Accused Witches Burned, Killed in Nigeria". Skeptical Inquirer. Amherst, New York: Center for Inquiry. Cumes, David (2004). Africa in my bones. Claremont: New Africa Books. p.14. ISBN 978-0-86486-556-4.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (141 BCE to 87 BCE) in the Western Han Dynasty of China, there were instances where the imperial court took measures to suppress certain religious or spiritual practices, including those associated with shamanism. Emperor Wu was known for his strong support of Confucianism, which was the dominant ideology of the Han Dynasty, and he promoted policies that aimed to consolidate central authority and unify the cultural and social landscape of the empire. [64] Williams, Howard (1865). The Superstitions of Witchcraft. London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green– via Project Gutenberg. In Kenya, there have been reports of mobs burning people accused of witchcraft, reflecting the deep-seated beliefs in the supernatural. [93] Malawi faces a similar issue of child witchcraft accusations, with traditional healers and some Christian counterparts involved in exorcisms, causing abandonment and abuse of children. [94] In Nigeria, Pentecostal pastors have intertwined Christianity with witchcraft beliefs for profit, leading to the torture and killing of accused children. [95] Sierra Leone's Mende people see witchcraft convictions as beneficial, as the accused receive support and care from the community. [96] Witch Hunts in Modern South Africa: An Under-represented Facet of Gender-based Violence (PDF). MRC-UNISA Crime, Violence and Injury Lead Programm. 2009. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.694.6630. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2012 . Retrieved 7 June 2014.

Here's a breakdown on the history of witchcraft and an answer to the age-old question, "Are witches real?" a b Singh, Manvir (2 February 2021). "Magic, Explanations, and Evil: The Origins and Design of Witches and Sorcerers". Current Anthropology. 62 (1): 2–29. doi: 10.1086/713111. ISSN 0011-3204. S2CID 232214522. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021 . Retrieved 28 April 2021. Over the last six years, for many of us, things have been a little topsy turvy," he said. "Magic and witchcraft provide a way to feel as if you're in control of this situation and what's going on in the world."

There are still many misconceptions and stereotypes when it comes to witchcraft. Namely, people believe all modern witchcraft is associated with the devil. But, this is not the case. Mankey said early modern witches distanced themselves from this idea entirely. Witches have a long history of being depicted in art, although most of their earliest artistic depictions seem to originate in Early Modern Europe, particularly the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Many scholars attribute their manifestation in art as inspired by texts such as Canon Episcopi, a demonology-centered work of literature, and Malleus Maleficarum, a "witch-craze" manual published in 1487, by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. [133] Witches in fiction span a wide array of characterizations. They are typically, but not always, female, and generally depicted as either villains or heroines. [134] See also [ edit ]

Kielburger, Craig; Kielburger, Marc (18 February 2008). "HIV in Africa: Distinguishing disease from witchcraft". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017 . Retrieved 18 September 2017. a b "Diabolism in the New World". ABCCLIO. 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021 . Retrieved 10 February 2013. Witchcraft is also an incredibly creative act, and the more personal one gets with their practice, the more powerful the results are," said Grossman. "There's an artfulness to it. There's a playfulness to it. There's a joyfulness to it, and I think we all need more of each of those things in our lives."

Simons, Patricia (September 2014). "The Incubus and Italian Renaissance art". Source: Notes in the History of Art. 34 (1): 1–8. doi: 10.1086/sou.34.1.23882368. JSTOR 23882368. S2CID 191376143. Simmons, Marc (1980). Witchcraft in the Southwest: Spanish and Indian Supernaturalism on the Rio Grande. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0803291164. In the 15th century, the " Malleus Maleficarum," translated to "The Hammer of Witches," by Heinrich Kramer popularized the idea that witchcraft is to perform evil acts and spells, particularly against men. a b "Catholic Encyclopedia: Witchcraft". Newadvent.org. 1 October 1912. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021 . Retrieved 31 October 2013.If a man has put a spell upon another man and it is not justified, he upon whom the spell is laid shall go to the holy river; into the holy river shall he plunge. If the holy river overcome him and he is drowned, the man who put the spell upon him shall take possession of his house. If the holy river declares him innocent and he remains unharmed the man who laid the spell shall be put to death. He that plunged into the river shall take possession of the house of him who laid the spell upon him. [61] [c] Witches are believed to work in secret, sometimes alone and sometimes with other witches. Hutton writes: "Across most of the world, witches have been thought to gather at night, when normal humans are inactive, and also at their most vulnerable in sleep". [1] :19-22 In most cultures, witches at these gatherings are thought to transgress social norms by engaging in cannibalism, incest and open nudity. [1] :19-22 Davies, Owen (1999). Witchcraft, Magic and Culture, 1736–1951. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0719056567. A crystal elixir is water that is infused with the energies from whatever type of water-safe crystal you choose to soak in it. The elixir can be used for drinking or for use in rituals. Crystals

Stokker, Kathleen (2007). Remedies and Rituals: Folk Medicine in Norway and the New Land. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press. pp.81–82. ISBN 978-0873517508. Supernatural healing of the sort practiced by Inger Roed and Lisbet Nypan, known as signeri, played a role in the vast majority of Norway's 263 documented witch trials. In trial after trial, accused 'witches' came forward and freely testified about their healing methods, telling about the salves they made and the bønner (prayers) they read over them to enhance their potency. a b c Jasper Buse (1995). Cook Islands Maori Dictionary. Cook Islands Ministry of Education. ISBN 978-0728602304. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016 . Retrieved 27 February 2016. Home: Oxford English Dictionary". oed.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021 . Retrieved 18 July 2021. Ankarloo, Bengt and Henningsen, Gustav (1990) Early Modern European Witchcraft: Centres and Peripheries. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 1, 14.Societies that believed in witchcraft also believed that it could be thwarted in various ways. One common way was to use protective magic or counter-magic, of which the cunning folk were experts. [1] :24-25 This included charms, talismans and amulets, anti- witch marks, witch bottles, witch balls, and burying objects such as horse skulls inside the walls of buildings. [42] Another believed cure for bewitchment was to persuade or force the alleged witch to lift their spell. [1] :24-25 Often, people would attempt to thwart the witchcraft by physically punishing the alleged witch, such as by banishing, wounding, torturing or killing them. "In most societies, however, a formal and legal remedy was preferred to this sort of private action", whereby the alleged witch would be prosecuted and then formally punished if found guilty. [1] :24-25 This often resulted in execution.