Witchcraft: Storm Raising
Tempestarii and Other Witches Able to Create Tempests for Evil Ends
It was believed witches had the power of working with the elements, including the weather. They could control lightning, wind, rain and thunder, thus creating storms. There are legends of this as well as historical documentation of witchcraft persecutions and executions to attest to these beliefs.
Tempestarii
In Medieval legend, these were witches who specialized in raising storms for denizens living in Magonia, a mythical place in the sky. When the ships of the Magonians came over the land, the Tempestarii would help them by brewing up violent storms.
The Magonians dumped their cargo on the land in the form of hail and heavy rains, damaging crops. They landed their ships and, with the Tempestarii’s help, stole what was left. Many times, these mythical sailors left without paying their helpers. The witches chased after them in the form of wispy clouds that often are seen after a storm.
Raising a Storm
Various legendary methods of causing storms include:
- After Sabbats: Pagan Fire Festivals, witches would fly over the sea on brooms and dump contents of their cauldrons or their hair into the waters.
- Stirring water into a hole dug in the earth.
- Reciting magickal spells
- Drawing arcane sketches
- Tying knots in whips or ropes and loosening them
- Scattering specific powders over crops
- Confining spiders and toads in a pot
- Dipping cloth in water and pounding it on a stone three times while calling upon Satan to raise the wind
Infamous Persecutions and, Perhaps, a King Who Used Storm Raisers’ Services
- Scotland: Perhaps, the most infamous case is that of the North Berwick Witches' Persecution under the reign of King James VI, later James I of England. According to history, it was believed about 70 witches attended an All Hallow’s Eve Sabbat and raised a storm at sea to sink the royal ship with James and his bride aboard, while it sailed from Denmark to Scotland. There are no records showing how many of the accused were executed.
- Ratisbon, Germany: In the 1400s, there was a fierce hailstorm that destroyed many crops. Witches were blamed; the hunt began. While there were numerous suspects, the group was narrowed to two women who confessed under extreme torture. They were burned at the stake.
- Waldshut, Germany: An alleged witch wasn’t invited to a wedding, so she conjured the devil up and asked for a hailstorm to ruin the festivities, which was granted. For this, she was also burned.
- Scotland: In 1662, Isobel Gowdie, Auldearn coven, confessed to raising a storm and causing other havoc. Court records of the trial are incomplete; however it is believed that other members of the group were hung along with her.
- Sweden: In 1563, King Eric XIV allegedly enlisted witches in his army in order to influence the weather to give his troops the edge in battles against the Danes.
Combating Storm Raising
The Church prohibited what it considered Pagan remedies against the practice and endorsed the sacraments, prayer and invoking God’s name to fight the tempests.
The Malleus Maleficarum, also known as the Witches” Hammer and Hexenhammer, is the best known and was the most widely used witch hunting manual in Medieval times in Europe. The Catholic Church banned it in 1490. Although it was condemned, the book remained in use for three centuries.
According to Malleus, a witch was interrogated by a judge who asked her how to stop a storm. She said to adjure the tempest and invoke Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to break it up.
Sources:
Eric Maple, (Castle Books, 1964)
The Dark World of Witches,
Rosemary Ellen Guiley, (Facts on File, Inc., 1999)
The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft,
