Most news teams just scratch the surface, but Fox 25 Special Reports go beyond the headlines to give you the whole story.
Oklahoma Witches
You've heard about witches in movies and books, but the real thing is
living right here in Oklahoma. When many people think about witches,
they think of magic, potions and even broomsticks. So we caught up with
some witches who live in Oklahoma to find out what's real and what's
just a stereotype.
Witches have been the focus of feature films and people have developed perceptions of what witches look like.
"I think of green skin, pointy nose, scary laugh," said Laney Hughes.
"I think of old women with warts and broomsticks and they make potions and fly," said Bonnie Lolofie.
But there are witches living in Oklahoma.
"I didn't know that," said Lolofie. "That's pretty intense."
"Are they scary," asked Hughes.
"Flying on brooms is a little, probably not gonna happen," said Lynda Mosley.
Lynda Mosley is a self-proclaimed witch.
"I am actually an initiated priestess of the Georgian tradition which is a form of Wicca," said Mosley.
Day Berndt is also a practicing witch.
"The stinging nettles, I use them both for medicinal and for magic properties," said Berndt.
Berndt believes more than 1,000 practicing witches are in Oklahoma.
"But
you have to understand, not a lot of them come out of the closet," said
Berndt. "There are a lot of people who practice and don't talk about
it."
Both Berndt and Mosley believe in magic.
"Magic is real," said Mosley.
Mosley
is a practicing Wiccan. Her religion has a deep appreciation for nature
and worships both a Goddess and a God. Mosley says Wiccans don't
believe in harming others.
"Wicca and witchcraft as a whole has been misinterpreted as demon worshiping, Satanism," said Mosley.
Mosley says she once healed her brother through magic.
"He
had some physical and emotional issues and he also had some warts he
needed to get rid of and we got rid of those too," explains Mosley.
"If I wouldn't believe in it, I wouldn't do it," said Berndt.
Berndt says she used magic to help a woman who had terminal cancer.
"She was in very bad pain," said Berndt. "She had to use an oxygen mask. She couldn't use her legs anymore and her feet."
Berndt
says the woman wanted help with her pain when she was 50 and she wished
to reach the age of 51. However, Berndt says the woman's doctor said
she only had days to live.
"I went ahead and did my bio-energy
treatment on her and she was able right away to breathe without her
oxygen mask and she was able to get out of bed," said Berndt. "She
didn't have pains anymore and she died a day shy of being 51."
"What do you want to say to people who believe it was just coincidence," asked Fox 25's Marisa Mendelson.
"Well, several hundred years ago, everyone believed the earth was flat," said Berndt.
"I
can't fault people for wanting the comfort from thinking they can have a
measure of control in doing this," said Dr. Stephen Law.
Doctor Stephen Law teaches a class about witchcraft at the University of Central Oklahoma.
"Do you think spells and magic are real or do you think they sometimes work by coincidence," asked Fox 25's Marisa Mendelson.
"I think at best it's going to be by coincidence," said Dr. Law.
However, both Mosley and Berndt says it's not coincidence. They say they've seen magic heal, help and really work.
"I
do believe in coincidence, don't get me wrong, up to three times," said
Bernt. "When it happens more than three times, then it's not a
coincidence anymore."
Oklahoma Witches - Part 2:
For
most people, Halloween is a day to dress up in costumes and collect
candy. But witches consider it their new year and a night to remember
their ancestors. Fox 25's Marisa Mendelson caught up with some real
witches who live in Oklahoma to find out more about their beliefs and
found out they've faced a lot of discrimination.
"People tend to be afraid of the things they don't understand," said Lynda Mosley.
Lynda Mosley has owned Natures Treasures in Midwest City for 20 years.
"I'm
probably the main supplier in Oklahoma City at this time anyway for new
age, metaphysical Wicca, witchcraft supplies and books," said Mosley.
Mosley is a self-proclaimed witch. She practices Wicca.
"It's a peaceful religion," explains Mosley. "It's earth honoring. It's a harm-none religion."
Mosley says her witchcraft beliefs have caused some discrimination in the community.
"Simply because who I am and the store I own, there have been kids that couldn't play with my children," said Mosley.
She says witchcraft has a bad reputation.
"It
is heartbreaking when people assume that you're evil or that you're
negative or that you're catching neighborhood cats or children," said
Mosley. "It's very hurtful."
Mosley's store has been the victim of vandalism several times.
"I've had letters, I've had people throw stuff into my yard," said Mosley.
A few years ago, her shop was spray-painted.
"They painted die witch die," said Mosley.
People also once protested outside her store.
"Their main goal was to shut me down, that they didn't want a witch shop in their neighborhood," said Mosley.
"This kind of discrimination shouldn't exist," said Day Berndt.
Day Berndt is also a practicing witch.
"Generally what people don't understand they fear," said Berndt.
Berndt says she knows of witches who have been the victims of discrimination.
"People who have had problems at work because of their beliefs and even lost their jobs," said Berndt.
"I don't think that I've ever felt uneasy or threatened by anyone who regarded themselves as a witch," said Dr. Stephen Law.
Doctor
Stephen Law teaches a class about witchcraft at the University of
Central Oklahoma. Dr. Law says a lot of witches keep their beliefs a
secret.
"Being discreet in a society where there are a lot of
dominant trends is something they seem to be comfortable with," said Dr.
Law.
But witches who are public about their beliefs wish the public would accept them.
"Maybe
if people will try to learn more about things and be more accepting of
each other and more respecting of each other, this world would be a much
better place," said Berndt.
Even with all the discrimination Mosley has faced, she says she plans to keep her store where it is.
"I aint going away," said Mosley.
If you'd like to watch our raw interviews with the witches we spoke with, just go to: http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/rawnews/
MARISA MENDELSON
FOX 25 NEWS - INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER
MLMENDELSON@OKCFOX.COMOklahoma Witches
Posted: Tuesday, October 30 2012, 10:18 PM CDT
