For centuries, women have been deeply connected to the natural world, serving as healers and custodians of herbal knowledge within their communities. Their wisdom in cultivating medicinal plants to treat illnesses, assist in childbirth, and enhance well-being was passed down through generations, intertwining the practical with the spiritual. Women’s ability to connect with the earth, water, and celestial bodies, while following their intuition, granted them a unique influence. However, it was this very knowledge and power that eventually became a source of fear and suspicion.
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↓In earlier times, herbalists enjoyed great respect from their communities, seen as protectors and vital figures within villages. Yet, as Christianity spread and society’s inability to explain natural phenomena grew, the line between healing and magic blurred. People conjured images of evil spirits and, unable to understand the natural world, turned against the very women who had been their healers. Over time, the influence of male-dominated institutions like the Church and emerging medical authorities shifted the perception of women’s healing practices. What was once respected knowledge became demonized as witchcraft.
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↓The witch trials in Europe and America epitomized this fear and ignorance. Women who possessed deep knowledge of herbs and healing rituals were accused of being witches, labeled as threats to society, and often executed. The very act of successful healing became dangerous, as it was seen as evidence of supernatural interference. The persecution of these women was driven by a larger misogynistic culture that sought to suppress women’s power, relegating them to submissive roles within a patriarchal structure. The term “witch” itself became a weapon, disqualifying women from knowledge and influence, and casting them as subjects to be feared.
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↓Despite this grim history, the modern resurgence in natural and holistic medicine sees women once again leading in fields like herbalism and midwifery. Yet this revival is not without complexities. While traditional knowledge is being celebrated anew, it also continues to tie women to caregiving and nurturing roles that society has long imposed upon them. As healthcare becomes increasingly difficult to access for many, women’s enduring connection to healing remains a source of transformative power—yet it also highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing this with the persistent expectations placed upon them.
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Witches in Film: 
Are Flowers Feminist? 
How 90s Witch Movies Showcased Feminism
Subversive acts and everyday midwifery: Feminism in content and context
Jága bába obstaja v mitih nekaterih delov Slovenije že zelo dolgo. Je nekakšna mešanica med čarovnico in divjo žensko.
Čarovnice so prenevarne!
Irena Novak Popov
