The Good Witch of Salem

 


    "The Good Witch of Salem" is set in Salem and centers around the good witch and her cat, Aura. Aura is able to sense when someone is in need of love and joy, and the good witch uses her powers to spread kindnes. The plot centers around Aura sensing someone is in need of kindness, so the good witch grabs her crystal ball and says an incantation, after which the crystal ball shows her a birthday party. Suddenly, a ballon pops and the good witch's vision shifts to a lonely little girl with no one to play with.
 
    The good witch the get out her cauldron and begins making a potion with different colors, explaining that each color has a different meaning and purpose in the potion. For example, "citrine orange uplifts and brings upon new friends with love and some laughter that transcends" (Tina, 18). After finishing her potion and molding it into hearts, the good witch and Aura get on her broom to travel to the little girl in need of kindness and love. 

    The good witch meets the sad little girl and the girl expresses her sadness and loneliness. The good witch gives her a healing amulet that contains the magic rainbow potion. The good witch tells the little girl a message of hope and to be herself and always show others kindness. The book ends with the good witch and Aura flying away on her broom and leaving behind a trail of rainbow color. 

    "The Good Witch of Salem" starkly contrasts many depictions of witches throughout history and in popular media. In "The Good Witch of Salem", the witch's powers are seen as a positive thing that makes her unique. This is shown even through the use of bright colors throughout the entire book and her rainbow potion. Her description of the colors used in her potion reminded me of how crystals are used for healing and other purposes such as granting strength. 

    Contrary to. the typical depiction of the evil witch, the good witch uses her powers to help and heal others. She has talismans like the typical witch such as a cauldron, broom, and the amulet. The good witch even has a familiar, her cat Aura, but Aura differs from the black cat tradition and is instead a white cat who is the witch's sidekick in spreading kindness. 


    "The Good Witch of Salem" franchise has a website: https://goodwitchofsalem.com/ , where they share their mission of elevating "learning into a magical experience by communicating the importance of self growth, self love, and self awareness".

    The website sells a lot of different things including books, clothes, crystals, toys, jewelry and other accessories, art kits, and affirmation kits


    The rainbow car crystal magic affirmation kit includes 1 x Unstuffed Rainbow Kitty Plush, "Magic Clouds" Stuffing, 1 x Magic Moon Dust in Bottle, 1 x Magic Moon Dust Card, 1 x Magic Aura Crystal, 1 x Aura Crystal Card, Stardust, 1 x Healing Heart, 1 x Affirmation Card, 1 x Wooden Witch Charm, 1 x Adoption Certificate

    The affirmation kit description states: "Once your Rainbow Kitty is all ready to go, it's not just a regular toy – it's a magical friend that carries a piece of your creativity and imagination!" By defining this toy as a "magical friend", The Good Witch franchise offers children a chance to have their own talisman. 


    The website also shares information of events that the franchise hosts in Salem. For example, in March they are holding a Leprechaun spa day and a potion making class. They even offer party packages and sessions for "Magical Transformations" where the child is dressed up as and "becomes" a witch or potion master. For just $395 and an hour and half of time (including 30 minutes for cake), 10 children can become witches and potion masters! :) If you want to meet the Good Witch, however, that costs $450.



    Overall, I think "The Good Witch of Salem" is a very cute and effective way to show children a different side of witches instead of the scary version that many kids learn through stories such as Hansel and Gretel. In many depictions, such as drawings and accounts we have looked at in class, witches are depicted as ugly and wicked or even hyper-sexualized, whereas in this children's book, the witch is depicted as a cute and sweet young girl. The good witch is "othered" in that she has magic abilities, but her magic is illustrated as a gift to her an society, and therefore makes it special to be an "other". The author also tied in a lot of items that are associated with witches' powers, and spun them to be bright, positive things that lead to spreading happiness. I am surprised to see how the franchise has taken off, but if I am being honest I can picture myself as a child asking my parents for a makeover party like one of the ones that the Good Witch of Salem hosts.

Comments

  1. williams.dan76March 6, 2024 at 7:23 AM

    Thanks for exploring "The Good Witch of Salem." She certainly is in the good witch category spreading colors and kindness. I wonder if the use of rainbows has any undertones of the LGBTQ movement, whether intentional or unintentional. I love the kit and rainbow kitty plush.

    ReplyDelete

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