“We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people.
We are not dangerous. We are ordinary people like you.
We have families, jobs, hopes, and dreams.
We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke.
We are not what you think we are from looking at T.V.
We are real.
We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor.
You don't have to be afraid of us.
We don't want to convert you. And please don't try to convert us.
Just give us the same right we give you--to live in peace.
We are much more similar to you than you think.” 

~ Margot Adler ~

What is Witchcraft?

from: exemplore.com

Witchcraft is one of the world's oldest spiritual traditions, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Television, movies, and comic books abound with stereotypes and misconceptions about what it really means to be a witch. Many people decide they want to become a witch because they relate to the witches and wizards in fictional stories, such as Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia. However, the magic you see portrayed on screen is usually significantly different from real magick practiced by devout witches, wizards, sorcerers, and ceremonial magickians every day.

Though pop culture might indicate otherwise, witchcraft isn't just about black cats and pointy hats.Though pop culture might indicate otherwise, witchcraft isn't just about black cats and pointy hats.Okay, so witchcraft is often misunderstood. But what is witchcraft? To put it simply, witchcraft is the practice of magick. That's it.

Contrary to popular belief, witchcraft is not a religion; it is a spiritual practice that may or may not be part of a person's religious faith. Witchcraft is often conflated with Wicca, which is an actual religion. It is important to remember that not all witches are Wiccan, and not all Wiccans are witches. Many Wiccans practice witchcraft, but many do not. Many who practice witchcraft are Wiccan, but most are not.



 Traditional Witchcraft

 © (2012) "Witch Path Forward"



Traditional Witchcraft is a difficult term to define. Each witch following a traditional path has his/her own idea as to what it means to be Traditional. For some being part of the Traditional Craft is tracing their lineage back to the crafts of the ancestors in their family tree, for others the Traditional Craft is about blending the practises and workings from witches of older times into their own path. A Traditional Witch can follow a specific tradition, their own family tradition or they can follow the essence of the beliefs that have gone before. The only element of Traditional Craft that is a "must" is that the core of the individual witch's personal beliefs and practises must be rooted in the "traditions" of times gone by. Modern ideas can be and often are incorporated into an individual's practise but in order for a witch to make a claim to being traditional she must be involved to some extent or another in following where witches who have gone before her have trod. Without a nod to history there can be no claim to Tradition.

Witchcraft in the sense that Trad Witches mean it is neither a religion nor a belief system, it is simply the art of practising magick. There are witches who do work with deity (and even a few who actually worship deity) but in the main these are few and far between. A witch is defined by what she does, not what she believes. Individual beliefs will vary wildly among Traditional Witches but the practice of magic is (almost) universal. Again, the type of magic will vary between witches. Magic as a general term can mean anything from involved ceremonial ritual toa quick puff and a wish on a dandelion. There is no one set way to perform magic adopted universally among Traditional Witches.

Traditional Witchcraft these days seems to be defined more about what it isn't than what it is. With the emergence of the Wiccan religion in the 1950s a good deal of confusion has sprung up about the differences between a Wiccan witch and a Traditional Witch. I actually think it is important that we consider witches working with tradition to be more than the mere counterpart of the modern Wiccan Witch but - to clarify the primary differences between them; a Traditional Witch is more likely to work with aggressive magic (think curses and hexes), they are very unlikely to subscribe to the idea that putting negativity into the world involves it coming back to attack the witch (think Wiccan three fold law), they are far less likely to worship deity (Wicca is a religion, Witchcraft, as I have already said - isn't) and they are far more likely (though most certainly not in the case of every witch) to practice alone. 



Wiccans tend to be initiated into their religion, many Traditional Witches follow a solitary path. There is also a good deal less structure in Traditional Witchcraft.  Specifics such as the celebrations of the Sabbats and Esbats are usually a Wiccan imperative. The Trad witch will feel their way through the seasons and celebrate the changes when their intuition tells them to. They may also be more private, less willing to share the nature of their own spells and they are likely to be very resistant to using spells created by others. Traditional Witches will almost exclusively write their own spells.

 The Traditional Witch seeks to create their own path while honouring those who have gone before. The traditions, wisdom and knowledge of ancestors and forefathers are preserved and kept alive by witches practising in modern times. Most Traditional Witches will invite/invoke spirits in their work (again very different to the Wiccan witch). The folk magick of the cunning folk is passed down through the new generations of witches, through terms of family heritage, through covens of like minded practitioners, through both published and secret Grimoires and - perhaps just starting to be more common in the modern age - through the medium of the internet

 It is often said that Witchcraft has its roots in European, primarily British traditions. Although this is often very true, it is not necessarily the case worldwide. Witchcraft has developed in isolation in different cultures and the practices of an American, African and European witch are likely to be very different as each has been inspired by the traditions prevalent in their own part of the world.

Some American witches have an affinity with Native American beliefs/Hoodoo which can be seen worked into their own path. African witches may have a strong identification with Voodoo or Vodun and British witches may lean more toward the traditions inherent in Celtic mythology. This is by no means to say that witches are unable or unwilling to incorporate traditions from other lands or other times into the formation of their own path. Of course, with advances in the ease of international travel and the sharing of information via electronic methods it has become easier for people to gain an understanding of the practices and beliefs of other cultures.



An American witch for example who felt drawn to the European mythology of the Norse Gods isn't wrong to work this into her path. Intuition for a witch is a guide far greater than any sense of misplaced cultural obligation ever could be.  Perhaps the one thing all Trad Witches do have in common is a determination to forge their own individual path for themselves. Again this sets Witchcraft apart from religion which is concerned more with conformity than individuality. A Traditional Witch does not subscribe to an existing belief system, she creates her own.

The workings of a Traditional Witch are often far more common place than their modern practising counterparts. Wicca is associated with ceremonial magick and ritual but a Trad Witch is more likely to blend their magic into their day to day working life.  A Witch doesn't move between the states of practising and resting, they are always alive and alert to the Craft.  A witch will utilise their magick in even the most mundane tasks. They are also unlikely to be found casting a circle (although some Trads do) and most of their magic will be spontaneous and interactive with the world around them. They will use their knowledge of herbs, spells and correspondences pertinent to her tradition to manipulate the world they inhabit.

The one thing you can always guarantee about Traditional Witchcraft is that, just as you think you've got a clear grasp of what it is, a Trad Witch will pop up embodying everything you said it isn't and prove you wrong. Using generalisations to describe what is essentially no more than a noun for a group of very varied individuals is always fated to be a futile exercise.

Witchcraft Links

Traditional Witchcraft
Traditional Witchcraft FAQ's
Witchcraft and Paganism
History of Witchcraft
Types of Witches
Traditions of Witchcraft
American Witchcraft
Neo-Pagan (New Age) Movements
The Tools of A Witch
Witchcraft Festivals