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On our third quest to revive the knowledge of significant magical creatures, we find ourselves in various regions within the Middle East and Eastern Asia. We will start in Egypt, where we learned about the Great Sphinx, but this time for Heqet, relocate past the Red Sea into Ancient Persia, or modern day Iraq to study the fear-instilling Dahak, and we shall swing by India for some Samosas and Tandoori Chicken, all-the-while enjoying traditions that the mythical Apsaras have transmitted onto us.

Heqet

Historically in ancient Egypt, fertility was associated with the flooding of the Nile River. When there was much water flow, the harvest was prosperous and infants would have more than sufficient food, while when there was a drought, this was not often the case. During Egypt’s second dynasty, there had been many years of drought, and the residents were suffering. One year during this drought, a lone frog had emerged from the Nile River. This was an usual occurrence, as a frog would usually come coinciding with the inundation of the River, but the drought seemed to be worse than ever. The next day, a great flood emerged, one as large as the eldest Egyptian had seen, and soon after fertility rates rose significantly, and there was food for everyone.

From director Álex de la Iglesia. 

This June will make the anniversary of hanging of Bridget Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials.

Who is this lady, and why is she important in the annals of Magick and Witchcraft? She occupies a very important place in the history of the Craft. She was the first of the Salem Martyrs, those people who were wrongfully murdered for supposed practicing witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts in 1693. Her anniversary is June 10.

Establishing the truth of a case over three centuries old is always difficult. However, we know her death was part of a general backlash against the idea of practicing Witchcraft. She is therefore important in the lore of the Craft, even if she was an innocent simply caught up in a public frenzy.

In this article, we will explore her case, and try to gain a better idea of the concepts that surround the Witch Trials.

Today, images of witches and black cats are likely associated with Halloween decorations, but not long ago, the scary duo was regarded with a mixture of fear and trepidation.

Woe to anyone walking alone on a dark night if he spies a black cat lying in wait on the path. And worse still, a witch may be lurking nearby, seeking to cast a hex on the unwary traveler!

Such concerns are the stuff of village tales, superstition and folklore, though it was considered gravely serious at the time.

Since the Middle Ages, black cats have been regarded somewhat differently than the rest of their feline brethren. This is due to the folklore surrounding black cats that still exists in some communities to this day.

The article starts off with a modern day interpretation of how the term is used today, but as you read further it goes into great depth of how witch hunts actually came about. Very Interesting and I thought I would share with our readers... Blessed Be.