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Irish Witch
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Irish Witch
In England, spirit mediums live off the fat of the land, while in Ireland, so-called witches are punished Date: 1865
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Media ID 14271624
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1865 Called Live Mediums Mediumship Punished Satirical Spirit Witch Witches Paranormal
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this intriguing 1865 photograph, a stark contrast between the treatment of spiritual mediums in England and Ireland is depicted in a satirical and thought-provoking manner. The image shows an Irish "witch" huddled by a fire, her gaunt and weathered appearance reflecting the harsh realities of her existence. In contrast, a well-dressed English medium, with a comfortable and affluent appearance, sits in a cozy parlor, surrounded by curious onlookers, seemingly living off the fat of the land. At the time, spiritualism was a popular phenomenon in both England and Ireland, but the societal attitudes towards those who practiced it varied greatly. In England, mediumship was seen as a legitimate form of entertainment and even a source of income for many. Mediums were often invited to perform at private séances and public exhibitions, where they would communicate with the spirits of the deceased for a fee. However, in Ireland, the situation was much different. The Irish Catholic Church, which held significant power and influence, viewed spiritualism with suspicion and often labeled those who practiced it as witches. This led to a climate of fear and persecution, with many alleged witches being punished harshly, often through public humiliation, imprisonment, or even death. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the historical context in which spiritualism was practiced and the vastly different societal attitudes towards it in England and Ireland during the mid-19th century. The image invites us to reflect on the complex and often contradictory ways in which society has viewed those who claim to communicate with the spirit world throughout history.
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