Desiree'

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Desiree' is Currently Reading

Desiree' is currently reading

Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power

by Pam Grossman (Goodreads Author)

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Desiree' said: " The author uses historical records, literature, art and film to portray both a humanist and pseudo portrayal of what a witch is throughout society based on patriarchal opinions. This book is a compilation of opinions of the author based on such films The author uses historical records, literature, art and film to portray both a humanist and pseudo portrayal of what a witch is throughout society based on patriarchal opinions. This book is a compilation of opinions of the author based on such films as The Craft and literature as the Witches Hammer; these arent the only film and literature references mentioined throughout the book.
The author also incorporates the Suffragist movement to correlate how women became witches due in part of women's behavioral disposition from a man's perspective.

The author uses historical data to show cause and effect of her opinions on what makes a woman a witch. Although many men were accused of witchcraft thrghout history it was women who were accosted and found guilty of witchcraft throughout much of history.

This book is an opinated perspective of the authors use of historical records, film and literature; a viewpoint of how women evolved as witches.

Chapter 6 is by far my favorite chapter in this book. The reader is introduced to surrealist artists, whom I've never heard of: Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. These two escaped to Mexico City, Mexico during WW2 and each formed a friendship in both the arts and brujeria, although neither of the women were open with their beliefs.

Pam Grossman talks about specific surrealist paintings from both artists from her own opinionated interpretation of what the artists attempt at "artistic expression."

I needed to Google these artists. As I perused the paintings by Carrington; the one painting that caught my eyes in the short span of 2 minutes is the work "I'm not anyone's muse." This painting has a black-grey background with a floating white horse wearing an English saddle and no bridal gear with a purple tree with black shadowy figures in the tree branches as well as in the foreground. A preliminary review of the painting, based on my own opinion, exudes a feeling of wanting to be left alone from prying eyes, not wanting to be asked about personal spiritual beliefs or an interest in spirituality.

In regards to Remedios Varo, her work reminds me of the film Pan's Labryinth, Spanish Inquisition, bubonic plague and alchemy. Her work "Art #15 Jigsaw Puzzle" is of an owl woman sitting at a table with a violin on her chest working alchemy. It's intense to critique this work in 5 minutes because I find it highly symbolic.

Both artists differ greatly in their venue.

The author includes ideas that the reader should research on their own to reach beyond the authors own opinions of how women were and are presently portrayed by societal and impressionistic values. Also, women want to be seen how they themselves have placed value and a consensus portraiture vehemently placed value on how one is visually apealling.

Sometimes a woman doesn't want to be another's muse because the woman may feel it devalues her own worth; this is my takeaway from these two artists. How one is perceived seems to be the consensus many women are fighting against versus how one is accepted. This is truly a witch's value. ...more "

Feb 15, 2026 04:47PM · see review

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