Allison's Witchcraft Blog

As I was visiting my sister in Galveston, a store front called The Witchery caught my attention.   I have actually briefly been to this store years ago with my sister, as it is located on the same street my sister used to live on, but never thought twice about it before this course. My dogs even frequent the ice cream shop, Hey Mikey’s, located right next to The Witchery. According to owners of the Witchery, Clyde and Kimberly Wood, the goal of the store is to provide shoppers the resources they need in self discovery, self empowerment, and spiritual enlightenment. The shop carries hundreds on books on various religions, as well as Wicca and Paganism. Along with books and inspirational gifts, they also sell crystals, herbs, and essential oils. The shop also offers psychic readings every weekend.  A video on The Witchery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=xwYh8OiSY3c&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.galveston.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=http...

 When I first heard the term "digital necromancy" I couldn't fathom how this could be real, however digital necromancy is in fact real and a highly debated subject since the 2010s. The event that first sparked this debate was an ad released by Johnnie Walker in 2010 in which Bruce Lee, who had been deceased for 40 years, is shown selling the scotch. Johnnie Walker's Bruce Lee ad:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYoQ1mCyCKo Other examples include a 2011 Dior ad featuring Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and Marlene Dietrich.  Dior ad:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLaCc9wUqUs This 'digital necromancy' is done through generative AI in which the user is able to conjure the dead from their digital footprint. One reason for the desire to use a dead celebrity in an advertise is that it is actually more cost effective to utilize a deceased celebrity via animation than to hire a living one to act in an advertisement. Beyond posthumous film and music appearances, the t...

 Throughout various accounts of witch accusations and trials, one of the reasons individuals were accused were for having magical powers to affect health - harming and healing.  In the 18th and 19th centuries, healthcare and healing was often provided by women who were sometimes referred to as wise women, healers, cunning women, and midwives.  In the 19th century, America had a rise of the male medical profession which is by some reports, suspected to be linked to female witchcraft accusations.  As a nursing major, I have always been interested in effective non-pharmacological therapies, so I decided to look into some that were used by wise women and midwives during the time of the witch trials. Some natural and herbal remedies used by healers included:  Ergot: labor pains/speed Today: ergot derivatives still used today to hasten labor Belladonna (AKA nightshade): inhibit uterine contractiosn Today:  anti-spasmodic dilating pupils for eye exams/surgeries at...