” A rush of wind rustles his hair as he moves at lightening speed, seated on his Nimbus 2000. His eyes are after the shiny, metallic, feretty golden snitch in the intensely competitive Quidditch match when he is attacked by the Dementors in his third year at Hogwarts but thanks to Dumbledore, Harry is safe. ” Ah, those wonderfully painted childhood days when watching this magical epitome of witchcraft and awe were enough to colour every child’s days with joie-de-vivre! Another episode of Tom and Jerry reminds me of that terror-filled witch with a pointy hat either stirring her cauldron or sweeping across the moon on her broomstick.
As they say, the one which gets the most thought and attention is often, strangely mysterious! I was mesmerised as a kid looking at this broomstick and always tried to connect it to the real world. The concept says it all began in the middle aged Europe and Renaissance when people accused of witchcraft were thought to be riding on brooms. These brooms or besom, made of Ash-handle and birch twigs and willow binding were used as a tool in magic and ritual and we’re symbolised with fertility and spiritual cleansing.
My fiesty little brother, hooked onto television, encountered such a scene and asked me, ” If she happens to visit today’s world, how would she react ?” This question pulled me into a chain of thoughts. We were made to believe that these imaginary evils are the worst fear of mankind. But then adulthood happened and we thought otherwise.
Let’s say our devilish witch began her tour of the world on her ever-so-faithful broomstick! When she dreamt of seeing riches and futuristic happy people, all she saw was scores of mortals dying of hunger and poverty! Warring nations filled with jingoism instead of patriotism, being destroyed to a wreck! The witch had a closer look at the affairs of men and for the first time ever, felt sorry! Women, inhabiting half of this planet, were still fighting for their rights! And the list goes on and on!
The witch on her broomstick, was Satan himself for us! And so we portrayed to the innocent children through various mediums. But, why do we need imaginary devils when the homo sapiens themselves have turned into the devilish broomstick? Why do we need to show witches in cartoons when we have our very own man-made ills? I dare the show -makers and movie – makers to reveal the agonising truth!
Dear children and teens, it’s our duty to pay homage to the wrongfully highlighted witch on her broomstick. Because the worst fear is from humans who raise hell on earth like it’s their birthright. And so for that –
” To be a witch is to love and be loved.
To know everything and nothing at all.
To move amongst the stars while staying on earth.
To change the world around you and within yourself.
Share and give while receiving all the while.
To dance and sing and hold hands with the universe.
Honour the gods, goddess and yourself!
To do magic and not just perform it.
To be a witch is to harm none.
To teach and learn, acknowledge the truth.
To live with the earth and not just on it!
wordslovetranquility 