Friday, October 15, 2010

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I am late as usual. The title: WWGWD?**



On the topic of witch craft learned from fictional characters, I press on. In the absence of any witch mentors locally & since I moved to witchcraft via a fictional book, it shouldn't seem odd that my teachers would  not be real, either.
When in doubt about a course of action I ask myself, **"What would Granny Weatherwax do?" Granny Weatherwax is  the crone of a group of three, sometimes two & sometimes four, witches that live in Discworld. Discworld is a world in the multiverse that is a flat disc carried by four huge elephants that in turn stand on the back of a gigantic turtle named the Great A'tuin. The world is flat. The witches live in the Ramtop Mountains. They each have their own little cottage, a shack more like, especially Granny's.


 Granny is an extraordinary witch who knows that the hard part about magic is NOT using it. Granny is sensible, solves her problem's & everyone elses, too, by using her head, "thinkology" in her terms. She doesn't approve of shiny wiccan jewelry or fancy witch terms instead she views herself as he local wise woman nurse/midwife. She does what others won't & she stands up for those who cannot. She lives thriftily since witches do not get paid except in kind: chickens, old boots & worn out sheets to roll for bandages. She helps people. But not by spell casting but by changing bandages, visiting the elderly & infirm & by doing what is right. She is my beacon. When I want to sit and  gossip nastily  I think, WWGWD? & because if you have to ask, you already know the right answer, then I do it. I think most of us have someone in our lives like Granny, be it real or divine or made-up. Someone you turn to get level again. Someone who epitomizes the woman or man you want to be.Someone who can help you become the person you know lurks deep inside, hidden under the layers of fluff & stuff. So, does it matter whether the guide is real or not? Why would it?


Some favorite quotes on the nature of Granny Weatherwax~

from Wyrd Sisters:
"'Tis not right, a woman going into such places by herself," Granny nodded. She thoroughly approved of such sentiments so long as there was, of course, no suggestion that they applied to her.

Witches are not by nature gregarious, at least with other witches, and they certainly don't have leaders. Granny Weatherwax was the most highly regarded of the leaders they didn't have.

She had never mastered the talent for apologizing, but she appreciated it in other people.

from Witches Abroad:
..Granny Weatherwax, who had walked nightly without fear in the bandit-haunted forests of the mountains all her life in the certain knowledge that the darkness held nothing more terrible than she was...

Granny Weatherwax disapproved of magic for domestic purposes, but she was annoyed. She also wanted her tea. She threw a couple of logs into the fireplace and glared at them until they burst into flame out of sheer embarrassment.

from Lords and Ladies:
"Blessings be upon this house," said Granny Weatherwax. In much the same tone of voice have people said, 'Eat hot lead, Kincaid.'

".......you stupid man!"
"I do happen to be king, you know," said Verence reproachfully.
"You stupid king, your majesty."
"Thank you."

12 comments:

Wandering along Loopy's life path said...

Granny Weatherwax is one of my fave discworld characters, Nanny Ogg is another great fictional witch!
Loopy x

Amber said...

I absolutely love Granny Weatherwax. I have not read the books she lives in, only read what you have contributed but I will definitely be finding these books. What series is it?

Diandra said...

Granny Weatherwax is so cool! When I grow up, I want to be like her. (My sister is more like Nanny Ogg, and we're bullying my best friend into Magrat shape. Uhm no, not really, but she is like her, kind of... uhm...)

luna petunia said...

The series is wonderful! It is the Discworld series & Granny is but one of the fabulous characters. The books are written by (Sir) Terry Pratchett. The first is "The Color of Magic." Magic figures in all of them but the characters,whilst remaining constant through the series, will not appear in all of them . The witches are in 3 or 4. There are wizards, small gods, regular gods, golems, werewolves, gargoyles, people with very silly names & more. Best of all there are 20 or 30 books in the series. Sadly, Sir Terry has early onset Alzheimer's so the feeling that, "Will this be the last book?" is there. He lives in the UK but has done several books with Neil Gaiman.
Plus there is a separate but together, series about a young witch Tiffany Aching & the Wee Free Men. Google Terry Pratchett or Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Rincewind...you will find your way home to Discworld.

Tallah said...

The Lancre Witches are my guiding stars! I have several pages in my BoS of Granny Weatherwax quotes, as well as half of Nanny Ogg's Cookbook memorized. While I aspire to Granny's talent and wisdom, I identify more with Nanny Ogg and her kitchen witchery of putting the fear of Ogg into people ;) I've been very pleased with the Tiffany Aching book series for younger readers. It has a much more diverse look at the Lancre witching society and you really get some hints that Sir Terry has dabbled with The Real Thing in his time.

Sarah said...

She is indeed a very inspiring witch! I love the quotes you shared-very funny!

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

Magical post! Thanks for sharing! :)

Natalie said...

Thank you for visiting my Halloween Blog Party post and for your kind comment :)

I shall take a look around your blog and see what I find here!

It was my first ever blog-party but I had so much fun :)

http://modernwomans.blogspot.com/2010/10/something-witchy-this-way-comes.html

Maia's Twinkle Miniatures said...

Thank you for visiting my Halloween party!
I loved this post and the sayings, thank you for inviting me. :)

Lynda said...

I have never heard of Granny Weatherwax, but she seems very cool :) Thanks for visiting my blog yesterday. Best witches...I mean wishes to you :)

Mother Moon said...

as always I love your posts....

Jane K said...

Oh Granny Weatherwax is one of my all time fictional heroes, great post.

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