Unveiling the Shadows by Vania Vela (Mexico, 19)

In history, a haunting narrative unfurls – a tale of women unjustly branded as witches. These
women, accused with unsettling ease of dabbling in the mystical arts and harboring powers
beyond the human realm, found themselves ensnared within a complex tapestry of fear,
superstition, and power dynamics.

Their bond with the natural world and its enigmatic wonders set them apart. In moonlit
clearings, they would dance with abandon, their voices intertwining in ethereal harmonies,
defiantly casting aside the norms that society sought to bind them with.
​
Yet, these women, enigmatic and misunderstood, were fated to confront trials that bore no
resemblance to justice. Accusations of malevolent sorcery and dark enchantments tore them
from their lives. They were shackled, imprisoned, and, in some heart-wrenching instances,
led to the gallows. Their cries for understanding echoed through the corridors of time,
unheard by those whose duty it was to shield them.

Passed down through generations, tales of these women weave a tapestry of their endurance –
a testament to the injustices they endured. These stories unveil the unvarnished truth, laying
bare the suffering inflicted upon them by a society gripped by irrational fear.

​Yet, recounting these narratives goes beyond mere remembrance; it becomes a restoration of
power. It's an act of emancipation, breathing life into voices long suppressed and identities
that were twisted by prejudice. In celebrating their stories, we illuminate the indomitable
spirit of resilience that beats within us all, while honoring the extraordinary essence that
courses through our veins. In their journey, we glimpse our own paths, and in their strength,
we muster the courage to embrace the enchantment that defines our shared humanity. For
deep within, we are all witches, weaving our spells of change upon the fabric of the world.





Vania (she/her) is a 19-year-old Mexican writer and LGBTQ+ youth activist on a mission to make her voice heard, getting published in diverse magazines. Amid her bustling pursuits, you'll invariably find Vania with a book nestled in her backpack and learning a whole lot of new things.