Spirit Walk Ministry
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
United States
email
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
Apotropaic Witch (Protection Witch): Apotropaic magick or protective magick is a type of magick intended to turn away evil influences, as in deflecting misfortune or averting the evil eye. An Apotropaic Witch practices a magick intended to deflect misfortune or evil through the employment of rituals and symbols coming from local beliefs or out of tradition, such as Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs, charms (lucky horseshoes). amulets, or gestures such as crossed fingers or knocking on wood. It could be that at least some of today's internet "memes" might be attempts at protective apotropic spell work intended to counter the influences of those using memes for destructive aggressive magick.
Augury Witch: Similar to a shaman in practice, the augury witch will help to direct those witches 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 combine both the practices of witchcraft with 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): Cosmic 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.
Crossroads Witch: Crossroads are heavily charged places of magick. According to Carl G. Jung, a crossroads is a mother symbol; in that respect, it corresponds to the emphasis placed on the Mother Goddess in contemporary witchcraft. The crossroads also represents the intersection of positive, neutral and negative forces. It is a place of flux and of change. The Greek goddess of witchcraft Hecate was also goddess of the crossroads, and sacrifices were made to her at such locations. It was believed that Hecate appeared at crossroads on clear nights, accompanied by spirits and howling dogs. Crossroads Witchs are said to stand at these Hecatian crossroads, embracing neither the light nor the dark and making no judgment or excuses for their actions nor for the manifestation of their magick.
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 Eclectic Witch is someone who is constantly evolving and who incorporates many different traditions, cultures, and influences into their path. An Eclectic Witch will ensure that all tools and traditions used in their craft fit together harmoniously. They will make sure to research and to be open and accepting of many different cultures and traditions. Their craft will be a blend of many different paths, cultures, and beliefs. Over the course of their journey as a witch, they will blend what they have learned from other crafts to make it their own unique path. It’s an ongoing process of trying new traditions and learning about how they might fit into the witch world. (read also: 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.
Fairy Witch (Faery/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-Tradition of American Witchcraft.
Garden Witch (Green 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.
Grey Witch: Grey magick, also called neutral magick, is magic that is not performed for specifically beneficial reasons, but is also not focused towards completely hostile practices. It is seen as a continuum between white and black magic. Every thing in nature is usually seen as being dualistic, (black/white, male/female, positive/negative) and a Grey Witch is a person who practices witchcraft and is comfortable with the idea of duality. A Grey Witch is a person who has made a decision that humans are both good and evil and has decided not to favor either side. This means that they may not curse anyone, but they certainly aren’t blessing anyone either. A Grey Witch could also have the belief that they are a neutral force rather than a dual one. Grey witches often do not believe in karma or the rule of three and know that they have to be the ones to create justice in their life.This is the path that the grey witch has taken, recognizing in all things created by nature there is a balance between good and the evil that plagues us.
Hearth Witch (Kitchen or 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. A Hedgewitch is a witch who practices both wortcunning and hedge riding (see below) and has knowledge and skills about herbs and a great deal of wisdom about the natural world in general, particular their local ecology. Hedge Witchcraft is a path that is somewhat shamanic in nature 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.
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: 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 . Aggressive magick spells are often used to attract people with high levels of anger or hatred in order to augment the practitioner's power to inflame a situation and create irrational fears and aggression in order to create chaos and confusion. as with the employment of social media "memes" . To be fair, most everybody who works with magick will sometimes use aggressive magick, 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.
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.
Water Witch: A water witch is simply one who works magick using primarily the element of water and their magick is most often recognized by the public for their ability to locate underground sources of water (dowsing). The water witch often incorporates lunar and solar magick into their practice. The moon and the sun's gravitational pull combine to control the tides, and as such, are seen as a part of water witchcraft. Another common practice of the water witch is weather magick. As the oceans also affect the weather, many water witches find working with the weather beneficial to their magick. (see also above "Elemantal Witch" ('Water Element Witch')
Men in Witchcraft
"It really gets to me!
I see so many Instagram photos, quotes, articles and slide shows
made by fellow witches,
and so many of them revolve around women,
referring to witches exclusively as "she" and "her"
and acting like only pretty young girls with long hair can cast spells.
It's silly to me!"
Anonymous
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, 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; and later came to mean a powerful and wise magician of either sex.
(Further reading: "Men & Magic: Can Men Actually Be Witches?")
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 perfidiously scramble their Christian indoctrination with Wicca or some other pagan path that they've discovered later in life.
So, what then 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 wording of the passage, one could not be a Christian Witch any more than one could be a Nazi Jew. There are those who may say they are practicing witchcraft within a Christian framework, but this is not honest witchcraft, merely the manifestation of an inability (or fear) to commit uncompromisingly to their spiritual evolution.
"The Church for its part forbids the practice of witchcraft and warns against the dangers of engaging in both sorcery and divination.The Church also teaches the fundamental incompatibility of believing in multiple gods,even if someone claims to believe in both the one true God of the Bibleand other gods."
Michelle Arnold (Catholic Answers)
Satanic Witch: Witches are not Satanic worshippers. 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.
"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. because then you give it power."
~ Silver Ravenwolf ~
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Spirit Walk Ministry
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
United States
email