What is Witchcraft?

A practitioner of a nature-based belief system or religion. Not all Witches follow the same belief system. Some practice what is called the "old religion" which has its roots in pagan pre-monotheistic folk ways and beliefs and usually follows the seasonal cycles. These belief systems or "traditions" of Witches are often based upon the particular culture from whence they originated. Many Witches believe in a polytheistic deity structure (usually based upon the local gods and goddesses of the area of origin), but some simply practice magick (sometimes spelled with a 'k' to differentiate it from stage magic). Witches may practice alone as 'solitaries" or in covens. There are also family groups or traditions which trace their practices and beliefs within the same close group throughout several generations.

Pagan Traditions: Wicca, Druidry, More

There are many different pagan paths. Learn about each of them, and decide which one is right for you.

Choosing a pagan tradition

So you've decided that you want to be a witch. But what kind of witch are you? Are you a Wiccan? Are you a witch? Are you some other kind of pagan?

What's the difference anyway?

Before you get too flustered, let me reassure you. When it comes to choosing a tradition that is right for you, there are no wrong decisions. In fact, learning about all the different pagan traditions out there can be both fun and educational.

Some of us are lucky and learn from our parents. But many more of us become "born again pagans" later in life and have to learn it all from scratch. When it comes to choosing a tradition, I always remember something that Vodou priestess Luisa Teish wrote in her book Jambalaya. She said that we should practice what our ancestors before us have practiced. Since most of my ancestors came from Ireland, I've looked into Celtic (and to a lesser extent Norse) traditions as my inspiration. You may wish to explore the pre-Christian traditions of your own ancestors.

Most of the paganism that you read about today stems from a particular tradition known as Gardnerian Wicca. Gerald Gardner, for whom the tradition was named, claimed that he learned the practice from his elder female relatives. This tradition is highly formalized, with a hierarchical coven structure and a series of initiation rites for members. If you are fond of ritual and ceremony, then Gardnerian Wicca, or Alexandrian Wicca (started by a former Gardnerian) might be right for you. If you wish to become initiated, though, you must find an existing coven that is taking new members and then study for many months.

If you enjoy ceremony, then you may also want to explore the Golden Dawn traditions. Not everyone who practices Golden Dawn considers it a religion; they may instead consider a means of working magic. The Golden Dawn tradition is descended from the Freemason, and many members of Freemason groups identify quite strongly as Christians.

If the thing that attracted you to paganism was its emphasis on nature and the Feminine Divine, then Faerie Wicca and Dianic Wicca might be just the ticket for you. Druidry is another possibility.

You may decide to step outside the Wiccan traditions altogether and explore a Norse pagan tradition such as Asatru, or an Afro-Carribean tradition such as Santeria or Voodoo. You may even decide to explore Native American shamanism.

And if, in the long run, you still can't decide, you don't have to. Eclectic witches borrow elements from a number of different traditions and combine them into their own special spiritual path. Sometimes other pagans call us "Chinese menu witches" because we seem to incorporate a little bit of everything in our practice. And why not? I happen to love Chinese food myself.

Regardless of what spiritual path you end up choosing, I hope that it empowers you to develop a closer relationship with the Divine.

Traditional Wicca

A modern form of Witchcraft is called "Wicca." Traditional Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner, is coven based and each coven can trace its lineage (line of teaching passed on by initiated Traditional priests and priestesses) back to Gardner himself. There are offshoots of Gardnerian Traditional Wicca such as Alexandrian Wicca, Georgian Wicca and many others. Traditional Wiccans are considered a 'mystery' religion, require initiation by the coven and have a "degree system" or different levels of rank based upon coven training and the readiness of the initiate to accept the duties and responsibilities of that degree. They have a core of inner knowledge-often called the "Book of Shadows"-which is known only to initiated Wiccans. Most Traditional Wiccans believe in the balance of male-female divinity. Traditional Wiccans are seldom solitary except for those 'Elders'-usually former priests and priestesses-who may have retired from active coven involvement.

Other Forms of Wicca

A newer form of Wicca has developed since the 1970's which is looser in structure and practice than the Traditional Wicca. These practitioners may follow a mixture of various or "eclectic' pagan and/or non-pagan beliefs. Some have formed 'traditions' or covens of their own, with or without a degree system, and have written a "book of shadows" outlining their own belief system and coven structure. Many are solitary practitioners who practice their beliefs and formulate their rituals in their own way.

Pagans

Since the terms Witch and Wiccan are often mistakenly interchanged, many simply call themselves "pagans" or Neo-pagans" when talking with others who may not be familiar with the complexity of the different belief systems. But just as not all Christians are Lutheran or Catholic, so not all pagans are Witches or Wiccan. Neo-paganism is a term used most often to describe people who follow an earth-based belief system or religion. Druids and the Norse tradition of Asatru (who tend to prefer the term 'heathen") are considered to be pagan belief systems, but their adherents are neither Witches nor Wiccans. Neo-paganism should also not be confused with the "New Age" movement as pagans are almost exclusively involved in distinctive nature religions or earth-based practices while New Age spirituality draws from many sources and esoteric spiritual techniques.