Biddy Early:
'We are the granddaughters of the women you did not burn!'
A graphic novel about the history of witchcraft? Sign me the Hecate up!
It is a story about Bridget Ellen Early, or Biddy Early, a real "witch" from Ireland in the 19th century. She was one of the first known practitioners of herbal medicine and healing during such a precarious, dangerous and devastating time in history for all women. She was a solitary woodland witch, and an independent, individual woman - a very dangerous thing for a woman to be in the patriarchy. Another impressive fact: she was one of the few women accused of witchcraft to miraculously escape persecution, and be released from a witch trial unpunished.
She was a real badass feminist icon and rebel ahead of her time, and I can't believe I never heard of her until I read this graphic novel, the story of which also features the author, Lindsay Squire, who as well as the narrator and teacher, inserts herself as a curious young girl character who becomes Biddy Early's apprentice.
'Witchcraft: A Graphic History: Stories of wise women, healers and magic' (also 'Her magic lives on') is basically self-insert historical fan fiction, in the most endearing and educational way.
Interspersed in its witch-Biddy-and-little Lindsay story are information about witchcraft, linking (rooting) to paganism, wicca (a religion only mentioned in the narration boxes that speak from a modern day perspective, like neo-paganism, so it doesn't really count as historical inaccuracy), and spiritualism. It talks about different kinds of witches (albeit from a European standpoint), cavewomen "witches" using "magic" to help them understand the world around them, ancient Babylonian witches, Egyptian magic users, Greek magic users, witches from Greek mythology, how the roots of modern western magic lie in ancient Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions, historical witches other than Biddy Early, mythical creatures such as fairies, kelpies, merfolk, banshees, brownies, pixies, leprechauns (yes, really), elves, pookahs, and changelings, loads of different types of herbs and plants and magical healing potions, clay figurines, tarot cards, divination, runes, crystals, meditation, dream work, grimoires, book of shadows journals, besoms, candles, athemes, incense, and witch familiars.
And it explores, processes and analyses the horrors of witch hunts, specifically those created, instigated and carried out by the Catholic Church in Ireland and England, and the fear of women who dare to be different, to live outside of the norm in society.
This subject remains painfully relevant still. We are failing as a surviving, progressing species.
Mainly the graphic novel teaches how witchcraft is about connecting to nature. How magic is mainly used to heal. Magic is neutral - there is no good or evil magic, only the intent and actions of the user - and comes from the natural earth. So respect mother earth and what she offers.
The book is cute, probably due to the artwork, which is nice, sweet, lovely, warm, expressive, caressing, comforting, despite the grim, dour historical subject matter. But yes, I reiterate: 'Witchcraft: A Graphic History' is a cute and educational read; a half-hour long lesson and entertainment.
Plus Biddy and Lindsay, the two leads and focus point characters, are redhaired badass boss ladies (well, Lindsay could have brown hair, actually, though it is hard to tell). They're brave and don't take no guff from anyone. They're boss witches!
The graphic novel is brief and oversimplified in info, and its story certainly ends abruptly and unrealistically. Majorly it covers one part of witchcraft's history, the European part. But I enjoyed it.
I recommend this witchcraft herstory, this moon enchantment and enlightenment delight, to any witch or witch fan.
'Witchcraft: A Graphic History: Stories of wise women, healers and magic' - proof that magic, and strong women, are all around us, and they always have been. And always will be, no matter what the predatory, beastly, bloodthirsty, slaughtering patriarchy does.
Pure, helpful, uplifting, positive, life-affirming magic.
Spellbinding and nature-binding. Enchanting, educating and enticing.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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