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tradition the fighning shamans could take a shape of animals.
But I could not find any reason to believe that the helper animals were real animals in Siikalas book
either.
According to Joan's Witch Pages they executed a dog in Salem Witch trials. This is something I had not
pointed out earlier. If they really executed the dog, so I'll have to reuse my argument: why they did not
executed other suspected "pets" too (if the "pet theory" is right)?
THE TRIALS OF FAMILIARS
One reason why they may not have executed pets is because the law assumed that these creatures were
supernatural beings - by definition. If the animals had been captured, brought to court, examined by
authorities, etc., it would have been difficult to avoid the conclusion that the witch's cat or dog was, in
fact, no different from any other cat or dog. In addition, according to folklore, these animals could not be
killed by ordinary means because they were spirits. We have found one account, for example, of a
suspected familiar (a poodle dog called Boye, belonging to Prince Rupert) being killed by a silver bullet
fired by a 'soldier skilled in necromancy' at the battle of Marston Moor in 1642. Also, perhaps it was
assumed that the familiars would perish as soon as the witch was executed, since they were assumed to
depend on her/him for nourishment (coincidently, of course, the animals probably didn't survive for long
once their owners were incarcerated and executed).
However, I agree with you that the fate of these animals is somewhat mysterious. My guess would be
that the witch's neighbours dealt with them swiftly and discretely, but I have no evidence either way. I
wasn't aware of the Salem dog execution but will now look into this. In the bestiality trials, the animals
were not generally executed as criminals. Rather they seem to have been regarded as polluted creatures
which might have a corrupting influence on public morality if allowed to remain alive. Thus, there was a
particular incentive to identify these (real) animals and kill them.
(77 Reads) comments?
General information: Stress
Posted by: Nyxks on Tuesday, March 09, 2004 - 02:29 AM
by Karen L. Scheel
With the fast pace of the world stress has become unavoidable in our lives and is the source
of many problems. Various studies have revealed that stress can seriously compromise the
mental, emotional and physical health of an individual. It clouds our ability to think clearly,
interferes with our ability to relate to others and lowers the function of our immune system.
If left uncontrolled stress is a contributing factor to most all health problems from heart disease, strokes,
cancer, headaches, colds etc. The cause of stress can either stem internally or externally and is known as
the stressor.
On an external level technology has become a major stressor in that it gives us the ability to achieve
everything very quickly. We in turn on an internal level seem to be constantly pushing to do even more,
which contributes to a very hectic way of life, because we can not keep up with the fast pace of
technology. With so many demands being placed upon our limited time stress has become the primary
cause affecting efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of our being. It impacts our both our
professional and personal performance on all levels. In the workplace, stress is one of the major reasons
for the the use of sick time.
If stress contributes to illness then reducing stress would have the opposite effect and even encourage
healing. Being able to recognize that we are stressed is the first step toward understanding, managing and
appropriately reducing its effects. Learning how to condition ourselves and gain some control over the
influence of stress is the most important step we can take towards reducing it.
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