The Good Witch book is a popular series of novels written by Catherine Bell. It revolves around the life of Cassie Nightingale, a mysterious and enchanting woman who moves to the small town of Middleton. The book follows her journey as she becomes deeply intertwined with the lives of the townspeople and uses her magical powers to help them through their various problems and dilemmas. The Good Witch book is filled with heartwarming and relatable stories that tackle a range of themes such as love, friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery. The author intricately weaves together the supernatural elements with everyday struggles, resulting in a captivating and immersive reading experience. One of the key strengths of The Good Witch book series is the strong character development.
As you might suspect, this is not a new practice; it’s an old form of folk medicine. For example, urine may have been used in the bottle if the victim was suffering from urinary ailments. A tooth may have been placed in the bottle if the person were afflicted with a toothache.
For example, in January 2020, a Civil War era bottle found on a highway median was thought to be a witch bottle and contractors demolishing the chimney of a former inn and pub in Watford, England in 2019 discovered a 19th-century vessel full of fish hooks, human teeth, shards of glass and an unidentified liquid believed to be a witch bottle. For example, did you know that, according to Appalachian witchlore, putting a broom on your front door protects your home from malevolent witches because they must count every bristle before entering.
One of the key strengths of The Good Witch book series is the strong character development. Cassie Nightingale is portrayed as a kind, wise, and compassionate woman who always has the best interests of others at heart. Her magical abilities serve as a metaphor for the power of empathy and understanding, demonstrating that sometimes a little bit of magic is needed to bring harmony and balance into people's lives.
Witch Bottles & Witch Balls
Many of The House’s dear readers are witches themselves, so this topic is a little awkward to broach. But we do not shy away from difficult topics on the Bonheur Blog. However… before we dive in, The House recommends gaining a thorough understanding of white witchery, black witchery and witch doctoring.
The House enthusiastically recommends podcast Appalachian Witches & The Exploding Rose. Philippe from Our Numinous Nature recently interviewed folklorist Tyler Chadwell-English regarding all-things Appalachian witchlore, including the various sub-genres of witches: the water witch, shapeshifter, bloodstopper, and granny woman.
For example, did you know that, according to Appalachian witchlore, putting a broom on your front door protects your home from malevolent witches because they must count every bristle before entering?
This post covers three things you can do if you believe you have been bewitched:
- Make a Witch Bottle
- Protect your Home with a Witch Ball
- Get a Bottle Tree
The door of Phillippe’s cabin. Notice the witch broom and horseshoe above the door (prongs up).
Witch Bottles
Make a Witch Bottle
Witch bottles enable someone who has been bewitched to reverse the spell that has been cast upon them. The bottle is typically filled with:
- the victim’s personal effects (such as fingernail clippings, sometimes teeth);
- liquid (usually urine, wine or some combination thereof); and
- sharp objects (like nails, pins, fish hooks or thorns).
The bottle is then sealed up and placed in a chimney or near a hearth where it can attract the witch. The idea is that the witch is drawn to the personal effects of the afflicted and then captured and held in the bottle by the sharp objects, which are often bent in some fashion.
Sometimes, that’s all that was done. But as Ralph Merrifield explains in a Folklore article (right), sometimes the bottle was then heated in a fire until it exploded, thus killing the witch and relieving the victim. If the cork merely pops off the bottle, the witch will escape and the afflicted continues to suffer.
As you might suspect, this is not a new practice; it’s an old form of folk medicine. For example, urine may have been used in the bottle if the victim was suffering from urinary ailments. A tooth may have been placed in the bottle if the person were afflicted with a toothache.
“Merrifield, Ralph. “Witch Bottles and Magical Jugs.” Folklore, vol. 66, no. 1, 1955, pp. 195–207. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1257932. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.
The practice of bottling sharp objects and bodily fluids to relieve a variety of physical maladies is thought to have started in East Anglia. The University of Hertfordshire is currently conducting a three-year study to “recalibrate understandings of the phenomenon of mid-late 17th century ‘witch bottles’.”
The discovery of intact witch bottles is more common than you might expect. For example, in January 2020, a Civil War era bottle found on a highway median was thought to be a witch bottle and contractors demolishing the chimney of a former inn and pub in Watford, England in 2019 discovered a 19th-century vessel full of fish hooks, human teeth, shards of glass and an unidentified liquid believed to be a witch bottle.
X-rays showing contents of witch bottle
Here is a later example of a witch bottle from the collection of the Horniman Museum and Gardens. While the bottle was originally used for cod liver oil, it now contains urine. (Presumably, they tested it??) The bottle is tightly corked with pins stuck in it. It was found in the back kitchen chimney of a house and shop in Padstow, Cornwall, tenanted by Mr. Biddick, in 1934. The notes explain that, once the urine is in the bottle, the witch is unable to pass water, and eventually dies. The victim then recovers.
Witch Balls
Protect Your Home with a Witch Ball
A witch ball is a hollow sphere of coloured glass traditionally used as a fishing float. Floating glass buoys became connected with witches during the witch hunts in England. In the late 17th century, suspected witches were tried by being tied up and thrown into water. If the water rejected them from a second baptism and they floated, then the suspects were confirmed as witches, under the rule of trial by water, and they were then hanged by the neck until dead. In a like manner these heavy glass fishing floats, all tied up in a net, could not be made to sink. The water rejected them and they bobbed merrily upon its surface. Historically, witch balls were hung in cottage windows in 17th and 18th century England to ward off evil spirits, witches, evil spells, ill fortune and bad spirits. Just as hanging a witch was believed to remove evil influences from a village, hanging a tried and tested witch ball that had been floating in water, around a home, was believed to protect the home from similar ills.
An online merchant by the name of Bon Juju Witch Balls has done a nice job explaining the folklore of the Witch Ball:
“For well over three centuries hollow glass spheres have been hung in windows to ward off witch's spells, evil spirits and ill fortune. Hanging these decorative glass balls in the window or on the porch is thought to tantalize mischievous spirits which may be threatening a home's tranquility. The wayward spirit is mesmerized by the ball's reflective beauty. When the spirit touches the sphere it is absorbed and trapped in the web-like strands of the glass inside the ball.”
Bon Juju offers an alternative origin for the witch ball: “Witch Balls were originally glass balls used to protect various pieces of glass as they shipped around the world. A glass ball was blown and used as a means to protect the edges of a vase of cup as it was transported. Along the way, collectors began using these leftover pieces of glass as art and the history of the Witch Ball was developed.”
“Merrifield, Ralph. “Witch Bottles and Magical Jugs.” Folklore, vol. 66, no. 1, 1955, pp. 195–207. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1257932. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.
The book also explores the concept of community and the importance of belonging. The town of Middleton is depicted as a close-knit community, and the characters rely on each other for support and guidance. Through Cassie's presence, the book highlights the transformative impact an individual can have on a community, inspiring others to embrace their own unique abilities and come together for the greater good. Another notable aspect of The Good Witch book series is its emphasis on self-discovery and personal growth. Many of the characters undergo significant transformations throughout the story, learning valuable life lessons and overcoming their own fears and limitations. This journey of self-discovery is not only relatable but also inspiring, encouraging readers to reflect on their own lives and strive for personal growth. In conclusion, The Good Witch book series is an enchanting and heartwarming collection of novels that combine supernatural elements with relatable and inspiring stories. Catherine Bell's skillful storytelling and rich character development make for a captivating reading experience that explores themes of love, friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery. It is a book that reminds us of the power of empathy, the importance of community, and the endless possibilities that lie within each of us..
Reviews for "The Good Witch Book: A Tale of Spells and Good Deeds"
1. Sarah - 2 stars: I was really disappointed with "The Good Witch Book." The characters were one-dimensional and the plot was predictable. I expected an engaging and whimsical story about witches, but instead, it felt cliché and uninspired. The writing style was also lacking, with awkward dialogue and excessive exposition. Overall, this book didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Mark - 1 star: "The Good Witch Book" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was slow and uneventful, with no real sense of direction. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about anything that happened to them. The author's attempt at creating a magical atmosphere fell flat, with bland descriptions and a lack of imagination. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read.
3. Emily - 2 stars: I found "The Good Witch Book" to be incredibly predictable and lacking in originality. It followed the same tired tropes and clichés that have been done a hundred times before in witch-themed novels. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and convenient resolutions. The writing style felt forced and overly descriptive, bogging down the already weak plot. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
4. Andrew - 2 stars: "The Good Witch Book" had the potential to be a charming and enchanting story, but it fell flat for me. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The plot meandered and lacked a clear direction, leaving me feeling uninvested in the outcome. The writing style was also lacking, with clichéd dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.