SOme People’s View Point on White Magick

The Various Colors of Witchcraft – White Magick

The White Witch

O brothers mine, take care! Take care!
The great white witch rides out to-night.
Trust not your prowess nor your strength,
Your only safety lies in flight;
For in her glance there is a snare,
And in her smile there is a blight.

The great white witch you have not seen?
Then, younger brothers mine, forsooth,
Like nursery children you have looked
For ancient hag and snaggle-tooth;
But no, not so; the witch appears
In all the glowing charms of youth.

Her lips are like carnations, red,
Her face like new-born lilies, fair,
Her eyes like ocean waters, blue,
She moves with subtle grace and air,
And all about her head there floats
The golden glory of her hair.

But though she always thus appears
In form of youth and mood of mirth,
Unnumbered centuries are hers,
The infant planets saw her birth;
The child of throbbing Life is she,
Twin sister to the greedy earth.

And back behind those smiling lips,
And down within those laughing eyes,
And underneath the soft caress
Of hand and voice and purring sighs,
The shadow of the panther lurks,
The spirit of the vampire lies.

For I have seen the great white witch,
And she has led me to her lair,
And I have kissed her red, red lips
And cruel face so white and fair;
Around me she has twined her arms,
And bound me with her yellow hair.

I felt those red lips burn and sear
My body like a living coal;
Obeyed the power of those eyes
As the needle trembles to the pole;
And did not care although I felt
The strength go ebbing from my soul.

Oh! she has seen your strong young limbs,
And heard your laughter loud and gay,
And in your voices she has caught
The echo of a far-off day,
When man was closer to the earth;
And she has marked you for her prey.

She feels the old Antaean strength
In you, the great dynamic beat
Of primal passions, and she sees
In you the last besieged retreat
Of love relentless, lusty, fierce,
Love pain-ecstatic, cruel-sweet.

O, brothers mine, take care! Take care!
The great white witch rides out to-night.
O, younger brothers mine, beware!
Look not upon her beauty bright;
For in her glance there is a snare,
And in her smile there is a blight.

James Weldon Johnson, 1871 – 1938
Published on Poets.org

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White Witchcraft

White magic has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for selfless purposes. With respect to the philosophy of left-hand path and right-hand path, white magic is the benevolent counterpart of malicious black magic. Because of its ties to traditional pagan nature worship, white magic is often also referred to as “natural magic”.

In his 1978 book, A History of White Magic, recognised occult author Gareth Knight traces the origins of white magic to early adaptations of paleolithic religion and early religious history in general, including the polytheistic traditions of Ancient Egypt and the later monotheistic ideas of Judaism and early Christianity.

In particular, he traced many of the traditions of white magic to the early worship of local “gods and goddesses of fertility and vegetation who were usually worshipped at hill-top shrines” and were “attractive to a nomadic race settling down to an agricultural existence”. He focuses in particular on the nomadic Hebrew-speaking tribes and suggests that early Jews saw the worship of such deities more in terms of atavism than evil. It was only when the polytheistic and pagan Roman Empire began to expand that Jewish leaders began to rally against those ideas.

During the Renaissance
By the late 15th century, natural magic “had become much discussed in high-cultural circles”. “Followers” of Marsilio Ficino advocated the existence of spiritual beings and spirits in general, though many such theories ran counter to the ideas of the later Age of Enlightenment. While Ficino and his supporters were treated with hostility by the Roman Catholic Church, the Church itself also acknowledged the existence of such beings; such acknowledgement was the crux of campaigns against witchcraft. Ficino, though, theorised a “purely natural” magic that did not require the invocation of spirits, malevolent or malicious. In doing so, he came into conflict with Johannes Trithemius who refused to believe in Ficino’s theory but created spells and incantations of his own related to beneficial communication with spirits. His works, including the Steganographia, were not published until the 17th century and were then immediately placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum where they remained until the 20th century. Trithemius’ “disciple” Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was responsible for publishing some of his work and in turn created his own. His work included the De occulta philosophia libri tres which contained an outline of, among other things, classical elements, numerology, astrology and kabbalah and detailed ways of utilizing these relationships and laws in medicine, scrying, alchemy and rituals and ceremonies. Giambattista della Porta expanded on many of these ideas in his Magia Naturalis.

It is the coming-together of these ideas – early “natural” religions and later philosophical thinking – that Knight suggests is “at the root of the Western tradition of white magic”. Also at the root of white magic are symbols and religious symbolism in particular. The star, Knight gives as example, was of critical importance to Jewish tradition and then to early Christians (like the Star of David) and to later Masonic tradition and Neo-paganism.It continues to be of importance of white magic practitioners in the form of the pentagram and night-time ritual.

Zambelli goes further and suggests that white magic – though then not specifically distinct from its counterpart black magic – grew as the more acceptable form of occult and pagan study in the era of the Inquisition and anti-witchcraft sentiment. If black magic was that which involved Trithemius’ invocation of demons, Ficino’s “purely natural” white magic could be framed as the study of “natural” phenomena in general with no evil or irreligious intent whatsoever. Zambelli places academics like Giordano Bruno in this category of “clandestine” practitioners of magic.

Modern interpretations
In his 2009 book, Magic and Alchemy, Robert M. Place provides a broad modern definition of both black and white magic, preferring instead to refer to them as “high magic” (white) and “low magic” (black) based primarily on intentions of the practitioner employing them. His modern definition maintains that the purpose of white magic is to “do good” or to “bring the practitioner to a higher spiritual state” of enlightenment or consciousness. He acknowledges, though, that this broader definition (of “high” and “low”) suffers from prejudices as good-intentioned folk magic may be considered “low” while ceremonial magic involving expensive or exclusive components may be considered by some as “high magic”, regardless of intent.

According to Place, effectively all prehistoric shamanistic magic was “helping” white magic and thus the basic essence of that magic forms the framework of modern white magic: curing illness or injury, divining the future or interpreting dreams, finding lost items, appeasing spirits, controlling weather or harvest and generating good luck or well-being.

Goddess worship
Though not exclusively a female pursuit, modern white magic is often associated with stereotypically feminine concepts like that of a Mother goddess, fae, nature spirits, oneness with nature and goddess worship.In modern stories or fairy tales, the idea of “white witchcraft” is often associated with a kindly grandmother or caring motherly spirit. The link between white magic and a Mother Earth is a regular theme of practitioner Marian Green’s written work.

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White Witchcraft

Practiced to provide good intentions to the people around you.

The practitioners are often said to have a Wiccan faith. This is a religion which is guided by modern pagan beliefs. It allows one to look in the earth and aspire for its development.

Practitioners believe in the threefold return. This belief says that for every good action you make, the return of this is three times in magnitude. This also applies in the bad side. However Wiccan practice does not encourage bad practices in life.

Practitioners normally utilize prayers and rituals. They use spells to provide luck to the people around them.

Practitioners also use objects which are highly useful for witchcraft. Some witches utilize talismans and crystals. They are said to benefit a lot from such objects.

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Understanding White Witchcraft

White witchcraft is a common theme in movies and TV stories, but it’s a bit more of a tricky subject than you might think. If you have already done some study into Wicca or witchcraft, you probably already have a little introduction into the differences between black and white magic spells.

If you have decided to work with white witchcraft, that generally means you will only cast spells with positive intention and not do any hexing or curses. Of course, not everything can be labelled quite so neatly and you may have some thinking to do about your intentions when it gets into some of those in-between gray areas.

A curse is a clear type of “black magic” but what about a binding to just keep someone away from you? Some would say that it’s not harmful, but some might still see it as a negative approach to interfering with another person’s free will.
Some people feel that the whole concept of white magic is impossible to achieve anyway because everything you do will effect someone else, and that can end up with all kinds of consequences that go way beyond your original intentions.

Instead of worrying about the details, just live your life in a good way and don’t deliberately try to hurt people. That’s usually good enough. Of course, sometimes other people deserve some negative energy but that’s another topic altogether.

Sometimes people add the “white witchcraft” label to themselves just to make other people feel less nervous. So many people misunderstand what witchcraft is that they need a little (meaningless) assurance that we’re not evil.

So if you are looking to get involved in white witchcraft, that really just means you have a positive attitude when you cast spells and that you never seek to harm another person. Pretty much all the spells on this site would fall into that category, but I do have a few pages specifically on white magick spells that you can check out.

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White Witches

White magic is different from black magic because of its purposes. While the latter induces harm or pain from the other party, white magic is cast for the welfare or the good of the person who will benefit from it. Fortunately, a white witch has more power than a black witch. In this case, we can expect that the good will always win over the bad.

For what purpose do White witches use White Magic?
For its great deal of power, white magic is used to bring good or protect people from black magic curses or spells. A white witch also uses her power to destroy or break any types of black magic. White magic protects an individual from the harms caused by black magic.

There are certain spells and magic that white witches can do for you. One of them is the love spell which is the most popular among other spells because we all deserved to feel love and to love. It is the most in-demand forms of white magic as it is to cast love spells on the apple of your eyes. Also, it is used to bring back lost love, to strengthen an existing bond, or to attract a new lover.

In addition, it also protects people in a relationship. For instance, couples can get the services of a white witch to protect their marriage and prevent them from getting separated or divorced. Aside from that, there are also specific cases you can be helped by white witches like lost love, soul mate, anti-lying spells, and lust, among others.

Aside from relationship spells, there are also things your white witch can do when it comes to money and finances. It is another in-demand branch of white magic that is commonly used- money spells.

If you want to become a successful businessman, it is one of the beat spells that you can have because it can take your business and financial status to the next level especially if you follow procedure instructed by your white witch. This type of white magic is one of the most commonly requested by people when it comes to their economic status.

This type of spell will drive money to you; thus, adding more fund onto your bank account. If you need some financial gain this year, hire an expert witch to perform this spell for you. Aside from helping you get more money, you will also have the chance to manage your business effectively.

Moreover, there is also the healing spell that your white witch can perform for you in order to get you rid off your sickness. It is also one of the most requested types of white spells that you can ask from your expert witch.

If you’re loved one is sick, you can also consult this witch to help him recover from his sickness, pain, or injury. This type of healing spell is used to help people who are affected by a certain disorder in their emotional, mental, or physical being.

These are three of the most prominent spells that your white witch can perform for you. To guarantee perfect and desired results, you have to make sure that you also have the pure intention.

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Source: Wikipedia/ Awaken the witch within/ Free Witchcraft Spells

(One Person’s View Point) Various Types of Witchcraft – Hereditary Witchcraft

Hereditary Witchcraft

As you meet more and more people in the Pagan community, you’ll occasionally encounter someone who claims to be a “hereditary witch.” They may even tell you they’ve been “Wiccan since birth,” but what does that really mean?

Well, it could mean a variety of things, but for a lot of us, it generally sends up a red flag when someone uses the phrase “born witch” or “Wiccan from birth.” Let’s look at why that may be the case.

Is There Witch DNA?
You’re not born Christian or Muslim or Hindu. There’s no “Wiccan DNA” that makes any one person more genetically witchy than someone who begins practicing in their fifties. You simply cannot be a Wiccan since birth because Wicca is an orthopraxic religious system that generally involves you doing and believing certain things that make you Wiccan. You can be raised by Wiccans–and many children are–but that doesn’t make you Wiccan from the moment you pop out of the womb, it simply means you were born to Wiccan parents.

That said, certainly, there seem to some people who may be more adept at Witchy Things at some point in their life, but there’s no chromosomal or biological difference in these folks as compared to the general population. You’ll obviously meet people that are psychically gifted, and whose parent or grandparent or child also displays these same traits. But if you operate on the assumption that everyone has some latent psychic ability anyway, it may be that these individuals were encouraged to use their talents while growing up, rather than repressing them like the majority of other people.

You may also encounter people in the Pagan community who claim “born witch” status because of some ancestral link to an individual in the past who was accused of witchcraft. You’ll bump into plenty of people who think Salem ancestry makes them special. It doesn’t, for a variety of reasons.

Familial Traditions of Magic
Also, there are certainly hereditary traditions of witchcraft, but by “hereditary” we don’t mean that the practices are biologically inherited.

These are typically small, familial traditions, or Fam Trads, in which beliefs and practices are handed down from one generation to the next, and outsiders are rarely included. PolyAna identifies as a hereditary witch, and her family hails from Appalachia. She says,

“In our family, what we do is more of a folk magic tradition. My son and I and my granddaughter, who is adopted, practice the same folk magic as my mother and grandmother did. We’ve done it as far back as anyone can remember. We follow the Celtic gods, and my Granny was nominally Catholic but brought a belief in the old gods with her from Ireland. She found a way to make it work, and we’ve carried on those traditions.”

PolyAna’s family practices aren’t typical, but there are certainly other hereditary traditions like hers out there. However, it’s hard to even estimate how many there are, because the information is generally kept within the family and not shared with the general public. Again, this is a family tradition based on practices and beliefs, rather than any documentable genetic link. For families with an Italian background, Stregheria is sometimes practiced in the United States and other countries.

Author Sarah Anne Lawless writes,

“The passing on of traditions through the family is a global concept, and is not restricted to culture or continent. There are many family traditions existing in the United States… who all bear a striking resemblance to the fairy doctors and cunning folk of Northern Europe, many of whom were hereditary themselves. The traditions… were strict and binding; they could only teach one student from the next generation of the family of the opposite sex. In many older witchcraft families in the UK, the traditions of transferring knowledge are thought to follow similar rules.”

For many modern Pagans, including those in hereditary family traditions, witchcraft is either a skill set that is developed and honed over years of practice, or it’s a belief system that is seen as a religion that one spends a lifetime working towards.

For some people, it’s a combination of the two.

So, after all that, could someone be part of a hereditary familial tradition? Absolutely, he or she certainly could. But if what they’re claiming is some sort of biological superiority that makes them witchier than everyone else, you should consider it suspect at best.
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Hereditary Witchcraft

Are You:

psychic?

drawn to dark, mysterious things?

not just interested in Vampires and Faeries, you want to be one?

unable to stay away from books about witchcraft and sorcery?

able to see or sense ghosts, and the past lives of places?

excited about going to places like Salem, or Whitby?

into dark glamor and wish to convey a powerful presence?

compelled by the Mysteries?

having trouble staying in your body? Are out of body experiences a away of life?

Since childhood you have practiced rituals to either placate the Gods, or communicate with spirits.

in a natural deep communion with nature and the spirits in trees, plants, animals, and landscapes.

passionate that sacred things and places must be protected.

more perceptive than most other people you know?

convinced that you have to keep these qualities to yourself.

These are just some of the possible traits that can indicate that you may be a hereditary witch — that you are a carrier of the Witch Blood

How it Used to Be
I grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, in a small town of Irish and French Catholics in Massachusetts. Witches were believed to be either fairy tale characters or evil old women who were burned at the stake in the Middle Ages.

England had serious laws against witchcraft until 1951. After these laws were repealed, Gerald Gardner went public with Wicca, a religion he developed by cobbling together folk lore, the ideas of Margaret Murray, some involvement with British magical traditions, and perhaps with a mix of the tribal ritual he may have seen in his years as a civil servant in Indonesia.

Robert Cochran came along later claiming to come from a long line of witches, as did Sibyl Leek. Still, the idea of a family carrying on an unbroken heritage of witchcraft or magical practices was considered a very wild claim. Yet some people seemed to be born with psychic and magical powers, were clearly drawn to tales of witchery and magic, and had the imagination to create communities of like minded souls who came together to be witches.

Those desires had to come from some place! This is where the idea of the Witch Blood was born. It may have been Robert Cochran who coined the term to describe people who for some inexplicable reason were willing to risk everything — jobs, houses, partners, families, etc. in order to pursue the path of witchcraft. Witch Queen Maxine Sanders was driven out of her home by frightened neighbors and had another house torched when they found out she was a Witch, even though she had done them no harm.

The conclusion was that, just as in fairy tales in which the Beggar Maid is discovered to be a Princess by virtue of her uncharacteristic beauty and refinement, someone with witch blood in their veins can be spotted by other witches. Perhaps there are people who come from families where the Craft was practiced long ago. These practices went underground, or were replaced with Christianity, but something remains in the genes that is passed down to one or members of the family unrecognized, or misunderstood.

Dormant Witch Blood can also be ignited by Initiation into Wicca, Faery Witchcraft practices, and the creation of a magical way of life.

Now
Today, many people have been born into witch families, and raised in the Craft. There is no doubt that they are hereditary witches and carry the Witch Blood. There is no mystery surrounding it as there when I was a young person just finding this stuff out about myself.

Still, I am sure that there are some in the current generation who feel these things and have no role models in their families. Their families may even be fundamentalist Christians — I have known a few people like that. Some Christians doth protest too much, and some ex-witches have gone into Christianity because of bad experiences in covens, or after frightening themselves when the magic actually works! They can be the most virulent antagonists against witchcraft.

Of course films and now television are currently having a field day with witches. Teenagers can take them on as role models, and in many cases, not be stigmatized as weirdos. In general, I have found witches to be a pretty happy lot, optimistic and creative, imaginative and fun loving. If sinister overtones are there, it is because of the dark cycle we all must go through, and the way some us walk between the worlds. Some witches are also sociopaths, but that isn’t just because they are witches, nor is sociopathology exclusive to witches and magicians.

If you have found yourself wandering in the woods, or walking the hills like a lost soul, hoping somewhere deep inside, where even you cannot verbalize it, that you will find them, then you might be blessed with the witch blood. If you leave offerings for the spirits, try to engage others to sit in a circle and call the spirits, if you feel you have a secret name, you might have the witch blood. If you are more drawn to these things than “normal” activities, are more comfortable in nature than in a church, if you can’t get your nose out of certain types of books….then I may have news for you….you maybe a Hereditary Witch,

Source: Patti Wigington, ThoughtCo
Winterspells

(One Person’s View Point) Introducing 37 Popular Different Types of Witches

There are possible as many different types of witches, as witches themselves. These various types mentioned below are great for understanding your craft and giving you a frame to research and learn more about magical ways of being.

I want to describe them as an inspiration for you to find the best practice that will suit your aesthetic and interests. It’s not intended to give you another label nor to show the only possible way to practice witchcraft.

Feel free to combine these practices and find your unique way of magic.

Some of the Color Correspondences for Magickal Workings

These colors can be used for altar clothes, candles, clothing, Sabbat, and other things. Some of the colors also correspondence to a specific day and/or month.

Witch 101: “Witches’ Rede of Chivalry” c 2016

Witch 101: “Witches’ Rede of Chivalry”

The Witches’ Rede of Chivalry can be found in Ed Fitch’s book Magical Rites from the Crystal Well, containing work published in a popular Pagan magazine in the 19602 and ’70s. The Crystal Well featured writing based primarily on Central and Eastern European magickal traditions.

The Witches’ Rede of Chivalry may be written in somewhat archaic language, but it covers a number of important points, and I think it is worth taking a peek at. Here’s an example to show you what I mean: “A Witch’s word must have the validity of a signed and witnessed oath. Thus, give thy word sparingly, but adhere to it like iron.” Can’t argue with that, can you?

Source: Everyday Witch A to Z By Deborah Blake

(One Person’s View Point) Witchcraft 101: Naked c.2016

Witchcraft 101: Naked

There is a simple word that can strike fear into the heart of the bravest Witch: skyclad.

Skyclad is the word we use to mean, well, nude. As in, “This month’s full moon ritual will be done skyclad.”

Starkers, as the Brits say. In your birthday suit. Sans clothing. In your altogether. In short, buck-naked. Or as my dad used to say, “stark, nuked nade.”

Either way, it means you are out there under the moon with the breeze blowing through your, er….everything.

Some Witches are very comfortable practicing skyclad. Others wouldn’t do it on a bet. Still others save such dedication for their solitary rituals and prefer to wear garb when gathering with their fellow Witches.

All of the above is fine. There is no rule that says you have to perform Witchcraft naked (thank the Goddess), although there are some traditions where that is the norm. And although in the Charge of the Goddess it says “ye shall be naked in your rites,” this doesn’t mean that you have to stand outside at midwinter freezing your whatsits off.

As with most things witchy, you should use your own judgment and do what feels right to you. If you’re comfortable being naked, by all means do your rituals skyclad. If you’re not, you would probably find your nakedness so distracting that you wouldn’t be able to concentrate on your magick anyway, so there’s not much point to it.

The important thing to remember is that in the case of group rituals, you should discuss such things ahead of time and make sure that everyone agrees. There isn’t much that is more disconcerting than showing up at a ritual to find out that you are expected to disrobe when you weren’t planning on it.
Source: Everyday Witch A to Z Deborah Blake

Let’s Talk Witch – Your Power c 2015

Your Power

Now let’s talk about some techniques and exercises to help you begin raising and channeling your Wicca power.

First of all, anyone can cast a powerful magical spell. If you think you’re not powerful enough, or not magical enough, or if you’re still a little skeptical about Wicca, don’t worry.

You will still be able to perform very effective magic, if you can follow some simple instructions.

There is a very important principle that underlies all magic spells you will perform.

Some people call it The Secret. Others know it as the Law of Attraction. But the point is, you will attract what you think about and focus on. That is how powerful your mind is.

Magic, using tools and words and spells, just enhances this natural ability that your mind has to attract.

Magic lets you powerfully attract what you want, and it works because of the Law of Attraction.

The key here is to make sure that everything you do is in line with your goals. All your thoughts, all your actions, and everything you do should be in agreement with what you are trying to attract.

For example: if you are trying a spell to lose weight, then looking in the mirror and saying “look how fat I am, I’m never going to lose this weight!” is going against your purpose.

You must think positive, and imagine the reality you wish to achieve with your spell.

And if you binge on brownies, bon-bons, and junk food, you are also going against your purpose.

And your spell is not going to work.

Let me repeat this again because it’s important.

Your spells will not work unless you put your entire being into achieving your goal.

Magic without the proper intention is just a bunch of rhyming words.

When you do magic, you want it to work for you.

So do yourself a favor, and make sure that you avoid anything that contradicts or goes against the purpose of your spell.

Making negative statements will cancel out any positive energy created by your spell. This means that the spell won’t work.

When you cast a spell, you need to be confident that it will succeed. In fact, the more confident you are, the more successful your spell is likely to be.

Try to frame your thoughts and statements positively: “I will lose the weight.” “I can and I will achieve my goals.” “I am eating healthy foods to achieve my goals.”
When you make positive statements like this, you create positive energy that reinforces your spell and makes it stronger.

So make sure you are creating positive energy for your spell, both before, during, and after your spell is cast.

Source: Wicca Power Spells by Aurora Rede

(One Person’s View Point) Let’s Talk Witch – Skyclad c.2015

Skyclad

There is a simple word that can strike fear into the heart of the bravest Witch: skyclad.

Arrggghhhh! (See, told you.)

Skyclad is the word we use to mean, well, nude. As in, “This month’s full moon ritual will be done skyclad.”

Starkers, as the Brits say. In your birthday suit. Sans clothing. In your altogether. In short, buck-naked. Or as my dad used to say, “stark, nuked nade.”

Either way, it means you are out there under the moon with the breeze blowing through your, er … everything.

All of the above is fine. There is no rule that says you have to perform Witchcraft naked (thank the goddess), although there are some traditions where that is the norm. And although in the Charge of the Goddess it says “ye shall be naked in your rites,” this doesn’t mean that you have to stand outside at midwinter freezing your whatsits off.

Source: Deborah Blake. Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft

Zodiac Flowers

Let’s Talk Witch – “What do spells and rituals of witchcraft and magic really do for me?” c.2015 by Lady Abyss

“What do spells and rituals of witchcraft and magic really do or me?”

Hopefully, by the time you reach the end of this book, you will be able to answer that question for yourself. In the meantime, the following is a short list of benefits you can gain from doing regular witchcraft spells and rituals.

Disrupt the Trance of Everyday Life

Your practice should shift you out of the well-worn mental pathways of your daily life. The spells and rituals you do should make you pause in your day, be conscious and aware of who you are, where you are, and what your aims are. Any spells, consciously performed, should prevent you from being a purely mechanical robot.

Connect You with Spirit

Staying connected to Spirit is essential to attracting what you really want in your life. You can connect with Spirit through any or all of the spells and rituals described in this book. Any spell that quiets the mind or puts us in touch with physical sensation will bring us into contact with Spirit.

Help You Access Powers and Beings

Creating what we want in life is much easier when we have help. A daily practice of witchcraft or magic that puts you in contact with angels, guides, totem Spirits, and other helpers can increase your ability to attract what you want in life. Remember that there is a helpful being for just about anything you want— don’t be afraid to ask!

Help You Remember What You Want

Many of us go through our days in a reactionary mode— we are not choosing our thoughts and actions so much as we are reacting to the stimulus around us. Daily performance of magical rituals and spells helps us remember what we really want in life, and keeps us from sabotaging ourselves with unwanted reactions. For instance, if your goal is to create peace and harmony in life, a daily witchcraft practice can keep you in touch with Spirit, reminding you not to react angrily to your co-worker’s insults.

Be in Accordance with Universal Principles

Doing daily spells and rituals that are designed with Universal principles in mind is much more effective than those that are not— plus, they are guaranteed to be safe. Sound spells follow Rules of the Road, principles such as “as above, so below,“ and four element principles. For instance, if you’re designing a ritual to help you gain knowledge, you want to work with the principles of the magical element Air. If you want a ritual that will help you act, you want to work with Fire.

Source: Learn How to Do Witchcraft Rituals and Spells with Your Bare Hands

Alan G. Joel

Am I a Witch? All the Telltale Signs c.2019

Am I a Witch? All the Telltale Signs

by The Alchemist

Am I a Witch? Well this is a very tricky and difficult question. What defines a ‘natural witch’ from a ‘self-taught witch’ or a believer of magic? To answer all this we have to go way back and define the essence of the Witches.

Lore and the Arcane Truth

There are so many things surrounding the lore, the reality and the legends regarding the Witches. Sometimes information is deliberately insufficient only because witches have always tried to scare the naive, from messing with their stuff. Only the wise, the brave and the righteous ones were allowed to learn the Craft. Why because with Great Power comes great responsibility! For example when Magical Recipes demanded the ‘five fingers‘ they certainly didn’t mean to cut off the fingers of a living human. They just demanded cinquefoil, a powerful Mercurial herb used for Healing and Money.

What is a Witch?

Let’s be clear. When we talk about Witches we are using a genderless term. Witches can be both males and females. Historically, this term has been used to identify the person who uses the Arcane Arts. Moreover, it has been used to falsely accuse women for ‘devil worshipping’ or ‘followers of the pagan gods’.

Am I a Witch?

So… Let’s see the most important traits.

1. Have You heard the ‘Calling’ ?

This is probably the most important of all the Signs. Once you’ve heard it, it’s impossible to un-hear it. Although you can always turn your back at your true nature and stick with the material Realm, you will always know who you are and who you are meant to be.

The ‘Calling’ is a revelation, a moment of extreme spiritual clarity when you somehow realise your are a Witch and get a glimpse of your true Magical Nature. This usually happens by accident, during times of intense anxiety, desperate need for help, sadness or troubles. However, the Calling may be heard in a very young age or when the ‘time is right’. Sometimes it’s a vision, a sure feeling that you are magical, or a dream or someone who enters your life unexpectedly revealing to you the truth. Other times, it’s an actual magical experience, when supernatural phenomena occur, or even an interaction with spirits of nature or ghosts or maybe deities.

There are many witches who actually plan to hear ‘the calling’ during their next lives by arranging the proper circumstances. Of course this is rarely the case as this kind of spell demand advanced levels of Magical Power.

So have you heard the calling? Good! Let’s proceed!

2. Do you feel Connected with Nature?

The relationship between you and Nature can easily tell how magical you are. Although there are other sources of Magic, Nature is the most common one. So let’s see if you are familiar with these traits, commonly attributed to ‘Natural Born Witches’ :

You feel the Energy Shift inside you as the Seasons change.
Moon Cycle affects you.
Also, you feel connected to the Woods, the herbs and the trees.
Natural phenomena like strong winds, rain, thunderstorms charge you and raise your energy and awareness.
There is something about you that wants to be around with animals all the time.
Likewise, animals are attracted to you.
Since you remember yourself, you loved crystals!

3. Do you have Dreams, Memories or Visions of being a Witch?

Well, this may explain a lot. Unfortunately, many Witches suffer from the suppression of their Witchiness due to the ‘demonisation’ of the term. As we’ve all know, a Witch can be a synonym of an evil and envious person who uses his/her power to manipulate and abuse others.

However, most Witches are actually Empaths who suffer a lot when others hurt. Therefore they suppress their magical nature, denying it strongly for months, years or even their whole lives. However, there are times, when they are relaxed, or asleep, when vision and images of Witchcraft and spellcasting pop up to their minds.

This can also be memories from their early childhood, when you were ‘practicing’ your magic with an innocent mind and heart, before the essence of magic gets corrupted by the ‘system’.

4. Do you Think ‘out of the box’?

Do you despise those who censor your Thoughts? Witches are untamed creatures who love Wisdom and dare to reach for it. If you continuously find yourself doubting ‘the truth’ or the ‘religious teachings’ while you realise there is some truth in them, then this is a Witchy Traits. Witches don’t hate religion, as they believe in the existence of Higher entities. Yet they do like to think for themselves.

One of the great saying of Witchcraft is ‘to dare, to do and to keep silent’. The first two part of this saying mirrors the essence of a true, untamed, uncensored witch! One whose spirit is stronger than shallow teaching and hypocrisy.

5. Do you feel your Thoughts, your Emotions and your Words have power?

Most Witches know deep inside that their emotions and what they say actually shape reality. It’s funny as the first time they realise it is when they lie about something, and then suddenly it becomes true. For example, have you lied to your boss of being sick just to get a day-off, and after a while you indeed raise fever or something?

Witches influence and alter reality as they speak or they feel. And this exactly what defines them from all others. Thy might don’t even believe they have this ability but they discover it as they grow older. Of course, it needs practicing in order to learn how to focus this energy and not get drained.

6. Do you Collect Unusual Items?

One of the most ‘weird’ traits of witches is that they’ve always collect things that others think as trash. For example, seashore pebbles, or feathers or shells washed out from the ocean. Witches somehow sense the energy that surrounds these items and instinctively pick them up. Therefore, in most houses of Witches, you can see collections of these Weird items, which are usually considered absurd or useless by their visitors.

7. Do you frequently Observe Synchronicities?

As we’ve talked before about synchronicities, this is a very clear sign that something magical or spiritual is at work. It’s the language of the Universe. How the Spiritworld affects our Realm. You see repeating numbers, or maybe you repeatedly see animals who act as spiritual messengers. The list is endless. However, in most cases these patterns are acknowledgeable solely from the Witch as the message usually intends to have one receptor.

Defining the Untamed nature.

Although we’ve seen some of the most common traits of Witches, there are many different kinds of witches and there are definitely many different traits. However, Being a Witch is most commonly something we strongly believe and follow. Because it’s not the ‘omens’ that make us witches. It’s our Fiery Passion for Magic!

Are You a Witch?

(Seperate Article from 2016)

There are many ways to define how good you are in each types of Magic. One is astrology. You Zodiac sign can say many things about you especially when it comes to what you like and how your personality is prone to certain types of magic. Types of Witches can be categorized according to their Zodiac Signs as the Sun’s position in the Natal Chart shows the energy of the newborn child.

The Zodiac Circle and Types of Witches

On the other hand I would also advice you to search for the Zodiac Sign your natal Moon is placed in order to get a more personalised view on how Astrology can define the source of all your magic.

Aries: Blood Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Aries are blessed with the ability to cast powerful Candle Magic spells and tame the currents of energy. They don’t need much to empower their magic, just their fiery passion!

This comes from the fact the the first sign of the Zodiac is when Fire gets its power back. The Sun enters the Spring Equinox and nature is reborn. In their blood, waves of energy is ready to ignite their passions. If you are an Aries try this! Read all about colour correspondences of Candles and cast a simple Candle magic spell tonight! Come on!

Witches born under the sign of Taurus are very well attuned with the power of Earth and Nature. They gladly explore and exploit the powers of Herbs and most importantly the powers of their sexuality.

The first of the Earth Signs hide all the power of Nature in them. They’ve got this magnificent ability to make everything fertile, like flowers blooming. This is the real Elf power. Bringing the Life of Nature everywhere around them. If you are a Taurus try this. Search here for you favourite crystal which meets your needs and charge it with your passion!

Zodiac Signs and types of Witches

Taurus: Elf Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Taurus are very well attuned with the power of Earth and Nature. They gladly explore and exploit the powers of Herbs and most importantly the powers of their sexuality. The first of the Earth Signs hide all the power of Nature in them. They’ve got this magnificent ability to make everything fertile, like flowers blooming. This is the real Elf power. Bringing the Life of Nature everywhere around them. If you are a Taurus try this. Search here for you favourite crystal which meets your needs and charge it with your passion!

Gemini: Energy Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Gemini have a natural ability to sense changes in energy levels around them. They got extremely sensitive intuition and they can easily send & receive energy to past, present and future.

From all the Types of Witches they are the ones with the most versatile nature. Energy is like the wind and it always changes direction. Like their mood swings they can turn up-side-down of all energy. They can transmute negative to positive energy and vice versa depending on their emotional background. Their adventurous nature make them great in manipulating astral energy. If you are a Gemini try this.

Cancer: Kitchen Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Cancer are prone to work their magic indoors by harnessing the energy provided by home supplies like food and remedies. Cancers are typical kitchen witches always brewing their potions with lost of love and affection.

As we already saw the stomach of the Cancers are really sensitive as it is the part of the body which dilutes and transmutes energy – just like the kitchen. They have the amazing ability to give their lunar blessings to everything they want and touch. The Tides of the moon enchant their potions and their spells. If you are a Cancer try this.

Leo: Enchanter Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Leo have a natural ability to catch the attention of others making them extremely talented illusionists. They can easily hypnotise people / animals and charm them.

From all the Types of Witches, Leo is blessed by the Sun. The Sun is their governor and as the planets move around the Sun so do people around Leos. They got this amazing ability to attract what they want – providing they focus their energy. If you are a Leo try this.

Virgo: Hermit Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Virgo have are extremely potent in magical practice as long as they can remain focused. They tend to re-invent their magical self in the silence of Nature, whether this is the Green Woods or the peaceful Emerald Seas.

Virgo – as the name implies – the Virgin / the Untouched, needs time for themselves. From all the Types of Witches, they are the ones who need to find a way to explore the richness of their powers by their own. Only when alone they find their true potential

Once they do they can get back to being awesome in their social circles. If you are a Virgo try this. Grounding can help them banish negativity. Go somewhere you feel secure and lonely (preferably in a Forest or near the Sea). Breathe for few minutes and cast a spell.

Libra: Music Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Libra are blessed with inspiration and are usually extremely talented in arts and crafts. Libra Witches can easily compose spells and even sing them empowering their magical vibes.

From all the Types of Witches, this is what defines them: art and inspiration. Of course they need balance and harmony in order to work their magic. To do so, the need to find a way to center themselves. Only bey this way they will learn how great they are. If you are a Libra try this. Compose tonight a simple spell and cast it with music of your own!

Scorpio: Nocturnal Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Scorpio feel inspired and “enlightened” during the midnight hours, when silence prevails and darkness asserts its dominance. Do not confuse darkness with evil. Scorpios are just great perceiving what’s hidden.

What is hidden and secret ignites their curiosity and wakes up their powerful instincts. They have this amazing ability to scratch the surface in order to find what’s hidden underneath. This is how they learn so many things. From all the Types of Witches astrology defines them as the Wisest of the Zodiac. They may fear but they try to push fear behind. If you are a Scorpio try this. In the Midnight, go outside in a safe and lonely place. Look up the skies and talk to the night about your desire!

Sagittarius: Thunder Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Sagittarius are the children of Zeus / Jupiter / Thor, the God of Thunder. They have a great ability to direct a very “thick” and focused current of energy towards whatever they desire. They are wise and fair and they can cast really powerful magic.

From all the Types of Witches, Thunder Witch is the one who can push further and break the chains throughout wisdom and optimism. Where thunder strikes everything is possible. If you are a Sagittarius try this. Focus on your hands and think and re-think your desire over and over again. When you feel ready express your desire like a thunder bursting from you hands towards your target. Here you will find how to direct energy.

Capricorn: Green Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Capricorn are the ones who can equally easily assert their magical dominance both in Nature and in Urban Territory at the same time. They can tap into nature’s power and direct them in their career and everyday life.

Saturn the so called “Planet of Witches” governs Capricorn giving them the ability to command elemental forces with love and discipline. If you are a Capricorn try this. Go out for a long walk and search for that “special tree” you feel connected with. Embrace the tree and become one with it and once you are ready send some magical energy to the future in your career / shop or wherever you work. Here you can learn more about grounding!

Aquarius: Star Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Aquarius are very well attuned with the orbs of the planets and stars. Once they look up in the night sky they just know that they are a part of something greater and although they know a little about it they can successfully direct star energy into this World.

The Stars is like a giant web where they a part of it. By looking at the stars, Aquarius knows and feels s/he is never alone. All are connected. Past, Present and Future. Thus, everything is possible. If you are an Aquarius try this. During the night, got out and talk to the stars about your desires!

Pisces: Fairy Witch.

Witches born under the sign of Pisces can easily meddle with the Fairy World and transcend the Physical plane. Those sweet Witches can easily invite fairies in their lives and establish a firm and fruitful connection with the spirit of nature.

From all the Types of Witches, a Fairy Witch is the one who live in this world but definitely belongs to another one. Not a single Pisces actually feels 100% ok with the material world. They all know deep inside that they are missing the greater truth. Thus from a really young age are trying to visualise and locate the world they really fit in. If you are a Pisces try this. Plant some Foxglove near your house and every morning invite the spirit of nature to come and live.

To My Fellow Poor Witches c.2018

Brief Look At Different Traditions In Witchcraft – Eclectic Wicca

Eclectic Wicca

Look in any personals column in a Craft-oriented newsletter or journal and you will see this catch-all phrase. Basically, it indicates that the individual does not follow any particular Tradition, denomination, sect, or magickal practice. They learn and study from many magickal systems and apply to themselves what appears to work best. I happen to be an Eclectic Wiccan.

Sea Witchcraft c. 2016

The Principles of Witchcraft Belief c.2018

The Principles of Witchcraft Belief

In the spring Witch meet held April 1974 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Council of American Witches adopted this statement entitled “The Principles of Wiitchcraft Beliefs.”

Of course Wiitchcraft Beliefs can vary from this from area to area, coven to coven and individual to individual there is no strict tenet laid down by a central council, this is just one particular bodies ideas.

Principles Outlined

1: We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

2: We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3: We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called supernatural, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

4: We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity ~as masculine and feminine~ and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to each other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

5: We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. ~and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6: We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

7: We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it ~a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft~ The Wiccan Way .

8: Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a Witch, but neither does heredity itself, not the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.

9: We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.

10: Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be “the only way,” and have sought to deny freedom to others and to surpress other ways of religious practice and belief.

11: As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.

12: We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as Satan or the Devil, as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the sufferings of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

13: We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

Source: Wicca Chat

Kitchen Witchcraft: Find Magic in the Everyday c.2016

Different Paths of Witchcraft: Dianic Witch c.2018

Zsuzsanna Budapest, founder of Dianic Wicca. Z Budapest fought for the right to get paid for tarot readings and WON

Dianic Witch

Origins of Dianic Wicca:
Born of the feminist movement and founded by hereditary witch Zsuzsanna Budapest, Dianic Wicca embraces the Goddess but spends little time on her male counterpart. Most Dianic Wiccan covens are female-only, but a few have welcomed men into their groups, with the intention of adding some much-needed polarity. In some areas, the phrase Dianic Wiccan came to mean lesbian witch, but that is not always the case, as Dianic covens welcome women of any sexual orientation.

Budapest says specifically, “We always recognize, when we say “Goddess,” that She is the Life-giver, the Life-sustainer. She is Mother Nature.”

“There are only two kinds of people in the world: mothers and their children. Mothers can give life to each other as well as to men, who are not able to do the same for themselves. This constitutes a dependency upon the Female Life Force for life renewed, and was accepted naturally in ancient times by our ancient forebearers as a sacred gift of the Goddess. In patriarchal times this sacred gift was turned against women, and used to force them to give up roles of independence and power.”

Cursing & Hexing:
While many Wiccan paths follow a belief system that limits hexing, cursing or negative magic, some Dianic Wiccans make an exception to that rule. Budapest, a noted feminist Wiccan writer, has argued that hexing or binding those who do harm to women is acceptable.

Honoring the Goddess:
Dianic covens celebrate the eight Sabbats, and use similar altar tools to other Wiccan traditions. However, among the Dianic community there is not a lot of continuity in ritual or practice – they simply self-identify as Dianic to indicate that they follow a Goddess-based, feminine-focused spiritual path.

The core belief of Dianic Wicca, as founded by Z Budapest, states that the tradition “is a holistic religious system based on a Goddess-centered cosmology and the primacy of She Who is All and Whole unto Herself.”

Recent Controversies:
Dianic Wicca – and specifically, Z Budapest herself – has been at the center of a few controversies lately. At the 2011 PantheaCon, transgender women were specifically excluded from a women’s ritual hosted by a Dianic group. Budapest’s statements afterwards regarding the incident led to accusations of transphobia against her and the Dianic tradition, when she said, “These individuals selfishly never think about the following: if women allow men to be incorporated into Dianic Mysteries, What will women own on their own? Nothing! Again! Transies who attack us only care about themselves. We women need our own culture, our own resourcing, our own traditions. You can tell these are men, They don’t care if women loose the Only tradition reclaimed after much research and practice, the Dianic Tradition. Men simply want in. its their will. How dare us women not let them in and give away the ONLY spiritual home we have!”

On her group’s website, Budapest states that membership is open to cisgendered women (“Open to women born-women”) only.
Following the PantheaCon controversy, a number of offshoot groups of the Dianic tradition distanced themselves from Budapest and her coven. One group, the Amazon Priestess Tribe, publicly retired from the lineage with a press release that read, “We cannot support a policy of universal exclusion based upon gender at our Goddess-centered rites, nor can we condone disregard or insensitivity in communications regarding the topic of gender inclusion and Goddess-centered practice. We feel it inappropriate to remain members of a lineage where our views and practices diverge significantly from those of the primary lineage holder.”

___________________________________

The Dianic Tradition

Dianic Wicca, also known as Dianic Witchcraft and Dianic Feminist Witchcraft,[1] is a tradition, or Religious denomination, of the Neopagan religion of Wicca. It was founded by Zsuzsanna Budapest in the United States in the 1970s, and is notable for its focus on the worship of the Goddess, and on feminism. It combines elements of British Traditional Wicca, Italian folk-magic recorded in Charles Leland’s Aradia, feminist values, and ritual, folk magic, and healing practices Budapest learned from her mother.

It is most often practiced in female-only covens.

Beliefs and practices
Most Dianic Wiccans worship the Goddess only, believing that She is the source of all living and contains all within Her. There are Dianic witches who practice other forms of paganism (possibly including honoring a male deity or deities) outside of their Dianic practice. Some Dianics are monotheistic, some are polytheistic, some are atheist.

Most Dianics worship in female-only (as defined by Dianics usually as cisgender women, which excludes transgender women from their sisterhood) circles and covens, but there are mixed-gender Dianic traditions. Eclecticism, appreciation of cultural diversity, ecological concern, and familiarity with sophisticated concepts of psyche and transformation are characteristic. Originally lesbians formed the majority of the movement, however modern Dianic groups may be all-lesbian, all-heterosexual or mixed.

Most Dianic Wiccans as “positive path” practitioners do neither manipulative spellwork nor hexing because it goes against the Wiccan Rede; other Dianic witches (notably Zsuzsanna Budapest) do not consider hexing or binding of those who attack women to be wrong.

Differences between Dianic and mainstream Wicca
Like other Wiccans, Dianics may form covens, attend festivals, celebrate the eight major Wiccan holidays, Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc (or Imbolg), Lammas, the solstices and equinoxes (see Wheel of the Year) and the Esbats, which are rituals usually held at the full moon or dark moon. They use many of the same altar tools, rituals and vocabulary as other Wiccans. Dianics may also gather in more informal Circles.

The most noticeable differences between the two are that Dianic covens are usually female-only while other Wiccan covens are usually mixed, some aiming for equal numbers of men and women, and that most Wiccans worship the God and Goddess, while Dianics generally worship the Goddess as Whole Unto Herself; or if they worship the God, it is as a consort of the Goddess, rather than an equal.

It should be noted many Wiccans do not consider the Dianic path to be Wiccan at all as they only venerate, and sometimes espouse only the existence of, the Goddess.

Other Dianic traditions
Broadly speaking, Dianic tradition refers to the beliefs, practices, practitioners and history of woman’s mysteries, earth-religion, Neopagan Goddess worshippers. It is synonymous with the Neopagan religious traditions that place emphasis on the feminine divine. The term Dianic is derived from the Roman goddess of the moon, hunting and childbirth, Diana whose companion Nymphs were female.

The three main branches of Dianic Neopaganism are known as:
Dianic Wicca, a feminine tradition of Wicca started by Zsuzsanna Budapest and her 1980s book, The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries.
McFarland Dianic, a Neopagan Fairy lineage tradition started by Mark Roberts and Morgan McFarland. One of relatively few Dianic traditions which accepts male members.

The Living Temple of Diana, an emerging shamanic witchcraft tradition of Dianic witchcraft started by Devin Hunter. The Living Temple of Diana’s practices center around empowerment, sovereignty, and carries the motto “We were created whole” as its creed. The Living Temple of Diana does not recognize gender or gender variation as a point of interest in its worship or witchcraft and as such accepts male, female, and transgendered members. Its lineage pulls from the Cult of Diana and was created as an alternative method of Dianic worship and witchcraft for those who are not concerned with CIS only circles.

(Non-Wiccan) Dianic Witches, who may have been inspired by Z Budapest, the New York Redstocking’s W.I.T.C.H. manifesto, or woman’s spirituality movements, who emphasize self-initiation, womanism and non-hierarchical organization. Most Dianics fall into this category, even if some acknowledge Z. Budapest as a foremother, because they do not participate in the initiation/ordination lineage of Dianic Wicca.
Dianic tradition is difficult to define because it has a limited historical basis and no formally defined doctrine. For some, Dianic Wicca is every day folk religion, hedge-witchery or kitchen-witchery; for others, Dianic tradition is more formal, with highly developed liturgy and cosmology. For most, in its essence Dianic tradition is a Woman’s Mysteries tradition, linked to such traditions across time and across cultures. They are a celebration of woman’s bodies, woman’s experiences, the Divine Feminine, and the biology and culture of womanhood, rather than rejection or dismissal of men and masculinity.

Most Dianic’s conceive of and experience the pagan Wheel of the Year in terms of both seasonal reality and also the life stages of women and of the Great Goddess: maiden, mother, queen, crone and hag.

Some Dianics, like other Wiccans, celebrate together in large-group rituals and spell-crafting on the sabbats (seasonal holy days) or the esbats (full-moon days). There are Dianic covens and circles, however many Dianics are solitary practitioners by preference or circumstance.

References

Patti Wigington, ThoughtCo.com

1.0 1.1 Falcon River (2004) The Dianic Wiccan Tradition. From The Witches Voice. Retrieved 2007-05-23.

J. River (2004) The Dianic Tradition. From The Witches’ Voice. Retrieved 2007-05-23.

Brief Look At Different Traditions In Witchcraft – Teutonic c.2015

Teutonic Witchcraft

From ancient time the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally, this included the English, Dutch, Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples. This is also known as the Nordic Tradition.

Various Traditions of Witchcraft and Wicca: The Alexandrian Wicca c.2018

Alexandrian Wicca

Origins of Alexandrian Wicca:

Formed by Alex Sanders and his wife Maxine, Alexandrian Wicca is very similar to the Gardnerian tradition. Although Sanders claimed to have been initiated into witchcraft in the early 1930s, he was also a member of a Gardnerian coven before breaking off to start his own tradition in the 1960s. Alexandrian Wicca is typically a blend of ceremonial magic with heavy Gardnerian influences and a dose of Hermetic Kabbalah mixed in.

However, as with most other magical traditions, keep in mind that not everyone practices the same way.

Alexandrian Wicca focuses on the polarity between the genders, and rites and ceremonies often dedicate equal time to the God and the Goddess. While Alexandrian ritual tool use and the names of the deities differ from Gardnerian tradition, Maxine Sanders has been famously quoted as saying, “If it works, use it.” Alexandrian covens do a good deal of work with ceremonial magic, and they meet during new moons, full moons, and for the eight Wiccan Sabbats.

In addition, the Alexandrian Wiccan tradition holds that all participants are priests and priestesses; everyone is able to commune with the Divine, therefore there is no laity.

Influences from Gardner:
Similar to the Gardnerian tradition, Alexandrian covens initiate members into a degree system. Some begin training at a neophyte level, and then advance to First Degree.

In other covens, a new initiate is automatically given the title of First Degree, as a priest or priestess of the tradition. Typically, initiations are performed in a cross-gender system – a female priestess must initiate a male priest, and a male priest must initiate female members of the tradition.

According to Ronald Hutton, in his book Triumph of the Moon, many of the differences between Gardnerian Wicca and Alexandrian Wicca have blurred over the past few decades. It is not uncommon to find someone who is degreed in both systems, or to find a coven of one tradition that accepts a member degreed in the other system.

Who Was Alex Sanders?
A Witchvox article by an author listed only as an Elder of the Alexandrian Tradition says, “Alex was flamboyant and, among other things, a born showman. He played the press at every opportunity, much to the dismay of more conservative Wiccan Elders of the time. Alex also was known for being a healer, diviner, and a powerful Witch and magician. His forays into the media led to the publication of the romanticized biography King of the Witches, by June Johns, and later the publication of the classic Wiccan “coven biography, ” What Witches Do, by Stewart Farrar. The Sanders became household names in the UK during the 60’s and 70’s, and are responsible to a great degree for bringing the Craft into the public eye for the first time.”

Sanders passed away on April 30, 1988, after a battle with lung cancer, but his influence and the impact of his tradition is still felt today.

There are numerous Alexandrian groups in the United States and Britain, most of which maintain some degree of secrecy, and continue to keep their practices and other information oathbound. Included under this umbrella is the philosophy that one must never out another Wiccan; privacy is a core value.

Contrary to popular belief, Sanders never made his tradition’s Book of Shadows public, at least not in its entirety. While there are collections of Alexandrian information available to the general public – both in print and online – these are not the full tradition, and were generally designed as training materials for new initiates. The only way to access a complete Alexandrian BOS, or the full collection of information about the tradition itself, is to be initiated into a coven as an Alexandrian Wiccan.

Maxine Sanders Today
Today, Maxine Sanders has retired from the work that she and her husband spent much of their lives on, and practices alone. However, she still makes herself available for occasional consultations. From Maxine’s webpage, “Today, Maxine practices the Art Magical and celebrates the Craft’s rituals either in the mountains or in her stone cottage, Bron Afon. Maxine practices her Magic alone; she has retired from the work of teaching. Her vocation as a Priestess includes counseling those who are in need of kindness, truth and hope. She is often approached by those in the Craft who are not too proud to test the strength of the shoulders of those who have gone before. Maxine is a highly respected Priestess of the Sacred Mysteries. She has encouraged, enabled and inspired students of the Priesthood to take on the conscious mantle of their spiritual potential. She believes the catalyst for that inspiration comes from the Cauldron of the Goddess in all its guises.”

The Alexandrian Tradition

The Alexandrian tradition of Wicca was established in the 1960s by Alex Sanders and his wife Maxine.

Originally, Alex claimed to have been initiated by his grandmother when he was seven years old(reference, The King of the Witches by June Johns), but later admitted that this was untrue. In fact, he was initiated into a regular Gardnerian coven, by one of Patricia and Arnold Crowther’s initiates, a lady by the name of Pat Kopanski.

When Alex began to publicize Wicca, he encountered strong opposition from more traditional members of the Craft. Some saw it as nothing more than a bid by Alex for personal notoriety; others that he was profaning a mystery. Whatever his motivation, the publicity certainly made people aware of his existence; he and Maxine initiated a great many people in the 1960s and 1970s, including Stewart Farrar and Janet Owen.

Janet and Stewart married, and over the past twenty odd years have published several books about Wicca.

What Witches Do, published in 1971 (written during Stewart’s first year as a witch), focuses completely upon the Alexandrian tradition, and remains the best guide to the way in which a typical Alexandrian coven operates. Rare, but perhaps still available in second hand shops, is a record of Janet’s initiation, narrated by Stewart, called A Witch is Born, which also sheds some light on the traditional Alexandrian coven.

It is, of course, hard to quantify just what makes the essential “Alexandrian Tradition,” as covens vary considerably, even within the same culture. I have yet to encounter two covens who work precisely the same way, even from the same line. Generally though, Alexandrian covens focus strongly upon training, which includes areas more generally associated with ceremonial magic, such as Qabalah, Angelic Magic, and Enochian. The typical Alexandrian coven has a hierarchical structure, and generally meets weekly, or at least on Full Moons, New Moons and Festivals.

Most Alexandrian covens will allow non-initiates to attend circles, usually as a “neophyte,” who undergoes basic training in circle craft, and completes a number of projects, prior to being accepted by the coven for initiation to 1st degree. Some, though not all, Alexandrian covens will also welcome noninitiated “guests” at certain meetings. My own first experience of Wicca was as a guest of an Alexandrian coven.

Alexandrian Wicca uses essentially the same tools and rituals as Gardnerian Wicca, though in some cases,the tools are used differently, and the rituals have been adapted. Another frequent change is to be found in the names of deities and guardians of the quarters. In some ways these differences are merely cosmetic,but in others, there are fundamental differences in philosophy.

That said, over the last thirty years, the two traditions have moved slowly towards each other, and the differences which marked lines of demarcation are slowly fading away. Individual covens certainly continue to maintain different styles and working practices, but it is possible to speak today of “Wicca”encompassing both traditions.

Source: Patti Wigington Originally published on ThoughtCo.com

Witchcraft

Despite a generation of excellent research, the history of witchcraft remains bedeviled by a host of misperceptions. Ordinary readers often assume that the major witch-hunts occurred in the Middle Ages, that they were conducted by the Catholic Church, and that they reflected the prescientific notions and sexual fantasies of fanatics and neurotics. Elsewhere one can read that huge chain reaction witch trials constituted a “women’s holocaust” accounting for millions of deaths, and that the witch-hunters especially targeted midwives and female healers. All of these conclusions are both wrong and misleading. The great age of witchcraft trials came after 1430, and primarily after 1570. The prosecuting magistrates were almost always secular officials, imbued with the best thinking of prominent theologians, philosophers, and even scientists. The numbers of those executed have often been exaggerated by a factor of one or two hundred. Men made up perhaps a quarter of those executed, and there is little evidence that midwives or healers were singled out for suspicion anywhere. But historical prejudices are hard to uproot.

UNDERSTANDINGS OF WITCHCRAFT

Depending on one’s definition, various histories of witchcraft are defensible. It was once common, for example, to understand the crime of witchcraft as consisting essentially of having a pact with the devil, an agreement in which one exchanged one’s eternal soul for monstrous powers. Such a crime of diabolism had not existed in the ancient world and only slowly emerged from the medieval campaign against magic and heresy, especially against medieval heretics such as the Cathars and Waldensians, groups who challenged both Catholic doctrines and papal jurisdiction. By the late fourteenth century, however, canon lawyers, prominent inquisitors, learned academics, and several popes came to agree that by means of a contract with the devil, whether explicit or only implicit, a magician might work genuine harm in this world. These theorists also gradually worked out a composite view of all the different sorts of crimes and activities their heresy involved. It was increasingly believed that witch-heretics flew off to a “sabbath” where they renounced their Christian faith and baptism, worshipped the devil, danced together, and enjoyed a cannibalistic feast, devouring children whom they had killed while using their fat or other body parts to make loathsome potions. They were also thought to receive instruction in working harmful magic by which they might destroy their neighbors’ crops, interfere with the fertility of their cattle, and with the sex lives of those around them. Most luridly, witches were thought to have sexual relations with the devil or with lesser demons. During the fifteenth century large numbers of heretical “witches” or sorcerers began to be discovered, and increasingly they were women.

Another definition of witchcraft emphasizes the continuity of magical practices that witches had used in the West ever since classical times and the similarities between such practices and those found all around the world. On such an understanding, witchcraft is the belief in and use of unusual, secret, or even supernatural forces in order to force or promote specific desired ends. The ancient Greeks had believed in such magic but had not seen it as much of a daily threat. They originally thought that “magic” (mageia) was the strange, foreign religious practice of Persian priests (the magi) and of beggars or other dishonorable Greeks. Magic seemed both alien and disreputable. In Greek literature, the figure of the witch included characters such as Circe and Medea, women who used destructive magic to express their anger, lust, and frustration, but magic does not seem to have been a prominent fear among the Greeks. With the ancient Romans, however, harmful magic (maleficium) was forbidden in the earliest set of laws (the Twelve Tables, 451 B. C.E.) and was punished with increasing severity. The Roman historian Livy (History 39.41.5 and 40.43.2f) recounts episodes when apparently thousands of persons were executed by jittery judicial officials, and, in the late first century C.E., the Romans began to crack down on fraudulent magicae vanitates (‘worthless magic’), practices that included healing, divination, and astrology. Thus, this understanding of witchcraft did not require a devil or a pact but insisted on the dangers lurking in the hidden practices of lustful and vengeful witches.

A third notion of witchcraft may be found in the injunctions of the Old Testament, in which the authors of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Kings, for example, forbade necromancy and divination, practices that competed with the rituals of the Levites and sacrificial priests while also Click here to read the rest of this article Source: encyclopedia.com

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The Various Colors of Witchcraft – White Magick

The White Witch

White Witchcraft

White Witchcraft

Understanding White Witchcraft

White Witches

Hereditary Witchcraft

Hereditary Witchcraft

Contents:

Witch 101: “Witches’ Rede of Chivalry”

Witchcraft 101: Naked

Your Power

Skyclad

“What do spells and rituals of witchcraft and magic really do or me?”

Am I a Witch? All the Telltale Signs

Lore and the Arcane Truth

What is a Witch?

Am I a Witch?

1. Have You heard the ‘Calling’ ?

2. Do you feel Connected with Nature?

3. Do you have Dreams, Memories or Visions of being a Witch?

4. Do you Think ‘out of the box’?

5. Do you feel your Thoughts, your Emotions and your Words have power?

6. Do you Collect Unusual Items?

7. Do you frequently Observe Synchronicities?

Defining the Untamed nature.

Are You a Witch?

(Seperate Article from 2016)

The Zodiac Circle and Types of Witches

Aries: Blood Witch.

Taurus: Elf Witch.

Gemini: Energy Witch.

Cancer: Kitchen Witch.

Leo: Enchanter Witch.

Virgo: Hermit Witch.

Libra: Music Witch.

Scorpio: Nocturnal Witch.

Sagittarius: Thunder Witch.

Capricorn: Green Witch.

Aquarius: Star Witch.

Pisces: Fairy Witch.

Eclectic Wicca

The Principles of Witchcraft Belief

Principles Outlined

Zsuzsanna Budapest, founder of Dianic Wicca. Z Budapest fought for the right to get paid for tarot readings and WON

Dianic Witch

The Dianic Tradition

Teutonic Witchcraft

Alexandrian Wicca

The Alexandrian Tradition

UNDERSTANDINGS OF WITCHCRAFT