Vancouver Island, it seems, is chock full of witches.

But, according to Lynn-Anne Hill, the producer of the recent Summer Witches Market in Metchosin, that may be a very good thing.

害羞草研究所淭here are hundreds of covens on the Island. There are a lot here in Victoria and all over. There害羞草研究所檚 a great coven up in Nanaimo,害羞草研究所� said Hill, who readily embraces her 害羞草研究所榳itchiness害羞草研究所�, although she does not, herself, belong to a coven.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 a singular believer 害羞草研究所� a nature-based witch 害羞草研究所� and I live in the forest where I attract owls, bears and cougars,害羞草研究所� said Hill.

害羞草研究所淭hese are positive, wonderful, loving people,害羞草研究所� she added, looking around the hall where dozens of witches had gathered. 害羞草研究所淎nd each of them finds their magic in their own way.害羞草研究所�

Moving around the market, it became apparent that Hill害羞草研究所檚 assessment of the witches in attendance seemed to be spot on.

Karen Jones, for example, was entirely non-threatening as she tended to her broomstick sale.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 100 per cent witch,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 called upon to work my energy and these brooms have been made with intention.

She pointed out a broom made for a crone who needs help walking and another that draws on the energy of the ocean. Another broom had two heads attached to a single handle.

But do her brooms fly?

害羞草研究所淥h, they will fly. Of course it depends on who害羞草研究所檚 riding them. If you have the power and want them to fly, they will absolutely fly,害羞草研究所� said Jones.

Notably absent from the Witch害羞草研究所檚 Market were any of the negative characteristics of witches that have infested our folklore and media depictions. There wasn害羞草研究所檛 a single cauldron full of hell-broth, newt eyes or toes of frogs.

In fact, the witches in attendance displayed none of the stereotypes that tend to accompany witch lore. Absent were the double chins, warts or toothless sneers that have come to characterize fairy tales and films. Instead, the witches in attendance appeared to be completely enchanting, blithe spirits.

And the people coming to visit the market and speak to the witches appeared to be quite at ease.

Of course, that hasn害羞草研究所檛 always been the case.

In the fall of 1982, allegations surfaced of witches having formed a satanic cult that was sacrificing babies stolen from a Victoria hospital.  The 害羞草研究所淪atanic Panic害羞草研究所� put Victoria on the map for a time as the police even investigated the allegations.

Not surprisingly, those claims were soon debunked, and the hysterical fears abated.

Still, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 until the summer of 2017 that the Canadian Government repealed the last laws against witchcraft. (In fairness, those laws stated that it was illegal to "fraudulently pretend to exercise or to use any kind of witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration". Presumably, if the witchcraft was real, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 illegal.)

Actually, a lot of the discrimination against witches it seems, has always been found in a response to a feminist agenda.

害羞草研究所淲itch means 害羞草研究所榳ise woman害羞草研究所� a woman who tends to her own feelings and checks with her own intuition before making decisions,害羞草研究所� said Jordan Griffin, another of the witches at the Market. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really more of an intuitive, spiritual factor. Or sometimes, it害羞草研究所檚 someone who believes in and understands magic 害羞草研究所� in things that are unseen.害羞草研究所�

Griffin explained that she used to host circles for women who understood the nature of the craft.

Sue Ferrie, another witch, reiterated Griffin害羞草研究所檚 viewpoint.

害羞草研究所淢odern religion is all about fear. Wicca is not. Wicca is about looking after nature and people. It害羞草研究所檚 about women being in total control of herself, with no harm to anyone," said Ferrie.

Weighing in on the feminist side of witchcraft, Ronalda Katherine added, "I think all women are witches害羞草研究所� and I don害羞草研究所檛 mean that in a bad way. We all have women害羞草研究所檚 strength and the ability to make things happen. Women can use their energy to make things happen. They害羞草研究所檙e more in touch with their feelings and can project that more.害羞草研究所�

With that in mind, don害羞草研究所檛 imagine that Vancouver Island害羞草研究所檚 witches are all about potions and secret incantations, or about some modern-day women害羞草研究所檚 movement. 

At least that害羞草研究所檚 not all it害羞草研究所檚 about. Witches seem to have some fun, as well.

There害羞草研究所檚 the British Columbia Witch-camp, for example. That害羞草研究所檚 where witches come together each year for one week to celebrate, learn, teach, and be together as community. Although they don害羞草研究所檛 specifically say so, there are some great bonfires and conversations and jokes as well.

Then there害羞草研究所檚 events like the one hosted by the coven in Royston, BC. They dress in their witchiest outfits and paddleboard for charity.

Prizes are awarded for the best costume as well as the best cackle.

害羞草研究所淲e bring a lot of energy to our events,害羞草研究所� said Hill. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no recruitment, and no judgement. This is just a wonderful, positive and loving community.害羞草研究所�

And yes, they do have the odd love potion available for those in need.