Witches
From Super-wiki
Contents |
Witch
A witch is a person who has the power to effect change by magical means ("witchcraft"). "Supernatural" in keeping with historical usage, seems to reserve the term "witch" for practitioners of black magic - that is spells used for self-gain or to harm others. In 3.09 Malleus Maleficarum, its stated that witches get their power from Demons - presumably in exchange for their souls. It is notable that Sam and Dean often use the same spells and rituals, but would not consider them selves witches.
With the advent of religions like Wicca, "witchcraft" has taken on a more value-neutral meaning and encompasses the practice of both good and evil magic -- people who in previous centuries would have been called "wise wo/men" or "cunning wo/men" are now the the term "witch."
3.09 Malleus Maleficarum
A group of witches are discovered by the brothers when a woman (Janet Dutton) is killed and a hex bag is found under the sink.
It is revealed that most witches perform their magic through either chanting or placing a hex bag in the general area where their target is at the time of the spell. Witches also use a magical tome known as a Book of Shadows or a Grimoire.
Sam and Dean discover that the witches have unwittingly, been getting their powers from a demon. In return for their powers they give their souls to the demon. The demon whom the coven had sold their souls to, Tammi, stuck around the coven and killed them off when they displeased her.
Ruby reveals that she was originally a witch when she was human. It appears she got her power, and eventually sold her soul, to the demon Tammi.
(The Malleus Maleficarum (Hammer of Witches) is a manual written for witch hunters in the 15th century. It is one of the most famously misogynistic works in European history: the book is a treatise on how women, due to their inferior and carnal natures, are far more susceptible to the Devil's wiles than are men. While the book was very popular, it wasn't necessarily the most influential witch-hunting text: other witch hunters seemed to consider it went a bit too far in its condemnation of women as a group, which limited its usefulness.)
4.07 It's The Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester
Two very old witches begin sacrificing people in order to raise the demon Samhain from Hell. They also used hex bags, filled with rare objects to perform the sacrifices and a ritual alter for the final phase of the spell. At one point in time, one of the witches was at the scene when one victim was killed, so it stands to reason that she was able to perform the spell earlier and activate its power when she felt fit.
4.12 Criss Angel Is A Douchebag
Although he is a stage magician, Charlie gained actual powers from an old sorcerer's Grimoire. He uses Tarot cards to cast a sort of supernatural target onto other magicians so that his best friend Jay would survive fatally wounding tricks - thus transferring the performance knowledge of those who took his place in death. He also reveals that he cast an immortality spell on himself and wants to do the same for his friends Jay and Vernon.
5.07 The Curious Case Of Dean Winchester
Patrick is a 900 year old witch who plays poker with people, gambling with years of their life. When he takes 25 years from Bobby, Dean plays and donates 25 of his own years to Bobby, and loses an additional 50.
Lia, Patrick's partner, gives them a reversal spell. As Dean and Bobby undertake to do it, Sam stalls Patrick by playing cards against him. When the spell fails, Dean's life is in the balance as Sam plays for real. Finally winning.
Lia tells Patrick she wants to die, having long outlived her daughter, and they play a hand in which she loses all her years.
