Isn’t the intersection of science, superstition, and history fascinating?
March 30, 2012 at 9:08 pm
Science Based Life Article
[quote]Why do witches ride broomsticks?
30 Mar 2012 Friday
Posted by Kyle Hill in Medicine, Skepticism
We see it every year at Halloween, the common image of a witch riding a broomstick across the night sky. But why? Where could this odd superstition have come from?
![[Image: 8268594-silhouette-of-a-witch-on-her-fly....jpg?w=529]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=sciencebasedlife.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F03%2F8268594-silhouette-of-a-witch-on-her-flying-broomstick-against-a-yellowish-background.jpg%3Fw%3D529)
"Hallucinogenic compounds called tropane alkaloids are made by a number of plants including Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Mandragora officinarum (mandrake), and Datura stramonium (jimsonweed).
During the Middle Ages, parts of these plants were used to make “brews,” “oyntments,” or “witches’ salves” for witchcraft, sorcery, and other nefarious activities."
My views are that somewhere in history something happened to promulgate the superstitions and religious practices we see today. This article does seem to give a plausible reason, at least as an origin of the whole "sinfulness & debauchery of Witches"
[quote]Why do witches ride broomsticks?
30 Mar 2012 Friday
Posted by Kyle Hill in Medicine, Skepticism
We see it every year at Halloween, the common image of a witch riding a broomstick across the night sky. But why? Where could this odd superstition have come from?
"Hallucinogenic compounds called tropane alkaloids are made by a number of plants including Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade), Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Mandragora officinarum (mandrake), and Datura stramonium (jimsonweed).
During the Middle Ages, parts of these plants were used to make “brews,” “oyntments,” or “witches’ salves” for witchcraft, sorcery, and other nefarious activities."
My views are that somewhere in history something happened to promulgate the superstitions and religious practices we see today. This article does seem to give a plausible reason, at least as an origin of the whole "sinfulness & debauchery of Witches"
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
