The Witches’ Road
If I had lived in another era, I would likely have been labeled a "witch." Something would surely be "wrong" with me: I love to study, to innovate, to work, and to teach. I have a job, I teach classes, and I’m close to earning my second master’s degree. I care for my team and my family, but I don’t want to be a mother, nor am I interested in marriage. I don’t seek what tradition, in other times, demanded of women.
During the Middle Ages and early modern period, countless women were accused of witchcraft simply for defying established gender roles. Those who possessed knowledge of medicine, herbalism, or astronomy—or who dared to assert intellectual or economic independence—were seen as threats to the social order. Historians estimate that between the 15th and 18th centuries, tens of thousands of women were persecuted, tortured, and executed under accusations of witchcraft. Many of them were simply women who, like me, chose to forge their own paths, far from the societal mandates that sought to control their lives.
Today, I walk that same path: the path of the witches. A path not dictated by society’s expectations, but by my own choices. I believe that every demand society imposes on us pulls us further from our authentic selves. For women, this means straying from our witches’ path—a path of freedom, authenticity, and personal power.
Nicola Jane Hobbs, a psychologist and writer specializing in emotional well-being and self-acceptance, reflects on the pressure women face to meet impossible standards. In her book "The Relaxed Woman", she writes:
“Growing up, I never knew a relaxed woman. Successful women? Yes. Productive women? Plenty. Anxious and afraid and apologetic women? Heaps of them. But relaxed women? At-ease women? Women who don’t dissect their days into half-hour slots of productivity? Women who prioritize rest and pleasure and play? Women who aren’t afraid to take up space in the world? Women who give themselves unconditional permission to relax? Without guilt? Without apology? Without feeling like they need to earn it? I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like that. But I would like to become one.”
These words resonate deeply. How many of us have felt trapped by the need to be productive, successful, and compliant with others’ expectations? How often have we postponed rest, joy, or simply being ourselves out of fear of inadequacy? The witches’ path is a call to break these chains, to prioritize our well-being, and to claim our space in the world unapologetically.
If today I am called a witch, I wear the title with pride. To be a witch is to be free, authentic, and the architect of my own destiny. It means choosing my path, even when it diverges from others’ expectations. It means honoring my intuition, my desires, and my personal power.
This March 8th, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, let us celebrate the path of the witches. Let us honor the women throughout history who defied norms and paved the way for us to become who we are today. Let us celebrate our right to choose, to create, to rest, and to live fully.
For the witches’ path is not only one of resistance—it is also one of celebration. Let us celebrate our magic, our strength, and our freedom. Let us celebrate being witches.
