Witchcraft and medicine

By PIUS MUSAU

Long before conventional medicine became what we know today, alternative medicine existed. Our forefathers had their medicine-men with some communities having traditional surgeons.

Much of our modern medicine has been refined from what was already in use.  Most of us are yet to outgrow the mystery we call witchcraft. This is the practice of black magic to harm those we choose, for purposes of self-advancement, checking competition, or nailing undeserved privileges.

Witchcraft needs a belief

The fear of the unknown has bred us into beings that have to believe in something. If we were sure of tomorrow, fewer of us would hang onto our beliefs. 

For a person to experience the power of black magic, there has to be atonement to its wavelength. One has to convince oneself that such a thing as a malevolent force exists and that the enemy can tap it to one’s disadvantage; or the same can be turned on the opponents so that they get that coveted job, that elusive promotion or the evasive girl you have failed to nail to a date. Once you have surrendered to that conviction, everything else is a consequence. You become your own worst witch.

How the belief in witchcraft works

Evolutionary psychology has it that mankind expected nothing easy. Nature is known to be ruthless. We have got to toil for every bit of goodness that comes our way.

With that frame of mind, our perceptions focus on this evil due to the following:

•             In societies and among individuals of limited exposure, we transfer the anticipated trouble from nature to our fellow beings.

•             We have been primed through tales to expect those we suspect of being witches to harm us.

•             Some people from certain regions are presumed greater witches than others and we anticipate catastrophes if we come into contact or competition with them.

•             Characters who would be quiet if they knew a fraction of what they claim capable of, take advantage of this collective fear to intimidate others.

•             Anxieties, fear of the unknown and anticipated troubles dominate our lives, sapping our energies and pushing us into a state of depressed immunity.

The practice of traditional medicine and witchcraft is based on our collective beliefs. Mere coincidences collide with our exhausted selves and reinforce the anticipated eventuality. Hence, the stories of people dying of witchcraft.