[stylist] The Green Witch

[Ashley Bramlett]

Jackie,
Is this book you referenced produced by nls?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jacqueline Williams
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 6:37 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] The Green Witch

Eve,
WOW. There is another book, "The Cripple of Nuremburg," which took place
during the Crusades, I believe. It, too, was a story about the effects of
torture in the name of religion. These horrific historical true stories have
made atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and secular Humanists out of many of us.
It is continuing all over the world even in this day and age.
Don't get me wrong. Not for one moment would I take away faith from anyone
who has survived severe loss, or survived horrific conditions because of
this faith.  Much of the beauty in this world is seen through the eyes of
those with a strong faith in whatever they choose to call God. Some are
fortunate to have a personal relationship with their god. I seem to have a
personal relationship with reality which bedevils me. This may be off topic,
but it certainly makes it possible to write interesting poetry from a
different point of view,  and get it back from others.
Jackie


-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eve Sanchez
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2013 10:15 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: [stylist] The Green Witch

Dear Friends, Many of you have been expressing an interest in Witches
and seem to be trying to understand their history,  especially
concerning the persecution. I thought it appropriate to share this
story with you. No, I did not write this piece, but it is beautifully
done and I hope you enjoy. I have it attached and pasted so hopefully
you could at least access one or the other. Blessed Be. Eve

. Each year they parade her about ... the traditional Halloween witch.
Misshapen green face, stringy scraps of hair and a toothless mouth
beneath her disfigured nose. Gnarled, knobby fingers twisted into a
claw, protracting from a bent and twisted torso that lurches about on
wobbly legs.

Most think this abject image to be the creation of a prejudiced mind
or merely a Halloween caricature. I disagree. I believe this to be how
witches were really seen.

Consider that most witches: were women, were abducted in the night and
smuggled into dungeons or prisons under the secrecy of darkness, to be
presented by the light of day as a confessed witch.

Few, if any, saw a frightened, normal looking woman being dragged into
a secret room filled with instruments of torture. To be questioned
until she confessed to anything that was suggested to her and to give
names or whatever would stop the questions. Crowds saw the aberration
denounced to the world as a self-proclaimed witch.

As the witch was paraded through the town, en route to be burned,
hanged, drowned, stoned, or disposed of in various other forms of
Christian love ... all created to free and save her soul from her
depraved body. The jeering crowds viewed the results of hours of
torture. The face, bruised and broken by countless blows, bore a hue
of sickly green. The once warm and loving smile gone. Replaced by a
grimace of broken teeth and torn gums that leers beneath a battered,
disfigured nose. The disheveled hair conceals bleeding gaps of torn
scalp from whence cruel hands had torn away the lovely tresses.
Broken, twisted hands clutched the wagon for support. Fractured
fingers locked like groping claws to steady her broken body. All
semblance of humanity gone. This was truly a demon, a bride of Satan,
a witch.

I revere this Halloween crone and hold her sacred above all. I honor
her courage and listen to her warnings of the dark side of humanity.
Each year I shed tears of respect and remember her involuntary
sacrifice in the name of religion.


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