Ghost of a flea: Under her spell

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July 05, 2007

Under her spell

Northern Norway hosts the International Midnight Sun Witchcraft Conference (or Heksekonferansen, as you like). How is it I never hear about these things until it is too late to secure a cushy tenured position with massive travel budgets for academic ~~tourism~~ development? Though I gather Vardo has not always been so amenable a destination for witchcraft enthusiasts.

During a 17th-Century witch-hunt in Vardo, about 80 women were burnt at the stake. Reports from the time indicated they were accused of meeting with the devil at the nearby "witch mountain". During the 16th and 17th centuries it is estimated that up to 50,000 people were executed for alleged sorcery across Europe.

Horrifying. Of course, these days the Religion of Peace manages that many in honour killings alone every ten years. Clearly our witchfinders were slackers when it came to murdering women. I expect Scandanavian academics will get on that problem just as soon as they have finished lamenting whatever is left of our Christian past. Though they might want to think twice about aboriginal content... the Umma has decided the Inuit should go back to their own country.

In related eerie Arctic events: Encroaching noctilucent clouds, a Mythos cloud formation if ever there was one.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at July 5, 2007 07:27 AM

Comments

For a good history of Witchcraft, might I suggest my friend Dr Ruickbie's book Out of the Shadows. He was my tutor on my degree in Witchcraft Studies.

Posted by: Andrew Ian Dodge at July 5, 2007 07:59 AM

Boobies.

Posted by: agent bedhead at July 5, 2007 01:19 PM

You know, I had not actually considered the boobies angle.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at July 5, 2007 01:23 PM