Vastusohmeina

Vastusohmeina is a term that appears in early modern German texts, particularly in the context of witchcraft accusations and trials. It refers to a supposed ailment or condition that afflicted individuals, often women, who were accused of being witches. The term itself is difficult to translate directly into modern English, but it broadly relates to a feeling of overwhelming emptiness, a spiritual void, or a sense of being disconnected from God or societal norms.

In the historical context of witch trials, the concept of vastusohmeina was often used to explain the perceived motivations and behaviors of those accused of witchcraft. It was believed that this internal emptiness or spiritual distress could lead individuals to make pacts with the devil or engage in malevolent practices. Confessions obtained during interrogations sometimes included descriptions of feeling empty, lost, or driven by an inexplicable urge, which were then interpreted through the lens of vastusohmeina.

The notion of vastusohmeina is intertwined with the broader anxieties and religious beliefs of the early modern period. It reflects a worldview where spiritual and psychological states were closely linked to moral and religious standing. While the term itself is now largely obsolete and its underlying concepts are understood through modern psychological and sociological perspectives, its presence in historical documents provides insight into the mindset of the time and the ways in which perceived deviance was explained and condemned.