Widdershins
Adverb: in a direction contrary to the natural or clockwise motion, typically referring to a counterclockwise or left-handed movement. The term is often used in folk traditions and contexts related to witchcraft or magic, where moving widdershins is believed to invoke chaos or disrupt the alignment of energies or events. The word originates from Middle Dutch and has been used in English since at least the late 16th century.
Widdershins meaning with examples
- As the witch danced around the cauldron, she stepped widdershins, believing that moving counterclockwise would enhance the power of her spells. The air crackled with tension, and the flickering candlelight seemed to respond to her unconventional movements, adding to the ritual's eerie atmosphere, making the onlookers hold their breath in anticipation of the unexpected.
- In the traditional folk tale, the hero was warned to walk widdershins around the cursed stone, as it was said that this peculiar path could lead to hidden treasures. Though uncertain of the outcome, he chose to heed the warning, confidently stepping counterclockwise, trusting that destiny would guide him toward whatever secrets lay beyond the enchanted barrier.
- During the ceremony, the participants were instructed to turn widdershins while chanting an ancient incantation meant to reverse ill fortune. Laughter and excitement filled the air as they completed the counterclockwise circle, embodying the essence of tradition and belief, all the while remaining hopeful that the rituals would bring about a brighter future for their community.
- The old gardener swore by the lunar cycle and insisted that planting seeds widdershins at certain phases of the moon would yield bountiful crops. His neighbor scoffed at the notion, yet the gardener persisted in his eccentric methods, demonstrating the conviction that, sometimes, going against the flow might lead to unexpected, fruitful results in the great cycle of life.
