Whispering Witches of Slavic Lands

The Whispering Witches of the Slavic Lands

by Patricia Robin Woodruff, Ph.D. edited by Kimberly Anne

In the 1980s there was a perfume commercial, “If you want to get someone’s attention, Whisper.” The fellows in the marketing department are certainly not the first to realize the power of a whisper. In Poland and Ukraine, there are “Whispering Witches,” called sheptukhas, szeptuchy, szeptunki, or szeptuchami. The sheptukhas use the power of whisper and word to help heal people in need. Often, they also perform ritual actions in the process. Even today, the whispering witches can wind up working side-by-side with modern doctors. Medical doctors will place in their case notes that the person is also seeing a folk healer. Sometimes folks in a rural area will visit the sheptukhas before going to any modern doctor’s office. Other times, people call upon the sheptukhas for help and seek them out when they have exhausted all other options.

While this tradition most likely goes back to ancient times, these Whispering Witches have usually incorporated the predominant Catholic or Orthodox Christian beliefs mixing prayers and spells in equal measure. Whether one calls them a witch or a holy woman the results are the same, they heal with the power of their Divinity. Since it is a strong belief that healing comes from the Divine through the sheptukha, it is traditional for them to not ask for payment for their healing services. However, those in need of the remarkable shekptukhas realize that the witches are providing a service to them; and they still offer what they can in return. Sometimes the witches are gifted with produce or livestock. If their patients give money, they leave it quietly on the table or tuck it discreetly in the witch’s apron pocket as to return the favor. These gifting actions are important to maintain the balance of energy. Sheptukhas tend to be hereditary practitioners passing along their spells to someone in the younger generation who shows magical aptitude. Many practitioners believe that once the spells are told to their apprentice, their power passes with those spells. So often, these special spells are passed only when the older witch feels their death approaching, and the wording is not shared frivolously. Now that literacy is common, the witches might record their spells in a little book. However, some eschew this method and say the spells must be transmitted verbally. Additionally, a sheptukha may also be initiated and guided by Spirits; in which case she may learn her spells or obtain knowledge from Spirits in visions or dreams. In Poland, a charm book is referred to as a lechebnik, which comes from the word lecznie meaning to “charm” or “heal”. Often a practitioner has certain days that they feel are better to work their healing. Usually, Whispering Witches will not heal on a Sunday per the Christian command to not work on the sabbath. As many modern-day witches have learned to harness the power of the moon, so too their ancestral predecessors may choose to heal during a waning moon, so that the disease will also wane.

Photo by “Polish Woman” by Ion Chibzii (2011) CCASA 2.0 Wikimedia Commons

It is common for these Polish witches to first recite the “Our Father”, which indicates establishing a connection with the Divine. It is from that connection with the Divine that the energy flows. In order to be a sheptukha they must understand in their very bones that their words have power. The importance of words to the Slavs has been remembered and passed down for generations. It has been speculated that the name “Slav” comes from the proto-Indo-European Slovo meaning “the word”. While some view this as the Slavs “keep their word,” it might be even more appropriate to explain it as the “people who use the power of the word.” Slavic spells tend to take the form of a tiny story in which the person being aided by the whispering witches is named. The spells are often rhyming or at least rhythmic. The words are usually whispered all in one breath, and they can be repeated three or nine times. This helps both the healer and their patient to enter into a light trance, in which the healing magic can flow. Another method used by a sheptukha in Podhlasie is to gently rock the various limbs of the patient while they cloud gazed, thereby inducing a gentle trance state. An example of such a spell sounds very much like a prayer but it incorporates these Pagan elements. It can be easily reverse engineered to reflect the deities that you work with. Here’s similar type Bulgarian spell recorded by H. Biegeleisen in 1929: “The Lord God lies in his tomb, He has nine pieces of erysipelas. [a rash] The nine are reduced to eight, the eight are reduced to seven, the seven are reduced to six, the six are reduced to five, the five are reduced to four, the four are reduced to three, the three are reduced to two, the two are reduced to one, And the one is reduced to none! With this I supplicate the help of Our Father, The Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.” You can substitute the following ending: “I command that [insert name of patient] be well and whole. The spell is mine, the healing is [insert the name of your deity].” Slavic witches will sometimes enlist the aid of more traditional elements, such as purifying salt or sacred bread. The person who is in need of their special healing powers brings these items with them. The sheptukha will transfer the illness into the salt and/or bread by circling the sick person with these items or holding salt in her fist and running it over the patient while whispering the spell. The sheptukha will then burn the salt or the bread to dispel the illness. Another method is to give the small loaf of bread to a dog to eat. Since dogs are messengers to the Underworld this would disperse the illness to another realm. Slavic magic is very down-to-earth and uses ordinary items. This is because magic is worked from the unconscious mind which usually works with symbols. A sharp item is understood in the unconscious mind as something that will “cut out” the illness. A knot is an easily understood symbol of binding up an illness. A Slavic witch will usually have a consecrated black-handled knife to magically “cut” energy with. You’re not going to find a fancy crystal ball in the cottage of a Slavic witch, but rather a regular copper kitchen bowl filled with spring water to gaze in for divination. However, the water may be drawn from the spring or well in silence to give it added power. Other spells will call for water from three or nine different springs.

At the end of the healing session, the sheptukha will do a ritual action to separate herself from the other person involved in the healing process. She may drink blessed water, or read a certain prayer. She can also lay for a while on top of a knife to “cut” herself off from the illnesses of her patients. You can see that Slavic witches don’t have the elaborate trappings of their Buryat shamanic brothers, but many of the techniques are the same. Both access the healing power with the help of Spirits, Ancestors, or Divinity. But instead of elaborate drumming, the sheptukha creates a trancelike state with her words. And as author Richard Smyth wrote, “Whispers are often thunderous.” Patricia Robin Woodruff is an artist and writer, polymath and Priestess. Her Slavic Lemko heritage is from the Carpathian mountains and she is following a spiritinitiated path of a Lemko Bosorka (shamanic witch.) Woodruff has a PhD in Metaphysical Theology. Her broad knowledge base combined with in-depth cultural studies are providing groundbreaking new insights on the roots of Slavic Magic. Woodruff is the author of Woodruff’s Guide to Slavic Deities (2020).

Dr. Woodruff is currently working on completing a book series on the Roots of Slavic Magic. Follow her at amazon.com/author/ patriciarobinwoodruff Sources Anchor, D.V. “ШЕПТУХА ЯК МАГІЧНА КОНСУЛЬТАНТКА: ПЕРЕДАЧА ЗНАНЬ: І СПЕЦИФІКА НАДАННЯ ПОСЛУГ (ЗА ЕКСПЕДИЦІЙНИМИ МАТЕРІАЛАМИ З ПІВНІЧНОЇ ЧЕРНІГІВЩИНИ) [Whisper as a Magic Consultant: Transfer of Knowledge and Specifications of the Provision of Services (Based on Expediition Materials from the Northern Chernigiv Region” Severshchyna in the History of Ukraine Vol. 14 (2021) Bębas, Joanna. “Personal correspondence with Joanna Bębas” blog author at http:// mnomquah.blogspot.com, (22 April, 2017) Brzozowska-Krajka, Anne. “Coexistence or Conflict? The Problem of Dual Belief in Polish Folklore.” Folkloric Vol. XI (2006) Deutsche Welle. “The Healing Power of the Whispering Witches.” European Journal (2013) Ostling, Michael. “Witch’s Herbs on Trial” Folklore Vol. 125 179-201 (August 2014) Weber, Eryk. “Podlasie - where religion meets magic.” Kultury Wschodniosłowianski - Oblicza i Dialog (4) 209-215 (2018)

Color Healing

Written by Meghan Black

Since antiquity, color-spectrum treatment has been popular. Pleneus, the healer of Ancient Rome, advocated precious red stones to halt bleeding, but in China, doctors healed stomach discomforts by gently rubbing the patient's belly with yellow colors. These ideas have given place in Western civilization to a scientific knowledge of light as electromagnetic energy and color as determined by its frequency. The concept that light's energy may interact with and impact a live thing spurred current color-spectrum treatment, which gained popularity in 1877 after Englishmen Dawns and Blunt found that ultraviolet light could heal rickets. The scientific reason is that UV radiation (a component of sunshine) stimulates a metabolic response in the skin that creates vitamin D, correcting the vitamin shortage that causes rickets. It is also known that exposure to a sufficient artificial light source that simulates sunshine helps reduce a specific type of depression linked with the dark months of winter (called seasonal affective disorder). The retinal exposure appears to be crucial; the treatment process might include brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) influenced by this exposure. Thus, there is some scientific evidence that light can enhance a person's health and well-being.

There is also a chromatic interpretation of the chakras and human energy system among Eastern medical traditions, in which each chakra is connected with a certain distinctive hue, and that exposure to various colors can have a health-enhancing impact. Kirlian photography is an attempt to move color recognition beyond the subjective domain of intuitive healers and into verifiable scientific science. The origin and meaning of the patterns generated by objects on photographic films in the presence of high-voltage electric fields are now the subject of debate. According to some, these patterns symbolize the human energy field, auras, and chakras.

Whatever the case, it is now well documented that electrical impulses accompany biochemical activities and metabolism in the body and brain, which may be measured - for example, with electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. Who is to say that the electrical energy of the body is not structured in the same way that matter is arranged inside anatomical structures? It is possible that advancements in scientific tools will one day discover and identify the chakras and accompanying energy fields that have long been used in Eastern therapeutic systems. Consider how the Western mindset would have responded 200 years ago if told that the human heart and brain create signals that are today routinely employed in basic medical diagnosis.

Even from the standpoint of current medical research, it is now undeniable that Eastern philosophical practices, such as yoga and tai chi, which are educated and directed by the notion of chakras and their colors and energy meridians, contribute to health, longevity, and well-being. 9

After many years of research, famous American doctor John Lieberman discovered that as a light ray passes along the optic nerve, it splits into two parts, one shaft creating a visual image of the object in the brain and the other affecting the hypothalamus, the organ responsible for maintaining heart rhythm, body temperature, and feelings of joy and fear, among other things. The brain reacts differently to different types of light and promotes the creation of various hormones with the aid of the endocrine system. Orange light improves kidney function and assists in the management of diabetes. Green light boosts the function of the cardiovascular and circulatory systems. Blue light soothes the nerves and helps to alleviate depression. Red boosts potency and physical power, whilst violet rejuvenates us through the use of color-specific hormones such as melatonin.

As witches we can take color theory to a new level by surrounding ourselves with the appropriate color in order to heal ourselves. Through a deep meditative state we can encase ourselves with a color aura in order to heal specific ailments. Laurie Cabot has taught us that these colored healing lights can be used on ourselves and others. She explains that:

Bright emerald green - Heals, takes away pain, Minor ailments including colds, minor cuts, bruises, first degree burns, sunburns, allergies, stubbed toe, sinus headache.

Red/orange - For critical / life threatening problems. Critical healings including diabetes, cancer, infection: some broken bones; often asthma, sometimes allergic reactions; heart, circulatory, respiratory and neurological problems. Serious viral or bacterial complications. Migraines.

Bright pink - Self-love, Self-esteem

Ice blue - Anesthetizing, pain relief, pain reduction. Be careful using this color on backs. When the pain is gone, people tend to overuse the muscles again, resulting in further damage or injury.

Electric blue - Total Intelligence

Dazzling white - Enlightenment

Brilliant gold - Tao, Spirituality, God/Goddess

Bright orchid - Force, The All

Using colored healing light can help with many different ailments, it can also help us heal others. If you are looking for a color or ailment that hasn’t been listed please contact your local energy healer for more information or reach out to me at meg@shesthewhisperer.com and I can help out. Blessed healings friends!

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Uns plash