# The governor who ended witchcraft accusations

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-pennsylvania-witch-governor
- Themes: fear, leadership, history, wisdom
- Life situations: moral panic, group hysteria

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

A woman accused of witchcraft faces burning; a smart colonial governor (Pennsylvania framing as recalled) handles the fear so well that witchcraft panic ends in that state while others go crazy — emotional intelligence over hysteria.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

this lady was accused of being a witch and remember this was you know that time that meant being burn at the steak and you know terrible stuff and so he just asked her well let let's get down to the hub of these things you know are you a witch he saides I am do you fly around on broomsticks he saides I do' she's admitting guilt and so this William pen said well I can't say anything wrong with that cas's dismissed you know as long you don't crash into Steeples and stuff you can fly around on the broomstick as much as you like and that was it she was dismissed and there was no more problem with witchcraft

## Teaching point

Skilled leadership can dissolve a witch-hunt without feeding it.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

When a woman accused of witchcraft admitted she flew on a broomstick, Governor William Penn ruled that flying wasn't illegal and dismissed the case. That ended the panic in his colony. Ajahn Brahm admires that emotional intelligence. When someone describes a strange experience, don't argue or dismiss them. Ask how they are hurting, and help.

## Source

- [Buddhism and alien abductions | by Ajahn Brahm | 24 April 2015](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLvNFS1VCNU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 34:05 to 34:52: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLvNFS1VCNU&t=2045s