It’s not that I see what others can’t; it’s that I see what others won’t. —Eliora, The Witch of Endor, In the Beginning Were the Women
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In honor of Halloween, I give you the Witch of Endor, Eliora. The woman named as a proclamation: “God is my light.”
I encourage you, of course, to get your own copy of my new book and read her story in full. She’s in the Bible, after all. It’s not as if I’m making this stuff up. Of course, many translations use “medium” instead of “witch,” an interesting editorial choice, which begs me to wonder, “What’s so scary about witches?”
Perhaps it’s that witches have always told the truth in a world that would rather them not. Perhaps the depiction of witches as green-faced, wart-consumed, cackling wildlings is just another way to *try* to discount and undermine the inherent power of women.
Because, after all, as Eliora shows us, witchy women are powerful and strong because they “know the God of many names, faces, and identities…the God who is a communal force moving through the world in synchronized love…the God who is a force, a power, and a beauty of togetherness” (pg. 128).
This Halloween, in the midst of trick-or-treating and apple-picking and pumpkin-carving, our small, yet mighty act of resistance in a world that would much rather us go along to get along can be honoring the witches among us and within us. Maybe this Halloween, we tell the truth and discover that what God said really is true: the truth will set you free.
Without further adieu, Eliora, from In the Beginning Were the Women, Chapter Ten, “Truthteller and Lightbearer”—
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My name is Eliora, meaning my God is my light, which, is ironic given that I did most of my work in the dark of night. However, God’s light is not only a bright, blinding beam. It is also a soft, present glow that allows one to see by the moon and the stars, guided more by what is hidden than what is seen. Those of us who see by the light of God trust the path that is only made clear by walking it…
I wish all women knew of their inherent witchiness, their ability to look within and know the power that pulses through their veins. Born to fly, witchy women are only scary if you fear what is true…
When we stop refusing to see the truth, any of us can become witches and messengers of God’s truth. What a world that would be. Amen.
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If you want to explore more of your inherent witchiness and the communion of women witches throughout time, join me, along with my friend Chelsea Kim Long, next Sunday, November 2 for “The Witching Hour: An All Saints’ Day Women’s Circle.” 5PT, 7CT, 8ET. Donation-based gathering on Zoom. Drop WITCHY in the comments of this post, and I’ll share the link for you to sign-up.
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The launch of In the Beginning Were the Women at Parnassus Books on Tuesday was beautiful, powerful, celebratory, and packed! THANK YOU to all who joined me. THANK YOU to David Dark, a wonderful conversation partner. THANK YOU to Parnassus for being the perfect hosts!
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A reminder of ways you can help spread the word and join me in naming and reclaiming women’s stories from scripture (and everywhere) is here.
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Finally, in the story of Eliora, she feeds Saul and his guards a meal. Given that the ongoing government shutdown threatens food aid for millions of Americans, consider giving shelf stable items at Halloween in addition to candy. Things like ramen cups, microwave mac n’ cheese, protein bars, snack pudding packs, chips or pretzels, and mini muffins. Check in with your local school’s family resource professional to see what their families need. Donate to your local food bank or to your church’s food pantry.
Community care is the way forward. Give. Feed. Give some more. Feed again.
Amen.
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Love,
Claire
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Love this, yes to witchy women!!
You were witchy and marvelous at Parnassus! Thank you for your incredible insight into the hearts of women!!