Throughout history, the image of the flying witch has fascinated people across many cultures. Stories of witches flying through the night sky—often on broomsticks or with animal companions—appear in European folklore, trial records, and art from the Middle Ages. While these tales may seem fantastical, they reveal deeper meanings when viewed through anthropology and comparative religion.
Scholars have noticed a common theme in these stories: the use of psychotropic plants and ointments, such as belladonna, henbane, or mandrake. These substances were thought to create powerful trance states, giving practitioners vivid visions or sensations of flight. Many researchers believe these flights were not physical journeys, but rather experiences of the spirit or consciousness—what is now sometimes called astral projection.
The French scholar Claude Lecouteux has suggested that the idea of the flying witch can be understood as the separation of the astral double—a subtle body that can leave the physical form and travel to distant places. This idea is not limited to European witchcraft. Similar beliefs are found in shamanic traditions around the world, where practitioners enter altered states to communicate with spirits, seek guidance, or heal.
Emma Wilby, a scholar of Scottish witchcraft, has drawn clear connections between the experiences of accused witches and those of shamans. Both are described as moving in and out of their bodies, traveling to otherworldly places, and returning with knowledge or power. In this way, the witch’s flight can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual exploration and transformation, rooted in ancient practices that existed long before the witch trials.
By looking at the cultural, historical, and psychological aspects of these stories, it becomes possible to better understand how the myth of the flying witch reflects humanity’s ongoing interest in altered states of consciousness and the mysteries of the unseen world.
