Spirit Walk Ministry

 

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Spirit Walk Ministry
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Types of Witchcraft



Part 1: Types of Traditional Witches

Part 2: The Traditions of Witchcraft
.

 

 

Witchcraft is a way of life for individuals, not the masses,
and there's no point in you coming toward the Craft
if you are a wimp, a follower, a coward or a fool,
as sorcery is both a practice and a priesthood,
and it is not a garment that can be discarded when the going gets tough. 

~ Ly de Angeles  ~



Types of Traditional Witches

 Augury Witch: Similar to a shaman in practice, the augury witch will help to direct those on a spiritual quest by interpreting the signs and symbols the traveler encounters. The term derives from the official Roman augurs, whose function was not to foretell the future but to discover whether or not the gods approved of a proposed course of action by interpreting signs or omen such as the appearance of animals sacred to the gods. It is important to note that augury witches are not "fortune tellers", as their gifts are of prophecy and not divination. In the context of prophecy, in his Scottish play Shakespeare's witches appear as augury witches. (Shakespeare's witches are also practitioners of the red witch's "Art of Deception".  See "Red Witch")

Ceremonial Witch: Witches who combines both the practices of witchcraft and  ceremonial magick, though they are more spiritually centered than most ceremonial magickians. Ceremonial witches are very exacting in the performance of ritual and their rituals are usually followed by the book, to the letter and with much ceremony. They may use a combination of various mystical disciplines drawn from the Old Ways, but will often incorporate scientific approaches such as sacred mathematics and quantum mysticism as well.  They will call upon a ecclectic band of spiritual entities, leaning towards archetypal figures representative of the energies they wish to manifest.

Cosmic Witch (Astro Witch): Comic or astro witches are traditional witches who use planetary and celestial energy in their practice. Cosmic witchcraft is the umbrella term for all of those who utilize celestial or planetary magic. While there are many who work with multiple paths within cosmic witchcraft, they all fall under this umbrella term. Some cosmic witches are theistic and still work with deities, some believe that the divine lies within the cosmic energies, and some are not theistic at all and merely work with the planets and celestial bodies. A Cosmic Witch specializes in Astrology and is interested in the stars and the sky and they usually do magic around planetary alignments.

Cunning Folk: The Cunning Folk are (were) practitioners of folk magick in rural Britain  from the Medieval period through the early twentieth century. They use(d) a variety of techniques to serve their clientele by providing magickal protection and charms. creating herbal remedies, divination, casting spells and hex breaking. The term "cunning man" or "cunning woman" is used in southern England, the Midlands and in Wales, while in Cornwall they are sometimes referred to as pellars", which originated from the term "expellers", referring to the practice of expelling evil spirits. Today, the cunning folk practitioners in Britain have mostly faded away as modern medicines and the free National Health Service has reduced the need for cheap folk remedies and the administration of social and mental health services have helped provide relief from calamity and misfortune.
Cyber Witch (Techno Witch):  The idea of an “internet or computer witch” is an interesting concept. In magick circles “cybermancy” (also called technomancy) is magick based upon computer technology and spell work over the internet and is related to the controversial idea of chaos magick and the "chaos theory". It has become an accepted magickal practice and therefore a legitimate arena for witches to enter into. Granted, a “cyber witch” may not sound like a type of traditional witchery, but it is intrinsically no different a concept than a kitchen witch or an elemental witch and if your computer is your kitchen and the internet ether your element then you are a cyber witch.
Eclectic Witch: An individual approach in which the witch picks and chooses from many different traditions and creates a personalized form of witchcraft that meets their individual needs and abilities. They do not follow a particular religion or tradition, but study and learn from many different systems and use what works best for them.   (read more: Eclectic Witch )

Elemental Witch: Elemental witches study and practice witchcraft based on the four elements: Earth, Air, Wind, and Fire. Elemental Witchcraft is work based on and honoring each element. By using these elements to draw power into magic, they can generate results by focusing on each elements innate qualities and drawing them into their rituals and spells. The Elemental Witch may find that one of the elements speaks to them more than others, and can invoke that element  as they do spell and ritual work.

  • Air Element Witch: (Wind Witch) The element of air is high and active, which is the opposite to the element of Earth.The element of air represents the mind, inspiration and imagination.  It is the element of new life and new possibilities.  Air Witches therefore cast spells suited to the element of air, searching for freedom, finding what is lost, travel, new business ventures and study of the occult arts. Air is the element of the east, connected to the soul and the breath of life. Air Witches If you’re do workings related to communication, wisdom and the powers of the mind.
  • Earth Element Witch: (Wild Witch)  At the core of witchcraft is a deep reverence for Mother Earth. Many Earth Witches celebrate the phases of the Moon and the seasons to attune with the natural rhythm of the Earth. These witches have always worked within villages to heal illnesses of the body and mind and perform midwifery. Most Wild Witches will share their homes not only with pets, but also wildlife and native animals. They tend to live in the country as even modern day Wild Witches cannot bear the noise and bustle of cities and find it spiritually and psychically draining. Most Wild Witches use natural tools for divination, such as water and crystals, rather than Tarot Cards or other modern tools. They believe in and share their homes with faery folk of all kinds. Knowledge is usually passed down within families. 
  • Fire Element Witch: (Solar Witch) The Fire Witches are considered to be the rebels of the Elemental Witches. The Fire Witches are all about individuality. Each one is unique. For the most part, their lives are beautiful and poetic, yet there lurks an underlying current of tragedy. There is no typical personal style to the Fire Witch; it varies, as does each flame. Fire is a creative element, especially when seen in its regenerative aspect. In the same manner that the phoenix rises from the ashes or the Sun undergoes an eclipse. A Fire Witch is going through a constant process of growth by tearing down in order to build anew. These witches are an ongoing changing flame and their magick is centered on the power and seasons of the Solar year,  candles, bonfires, lava, anything that possess the fire element.
  • Water Element Witch: (Water/Sea Witch) Water or Sea witches are traditional witches with a magickal bond with water and  the weather. They find a calling with inland creeks, rivers, lakes and with the oceans and seas, though it is rare for them to limit themselves to any one type of water (fresh or sea) or one specific body of water. They generally align with all states of water, including rain, fog, snow and ice. (triple point of water). Some may work at a sacred water site such as a holy well and/or sacred bathing spots. The Moon plays a very profound role when it comes to the magick of the Water Witch. The Moon phases rule over the tidal waters and because of this, the Water Witch is instrumental in moon-lodge practices and coming-of-age rites. On the more practical side, many water witches are often called upon to find hidden sources of water through dowsing (water witching) and calling on the weather for rain.

Faery Witch (Fairy/Fey Witch): A Faery Witch is an eclectic witch who seeks to commune with faery folk and nature spirits in their magick workings. They have no organization or tradition and it has developed of its own accord through common practice.  When a faery witch needs help or guidance they may call on a specific kind of fairy to help them. Fairies are also said to be big helpers in leaving signs and symbols but also can cause chaos and upset if they are angered. Fairies are quite powerful and easily offended, hence why many books will tell you to leave offerings a lot to keep the fey from playing pranks or causing chaos in the home. (Not to be confused with the Neo-Pagan 'Feri Movement' )

Folk Witch (Granny Witch): Folk (Granny) Magic is generally of a practical nature, meant to address the common ills of the community: healing the sick, bringing love or luck, driving away evil forces, finding lost items, bringing good harvests, granting fertility, reading omens and so on. A traditional folk witch typically practices the folk magic of his or her ancestors or of the people in the nearby geographic area. Those who practice traditional folk magic, are knowledgeable about the spirits of land and place in their area, as well as customs and folklore of their region. Folk magic blends the ancient knowledge of earth, nature energies, planetary forces, rituals, healing and herbal remedies, religious and superstitious beliefs and a wide range of regional custom practices. Common traditions of folf magic include the Appalachian 'Granny' Tradition and Pow-Wow Tradition of American Witchcraft.  

Green Witch (Garden Witch): A practitioner of of witchcraft whose focus is on the use of natural items and places. The goal of the Green Witch is upon achieving magick through communion with Mother Nature and using Her energies. A Green witch is very similar to a Kitchen/Cottage witch (see below) with the exception that the Green witch practices in the fields and forest in order to be closer to the Divine spirit. The Green witch makes his or her own tools from accessible materials from outdoors.  A Green or Garden Witch, that works primarily with floral materials and flowers in their practice is often called a Flora Witch and one who works with herbs and other plants a Herbal Witch.  

Hearth Witch (Kitchen / Cottage Witch): A Witch who focuses their magical practice on the home and hearth and uses things commonly found in the kitchen as magickal tools. Kitchen Witchery may be an expression of religious faith and sharing a meal is a ritual in itself, there is a certain energy associated with this simple pleasure, and with the magic of food life is sustained. Some who hear the term “Kitchen Witch” may think it is a magickal art confined only to the kitchen or cooking, but it is much more. It is about the finding of the sacred in everyday tasks, no matter how mundane they may appear to be. A Hearth Witch may integrate Witchcraft into all or any aspect of his or her homemaking activities. Many Kitchen Witches are also “crafty” folks, enjoying handicrafts into which they may weave their magick. An increasingly popular type of witchcraft, it is about working with the energies of nature to make the hearth and home a secure and sacred place. 

Hedge Witch: In early Roman Europe the “hedgerow” was used as a boundary marker of a field or village. The hedge also represents the boundary that exists between this world and the spiritual realm and it is the area that the local Hedge Witch was responsible for. Hedge Witchcraft is a path that is somewhat shamanic in nature, as they are practitioners of an Earth-based spirituality. These are the ones who engage in spirit flight and journey into the Otherworld. They can be very powerful midwives and healers. A bird (usually a raven or goose) is a familar of the Hedge Witch.

  • Hedge Riding: Hedge Riding or "Flying the Hedge" is the shamanic like practice of entering an altered state of consciousnesses to make a spiritual journey into the otherworld realms of the collective unconscious in order to contact animal guides, faery folk and nature spirits to seek to search for knowledge, divination and healing. This can be done using a variety of techniques, including drumming, dancing, chanting,  flying ointments, or mind-altering drugs. Unlike meditation or spirit walking, hedge riding is not controlled and the traveler does not determine what will or will not happen on the journey. 

Hereditary Witch: Also known as a Family Tradition Witch, a Hereditary Witch is someone who has been taught "The Old Ways " as a tradition passed down through the generations of their family. Though you may be born into a family with the tradition, you can not be born a witch, a conscious decision and acceptance of “The Craft” is necessary to become a witch. Many witches claim to be hereditary witches when in fact, they are not. You must be brought up in a family of witches to be a hereditary witch.

Hex Witch (Anger Witch): The Hex Witch will utilize aggressive magick, a form of magick dealing with anger, aggression, and hatred. It is a very controversial element of witchcraft, more often associated with black magick than white magick, as it is primarily employed for curses and hexes and Traditional Witches often view Hex Witches as pariahs. Also refered to as Wrath Magic or Wrath Craft, aggressive magick spells are often used to attract people with high levels of anger or hatred in order to augment the practitioner's power and for other possible uses of these people's hightened emotions. To be fair, everybody who works with magick will sometimes use aggressive magick. The original Wiccans and some sects today still use overtly aggressive magic and cursing, but any spellwork utilizing aggressive witchcraft needs to be viewed with a critical eye, as its end results usually do not bode well for the emotional and spiritual well-being of the practitioner and runs counter to the spiritual goal of practicing the Craft. 

Lunar Witch (Moon Witch): A witch who follows the cycles of the moon, being in tune with the moon and natural cycles and rhythms. They hold rituals and work Moon Magick on the new and full moons, and perhaps also on the waxing and waning quarter moons. The regularity of the Moon’s phases (its ability to shape shift) was a way for ancient civilizations to be able to keep time and Lunar Witches are intuned to time and the power of "shape shifting".

Red Witch: These are witches who specialize in the Art of Deception. They endeavor to change their appearance and create illusions. They are very good at hiding themselves and the things they want to conceal. They are said to able to tell if someone is lying and to be able to see through other's deceptions. There are some who speculate that the origin of the name "red witch" may have had to do with blood rituals, however the most likely origin of the name refers to red haired witches in general. Historically red hair has been the supposed mark of an evil seductress and deceiver and in Christian Europe red hair was often seen as an indicator of guilt in the eyes of witch hunters. This prejudice towards "gingers" continues to this day.

"In England we burnt redheads at the stake, because we thought they were witches. There are still young redheads in Britain getting ripped for having red hair."
Damian Lewis.

Sea Witch: (see above: 'Elemental Witch ~ Water /Sea Witch')  Some modern day water witches refer to themselves as Sea Witches to express their affinity for the sea and the sea shore. However in ancient mythology a Sea Witch (Sea Hag) was a malevolent magickal being known for tempting mermaids to give up their immortality and for luring sailors to their doom.

Secular Witch: One who practices a secular or non-theistic, non-relgious approach to the Craft, not connecting with deities in their rituals and magick. Secular witches believe the energy used in their magick comes from the Earth and natural world and they will use tools like plants and herbs,  crystals and stones, or other things that they do not worship as deities.

Solitary Witch (Solitaire): One who practices alone, without a family or group and without following any particular tradition. Solitary Witchcraft is simply a choice one makes, in varying degrees of separation from others, to go within and listen to the quiet voice of the essential nature of all things. Sometimes they are among that class of natural witches whose skills have been developed in previous lifetimes. There is a legend among witches that when an individual soul has practiced "the Craft" over a period of several lifetimes, the knowledge is reawakened upon reaching puberty.

 ,

 

Men in Witchcraft

 So light a fire!" Harry choked. "Yes...of course...but there's no wood!" ...
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD!" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT!”

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

 

Warlock: In common, but incorrect usage, the definition of a "warlock" is said to be the male version of a witch. However there is much debate about the usage of the word among witches and male practitioners of the Traditional Craft, many of whom find the term offensive and prefer to be known simply as witches, never referring to themselves as warlocks. The most common etymology of the word can possibly be traced back to the old English or Scottish word "waerloka" which many centuries ago had the meaning "oath breaker" or even "traitor". In which case, the term oath breaker may have been applied to witches as they had 'broken their oaths' with the Christian church, by becoming witches.Conversely though, the word "waerlak" meant "honor bound" and exactly which word became associated with witchcraft is a matter of speculation. Today some wiccans will use the term "warlocking" to refer to the excommunication of someone from their group or "coven".

Wizard: In popular culture reference (Harry Potter), a male witch is often called a "Wizard".  From the Old English “wys-ard,” meaning “wise one.” it originally referred to anyone whose wisdom was respected; but later came to mean a male witch; now it is used to mean a powerful and wise magician of either sex. In most cases male witches prefer to be called simply "Witch".

Further reading: "Men & Magic: Can Men Actually Be Witches?" (The Traveling Witch)

 



 

Other Common, (but misleading), Witchcraft Terminology

 Christian Witch: Many people in the Pagan community were raised in a religion that wasn't Paganism, and sometimes, it can be a challenge to set aside the beliefs with which you were raised. Occasionally, however, you'll encounter people who didn't set their beliefs aside at all, but have found a way to blend their Christian upbringing with Wicca or some other Pagan path that they've discovered later in life. So, what about the verse "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exodus 22:18) that appears in the Bible?  If you go strictly by the very definition of the words, one could not be a Christian Witch any more than one could be a Hindu Muslim or a Jewish Mormon. There are Christians who practice witchcraft within a Christian framework, but this is not true Witchcraft.

  • Of interest to note is that although the King James Bible version of Exodus 22:18 reads: "Thou shalt not suffer a WITCH to live", it is argued that the verse from the original Greek actually reads: "Thou shalt not suffer a POISONER to live". Under the direction of King James I of England, (James VI of Scotland), an English translation of the Christian Bible was published in 1611 and in keeping with James' paranoid obsession with witches, he ordered that the word "POISONER" be changed to "WITCH".  As the King James Bible has become the generally accepted standard English Bible this deliberate mistranslation has come to be accepted unquestioningly by most English speaking Christians as "gospel" . This theory of mistranslation of the word "poisoner" as "witch" is said by some scholars to be debatable, as based upon a possible mistranslation from the Hebrew in the ancient Greek texts. However, in the original passage from the Torah the verse in question refers to a M'khashephah. To the early Jews, a M'khashephah was a sorceress who used herbs in black magick rituals, which often involved the concocting of herbal poisons. So the ancient Greek translation of the word as "poisoner" would be historically correct. 

Satanic Witch: Satanic worshippers are not witches!  This is pernicious  epithet used by those who wish to demonize those practicing witchcraft.  Traditional Witches do not worship Satan as this is a later Christian concept not recognized in traditional pagan beliefs. Accordingly, the labels of “white witch” and “black witch , (popularly meaning a “good witch” as one who practices “white magick” and a “wicked witch” as one who practices “black magick”), are also misnomers as Traditional Witches practice a “natural magick” drawing on the forces of Nature and they refrain from attempting to manifest any form of black magick and the drawing down of negative or demonic energies.

  • Luciferian Witchcraft is considered one aspect of the black magick path. There can be some confusion about the being known as Lucifer and is he the being known as Satan (?) In some spiritual circles, Lucifer is known as the "light-bringer" and is the Sun God paired with the Moon Goddess Diana. But more often, Lucifer is seen as another name for the Christian devil or Satan. The general approach is that Lucifer was once an angel who fell from heaven (as told in Biblical history), but that doesn't necessarily make him the fully evil figure of Christian Satanic myth. He is better connected to mankind, and embraces both the light and dark sides of magickal energy. 

"The major misconception about Witchcraft today is that Witches worship Satan, which is just not so. We do not believe in Satan. That is a Christian creation. We don’t worship evil. Indeed, to give evil a name is not a real intelligent thing to do, because then you give it power."

 ~ Silver Ravenwolf ~

 

Witches are the kind of more traditional, home and family, craft people,
so they're the ones who are making things; crocheting shawls and things like that.
But then they also have that slightly confident, dangerous, edge. 

 ~Deborah Harkness~ 

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 The Traditions of Witchcraft

 African Tradition(s): Different African tribes refer to witchcraft differently. In African traditions there are generally three classifications of practitioners who use magick...

(1) The “Thakathi”: A Tagati is a malevolent practitioner who operates in secret to harm others or who uses poisons and familiar spirits to carry out harmful deeds. The term has come to be used to refer only to negative, harmful uses of medicines derived from plants, animals and minerals.

(2) The “Sangoma”: (usually female) who is a diviner, akin to a fortune-teller, often predicting or advising on a person's future, or identifying the guilty party in a crime.

(3) The “Inyanga”: (exclusively male) Incorrectly thought of as the witch doctor, the Inyanga is the doctor of the tribe , more correctly, a naturopath. Each Inyanga trains his son and the information is thus passed on from generation to generation.

  • Santeria: Santería is a popular religious movement originating in Cuba that combines African and Roman Catholic themes. Santería, “The Way of the Saints",   developed among African slaves in Cuba, and has spread throughout the Caribbean and the United States. The followers of this religion join in mysterious rituals, which are often mistakenly believed to be forms of witchcraft. Most magick in Santería comes under the “white magick” classification: spells for good luck, money and cures. Santeros who deal exclusively in "black magick"spells and curses, (brujería), come primarily from Congo tribal ancestry and are called "mayomberos", or “black witches.”
  • Vodoun (or the anglicized Voodoo):Often incorrectly associated with witchcraft Voodoun is an originally African faith now practiced in the Caribbean and the southern US which combines elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magickal and religious rites, and it is characterized by sorcery and spirit possession. The main difference between voodoun and witchcraft is the spiritual aspect. Witchcraft is a "spiritual practice", but Voodoun is a true religion.

American Tradition(s): As in most areas of the world where the native peoples were colonized by European Christians  the concept of witchcraft, as we think we understand it today, had not existed prior to the arrival of their arrival. Even when the label of “witch” was used; it was more often applied to the European religious dissenters and not the native people themselves. The ancient peoples believed that the Gods they venerated inhabited the land itself. When these early Pagans wished to honor their Gods, they created a connection between their homeland, where their Gods resided, and the land where they stood. In this way, the new land became an extension of the homeland and when a Witch is within the homeland, they evoke or invoke the land itself as the connection to spirit world. It was therefore quite natural for European settlers of traditional pagan beliefs, who immigrated to America, to adopt the local myths and customs into their own beliefs and rituals.  (see also our "American Witchcraft" webpage)

  • Appalachian 'Granny' Tradition: The tradition of Appalachain Folk Magick dates back to the first settlers of the Appalachian Mountains who came to the United States from Scotland and Ireland in the 1700's and who brought with them their "Old World" magickal traditions. Those traditions were then blended with the local tradition of the Cherokee Tribes into a combination of local herbal folk remedies and charms, faith healing, storytelling and magick. The 'Granny' Witches will often call themselves 'Doctor Witches' or 'Water Witches' depending upon whether they are more gifted in healing and midwifery, or if they are more in tune with dowsing for water, lay lines and energy vortexes. This tradition is termed 'Granny' from the prominent role played by older women in the mountain communities.
  • Hoodoo Tradition: (regional synonyms for Hoodoo witchcraft include conjuration and/or root-work.) Hoodoo is an American Witchcraft tradition created by African-American slaves in the New World.  A  folk magick tradition of the Gullah People of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Hoodoo's roots are in the spiritual practices that evolved from a number of West African traditions blended with the beliefs and practices of other cultural traditions such as American Indian spirituality and European ceremonial magick. This form of spiritual practice revolves around the natural power of the Earth and, like many American forms of folk magick, it is considered an offshoot of  Appalachian 'Granny' Magic. Following  the Great Migration of African-Americans from the rural south in the first half of the 20th century, Hoodoo practice spread throughout the United States. 
  • Pow-Wow Tradition: (Pennsylvania Dutch Tradition) Taken from the Algonquin word  “pauwau",  which means literally "vision seeker", its principles encompass shamanic like rituals of healing through visions and the application of traditional medicines, which are often accompanied by prayers, incantations, songs, and dances. The word pauwau (pow-wow) was came to be used for American Indian ceremonies and councils because of the important role played by the pauwau in both. The Pow Wow Tradition places great significance on the vision seeker as the nexus of  group (coven) activites and rituals. Though some claim that the Pow-Wow Tradition is German in origin, but seems to be more of an amalgamation of local American Indian traditions with those traditions of the Dutch immigrants of pagan heritage who settled in the Pennsylvania region of the United States.

Asian Tradition(s): In Japan, the Shinto religion is itself a shamanistic religion and thus the Japanese do not attach negative connotations to witchcraft. The word "witch" is actually used with positive connotation in the Japanese language as a female with high skills or fame. Asian witchcraft generally centers on the relationship between the witch and the animal spirits or familiars and in Japanese witchcraft, witches are commonly separated into two categories: those who employ snakes as familiars and those who employ foxes; the Fox Witch being the most commonly seen witch in Japan. In China, witches employs books, staffs, and other implements, similar to the western traditions of witchcraft and the witches are often accompanied by familiars in the form of rabbits, which are universally associated with the Moon, with fertility and with the Goddess. The witches of China are notable for their  extensive knowledge of the occult properties of plants and herbs, as well as for clairvoyance and the study of astrology.

Australian Aboriginal Tradition: Aboriginal female elders were labeled by Christian missionaries as "witches" or, if men, as "witchdoctors"and these missionaries saw the traditional female practice of "love magick" or yilpinji as "witchcraft". Yilpinji is achieved through a creative integration of myth, song, gesture and art against a background of country. Yilpinji, love magick, is invariably based in the empowering link with the homeland shared by everyone in Aboriginal culture. 

Baltic Tradition: (Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania) Pagan and folk religions are thriving across the Baltic states. The old pagan religions are more or less continued today, but it often has influences from the more shamanistic elements of paganism. For many Baltic people the traditional customs and songs at the seasonal festivals are just part of the fabric of everyday life. In modern Latvia and Lithuania, the word ragana literally means “witch” and( not in the most positive sense of that word!). According to Lithuanian folklore, witches fly off to hilltops to rendezvous with Ragana , (the first witch), on her holy night, the Winter Solstice. Ragana in Lithuanian means the Seeing, (“the one who watches” and “the one who knows). Ragana  can predict the future from the signs and omens that can be observed. Ragana is not a doer, she is "The Watcher".  Baltic Witches are primarily Augury Witches (see: “Types of Traditional Witches”) who are similar to shamans. They are not "fortune tellers", as their gifts are of prophecy and not divination.

British (English)Tradition: (Not to be confused with 'British Traditional Wicca')  The belief in magic and magical practices has been documented in the Britain Isles for millennia and the belief that witches have magickal influence over the natural world has existed as long as the people of Britain themselves. It’s important to recognize that there are many people in Britain today who are practicing a traditional form of witchcraft that is a modern witchcraft, a modern folk magick, that is based on the practices and beliefs of the witches of antiquity that have been passed down through generations.

  • Traditional English Witches generally practice a solitary form of witchcraft and each traditional witch draws on an eclectic mix of beliefs and rituals from the myths and religions of the various pre-Roman and pre-Christian tribes and cultures of the British Isles. Traditional English Witches draw from the "energy" of "The Homeland” and the legends of its local people as passed down through the generations in "The Olde Tales".  As such, there are often differences between the practices of English witches and those witches from the Cornish, Welsh or Scottish regions, but there are also many similarities such as the common belief in the "magick" of the British forests and woodlands.  Although reviled and persecuted throughout English history, there is an underlying faith among the British people that the Witches of Olde England will always come forward to protect their homeland in times of trouble.

Bruja (Latin American) Tradition: (Brujería is the Spanish-language word for "witchcraft". Both sexes can practice; men being called brujo, women being called bruja.) The word bruja or brujo is used to apply to someone practicing low magic, or even sorcery, within a Hispanic and/or American Indian cultural context. A contemporary practitioner of Witchcraft or other Neopagan religion might not be considered a ​bruja, but the classic old wise woman on the edge of town who offers hexes and charms may be one. The practice of Brujeria, which is a form of folk magic, usually involves charms, love spells, curses, hexes, and divination. Many practices are rooted in a syncretic blend of folklore, traditional herbalism, and Catholicism. (Despite Brujería inheriting traits from Catholicism, there has been a long history of the Catholic Church demonizing Brujería, referring to it as "evil, Satanism", or the "workings of the devil". ) In general "bruja" is considered a negative term and a malevolent image often associated with shape shifting demons. 

Celtic (Irish) Tradition: The Irish Tradition is really many traditions under the general heading of "Celtic" and Celtic paths are some of the more popular traditional witchcraft traditions. Most are very eclectic and hold to the ancient Celtic myths, divinities, magickand rituals. They are practitioners of the Elements, the Ancient Ones and of Nature. They are usually physical and spiritual healers who work with plants, stones, flowers, trees, the fauns and the faires. For the Celtic Witch, magic is as natural as breathing.  Many Celtic Witches have a huge passion for rituals complete with things like candles, incense, and ritual robes as costunes and scenery in a sacred play. Each movement and word contained in a ritual has a purpose that builds power for a specific goal.  A whimsical part of the Celtic path is a belief in the Fey. In Celtic mythology, faeries are honored folk who some call upon for assistance. Depending on that spirit’s mood and proclivity aid may or may not be granted. 

Cornish Tradition: Cornish Witchcraft is part of the folk tradition and mythology of the people of Cornwall in South West England. It consists partly of folk traditions developed in Cornwall and partly of traditions developed by the people of Wales, Ireland and Brittany. There is much traditional folklore in Cornwall, often tales of giants and mermaids or the 'pobel vean' (little people). Many early British legends associate King Arthur with Cornwall, putting his birthplace at Tintage. The traditional magick of Cornish Witches commonly includes the work of the making and provision of magickal charms, simple rituals and magickal gestures with muttered incantations, the healing of disease and injury and divination. According to ancient tradition, the people from Cornwall make their annual pilgrimage to some Cornish Witch of repute, for the sake of having what they call "their protection renewed." Spring is always chosen for this object, because it is believed that when the Sun is returning the witch has more power to protect them from bad luck than at any other season. (Today " Cornish Witches " are often mistakenly referred to as cunning folk.)

Cunning-Craft Tradition: The Cunning Folk are (or were) practitioners of folk magick in rural Britain from the Medieval period through the early twentieth century. Most communities had a cunning man or cunning woman who could heal the sick and offer protection from supernatural threats. They were often of a high social status and literate, in some instances being schooled in such advanced occult subjects as astrology and alchemy. Cunning folk were widely used to aid in healing the afflictions of both the people and their livestock, most often being called upon by the poorer members of the community who could not afford the fees charged by apothecaries and physicians. Today, the cunning folk practitioners in Britain have mostly faded away as modern medicines and the free National Health Service have reduced the need for cheap folk remedies and the administration of social and mental health services have helped provide relief from calamity and misfortune.

  • The relationship between cunning-craft and witchcraft is controversial. The original cunning folk were often witch hunters; seeking out and persecuting an individual as a witch responsible for some evil or affliction and then performing curses against the supposed offender. The befuddling part of this was that the practices of the cunning-craft were almost identical to the practices of witchcraft, with the exception being that cunning folk professed to be Christians, in the failed attempt to avoid being condemned by the Church as heretics. However, Church authorities believed that as practitioners of magick, the cunning folk were really in league with the Devil and as such were akin to the alleged Satanic witches. Laws were enacted across England, Scotland and Wales that did condemn cunning folk and their magical practices, but there was no widespread persecution of them akin to the witch hunts.  There are some who claim that the ancient cunning-craft has evolved into British Traditional Wicca (BTW) and although there are obvious similarities with some of the modern magical practices carried out by Wiccans, most of the methods and techniques used by the old-time cunning folk bear little resemblance to those used by the neo-pagan Wiccans of today.

Dianic Tradition; Dianic Witchcraft is at its core a deeply feminist path that puts an emphasis on honoring the Goddess Diana in its tradition to the near exclusion of the concept of any divine male counterpart. (Diana was a goddess of chastity and she swore she would not marry.) Dianic Witches celebrate the divine feminine in all they do, and seek to empower women by asserting that, as the physical embodiment of the Goddess, women are the archetypes of the divine feminine. Today, in the 21st century, the practice of traditional Dianic Witchcraft has almost disappeared, having been usurped by the Dianic Wiccan movement with its new popularity coming from the abandonment of the original tenet of the exclusivity of female practitioners and this neo-pagan Wiccan practice now being open to all sexes, especially gay men, who Dianic Wiccans consider more acceptable to the goddess Diana than other men. (See:'Wiccan Movement / Dianic Wicca' under "Neo-Pagan (New Age) Movements")

Draconic Tradition: The Draconic Tradition the utilizates of the powers of the dragon.  and Draconian Witchcraft has always been passed down directly from teacher to student. Dragon guides and guardians work alongside the witches and offer their wisdom, protection, and strength during spell work and rituals. While draconic witches highly respect the dragons, they do not worship them. Draconian Witches share little about what they are doing, (Little Seen Gets More Done), and they hold that silence and magick must work together. Draconic Witchcraft is a rather solitary path and while one can work in a clan, dragon magick delves deep into the individual subconscious where one must face fears and memories long buried. As such, dragon magick calls for self-discipline, strength and the courage to seek knowledge alone.

Egyptian (Kemetic) Tradition: Traditional Egyptian witchcraft is not a common practice today, but many people who follow a magickal path will be drawn to the pantheon of Egypt in their studies. Today, many people who practice "Egyptian witchcraft" are really following a variation of Wicca that includes the involvement of Egyptian deities and this IS NOT the same type of practice that ancient Egyptians would have followed. Circles, altars, spells are all Wiccan-based but using terminology and Egyptian Gods and Goddesses and rituals performed during the time of ancient Egypt were usually performed by priests it wasn't something that people would have done for themselves as part of a spiritual or cultural practice.The actual spiritual path from Egypt is called Kemeticism which is a closer to true Egyptian witchcraft and religion. Many spells and rituals in Egyptian witchcraft center on the afterlife, and ensuring the safety and success of the soul after death. The well-known Egyptian Book of the Dead is filled with such spells. Healing magick was also common, and it was just as important as more scientific medical practices. Spells and rituals in a traditional Egyptian wichcraft framework are held in acordance within sophisticated astronomical time tables and the practices themselves are almost identical to other cultural tradtions with the local tribal gods and goddesses being replaced by classical Egyptian deities.

Familial (Hereditary) Tradition:  There are people in the pagan community who claim “born witch” status because of some ancestral link to an individual who was accused of witchcraft.  There are certainly hereditary traditions of witchcraft, but by “hereditary” it doesn’t mean that the practices are biologically inherited. These are typically small, familial traditions (Fam Trads), in which beliefs and practices are handed down from one generation to the next, and outsiders are rarely included.

Hellenistic (Ancient Greek) Tradition: A Greek witch is called a pharmakis (herb woman), from which we have the terms pharmacist and pharmacology. Their basic tradition is working with herbs, medicines and poison. In the Homeric tradition of Witchcraft was not an exclusively female thing, so Greek witches are both male and female. Many Greek tradition witches work with Hecate, the ancient Greek goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. (Hecate’s most sacred familiar is the dog.) Many Greek  witches identify with  Medea, who in Greek mythology was an enchantress of divine descent and who had the gift of prophecy. Medea was an outright witch and used ointments and potions to both poison and heal, so it is quite right to associate modern pharmacology and healing with Hellenistic witchcraft. On the dark side, the modern perception of Greek witchcraft is that witchcraft is malevolent with its practitioners intentionally causing harm to others, with the evil eye.

Nordic Tradition (Seiðr): A type of traditional witchcraft practiced in Norse and Germanic tribal societies which flourished during the Northern European  Iron Age.  In Norse mythology it is associated with both the god Oðinn and the goddess Freyja.  "Seiður" is the Icelandic word which is used to describe their magick rituals. The female practitioners were called "vísendakona", or woman of science, and the men were called "seið-menn", or the men of magick ritual.  Seiður was a shamanic ceremony, involving altered states of consciousness and cross-dimensional journeys, wherein sorcerers would gain secret knowledge and accumulate great power which was handed to them by the gods themselves. Most of the symbols and spells appear to be for the use of simple problems in life, from catching a thief, to overthrowing an enemy. Others help heal livestock, whilst others look at cursing the animals of another. There are charms to help preserve food and ale, staves to bless the bearer with strength or courage, or symbols to help with fishing or prevent death by drowning. Many of the Nordic female witches are Augury Witches (see above) and are referred to as a Völva ("wand carrier" or "carrier of a magick staff"), who practice meditation or introspection for the purpose of clairvoyance and divination.

Romanic (Ancient Roman) Tradition: Roman witches were not figures from mythology, but were seen as women one might encounter in the market on any day. The witch served various roles in the Roman imagination; she represented popular fears and fantasies either as a magical helpmate to a male hero in mythology, or as a destructive, emasculating force in Roman literature. Generally, a witch in the Roman era had one of the most evil reputaions in ancient witchcraft. A female witch, according to Roman folklore, was a strix (a night-owl) that could assume human form, and was the enemy of humans, particularly women and children. The line between the wise women who used magic and a strix demon was pretty thin. The former could be induced to bless your babies and the latter would drink their blood. The most famous witch in Roman literary history was an elderly wise woman called Canidia who appears in the poems of Horace and and who may have been based on a real woman. In the poems she is said to practice all kinds of magick, both for good or evil. (Horace writes in one instance that Canidia invoked a strix and asked it for an egg and a feather for a dark magick spell. Canidia herself wasn't a strik, but she could summon them for evil purposes.) In modern day witchcraft, adherents to the ancient Roman tradtion rarely refer to themselves as Romanic Witches, so as not to to be confused with Romani (Gypsy) magickal practitioners. Those who do practice in the Roman way work through animal spirit intermediaries. primarily owl familiars, the owl today enjoying a much more benevolent reputation than the owls of old, the owl now being seen as a bringer of wisdom, revealer of secrets and omens and the bestower of intuition and clairvoyance. The Roman witch's magick will usually reflect the powers of the animal they work through.

Scottish Tradition(s): Historically, Witchcraft in Scotland is more known for its persecution than its practice. King James Stuart VI, claiming divine right, declared himself King of Scotland, King of England, King of Ireland. He authored and had printed the book “Daemonologie”, that described how, why and who was to be tortured into confession for witchcraft.  King James VI quotes the Holy Bible listing Eve as the weaker sex for his reasons of accusing wealthy, but widowed women as more women were tried, tortured and executed than men. The Aberdeen Witch burnings took place from February 1596 to April 1597, as twenty-three women and one man were tried and convicted of witchcraft.  King James paid several visits to Aberdeen, to spur the hysteria into a mob fury that he had created and set to law by his book.  Few who were accused were ever acquitted or found not-guilty by their persecutors. 

  • Hecatine (Scottish) Tradition: A tradition in The Craft that comes from a Scottish origin which preserves the unique rituals of the Scots. Drawing on the same cultural influences of Pictish Witchcraft they differ in that Pictish is a more solitary practice. A fairly secretive tradition, not much is known of their rituals by outsiders. In Wicca the Caledonii Movement mirrors much of the same practices and the two are often confused. 
  • Pictish (Scottish) Tradition: Originally an ancient tradition from Scotland, it is a "solitary witch" form of "The Craft". Since the beginning of tribal life in Scotland, there were women and men who worked with nature, the elements, herbs, and seership. Known as ‘soothsayers’, healers, magicians, witches and wizards, they lived and worked peacefully among all tribes. Pictish Witchcraft attunes itself to all aspects of nature; animal, vegetable, and mineral and it is more magickal in nature and practice than it is religious. Pictish witches are solitary and rarely, if ever, do they work in groups or covens.

Slavic (Russian) Tradition:  In traditional Slavic witchcraft, (Rodnovery), the power of magick is considered a realistic part of life without any link to the devil or demonology. It is believed anybody can learn witchcraft with the proper teaching and that teaching often comes in the form of riddles that the initiate must solve. The Slavic witch often possesses the ability to astral travel and can quite easily fall in and out of trance states. Slavic witches observe three canons during their rituals; nudity, silence and not looking back after the working’s conclusion. Russia is considered the birth place of Traditional Shamanism and Slavic Witchcraft draws heavily on this influence.

Stregheria (Italian) Tradition: Stregheria (an archaic Italian word for "witchcraft") is sometimes referred to as "La Vecchia Religione" (the old religion). These witches are called Streghe (plural), with the title Strega (for a female) and Stregone (for a male). They follow a tradition that is based on the appreciation of wisdom and beauty. Stregheria is not a singular tradition, but instead a collection of practices that have descended from the native traditions of the Italian/Sicilian regions. It is said by some to be based on the teachings of a 14th century woman named Aradia, but, this does not mean that witchcraft in Italy began in the 14th century. The tradition taught by Aradia was a revival of the Old Ways of the folk religions of the ancient Etruscans and Romans  during a time of persecution of the peasants of Italy by the Catholic nobility. To many modern Stregherian Witches most Catholic saints are simply ancient pagan gods dressed in Christian garb and the majority of  Stregherians have removed these saints Catholic veneer and restored them to their pagan deity heritage.

Teutonic (Germanic) Tradition:: From ancient times the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally, this includes the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples. A Teutonic Witch finds inspiration in the differing traditional myths and legends and in the Gods and Goddesses of  "The Homeland”” where each individual dialect originated. A German Teutonic Witch might differ from the Nordic Tradition, for example, in that they may not focus on manifesting prophetic power like the witches of Scandinavia.

Welsh Tradition: Welsh witchcraft is the traditional practice of magick and spiritual beliefs that stem from the Wales region of the United Kingdom. There is a lot of overlap in this area with Celtic or Scottish witchcraft, but there really are a number of unique characteristics to Welsh witchcraft specifically. With great reliance placed on the power of the wise man or the wise woman, witchcraft in Wales had long been connected to healing. The term witch has meant many things to the Welsh people over the years, but for most the word really meant the local healer, someone who made poultices and medicines and perhaps had charms or spells for healing cattle and other farm animals. Welsh witches believe themselves to be one of the oldest traditions. It is sometimes said to be confined to certain families and members of the family become "awakened" to their calling and pass through 9 levels of attainment. It is theorhetically hereditary, but you can "be adopted" into the tradition.

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Last Updated: January 23, 2021

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