Witches move among us. Many of them do voluntary work

I’ve met a few witches in my day and expect that you have too, dear reader. And though, traditionally, witches are portrayed as female, I would have to include some males who fit the bill. Besides, I would not be happy to describe such men as wizards, suggesting someone positive, magical even. “He’s a wizard at football,” for example, describes someone with a unique, shining talent.

What I have in mind is the disrupter, the control freak, who wreaks havoc where unity is so necessary. Division is their métier and any voluntary group their natural habitat. They never really buy in to what the group is about, having an agenda of their own. They are not team players and – whether they have their way or not – will eventually bring the group down around its stunned members’ ears.

In the real world they are somewhat different from the three witches in Macbeth or the magnificent Maleficent in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Yes, they may be as unattractive in appearance but that is not a given, or necessary to their designs.

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In a word, they are toxic and one reason why – as experience has taught me – I steer well clear, as far as is possible, of voluntary groups. Which is a pity, but woe betide he or she who goes there, for verily he or she shall become as a lamb to the slaughter before said witch.

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It can, of course, go the other way too. Innocent women and men suffered greatly in the past because they were designated “witches” by would-be betters. Recently, senators in the US state of Connecticut voted to absolve nine women and two men convicted of witchcraft – 11 of whom were executed – more than 370 years ago and apologised for that “miscarriage of justice”.

In the 1600s at least 34 women and men were accused of witchcraft at courts in the New England states. Arthur Miller’s great play The Crucible is based on the infamous Salem witch trials in Massachusetts, which took place in 1692-1693.

Clearly, what occurred there was a grave injustice but it would be dishonest of me to deny that there have been moments when I have wished such a fate on some latter-day witches I have encountered.

Witch, from Old English wiccian “to practice witchcraft”.

inaword@irishtimes.com