Witchcraft Information

Satanism is a product of Christianity. Witchcraft has nothing to do with either the philosophy or anti-Christian religion of Satanism.

During the medieval period, the Christian Church made many attempts to phase out Witchcraft, and thus promoted the idea of the Devil as having horns. Being as any deity which existed outside of the realms of Christianity was seen as being of the Devil, it is an easy assumption that the Horned God was the Devil himself. However, the Horned God has nothing at all to do with the Devil.

Witchcraft teaches that you should follow your heart and take responsibility for your actions. There is no absolute good or absolute evil. There is only the intent that one has when commiting an action. For example, a tornado, which causes a lot of destruction, is not good or evil..... It just is.

Emphasis is thus placed on the intent of the action. This concept can be seen within a quote from a magical tradition that says, "The whole of the action is the sum of its consequence." Energy is not constant. In terms of returned energy, this means that the energy can have many things happen to it along the way including: deflection, absorbtion, transformation, etc.

We do not follow a Rede, or any Law except that which is written within our own hearts. We take responsibility for our actions.

Things are brought into the perspective of survival and intent of the individual. Many Witches look at this in terms of protection of house or clan, family, and self. So, some will take action to curse or hex if wrongfully provoked, but most do not, due to knowledge of the laws of karma.

Witchcraft is the continuation of the practice of the native religions and cultural beliefs of Europe after the advent of Christianity. Witchcraft is the name that was given to these practices by the Christian Church. Before that, the people who followed a religion were just believers. There were special roles that equated to what we would now call a priesthood. These positions often involved law enforcement, settling of domestic disputes, counseling, omen consultation, blessings, administration of medication, keeping the calender, and such. There are names for those who took these positions, but the name changes with the area.

People continued, even under persecution, to worship their Gods. These religions often dominated in the more remote areas, and tended to localize themselves to specific regional areas, or were kept within the members of a family. In these families, the traditions of the religion were passed down from generation to generation. Many were forced to masquerade under the cover of Catholism, even though they were not truly Catholic.

Ireland, however, was never touched by the Inquisition, and for the most part was free from witch-hunters in general. This allowed many practicioners of Witchcraft to continue their worship fairly unhindered.

Some people who follow these native religions of Europe do not refer to themselves as Witches. The term "Witch" is something that was placed upon these beliefs. However, using the term "Witchcraft" is an easy way to collectively identify these religious beliefs and those who follow them.

Some of the older Europeans which are considered to be "Pagan" do not refer to themselves as such. The reason for this is because the term Pagan refers to an unenlightened one. Instead, they will often refer themselves Heathens.

Can I be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, or of another religious affiliaton, and still be a Witch?
Of course! A Witch chooses her/his tradition and god/desses, so therefore it would make perfect sense to be of any religious belief and have any god/dess(es) and be a Witch. What god/dess you worship doesn't matter.... it's what you follow in your heart that makes you a Witch -- i.e., living at one with Nature and the Universe.

Wicca and Witchcraft are two seperate religions. Wicca was founded by Gerald Gardner in the late 1930's. It is comprised of Western European folk traditions, Eastern philosophy, and Cabbalistic mysticism. Although initially Wicca was based more in magickal pursuits, it has hence forth developed into a more spiritual religion. Today, Wicca can be seen as an ecclectic system of beliefs with an underlying static ritual and ethics base. Although some traditions in Wicca may cater to a specific culture, the rituals and ethics will still have this commmonality which identifies it as being Wiccan.

Magick is a tool. As a tool, it can be used within any religion. Some people who follow the religion of Witchcraft do not practice magick, just as some people who follow the religion of Buddhism do not practice magick. It would be inaccurate to say that magick has nothing to do with Witchcraft. However, there are those who choose not to practice magick. Foremost, Witchcraft is a religion and/or philosophy, a way of life.

In an attempt to ostracize those who followed the old religions from the realms of popular society, the Church categorized Witches as warlocks. The word "warlock" translates as the Scottish Gaelic term for a liar, oathbreaker, back-stabber, or someone generally not to be trusted.

Many people use this as a term for a male Witch in contemporary society, but any Witch referred to as such will be greatly insulted by the term. Those who use the term "warlock" should not be trusted for information because they are either ignorant of the term and are most likely not knowledgeable about the Craft anyways, or they are most likely teenagers involved with pseudo-satanism who think that name sounds cool.

If someone betrayed a coven, the members might mark them as a warlock by taking a blade and slashing them across the forehead so that everyone who met the person would recognize them as such and would know not to trust that person. Interestingly enough, this same technique of marking was used by the Church to designate someone who was a Witch and was done to render their magick impotent.

To become a Witch, one must become a practicioner of the religion. Different traditions have different methodology for becoming a part of their tradition. For most, this involves some form of self-dedication to the Gods. Even for those born into a family tradition, a conscious decision to follow the Old Ways must be made.

Witchcraft is comprised of many individual traditions that may differ greatly from one another at times. However, there are some key elements which most traditions follow. One, is the keeping of secrets or mysteries. There are some things which have not been written in a book and never will be. There is usually some form of initiation or rite of passage, although it may or may not be referred to as such. For some who are a part of family traditions, this is followed through certain rites which occur when an individual reaches specific times within their life cycle.For others, the rite of passage may be done after an individual has completed a a time of study along with specified tasks.

The God and Goddess are seen as the male and female aspects of Nature. They do not reign over the Universe, they instead are the Universe itself. Most of the early inhabitants of Europe followed one God and one Goddess, even though there might be many more deities in their particular pantheon. Often times the particular pair of deities someone followed would reflect some important aspect of their life such as their occupation, location, or path in life. The God is usually represented a protector or hunter, and the Goddess is often related to fertility or the land.

The Gods are not ominpotent. They have egos and what we would consider to be human characteristics.

Witches also look to the Ancestors, or those who have gone before. The Ancestors have different names in different cultures, but the concept is the same. Witches often consult the Ancestors for advice and help. Sometimes the Ancestors can also be called on as guardians as well as advisors. We sometimes even offer them gifts and leave food out for them. The Ancestors, however, are not Gods but rather respected or honored ones.

The Otherworld is a term used to refer to the realm where the Ancestors dwell. Most traditions within Witchcraft recogize the Otherworld, although the name used to identify it might be different. The realm of the Otherworld is often seen as being the place that lies beyond our senses, and just beyond the boundary of our dreams. In some cultures, it is seen as being the realm of the dead. There are places which are commonly recognized as being sacred loci where the two worlds might converge upon one another; these are trees, hills, lakes, rivers, caverns, wells, and even areas covered in thick mists.

A tradition is the system or variety of Witchcraft that someone follows. Sometimes a tradition will have a specific name, which usually is in the language of the relevant culture. More commonly, however, the name of the tradition is simply that of the culture from which that system of beliefs stems from.

A family tradition is a term used to refer to those whose tradition is followed and passed down within their family. Those who are family tradition have often grown up with Witchcraft as part of their everyday lives. However, this is not always the case as some families permit Seekers to come and learn their Ways.

A path is used to refer to the specific life goals that someone has within their tradition. A path can usually be defined by taking into account a person's interests, career choice, motivations, and goals in life. The Gods which a person chooses to follow are determined by their path in life.

It was believed by the early inhabitants of Europe that the Gods they worshipped inhabited the land itself. Many were migratory people, and so as they travelled across the continent they took their Gods with them. As they travelled, though, these people often looked toward the North Star, Polaris, for guidance. It was a fixed point in the night sky that they used as a reference point.

When these early Europeans wished to honor their Gods, they created a connection between their homeland, where their Gods resided, and the land where they stood. In this way, the new land became a part of the homeland. The elemental correspondences to the cardinal directions act as a way of aligning yourself with the homeland.

The elemental correspondences help to align the Witch to the homeland. Most early Europeans were migratory peoples and used the star Polaris as a reference point in the night skies. The exact set of correspondences differed from area to area, as each region differed in its geography, climate, and cultural beliefs.

Not all Witches use a elemental correspondence to the cardinal directions. Some worship their Gods at specific locations, and others have a different set of elements and relationships to those elements. An example would be those people of certain Celtic traditions who instead use Earth, Sky, and Water, and preferably worship on a cliffside near the ocean where the three worlds of these elements meet together as one. However, this is not as strange as it may seem, as the correspondences change when one is actually within the Homeland. When within the Homeland itself, the land is already around you.

There are a wide variety of tools which Witches use. Each tradition, though, uses a different set of tools. Perhaps the ritual tool used the most is the ritual blade. Some traditions use common items used in everyday life, where as other traditions demand that the tools be hand-crafted by the person for the specific use in ritual.

Some of the other more popular tools used are the stang or staff, the cup or horn, the cauldron, the wand, the cord, the bell, the besom, the stone, and the sword or spear.

The stang has two forms: the horned staff, and the scarecrow. The stang in it's form as a staff looks just like a staff that may or may not be topped with animal horns. The stang in it's form as a scare crow is a wooden cross with the skull at the top of some horned animal (ie cow, deer), wearing a white linen shirt. This is the stang which is often used within the sacred area. It's function is most often that of a boundary marker, and as a tool for connecting to the Homeland. It connects the two worlds together, and allows one to transverse them.

The cord in most traditions denotes those who have reached, for lack of a better term, the priesthood within Witchcraft. It is used for a wide variety of things such as handfastings. Sometimes there are even dances which are done with the cords linked together.

The llech, or stone, has several different forms and uses. Often it is used as a foundation, and is used to stand on, or is used as an altar stone. It can also take the form of a hagstone or godstone.

Different traditions observe different Festivals. Some of the most common occur on the solistices and the equinoxes, and the times between them. Other observances take place on the new and full moons. Sometimes the major Festivals in some traditions are set to correspond to the new or full moon, and in other traditions they occur on specific days which are usually measured as being halfway between the equinox and the solstice. In still other traditions, the way in which the actual day by which a Festival takes place is particular to tht tradition and they have their own method of calculating it.

The number of observances in a year varies according to the particular tradition. Regardless, the Festivals are set according to the seasons and act somewhat as markers. The year usually begins in early to mid November, although in some traditions the new year will start in mid to late March.

Rituals were determined by the position of the sun and moon and the agricultural year which is best displayed by the times when one should plant or harvest their crops, breed animals, or kill livestock. These times defined when the Gods should be worshipped. Because Witchcraft differs between traditions, the exact Festival days also differs. These Festival days are usually celebrated on the evening preceding the actually day, as the night was seen to belong to the next day. The length of a day is measured from sunset to sunset.

How Do I Become a Witch?
Probably the easiest place to start would be by going to the nearest library. You should probably begin by reading the legends and folklore concerning the culture you are interested in. This will only provide an understanding of the beliefs within Witchcraft, though. The real question is something you must ask yourself, "What are my beliefs?" Your personal beliefs must correspond to those within the Craft. If they do not, then the best you can ever do in Witchcraft is to emulate the religion without ever really understanding and practicing it. It must be something that is already within your heart.

Most people who come to learn the traditions of Witchcraft already have some basis in the religion. Witchcraft is more than holding rituals and worshipping the Gods, it is a way of life. It is an understanding of seasons and an appreciation of life. It is learning to take responsibilty for yourself and what you do.

After you have a basis in the beliefs, the next step would be to dedicate yourself to the Gods. From that point, you have decided to follow the religion of Witchcraft. You become a Seeker, which is someone who seeks the religion of Witchcraft. The next step would be to apprentice to a family as a Seeker. This is the point when you undertake a formallized apprenticeship to learn. Most often a Seeker will be taught the tradition of a family which is set aside for Seekers, and a few might be actually adopted into a family and giving that occurence would be taught the family's tradition. The term, Witch, is a title which is earned - it is the rite to teach others your tradition and a deeper understanding of your religion. It means that you have successfully gone through a successful apprenticeship and have passed through the rites to become a Witch and have received the lineage. This is not something which is done quickly, but is accomplished over many years of hard work and learning.

Dedication is when a person decides to worship the Gods, and learn the ways of Witchcraft. A dedication ritual is something that is composed by the person themselves wherein they pledge themselves to the service of the Gods. Just because someone has gone through a dedication but not through a rite of passage does not mean that they are not devoted. Devotion to the Gods is personal, and that is why it is expressed through a self-dedication.

The Rites of Passage, or Initiation is a formal ritual wherein a person must has spent a period of study and has reached a certain point wherein they are given a set of tasks to complete. Some traditions have different stages, wherein other have certain points in the life cycle wherein this ritual takes place. One of the most important parts of the Rites of Passage or Initiation is when the lineage is passed down. The lineage is the line of essence which has passed from Witch to Witch for all the preceding generations. There are also sometimes Naming Ceremonies. These are sometimes included within the Rites of Passage or Initiation, although in some traditions they remain separate.

Each family, village, and area had their own tradition. As time progressed, and the persecution began to become more severe, the various traditions began to condense and intermingle with other traditions. Many traditions merged with other traditions, and although the religion was preserved, it began to take many different shapes.

A grimoire is a book of rituals and and lore which is usually handwritten by the individual. The name grimoire is used as a general term, as the actual name for this book is kept a secret in most traditions. Even when the name for this book is discussed, it sometimes varies from between traditions.

In most traditions, the grimoire is composed by the individual, and the rituals contained therein are sometimes even written in runes or pictures so as not to be understood by someone else. The rituals themselves are based in the traditions of the particular tradition, but also contain individual flourishes as well. On occasion, the contents of the grimoires may be copied from a main book.

The difference between coven and household are enough to warrant a distinguishment. For the Wiccan they might be considered to be the same. But for the traditionalist, there is a huge difference. A good definition of a household would be to compare it to the medieval households.

Within a Family there can be multiple households and within a Household there can be multiple covens. However, within a Household there are also solitary practicioners. Not everyone in a household is necessarily of Heathen religious beliefs, just as everyone within a family is not necessarily of the same religious beliefs. Within a household there may also be different branches set up for those which follow a specific path.

Guardians are often called to protect the sacred area. As many traditions do not have specific boundaries for their sacred area, the guardians can roam the area freely and protect the area from unwanted influences. In general, they are a good idea.

Guardians are often the spirits with whom a person feels comfortable with and has developed some form of a relationship with. Possible guardians might be one of the Ancestors, a "spirit guide," or other spirtual entity.

There are many beliefs regarding death, but usually there is some concept of the Otherworld where the soul goes to dwell for a time before it returns. Instead of being reincarnated, the person is transformed. Sometimes the transformation is into an animal form, and other times it is into a human, or even spirit form.

A hedgewitch is someone who follows a specific path within a tradition that is somewhat shamanic in nature, for lack of a better term. There are many different titles that those who follow this particular path are called: Hedge-Rider, Hedgewitch, Night Travellers, Myrk-Riders, Gandreidh, Badbh (name of a Goddess as well as a title), and Walkers on the Wind. These are the ones who engage in spirit flight, and journey into the Otherworld. It is this inner tradition which utilizes such things as flying salves and potions in order to gain access to the Otherworld. There are certain pre-requisites which must be met before one can learn this particular path, however.

A hedgewitch is able to go into the Otherworld, and call back the souls of those who are about to die. They can, in this capacity, be very powerful healers. They are also able to speak with those who have passed beyond. One of the rituals by which a hedgewitch can cross over into the Otherworld is called the Ritual of the Raven.

A bird of one kind or another is usually associated with the hedge path. Two of the most commonly associated birds are the raven and the goose.

A mention should be made that the hedge signified the boundary of the village, and thus the boundary of the known world. Not all cultures had hedges, though. Some had stone wall, or earthen works. Regardless, this term is adopted as a way to commonly identify this particular path.

It should be emphasized that not all Witches walk the hedge.

There is a great deal of information regarding Witchcraft available, but most of it will be disguised under ethnographic surveys of folklore and the like. The best way to learn about traditional Witchcraft is to find someone that you know who practices. You will spend countless hours doing research in the libraries. Many people can easily emulate what a culture was like, but it is very difficult to understand and view the world through the eyes of that culture. For the many Americans who follow Pagan beliefs, it is difficult for them to understand what early Europeans did and felt without ever having stepped foot in Europe themselves. This is why I have set up the following books as introductory texts to Witchcraft. I feel that they adequately reflect what Witchcraft is while presenting the cultural background to help you understand the traditions behind it.

There are many other wonderful books. The best suggestion which can be offered is to go to your closest university library and browse the available selection there. Often, you will find books from the early 1900's and late 1800's which offer collections of folklore and localized stories. In some instances, some of the books will be written in old style fonts and may have to be translated. In other cases, sometimes you can find copies of original manuscripts on microfiche which can be viewed and then copied for personal use.

The following list of books is designed as a starting place:

Barry Cunliffe, ed. The Oxford Illustrated Pre-History of Europe, (New York: Oxford Univ Press, 1994).
ISBN: 0-198-14385-0

William W. Fitzhugh and Elizabeth I. Ward, eds., Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga, (Washington: Smithsonian Institute Press, 2000.)
ISBN: 1-56098-970-X

Nigel Jackson, Call of the Horned Piper, (Berks, UK: Capall Bann Publishing, 1994).
ISBN 1-898307-09-1.

Nigel Jackson, Masks of Misrule, (Berks, UK: Capall Bann Publishing, 1996).
ISBN 1-898307-67-9.

Gwyn Jones, A History of the Vikings, 2nd ed., (New York: Oxford University Press, 1984.)
ISBN: 0-19-285139-X

Noragh Jones, Power of Raven, Wisdom of Serpent, (Edinburgh, UK: Floris Books, 1994.)
ISBN 0-86315-186-8.

Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick, A History of Pagan Europe, (London and New York: Routledge, 1995.)
ISBN 0-415-09136-5.

Marian F. McNeill, The Silver Bough: Scottish Folklore and Folk Belief, (Glasgow: Stuart Titles Ltd., 1957)
ISBN 0-853-35161-9

Alwyn Rees, and Brinley Rees, Celtic Heritage : Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales. (Thames & Hudson, 1989.)
ISBN: 0-500-27039-2

John Rhys, Celtic Folklore : Welsh and Manx, (Ayer Co. Publishers, 1970.)
ISBN: 0-405-08885-X

Else Roesdahl, The Vikings, (Penguin Books, 1987.)
ISBN: 0-14-012561-2

T. W. Rolleston, Celtic Myths and Legends, (Senate, reprinted 1994.)
ISBN: 1-85958-006-8