witchblood

Witchblood refers to a colloquial term used in some fantasy fiction and occult settings to describe a supposed hereditary trait among members of the supposed mystical group known as witches. The concept of witchblood often implies a traditional or innate connection to magic.

Witchblood is sometimes described as a magical or mystical bloodline, said to have originated from ancient witch families or ancestors who possessed magical powers. In some stories, witchblood is associated with a specific familial curse or destiny.

In fantasy fiction, witchblood can play a significant role in plotting, often determining the story's main character's access to power, destiny, or recognition within a witch community. Witchblood may originate from sources such as family ties, inheritance, or excavation of magical secrets.

Critics raise concerns about the misconception that witchcraft or magical abilities are inherited based on this fictional construct. Those who hold skeptical views of the concept often argue that it promotes a patronizing and reductive characterization of individuals who identify with witchcraft.

Studies of magical folklore and analyses of fact vs. fiction categorize witchblood narratives as potential elements of hocus pocus fiction. This can lead a reader or viewer, when distinguishing fictional or non-fictional elements of witchcraft information, considering items such as historical context or prevalent thematic patterns within an individual narrative.