Research Topics to Explore

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Witchcraft/Magic

• Witchcraft as a religious or medicinal role and the association with devil worship.

• How witchcraft is wildly misunderstood - many 'witches' were simply wise women.

• PAGANISM + WICCAN practices of witchcraft, etymology = WIT + WISDOM.

• Malicious vs. benign magic/spell casting/potions.

• 'Cunning Folk'

• White witches and benevolent witchcraft, look at rituals/runes/symbols/signs.

• Magical herbs and potions, look up the significance of crystals = MIRROR GAZING?

• Amulets, incantations, chants etc. Does she have a wand or does she just use her hands? Scrying and divination = crystal balls.

• FORTUNE TELLING + TAROT CARDS

• What is the relevance and importance of broomsticks? Why brooms? Do some types of plants have magical properties etc.

• Research different types of trees such as birch/alder/yew/oak etc.

• Pagan runes and symbols, what did the elements and seasons look like?

Familiars/Companions

• Familiar spirits/animal guides as supernatural entities that assist witches in their practice of magic.

• They sometimes appear as a humanoid figure? Will probably just stick with the animals forms.

• They provide protection usually, less of a companionship and more of an errand runner - I would like the witch and familiar to be more of a friendship.

• Are the modern day pets like familiars/companions?

• Traditionally kept in baskets lined with sheep's wool - I need to research things like this to include within the film.

• They're also categorised as demons or fairies - will the familiar have a defined form or will it be undefined and smoky?

Plants & Their Properties

• Find out which plants have 'magical' properties + influences (such as sage).

• 'If you sprinkle herbs into a candle it will add extra power to your spells' - WITCHES LORE.

• Using plants for their medicinal properties dates back to Egyptian times - healing and protection, spells etc.

• Research alternative medicines for modern day herbs + plants, E.g. Chinese medicines, dietary products/health food supplements

• Pick a few main plants to include in the story - does she have a book in which she writes in?

Websites

Websites will be my main research source due to easy and quick access. There are lots of modern wiccan + pagan websites to draw information and inspiration from. There seems to be lots of information regarding the casting of spells, potions + fortune telling - things that I really want to include in the story.

• witcheslore.com

• witchcraftandwitches.com

• witchesofthecraft.com

• wicca.com

• thewhitegoddess.co.uk

• wiccanspells.info

• egyptian-witchcraft.com

• crytsallinks.com

• paganspath.com

• thesmartwitch.com

Books

All sourced from ECA library - I will be adding to the list.

• The Secret Language of Fortune Telling - Sarah Bartlett

• The Witch's Companion - Soraya

• Scottish Witches - Lily Seafield

• The Illustrated Herbal - Wilfrid Blunt & Sandra Raphael

• The Runes of Elfland - Ari Berk & Brian Froud

• Botanical Drawings - Rungiah & Govindoo

• Harry Potter: A History of Magic - J.K. Rowling

• The Hidden Art: A Study of Occult Symbolism in Art - Fred Gettings

• Alchemy & Mysticism - Alexander Roob

Films & Other Media

'There Again' by Vera Babida is a huge inspiration for the use of a limited colour palette, the other media is more for the aesthetic and style.

• There Again - Vera Babida

• Secret of Kells - Cartoon Saloon

• Firewatch - Camp Santo

• Brave - Disney/Pixar

• How To Train Your Dragon - Dreamworks