| What do you see if I ask you to think of a witch? | | | | Western world witches were like the Japanese ones |
| Most people think of an old ugly women with a big | | | | before Christianity took over the world. Churches |
| wart on her nose, and black clothes with a broom | | | | needed to prohibit the pagan religion and needed to |
| stick. They brew magical potions which bring bad luck | | | | make witches demon-like. Have you ever seen the |
| to the world. They manipulate the world for their | | | | PBS TV series about Morgaine, half sister of King |
| liking--- such as leading Macbeth astray to his | | | | Aurthur? She was exactly like the Japanese witches. |
| destruction. | | | | In 1960's , as the feminist movement became more |
| Some witches are, however, quite different from | | | | prominent, some women started looking into |
| that image. For example, look at the evil queen of | | | | pre-Christian witchcraft. These New Age oriented |
| Sleeping Beauty in Disney's animation. OK, she may | | | | people saw Gaia as a common representation of |
| not be attractive but she is not awful looking like a | | | | nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing |
| standard witch. She is a queen with magical power. | | | | features of nature by embodying it in the form of |
| So is Narnia's Ice queen. She has an icy beauty and | | | | the mother. They rediscovered goddesses of magical |
| evil power. Some people say that they are not | | | | power, and then Goth fashion heighten the revival of |
| witches - they are powerful women with magical | | | | beautiful witches. |
| power (well, I don't see the difference). | | | | I think that it is time we discarded the Christian witch |
| Interesting to note, however, most Eastern world | | | | image, and we should embrace a beautiful witch with |
| witches are like that (with or without the evilness). | | | | the power to protect the world. As we face more |
| This is because magic is actually respected, and only | | | | and more environmental problems, we need powerful |
| people with magical power can protect their domain. | | | | and beautiful witches who can help the planet. You |
| The first queen of Japan, Himiko, was a beautiful (so | | | | see them in Harry Potter movies wearing Gryffindor |
| they say) witch. She was powerful, and hence, very | | | | robes; they are nice women (well most of them), |
| respected. Most Eastern world witches are like | | | | and they are trying save the world. They are |
| Himiko, they only appear in the privileged class. They | | | | attractive and beautiful. |
| battled invading enemies, helped people to live better | | | | Be a witch at this Halloween, but a beautiful one. You |
| lives, unified their Kingdom, and kept the balance in | | | | will be loved. |
| the natural world. | | | | |