Sea Witches

For centuries stories of sea witches have predominately enhanced
British folklore. The tradition, and legends, of Sea Witches surrounds
experiences of seafarers and beachcombers as well as others in the sea
faring trade. These legends with the aid of imagination, and
frequently superstition, have produced tales of phantoms, or ghosts of
the dead allegedly possessing supernatural powers that control the
fate of seafarers on the waves.
However, the tradition of the Sea Witch still exists. Sea Witches
focus on Moon lore, the tides, and weather magicks. From these
elements came the Witch tradition of women who could raise wind and
cause storms, which even 200 years ago could send them to the stake.
Currently the path of the Sea Witch is one chosen by few Pagans. The
Sea Witch works with the chaotic forces of nature. Many term chaos
evil, especially those enthralled with the powers of light. Here the
Sea Witch differs, she or he recognizes that chaos, if evil at all, is
a necessary evil because the chaotic climatic elements are part of the
environment of the sea. Thus, the Sea Witch does not just use "white
magick" and/or "black magick," but "gray magick" because the person
deals with all elements at her/his disposal when maintaining a balance
between light and dark powers. Not many ordinary persons can manage
such a feat, which is why most Sea Witches are solitary, working alone
and by themselves.
Sea magick pertains to magick performed involving the element of
Water, usually performed by the seashore; however, in modern times,
depending on the location of the Witch, substitutes such as a lake,
river, pond, or bath tube can be used. Even placing a bowl of salt
water on an altar with the proper intention will suffice. The magick
is usually sea related. Although several types of magick may be
performed, the most common is weather magick since precipitation is
water related. Such activity stems from old traditions when sea
witches were called upon to control the weather to insure seafarers
safe voyages. Related to Sea Magick is Moon Magick since the Moon
Controls the tides of the sea.

According to legends witches were believed to be able to control the
wind. One method was with the use of three knots tied into a rope, or
sometimes into a handkerchief. When the three knots were tied in the
proper magical way, the wind was bound up in them. Witches gave, or
sometimes sold, these magic knots to sailors to help them experience
safe voyages. The release of one knot brought a gentle, southwesterly
wind; two knots, a strong north wind; and three knots, a tempest. In
the folklore of the Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, some fishermen
were said to have commanded the wind this way. The belief in
controlling the wind by tying it goes back to the legends of ancient
Greece; Odysseus received a bag of wind from Aeolus to help him on his
journey.

In other legends the activities of witches and sorcerers have been
confused, which is a commom practice even today. For example, Sir
Francis Drake is said to have sold his soul to the Devil in order to
become a skilled seaman and admiral. The Devil allegedly sent Drake
sea witches, who raised a storm that helped him to defeat the Spanish
Armada in 1588. The battle occurred near Devil's point, overlooking
Davonport, which, by some, is still considered haunted by witches.
In summary, Sea Witch magick strives to achieve a balance between
light and dark powers; the Witch does not focus more on one than the
other. The reason for this is that the Sea Witch realizes such a
balance is maintained throughout the continuum of life, even in
oneself, just as it is in the environment of the sea. She/he
experiences emotional depression and optimism at times, neither are
harmful for short durations and both help establish personal emotional
stability. When understanding this the Witch, or person, is more
complete and better able to deal with life's situations.

A.G.H.