(AP) There's no abracadabra or broom-flying at Andreas Starchel's School of Witchcraft. Instead, there's astronomy, botany, anatomy and other scientific studies, along with classes in oracles, tarot cards, horoscopes, dowsing and magic. Today's witchcraft, the teachers say, is just mainstream science applied in a different way.
“A witch is someone who looks holistically on life, who does life-counseling things. A witch serves to help humans,” said Sonja Kulmitzer, 28, who runs the school with Starchel.
Their witches-in-training are far removed from the spell-casters of Harry Potter and Snow White, or the ghoulish decorations for sale in shops ahead of Halloween, now a popular holiday in Austria.
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