Gripevine

Have you ever been called a witch or referred to someone else as such? Or perhaps you're way too nice to resort to name calling. But I'm sure somewhere along the way, you've heard of someone of the female gender being called a witch. She was probably a nasty teacher at school, someone's wicked aunt, a bullying stepmother, an impossible co-worker.....well basically the kind of woman who makes life tough for those around her. So yeah no self respecting woman would want to be called a witch. The very word is perceived to be pregnant with negative connotations, and being called a witch ain't going to gain a girl any fans these days. While in centuries past, being labelled a witch could mean certain death! Remember the infamous Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692? Ah but would you believe me if said you should be honoured to be called a witch? Yup you heard me right, H..O..N..O..U..R..E..D. For it appears that the word "Witch" comes from wit and was used to r...

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During my childhood days, I was much fascinated by the tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and still am! However it was not the chivalrous Arthur or the noble Lancelot that stirred my imagination. My favourite Arthurian figure is Merlin. Merlin the archetypal wise man with his flowing white beard and swishing long robes who according to legend lived in a tree. In fact I believe that the wizards in medieval fairy tales all sprung from Merlin. The only difference being that they had more showy attire - long pointed hats and bright coloured robes decorated with shiny stars and crescent shaped moons. Said to be the greatest wizard the world has ever known, the origins of Merlin has been shrouded in mystery, much like the man himself! There have been many accounts of how Merlin came to be and how his story ended. Thus I was more than thrilled when I chanced upon The Mammoth Book Of Merlin at the Fantasy Section of BOOK XCESS sometime ago. The anthology edited by Mi...