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Which Witch?

Which Witch?

The Craft has many belief systems such as being a Hereditary Witch or a Gardnerian, although there are some who do not fit into any category, but have their own way or a combination of the other systems. Listed below are some of the more common ones:

 

Witch

The term 'Witch' in ancient times, was given to a European practitioner of pre-Christian Folk Magick, relating to herbs, healing, wells, rivers and stones. Also known as one who practices Witchcraft. Witchcraft or The Craft Of The Witch, is using magick, especially utilizing Personal Power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colours and other natural objects. Although this can be see as spiritual, Witchcraft is not a religion. Some followers of Wicca do also describe themselves as a Witch.

 

Hereditary

The term "Hereditary Witch" means that they have been born into or married into a "Witch Family" and that the knowledge has been passed down through generations, it also predates Gardnerian Witchcraft. Most Hereditaries remain secret or only practice rituals within the family unit.

 

Traditionals

This is a term used for a witch who is instinctual. They seem to know the ways or have an instinct about them, even though they have never been taught by anyone in their family or a Coven. Most of their learning comes from studying the Craft and going along with what they think is right for them. Some people believe that an Instinctual Witch is one who has been reincarnated with the knowledge of the Craft from a previous life.

 

Hedge witches

Hedge witches follow a nature based path, using herbs and plants for making soups and lotions in their magick, usually for healing. They usually work outside or in their kitchen and their rites are usually less formal than other systems.

 

Solitaries

A Solitary Witch is one who worships and practises alone. They may have chosen to work like this or maybe they do not know anyone else to work with or a Coven to join .Solitaries can follow any path that they wish, adapting for their own needs. Many Witches start out as solitary learning and studying before they approach a Coven to join. The advantages of being solitary are that you can work anywhere and at any time that suits you without waiting for others or having the commitments of a Coven. But after some time you may feel that you would want to join a Coven to be with others in the Craft and for their support and companionship, although today the internet has brought many solitaries together through web groups, chat rooms and Witches and Pagan events and gatherings.

 

Wicca/Wiccans

Wicca is a Neo-Pagan nature based religion popularised in 1954 by Gerald Gardener ( See Founders & Traditions ). At the time Gerald called it Witchcraft and then came up with the term 'Wicca'. Wicca being a modern survival of an old Witchcraft mystery religion of which he was an initiate and that it had existed in secret for hundreds of years, was Pagan and pre-dated Christianity. Various Wiccan lineages or traditions have since branched out of that popularised by Gardner. So it came to be named Gardnerian Wicca. Each lineage has distinctive rituals, oral traditions, writings and most remain secretive and require that members become initiated. Wiccans view Deity as Goddess and God, thus it is polytheistic. Polytheistic being a belief in or worship of multiple gods usually assembled in a pantheon together associated with mythology and rituals. An example of  such pantheons are -Greek with deities such as Artemis, Demeter and Dionysus. Or maybe Celtic with Druids, Cernunnos and Epona. But the Celtic can also be split into British, Welsh, Irish, Scottish and Gaulish. Wicca also embraces the practice of Magick and the practicing of Witchcraft is an integral part of being Wiccan. Wiccans also accept reincarnation. Religious festivals are held in observance of the Full Moon and of other astronomical and agricultural phenomena, Circles are created with personal power in which rituals occur. It has no associations with Satanism

 

Gardnerians

Gerald Gardner along with Doreen Valiente were the first authors and Witches to write openly about the Craft and their involvements in it, after the Witchcraft Act was repealed in the 1950's. In Gardnerian Witchcraft there are a lot of strict rituals and rites and of working on the Astral and Psychic Plane. Only a person who is recognised by Gardnerian Witches can initiate another into becoming a Gardnerian Witch. The original "Book Of Shadows" by Gerald Gardner is used for studying and learning and the Three Degrees of Initiation are practised.

 

Alexandrians

In the 1960's and 70's Alex Sanders ( see Founders & Traditions ) brought a lot of public and media attention to the Craft and was seen as a flamboyant character, but it helped to bring more knowledge and the acceptance of the Craft to the public. Alexandrian Craft has rituals that can be adapted to suit people in many ways and is more open-based than Gardnerian, even though it is based largely upon Gardnerian Wicca with ceremonial Magick and Qabalah, but the Three Degrees of Initiation are still practised. Stewart and Janet Farrar worked with Alex for many years and the Alexandrian ways and rituals can be found in their books.

   

Eclectic Wiccans

There are now a growing number of Eclectic Wiccans who do not believe that any teaching or traditional initiation is necessary to practice.

 

 

 Page By Witching Puppy