I received this as an email many moons ago and thought I would share it :)

The word WITCH has many connotations. It is a label stuffed full of stereotypes and misconceptions. Those of us living out of the broom closet have had many opportunities to experience these misconceptions firsthand.

At worst these misconceptions are based on fear and ignorance. At best they are rooted in stereotypes and bad made-for-TV movies. Though I have been openly Pagan for the past six years, I have been fortunate thus far to escape the nastier side of religious intolerance. I have taught open classes, led open circles, done Pagan radio shows on commercial radio stations, and written Pagan articles credited with my real name. I have had ample opportunity to encounter all flavors and shades of misconceptions.

The single most obvious misconception is that there is a connection between Satanism and Paganism or Wicca. The confusion is understandable since Satanists often call themselves Witches. However, Witches are not Satanist. When someone calls me a Satanist I have a simple response. I don't believe in Satan, therefore I am clearly not a Satanist.

 

TYPES OF MISCONCEPTIONS

Most of the other misconceptions I have encountered fall into several categories. The first is that there is no such thing as a practicing Witch -- that the only Witches you ever see are fictional media Witches. This misconception is followed closely by the idea that there are good Witches and bad Witches who practice "White" and "Black" magic respectively. The next most common misconception is that Witches are more powerful than "normal" people. Other misconceptions involve the way a Witch is supposed to look or behave.

 

THE IMAGINARY WITCH

The imaginary Witch who can twitch her nose and make dirty dishes disappear is, alas, complete television fiction. Fortunately, Witches who suck the life out of children or exact bloody revenge for some social slight are also B-grade fiction. Most distressing is the complete lack of brains exhibited by these media "Witches." The pettiness of their concerns is matched only by the shortsightedness of their methods. The less people believe in these caricatures the better off we all are. How harmful are these stereotypes? Do these portrayals affect popular opinion or merely reflect it? As a practicing Witch and mom, my concerns are dictated by my scope of influence. I'm not the head of a major production studio. I can't prevent Hollywood from creating stupid, fictional Witches. Children seem perfectly able to separate fictional cartoon witchcraft from what Mom does on the Full Moons.

 

GOOD WITCH, BAD WITCH

The whole idea of good Witches with white magic and bad Witches with black magic is a huge misconception, just like the myth of the good guys with white hats and the bad guys with the black hats. I have yet to meet anyone who was totally aligned with good or evil. It has been so long since I thought of witchcraft in those black-and-white terms that the last time somebody asked me if I was a good Witch I said, "Yes, I am. If I was bad at being a Witch after all these years why would I bother with it?" There are good and bad Witches just like there are good and bad teachers, bookkeepers, cooks, plumbers, and doctors.

 

THE POWER OF WITCHES

The simplest misconception is the idea that Witches are more powerful than they really are, especially when it comes to money and gambling. However, if I was any good at picking lucky Lotto numbers I would have done it for myself a long time ago.

Misconceptions also abound around love spells. Love is a magical phenomenon, no doubt about it. Goddess help you when it catches you by surprise. It's not a pretty sight. However, love spells are widely recognized as being foolish and highly unethical. Whether a love spell would work or not is irrelevant. Why would anyone in their right mind want it to work? Who wants a lover who is only there because he or she was bespelled? I have a Pagan friend who was accused of casting spells to ensnare the object of her affections. She was highly offended. It is more than a little insulting when your beloved accuses you of casting a spell to make him or her fall in love with you, as though your appearance and personality were so dreadful that you had to resort to magical coercion to find a mate.

 

WHO IS A "REAL" WITCH?

Sadly, the most consistent misconceptions I personally have encountered have come from some other Witches who were concerned about my "right" to call myself a Witch. It's the One Right Way syndrome: the idea that only a Witch initiated and trained by the right person in the right way is a real Witch. My feeling is that witchy is as witchy does.

 

THE APPEARANCE OF THE WITCH

Finally, there is a whole conglomeration of misconceptions about the way a Witch is supposed to look. The popular image of a toothless, grinning hag with warts on the end of her nose and stringy hair has largely been replaced by stunning young vixens dressed all in black with intense gazes. Men can be Witches, as can perky blondes in blue jeans, harried parents of toddlers, bank tellers, salespeople, programmers, lawyers, or waitresses.

 

DEALING WITH MISCONCEPTIONS

When I call myself a Witch I always get a strong reaction (as opposed to when I call myself a bookkeeper). The most common response is curiosity. The next most common is "Oh, so is my friend, cousin, co-worker, etc." Occasionally people couldn't care less, and even more rarely do people react with fear or prejudice. When I describe witchcraft as I practice it I am very open because I am so wary of adding to the giant steaming pile of misconceptions that already exists. I emphasize the similarities between witchcraft and other paths, as well as making it very clear what witchcraft is not.

Witchcraft is not Satanism, it is not a quick path to riches and glory, and it is not something only special people can do. Witchcraft is exactly what each Witch makes it to be. It is the craft of the Witch. It is a dynamic eclectic path with a rich body of lore and (thank the Goddess) no central, controlling priesthood.

We are fortunate to have several excellent books on the market that divest witchcraft of its misconceptions. Among these are "DRAWING DOWN THE MOON" by: Margot Adler and "THE TRUTH ABOUT WITCHCRAFT TODAY" by: Scott Cunningham.

We are also luck to be living in a fairly enlightened age. Witch burnings, though a thing of the past, are still rather fresh in the Pagan memory. We still have a long way to go. There are many Witches who are terrified of being discovered for fear of losing their jobs, their homes, or their children. This is why I encourage my students to be as open about their practice as they can. Every truthful account of witchcraft does a little bit more to drive back the misconceptions that endanger us all. As a practicing Witch you are your own best example of real witchcraft. So if you are ever confronted by misconceptions, take a deep breath, ground and center, and whenever possible enlighten and educate. You will be paving the way to a time when all Witches can dance skyclad and fearless under the light of the luminous Full Moon.

~The information above was taken from Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar 1999~