For those unfamiliar with the deeper lore of Star Wars, the existence of witches within the universe might be surprising. However, witches have a significant and storied presence in the franchise.
In “The Acolyte” Episode 3, viewers are introduced to the backstory of Osha and Mae, portrayed by Amandla Stenberg. Their childhood on the planet Brendok is explored, revealing that they were raised by a coven of witches led by Mother Aniseya, played by Jodie Turner-Smith. This coven views the twins as a miraculous manifestation of the Force.
Set during the High Republic era, “The Acolyte” showcases a time when the Jedi heavily regulated Force use and Force-sensitive individuals. The Jedi Order sought to recruit all Force-sensitive beings. Mother Aniseya and her coven, however, stand in stark opposition to this ideal, emphasizing the importance of power and who gets to wield it.
Mother Aniseya’s declaration, “This isn’t about good or bad. This is about power, and who is allowed to use it,” highlights the coven’s defiance. Taking place a century before the main Star Wars timeline, “The Acolyte” seems to set the stage for the principles that future witches in the franchise will follow.
Witches in the Star Wars universe possess unique abilities distinct from those of the Jedi and Sith. While the Jedi and Sith view the Force as a tool to be used for peace or chaos, witches see it as a living entity to be studied. This broader perspective allows them to tap into aspects of the Force that others cannot, resulting in powers like telepathy, invisibility, raising the dead, and teleportation.
The Witches of Dathomir offer the most detailed look at witch culture in Star Wars. First appearing in “The Clone Wars,” these witches reside on the planet Dathomir, a place rich in witchcraft. The Dathomirian witches lean towards the dark side but do not fully align with either the Jedi or Sith.
Among the various witch clans on Dathomir, the Nightsisters are the most prominent. Led by Mother Talzin, the Nightsisters played a significant role during the Clone Wars, aiding Count Dooku. Talzin is also the mother of Darth Maul and Savage Opress.
Asajj Ventress, another notable Nightsister, was the first witch to appear on screen in “Star Wars.” She served as Count Dooku’s apprentice during the early Clone Wars before being cast out. Ventress continued to wield the Force using her dark side training from Dooku and her Nightsister training from Talzin.
The Nightsisters have also appeared in live-action, notably in the 2023 series “Ahsoka,” where they work for Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn refers to them as the “Great Mothers,” Dathmiri witches from the distant planet Perdia. These witches were among the first to harness the power of the hyperspace-traveling Purgill and focused on resurrection, reviving Thrawn’s zombified soldiers.
Morgan Elsbeth, introduced in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian,” is revealed to be a trained Nightsister in “Ahsoka.” Her training is further explored in Disney+’s animated anthology series “Tales of the Empire.” Elsbeth and the Great Mothers of Perdia possess such strong Force abilities that they can communicate across galaxies, a feat even the most powerful Jedi and Sith have not achieved.
The question of whether Star Wars witches are good or bad is complex. Most witches depicted in the series lean towards villainy, but their actions are often driven by their goals. Characters like Asajj Ventress have distanced themselves from both the Nightsisters and the Sith, occasionally aiding Jedi like Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Recently, Ventress was seen helping to train Omega in her Force sensitivity in the final season of “The Bad Batch.”
Mother Aniseya’s coven, frustrated by the Jedi’s monopolization of Force-sensitive individuals, is a prime example of this complexity. Their obsession with Osha and Mae’s potential may not have pure intentions, but the desire to control one’s power can lead to dark actions.
