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In Search Of... Season
5 #13, Salem Witches
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Salem,
Massachusetts, is perhaps best known for witch trials. A witch is the town's
symbol and a constant remain of a reign of fear and terror. The witchcraft
hysteria of 1692 that once swept over the people here originated in the
neighbouring town, Danvers, formerly called Salem village. In 1692
witchcraft was a capital offence. Nearly all 20 victims were hung at the
same tree. Today witches practice here openly.
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When a witch is in inaugurated each witch in the circle is anointed, the new one’s hands are bound to symbolize her creativity being bound to the earth to help the other witches.
Some say
they can control things in their environment. It is power and knowledge to
be shared.
In
lessons a witch teaches about wands and potions and how they are used.
Magic
circles are formed and negative and positive forces which could do harm are
cast out. Dr. Linda Caporale, a psychiatrist is doing research on the topic.
She found possible explanations of the happenings in 1962: Mass-hysteria
might have been one of them. Illnesses occurred. One illness was caused by
eating contaminated bread which resulted of a fungus on grain.
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In Salem at least 400 people call themselves witches.
