Three Colors of Witches
Across The Acolyte, The Clone Wars, and Tales of the Empire, there are three kinds of witches. Each sect or coven is associated with a different color, which indicates where it stands on the light-to-dark spectrum of the Force.
The Nightsisters of Dathomir, led by Mother Talzin, wear predominantly red clothing, indicating their link to the dark side of the Force. The very name "Nightsisters" also points to their dark character. The Nightsisters live in darkness – their home is a dark, watery cave surrounded by a dark, misty forest. They practice "dark magicks" for aggressive, violent purposes, vying for domination over their allies (such as the horned Zabrak, like Darth Maul and Savage Opress) and exacting revenge on their enemies. They also use their dark magic to unnaturally raise the dead, recalling Palpatine's words: "The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural."
"The Path of Fear" (Tales of the Empire 1.1) introduces Dathomir's Mountain Clan of witches and clearly contrasts them with the Nightsisters. As the name suggests, this clan makes its home in the mountains of Dathomir, in the clear air high above the Nightsister's murky forest. The witches of the Mountain Clan wear clothing with pale blue accents and practice a magic that produces a pale blue energy. Unlike Mother Talzin, with her aggressive use of "dark magicks," the Mountain Clan's detached, contemplative Clan Mother only uses her powers defensively. She compassionately takes in the former Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth after the destruction of her home, but refuses to be swayed to violence by Morgan's passionate fear and anger. Even after Morgan causes the death of her daughter, the Clan Mother does not lash out in vengeance as Mother Talzin likely would have done; she recognizes Morgan's pain and pities her even as she dispassionately exiles her from the village.
"Destiny" (The Acolyte 1.3) introduces the witches of Brendok, who wear purple – a combination of red and blue, indicating their ambiguous place between the light and dark sides of the Force. The mixed character of Brendok's witches can be seen in the coven's two mothers: the calm, thoughtful, and compassionate Mother Aniseya, who insists that they must not use violence, and the passionately aggressive Mother Koril, who is eager to start a fight with the Jedi. Mother Aniseya is willing to set aside her attachment to her daughter Osha and let her leave with the Jedi, while Mother Koril would violently prevent the Jedi from taking her children. It is not likely a coincidence that Mother Koril is a horned Zabrak – a species affiliated with the dark Nightsisters. The fact that the purple-wearing witches of Brendok cannot be easily categorized as light or dark is part of what makes them unsettling to the Jedi.
EXPLORE FURTHER…
Characters: Mother Aniseya / Mother Koril / Mother Talzin
Shows: The Acolyte / The Clone Wars / Tales of the Empire
GO DEEPER INTO THE ARCHIVES…
Concepts: aggression / caves / forests / mountains / mothers / witches
Interpretive Tools: Tripartite Soul Theory
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