Show Notes: The Word Witch — Reclamation, History & What It Really Means

The word "witch" carries centuries of weaponized fear. In this episode, Courtney traces its etymology from Old English wicca (magic, sorcery) back to German roots meaning "bending and shaping reality"—a definition that mirrors the actual work of energy healing, intention-setting, and neural rewiring that modern practitioners do every day.

But somewhere between medieval Christianity's spread and King James's demonology texts, the word became a tool of control. Women who were healers, herbalists, independent, or simply in total control of themselves were burned and hanged. The witch trials weren't about devil worship. They were about silencing women's power, their livelihoods, their autonomy.

Courtney refuses to sanitize her work anymore. She's done warping her brand to make others comfortable. When she stands in networking meetings and says "I'm your local witch," she's reclaiming a word that was meant to destroy her ancestors. Energy healing, tarot, spellwork, ritual—it's all witchcraft. And she's honored to say it.

The episode also addresses the real tension: people still flinch at the word. Communities present themselves as inclusive, then edit her out of reels for using it. The bias runs deep. But Courtney's challenge is simple: check what you believe about witches, and ask yourself why.

Subscribe wherever you listen. Watch the full episode at https://youtube.com/@PracticallyMagickpodcast. More from the network at https://ridethewave.media/practically-magick