No wonder the woman was dubbed the vessel of the devil. It seduces and subjugates, gives unbearable pleasures and can turn life into torture, entices with illusions, lets in fog and, in general, makes the whole world revolve around itself. Of course, not every representative of the weaker sex is capable of such feats. âFatal womanâ, a sorceress, a witch - this is how their victims and ordinary, average citizens christened âlovely ladiesâ.
Witch omens
So let's see how witches were recognized before and how to identify them among others now. As a teaching aid, of course, you can take the well-known treatise âThe Hammer of the Witchesâ, but we will go the other way. And to begin with, letâs recall the situations when we were faced with something special in a female form. For example, she looks at you like a very ordinary girl or an old woman - and her gaze is not of her age tenacious, attentive, directly penetrates to the soul. And it will become uncomfortable for you, somehow scary ... And then your head will hurt, everything will fall out of your hands. As witches were recognized in olden times: by the evil eye that they aimed at their victims. Another quite striking example: sometimes men call their lovers that way, especially after a stormy, passionate night, or when a lady manages to force a gentleman to do what he did not want. Moreover, this is achieved not by blackmail and threats, but by completely different methods beyond the control of the mind. As witches were recognized by such signs: if there is increased sexuality, licentiousness, the ability to subjugate to one's own will, then the lady will certainly have a sniff with the devil! And of course, every self-respecting witch is simply obliged to be able to fly on a broomstick, broomstick or, as an option, in a mortar! At least have the items listed in your arsenal. Their presence somewhere in an inconspicuous nook of the house was considered as indirect evidence of a woman's connection with the âotherâ world. The listed facts are a small fraction of how witches were recognized in the century, commercials, 17-18. And if you go further, look deep into the centuries?
For answers - to Gogol!
It is clear that witches should have some distinctive features. A fair question arises: "
How to recognize a witch by appearance?" Let us turn to the true experts of everything infernal - Gogol and Bulgakov. In âEvenings on a Farm near Dikankaâ and âMirgorodâ, we meet with a variety of devilish folk beliefs and observations of real events. Here is a charming, cunning and unlucky Solokha. She is a little over 40, and she is in the prime of female power, beauty, sexuality. A craving for compliments, ready to listen to them even from the demon. How to recognize a witch by her appearance, because Gogol Solokh is also a hostess, hospitable, accommodating in speeches, and does not drop herself outwardly. Dressed to the face, clean and tidy. But here is the misfortune: she has a sure sign, about which the rural gossips are gossiping - the tail. Small quite, invisible under the fluffy skirts. But there is!
Stepmother and Mate
The tail, or rather, the process on the tailbone, can be classified as idle speculation, although biology calls this phenomenon atavism, and in nature there have been cases of birth of people with such deviations. Since everything unusual is frightening and repulsing, atavism was called a devilish sign. And woe to those in whom it manifested! Indeed, as witches were recognized in the Middle Ages: there is a tail - you are a sorceress. The next sign is long hair. Women were not recommended to cut their braids before, and not only because they were considered a symbol of femininity and beauty. The longer the hair, the more active the vitality and closer connection with the cosmos. Intuition and the gift of foresight are more pronounced. And a magical gift too! Do not forget that in all the witchâs rituals, women must always loose their hair, âloosen itâ, wrapping it in them, like in a cloak. And the witch-panel in the âVieâ appears before us untwisted, with black locks along the pale cheeks. Yes, her hair is black. And dark eyes, deep as a whirlpool. Even the dead panel is strikingly beautiful. The stepmother from May Night is also good. However, its gloomy essence is betrayed by an evil look and the ability to turn into witchcraft animals. How to recognize a witch among people: look at the behavior of cats and dogs, if they are nearby! In her presence, they will behave uneasily: throw, attack, or, conversely, hide.
In the wake of Bulgakov
Itâs not for nothing that Mikhail Afanasevich called Gogol his favorite writer. Bulgakov himself is not only a wonderful satirist, but also a mystic who has penetrated deeply into the secrets of the other world. His âDevilâsâ excites the imagination. And âThe Master and Margaritaâ is a real encyclopedia that opens the veil of witchcraft secrets. If you want to know how to recognize a witch by the eyes, read the descriptions of Gella. You will not only come across already known facts, but also meet new ones. Gella is a classic creature from the âotherâ world, a vampire, a servant of Woland. And her appearance is appropriate: colorful, spectacular, memorable. A red mane of thick hair, green, sloppy, phosphorically glowing eyes, ideal body proportions and - as a special sign - an ugly scar on the neck. What we have: Bulgakov uses for the portrait of the heroine exactly those ancient stereotypes of the image of a witch that have developed in Slavic, Russian-Ukrainian mythology. Red hair and green eyes have long been considered a sign of lascivious, loose, shameless, vicious women. And a sign of connection with supernatural powers.
Queen Margarita
And here is another classic witch - Margarita. Before her transformation, she was tired of life, a woman exhausted by experiences - with thin wrinkles on her forehead, dull eyes, yellowish shadows on her temples. What is the transformation of the heroine after the wonderful cream of Azazello? His eyes turned green (again green!) And began to mow slightly, the eyebrows plucked into a thread became thick, lay in smooth smooth arches. The hair is black, curly - instead of artificial perm. A smooth forehead, there is not a single wrinkle, clean, delicate skin with an even pink blush. Thanks to the transformation, Margarita threw about 10 years. She feels complete inner freedom, emancipation, therefore she carelessly âgrinds her teethâ in laughter. Here's an instruction for you - how to recognize a witch in the modern world.
Household witch Annushka
In the novel there is another representative of the witching tribe: Annushka. She is pure water the embodiment of the lower category of witches - evil. Gella may also seem such, but only at first glance. She punishes evil with evil, biting Varenukha, frightening Sokov. Her "impurity" is very arbitrary, even neutral. Another thing is Annushka. Where this woman appears, squabbles, quarrels, gossip begin. She has a âfilthyâ language, from which nothing flies kind and friendly. Annushka sniffs, peeps, eavesdroppers, so that she can smash another tale to the neighbors. And the heroine has a corresponding nickname: Plague! And when Margaritaâs horseshoe falls into her hands, the womanâs eyes light up with âcompletely wolf fireâ. By the way, each of them looks in different directions.
Birthmarks
Moles are marks of the devil. So unequivocally and undeniably claimed
Catholic priests in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. True, not all, but of a special shape, irregular, or too large, protruding above the skin. How to recognize a witch among moles? Usually a woman suspected of witchcraft was stripped naked and examined carefully. If the unfortunate woman had marks on her body, and even with several hairs - trouble! They were definitely pierced with a long needle, sticking it deep under the skin. Droplets of blood appear - the "witch" has a chance to escape. There is no blood - that's all, this is one of the "evidence" by which the woman was accused of being unclean and sent to execution. A lot of people suffered a terrible death due to such
birthmarks. However, there is no smoke without fire. And according to knowledgeable people, real sorceresses really have special marks. If you look closely, their moles are really special: in the form of numbers or strange icons. According to these signs, one can distinguish the modern "witcher".
Arm lines
Since we analyze all the signs that indicate the magical essence of some ladies, we cannot help but remember how to recognize the witch by the hand. Firstly, in real, generic sorceresses, the lines on the palm are located so that the Russian letter âMâ or the inverted English âdouble uâ is clearly visible, i.e. W. Secondly, such a skin pattern is considered a witchâs sign when a human eye is formed from interweaving of small lines. Traditionally, it is located on the hill of the Moon - after all, this planet is responsible for the work of the subconscious, all unknown, mysterious, associated with the night zone. The âEye of the Witchâ indicates the presence of certain abilities, inner strength and a special energy. He reveals to its owners such knowledge that the average person does not even suspect. An âeye on the palmâ happens to natural healers, healers, herbalists, astrologers, fortunetellers, psychics, mediums, magicians. It is this, by and large, that distinguishes a truly gifted person from a charlatan and a deceiver. And finally, another sign: the triangle, which form the
lines of the heart, liver and fate. According to old treatises, it also happens only to witches or women who are prone to witchcraft, but do not deal with it.
White and black
Experts say: there is no white and black magic - it is one-color. But there are good and evil sorceresses who use their gift in different ways. Some treat, advise, help, warn, remove damage and evil eye, avert trouble. Those. act in accordance with the primary meaning of the word denoting their occupation. Others act differently: they do all kinds of nasty things and dirty tricks. Often such âwitchesâ use the house of God for their dark deeds. How to recognize a witch in a church? This is quite difficult, especially if you are not specially trained. And still here are some recommendations. Some of them may seem stupid or meaningless. Take your time:
magic, witchcraft defy rational explanation! The first way: on Easter Sunday, you need to go to church in clothes turned inside out. To stand aside without touching anything. Then you will see the sorceress, completely naked, with her back turned to the priest. Just do not give a view, otherwise it will not be good! The second way: when the deceased is buried in the church and the psalms are read, take a close look at the female faces. The witch hardly tolerates holy words, her face is distorted by pain and anger. And one more thing: if a woman revolves around you, asks to put a candle in her place or seems to accidentally push you, hit you on the arm - congratulations, you are faced with a sorceress, and you are completely unkind. Return the blow to her, with your left hand. And move away, better to the priest.
Modern witch
Speaking of sorceresses, we forgot two more bright representatives of this tribe: Olesya and her grandmother, Manuilikhu - the heroines of the story of Kuprin. We need them, because provide additional information on how to recognize a witch in the modern world. So, Olesya: a tall, slender, long-haired brunette, with a strong, healthy body, because she grew up among the expanses of forests. Along the way, we note: these sorcerers preferred to live on the outskirts, away from curious human eyes and the general bustle, but closer to nature, from which they drew their strength and knowledge. Her eyes are dark, shiny, her eyebrows are thin, gracefully curved, in her face slips cunning, authority and naivety, her skin tone is tender, dark-pink. She is charming, the beauty of Olesya is original, she cannot be forgotten. The girl is endowed with a powerful charisma, which gives the whole appearance a special appeal. But her grandmother reminds fabulous heroines. The face is thin, the cheeks are hollow, the
nose is long and hooked, the same long and sharp chin, faded round eyes under the reddish eyelids, a twisted figure and a knotted stick to boot. Says Manuilikh unusual, with tricks and riddles, his voice is hoarse, then whispering, fingers crooked - a real woman Yaga! Didnât you, you also met such lovely granny? It is possible that some of them had actually done dark things before!
Image transformation
The female essence actually contains an element of a mysterious, unknown, magical. The fair sex lives more with emotions, not with reason. The world of feelings is subtle, irrational, based on intuition, forebodings, the influence of the subconscious. Women therefore come in more close contact with the beyond, beyond, sometimes without even noticing it. Their energetics is more closely connected with the natural, with generic ties. Indeed, thanks to the woman, a new life comes into the world. Therefore, once the word "witch" was not abusive. On the contrary, it wore a positive connotation. So called women, endowed with special - higher - knowledge: berezhins who can heal people and animals, protect, secure, communicate with the spirits of nature and command the elements. So it was with paganism. But Christianity, alas, did not suffer any rivalry in the sphere of influence on man. And so the coastline turned into a sorceress, accomplices of the devil. Those. those witches on whom the Inquisition was declared a hunt. To force women to confess, they were tortured with sophistication: on stand and âSpanish bootâ, tied hand and foot, and thrown into the water. Will pop up - a witch, on her fire or gallows; drowns - the priest will sing as an accidental sacrifice. Later, those accused of witchcraft were stoned and given to the mob. But now you can be sure: the real witch has a special look, around her there is a completely different aura, in her purse, besides powder box and comb, there are strange objects: stones, roots and bunches of herbs, candle cinder. And all of it is special!