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.

91裸聊视频淭here are hundreds of covens on the Island. There are a lot here in Victoria and all over. There91裸聊视频檚 a great coven up in Nanaimo,91裸聊视频� said Hill, who readily embraces her 91裸聊视频榳itchiness91裸聊视频�, although she does not, herself, belong to a coven.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 a singular believer 91裸聊视频� a nature-based witch 91裸聊视频� and I live in the forest where I attract owls, bears and cougars,91裸聊视频� said Hill.

91裸聊视频淭hese are positive, wonderful, loving people,91裸聊视频� she added, looking around the hall where dozens of witches had gathered. 91裸聊视频淎nd each of them finds their magic in their own way.91裸聊视频�

Moving around the market, it became apparent that Hill91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 100 per cent witch,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 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?

91裸聊视频淥h, they will fly. Of course it depends on who91裸聊视频檚 riding them. If you have the power and want them to fly, they will absolutely fly,91裸聊视频� said Jones.

Notably absent from the Witch91裸聊视频檚 Market were any of the negative characteristics of witches that have infested our folklore and media depictions. There wasn91裸聊视频檛 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 hasn91裸聊视频檛 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 91裸聊视频淪atanic Panic91裸聊视频� 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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 illegal.)

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

91裸聊视频淲itch means 91裸聊视频榳ise woman91裸聊视频� a woman who tends to her own feelings and checks with her own intuition before making decisions,91裸聊视频� said Jordan Griffin, another of the witches at the Market. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really more of an intuitive, spiritual factor. Or sometimes, it91裸聊视频檚 someone who believes in and understands magic 91裸聊视频� in things that are unseen.91裸聊视频�

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

Sue Ferrie, another witch, reiterated Griffin91裸聊视频檚 viewpoint.

91裸聊视频淢odern religion is all about fear. Wicca is not. Wicca is about looking after nature and people. It91裸聊视频檚 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 witches91裸聊视频� and I don91裸聊视频檛 mean that in a bad way. We all have women91裸聊视频檚 strength and the ability to make things happen. Women can use their energy to make things happen. They91裸聊视频檙e more in touch with their feelings and can project that more.91裸聊视频�

With that in mind, don91裸聊视频檛 imagine that Vancouver Island91裸聊视频檚 witches are all about potions and secret incantations, or about some modern-day women91裸聊视频檚 movement. 

At least that91裸聊视频檚 not all it91裸聊视频檚 about. Witches seem to have some fun, as well.

There91裸聊视频檚 the British Columbia Witch-camp, for example. That91裸聊视频檚 where witches come together each year for one week to celebrate, learn, teach, and be together as community. Although they don91裸聊视频檛 specifically say so, there are some great bonfires and conversations and jokes as well.

Then there91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淲e bring a lot of energy to our events,91裸聊视频� said Hill. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no recruitment, and no judgement. This is just a wonderful, positive and loving community.91裸聊视频�

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