Our ideas about witches have evolved steadily over the centuries. We’ve seen them as cackling green-faced monsters and servants of the devil performing occult rituals in human form. In some cultures, pretty much everyone knows a grandma who’s also a bruja. In TV and film, we have the Wicked Witch of the West, and Samantha from ‘Bewitched.’
This is a rather confusing jumble of taboos, misogyny, and feminine wisdom. Let's take a look at how the perception of witches has changed throughout history, and how that has led to a rise in witchcraft today. Click through the gallery to get started.