Would You Have Burned at the Stake as a Witch?
Take the Test ⬇️
They Weren’t Witches. They Knew Too Much. And That’s Exactly Why They Were Burned.
They called it witchcraft.
But it was really a war on women, especially those who refused to be silent, submissive, or independent.
The Historical Atrocity of the Witch Hunts
Between the 15th and 18th centuries, across Europe and early America, as many as 60,000 people were executed for witchcraft, the vast majority of them women.
These so-called witches were not spell-casting sorceresses.
They were:
- Healers and herbalists
- Midwives and birth workers
- Widows, landowners, and financially independent women
- Women who spoke out, questioned the church, or didn’t conform
In short, they were women with power; intellectual, spiritual, sexual, or economic. They were independent and intelligent women and they posed a threat to patriarchal leadership.
The Stats (Fact-Checked & Referenced)
| Region | Estimated Accused | Executed | % Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | ~9,500 | ~5,700 | ~82% |
| Switzerland | ~4,100 | ~1,600 | ~78% |
| France | ~2,500 | ~1,000 | ~75% |
| Scotland | ~3,800 | ~2,500 | ~84% |
| Colonial U.S. | ~200 | ~30 | ~80% |
(Source: European historical records, Wikipedia, Statista)
In Scotland, convicted women were often strangled before their bodies were burned, revealing the twisted justification of “mercy.”
What Made a Woman a Witch?
You might’ve been one.
Here are five signs that, in 1600 that would have made you a likely target:
- You were educated or opinionated
- You practiced natural medicine or midwifery
- You lived alone or owned property
- You were spiritually independent
- You spoke your truth, publicly
Why Were So Many Women Burned?
Witch hunts were never about magic.
They were about control.
- Religious upheaval: Fear of heresy fed fanaticism.
- Patriarchal control: Women’s independence was demonized.
- Economic scapegoating: Misfortune needed a face, and a female was an easy choice.
- Power and land grabs: Many women accused of witchcraft had wealth or property that others wanted to seize.
They were persecuted for being powerful, not dangerous.
Could This Happen Again?
Sadly, it already does.
- In India, over 2,500 women have been lynched or assaulted in witch hunts since 2000.
- In Africa, elderly women are still driven from their villages or killed after being accused.
- In Western nations, outspoken women face digital witch hunts, doxxing, cancellation, professional sabotage, or social exile.
- In modern societies, females are often paid less, given less career advancement, persecuted for asserting boundaries, and have fewer legal rights.
- In the U.S., we are losing bodily autonomy, among other rights, with every new piece of legislation.
How Do We Protect Ourselves Today?
That brings us to the Bulletproof Blonde mission:
Sovereignty. Strategy. Strength.
The most powerful ward against modern witch hunts isn’t a spell. It’s financial independence.
⚔️ Introducing the Series: Burn the Lies, Not the Women
This post is part of a new blog series that dives into how women can protect themselves today—not with potions, but with power moves.
Upcoming Topics Include:
- They Weren’t Witches. They Were Wise.
– The true story of the witch hunts (this post) - Burned at the Stake, Digitally
– How modern witch hunts target women online - Broke = Vulnerable
– How poverty, not potions, endangers women - Build Your Feminine Fortress
– How to become financially untouchable - ✨ Witchy Wealth
– How intuition + strategy = unstoppable
In the mood to watch something WITCHY? Check out my list of top witchy movies >>>
✨ Final Thoughts from Bulletproof Blonde
The modern-day Valkyrie doesn’t burn. She rises in triumph.
The women they called witches were our foremothers in fire.
They were burned for being bold, wise, curious, and self-sufficient, everything the world still sometimes punishes in women today.
By reclaiming their stories and building financial fortresses of our own, we honor them by surviving differently.
Not in hiding.
But in power.
