Spooky season may be drawing to a close, but these historical and fictional witches and women of the occult have got us feeling that Halloween spirit all year long.
1. Morgan le Fay
This figure of Arthurian legend is noted for being an enchantress and sister to King Arthur himself. Some of the earliest literary mentions of Morgan le Fay describe her as an accomplished mathematician, astronomer, and healer. In fiction, Morgan generally is an adversary of Arthur and his knights of the Round Table and shows a particular hatred of Arthur’s wife Guinevere. Where Guinevere is pure and loyal, Morgan is sensual and self-interested. These romances, however, very much reflected societal conceptions of morality of the time, which usually were biased against women.
In modern retellings and manifestations, Morgan is often depicted as a villainous witch, sorceress, or high priestess of Avalon. Some adaptations, such as Katie McGrath’s Morgana in the BBC television series Merlin and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Morgaine in her 1983 fantasy novel The Mists of Avalon, offer a nuanced look at a complicated woman caught between worlds and striving to fulfill her destiny (the later even placing Morgaine/Morgan as the protagonist of the story).
2. Marie Laveau
For many historical women of color, it can be difficult for us to separate fact from conjecture. Unearthing the mysterious life of the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans” Marie Laveau is no different, especially since her daughter Marie would also go on to become a famous priestess.
From records, we know Marie Laveau -- a Creole woman of Native American, African, and French descent -- was born the illegitimate daughter of a free woman of color and a white father in the French Quarter of New Orleans around 1801. By trade, Laveau was a hairdresser, but accounts also describe her as a dedicated practitioner of voodoo. She held ceremonies, told fortunes, healed the sick, and created potions and charms for people of all social classes in her community. Laveau died in 1881 and is said to have been interred in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, a popular site to visit around Halloween. Most recently, a heavily fictionalized interpretation of Laveau, played by Angela Bassett, was featured in the television series American Horror Story: Coven.
It’s important to note that there is a heavy dose of exoticism rooted in the mythos surrounding Laveau. Many portrayals of Laveau, and of witches of color in general, are highly problematic and rife with racist and culturally insensitive beliefs or stereotypes. What we are sure of is that Laveau was a well-respected entrepreneur, practiced her craft to aid those around her, and would become integral to the historical fabric and culture of New Orleans.
3. Willow Rosenberg, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Beginning the series as Buffy’s shy but whip-smart bestie, Willow Rosenberg (played by Alyson Hannigan) quickly became one of the most notable characters in the 90s cult series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Willow was the brain of the “Scooby Gang,” and her intelligence and curiosity led her to save the day time and time again with her forays into the library and the occult. Not only would Willow become a renowned witch and techno-pagan, but she also evolved into a queer icon when she began a relationship with fellow witch Tara Maclay. At the time, queer representation was scarce, and Buffy broke the mold.
"The magics I used are very powerful. I’m very powerful. And maybe it’s not such a good idea for you to piss me off.” - Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Through each monster of the week, every Big Bad, Willow proved herself a loyal friend. She always had Buffy’s back and showed an incredible tendency for empathy and forgiveness. She also was one of the first witches on television to incorporate technology into her practice (yay, witches in STEM!). Storylines in the early seasons frequently focused on Willow’s aptitude for computers and demon-whooping.
4. Laurie Cabot
Born Mercedes Elizabeth Kearsey, Laurie Cabot is one of the most high-profile contemporary witches in the world. In the 1970s, the governor of Massachusetts bestowed upon Cabot the title of Official Witch of Salem to honor her work with children with special needs.
Though sometimes a controversial figure, Cabot has battled criticism to popularize and de-stigmatize witchcraft. She has authored many books on her craft, exploring the magical side of femaleness and encouraging empowerment, spiritual awakening, and personal fulfillment. During the wave of Satanic Panic in the 1980s, Cabot founded the Witches’ League for Public Awareness to provide an education network committed to correcting misinformation about witches and witchcraft.
Cabot also was an entrepreneur, establishing the first witchcraft store in the United States in 1971. Although the brick-and-mortar location closed in 2012, Cabot continues to sell wares such as crystals, herbs, soaps, aromatherapy products, and more at Enchanted of Salem, the store she currently runs with her daughter.
5. Samantha Stephens, Bewitched
What happens when a powerful young witch breaks with her mother to marry a mortal man and become a 1960s housewife? That is the plot of beloved television sitcom Bewitched, which starred Elizabeth Montgomery as the doting yet headstrong Samantha Stephens, new wife of ad-man Darrin.
Bewitched was one of the many high-concept sitcoms of the decade that used the supernatural both to spur comedic conflict and (more subtly) to question gender stereotypes and societal expectations of women. Series producer Danny Arnold even argued Bewitched was about a woman who had more power than her husband -- a progressive theme for the time.
Externally, Samantha fit the mold of the perfect 60s housewife. Despite her attempts to live a normal life as a mortal, however, Samantha would invariably encounter or have to use magic, much to the irritation of her often blundering husband. Their dynamic was nuanced and veered between loving and adversarial, as Samantha both challenged and sought to espouse many of the gender stereotypes women on TV and in real life faced.
Overall, Samantha was kind, compassionate, an on-her-feet thinker, and ultimately unafraid to be different -- after all, she shocked the witch community and earned the ire of her mother Endora when she married a mortal. Plus, who couldn’t love that nose twitch…
Happy Halloween, badass witches!
Header image via Unsplash
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