Widdershins literally means, "the road on the left."
- When walking or dancing counter-clockwise, one is circling widdershins, walking or dancing in the opposite direction of the sun.
- The moon, ladies, and yin energies are associated with the left side in traditional magical knowledge.
- Dualist philosophy linked "left" with the evil side of the everlasting chessboard of warring forces, while non-dualist cultures view "left" as neutral and necessary: there is no "right" without "left" and vice versa.
Mr. Right, the right choices, and the right route vs left-handed praises and the left-hand road are examples of modern use that reveal these meanings.
The left side is the sinister side in Latin; do we need to explain more?
Circling widdershins became known as the "witches' path" and the "devil's way" after Christianity.
It was enough for a witch to be accused of witchcraft if she was seen circling widdershins.
Those who believed witches were wicked malefactors were terrified when they saw someone circling widdershins.
- Many spells use widdershins movement in the same way as deasil does.
- When one of them is removed, the equilibrium is lost.
- However, there is still a fear of widdershins among many Wiccan traditions, though not all, who connect widdershins with evil magic.
- Widdershins is often used for banishing by those who integrate it into their magical practice.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
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