Witchcraft

Witchcraft (also called witchery or spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, and belief in, magical skills and abilities that are able to be exercised individually by designated social groups, or by persons with the necessary esoteric secret knowledge. Witchcraft is a complex concept that varies culturally and societally; therefore, it is difficult to define with precision and cross-cultural assumptions about the meaning or significance of the term should be applied with caution. Witchcraft often occupies a religious, divinatory or medicinal role, and is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical world view. Although witchcraft can often share common ground with related concepts such as sorcery, the paranormal, magic, superstition, necromancy, possession, shamanism, healing, spiritualism, nature worship and the occult, it is usually seen as distinct from these when examined by sociologists and anthropologists.

Concept

The concept of witchcraft and the belief in its existence have existed throughout recorded history. They have been present or central at various times, and in many diverse forms, among cultures and religions worldwide, including both "primitive" and "highly advanced" cultures, and continue to have an important role in many cultures today. Scientifically, the existence of magical powers and witchcraft are generally believed to lack credence and to be unsupported by high quality experimental testing, although individual witchcraft practices and effects may be open to scientific explanation or explained via mentalism and psychology.

Gypsy (catboat)

The Gypsy (previously known as the Witch and the Wren) is a historic catboat whose home is in Wareham, Massachusetts. She was designed and built in 1900 by Bowdoin B. Crowninshield, as one of four identical sailing vessels, and was designated Crowninshield #149. Her design was influenced by the "Seawanhaka Rule", instituted at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club to govern important characteristics of racing boats. She has a spoon bow, low freeboard, and long overhangs rising out of the water fore and aft. Her hull is made of white cedar on an oaken frame, although the top levels have been replaced with cypress.

The boat design was commissioned by Charles Henry Davis, who received the Hun, the first of the four boats built. The Witch was the second in the series, and was delivered to Osborne Howes II. (In-laws of Howes purchased the other two.) The Witch was first berthed at the summer house of the Howeses in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, which was called "The Witch House", and used by the family in informal races. She was sold by Howes in 1926, and came into the hands of Edward Barus, who sailed her in the Osterville area. After she was damaged in the New England Hurricane of 1938, she was rerigged from a gaff rig to a Marconi rig. In 1949 the boat, now named Wren, was purchased by Marjorie O'Brien, its present owner, who gave the boat its present name.

Witch (lefteye flounder)

This article is about the Pacific flatfish species. for the Atlantic species see Megrim and Torbay sole.

The witch, Arnoglossus scapha, is a lefteye flounder of the family Bothidae, found around China and New Zealand, in waters less than 400 m in depth. Their length is from 20 to 40 cm.

References

The Witch (ballet)

The Witch is a ballet made by John Cranko to Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Major (1931). The premiere took place Friday, 18 August 1950 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

Original Cast

External links

Witch (Zamrock band)

Witch were a Zambian music rock (Zamrock) band formed in the 1970s.

Widely seen as the most popular Zambian band of the 70's, Witch (an acronym for 'We Intend to Cause Havoc') were formed during Zambia's golden post-independence days, and were headed by Emanuel “Jagari” Chanda.

With the economy collapsing in the late 1970s, and increasing government authoritarianism, Witch, like most Zamrock bands, were reduced to playing daytime shows to avoid the curfews, and faded away.

As of 2013, Jagari is touring again.

Discography

See also

References

Witch (band)

Witch is an American stoner metal band whose members are from Vermont and Massachusetts.

History

Witch was formed in 2005 by Dinosaur Jr guitarist J Mascis and long time friend Dave Sweetapple. However, Mascis does not play guitar for the band; he plays his first instrument, the drums. To complete the band's line-up, Mascis and Sweetapple recruited the guitarist and vocalist, Kyle Thomas, from King Tuff and avant-folk group Feathers. Their eponymous debut album was released on March 7, 2006. They also contributed an alternate version of the song "Rip Van Winkle" to the Invaders compilation, which was released by Kemado Records later that year. Their latest album Paralyzed was released on March 18, 2008.

Style

Witch's trademark sound (particularly in their early work) shows obvious Black Sabbath influence. Black Flag influence was also noted for their sophomore effort, Paralyzed.

Band members