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I know the word "witch" has various meanings, and I'm just curious to see how the word might be used by some people here. Do you consider yourself a witch? Do you feel that a witch is generally anyone who practices magick and has a deep respect for nature, or that a theistic aspect is essential, etc.?

I'm surprised that this topic got no replies as of yet.

The term witch and it's meaning varies from culture to culture and even the time period it was used in. However, it usually is in relation to a female (or male, usually termed Warlock, though witch has since become unisex in modern times) who preforms various supernatural acts and conjurations using various nature entities and spirits (which gave rise to them having communions with demons from the early christian mythos) and components and are usually connected to nature and the earth in some way. Often there is worship of Gaia (the Earth Mother) or the Goddess

I personally use the word Witch to describe any magick user who uses natural compounds and components (often in conjuncture with nature spirits) for enacting spellwork, such as herbs and extracts and such, as well as, but not necessarily exclusive to, worshiping Nature/Gaia/the Goddess.

I, myself, do not consider myself a Witch as i do not fall into what I categorize as a Witch (i have my own categories for the various ways of practicing the magickal arts, just to help me keep them organized for myself )

In Sweden a witch is someone who practices witchcraft.

When I think of Witchcraft I think of rural magic.

More specifically, I think of magic which is conducted for mundane, day to day purposes (or what would have been such for people living in pre-Industrial, rural societies), which doesn't require extensive training or education, and is conducted with a minimum of ceremony using tools which would be easily available in that kind of environment.

But that's just me, everyone seems to have their own definition in these kind of matters.

In Sweden a witch is someone who practices witchcraft.

This is the same here in Scotland too. [thumbup]

Rin wrote:When I think of Witchcraft I think of rural magic.

More specifically, I think of magic which is conducted for mundane, day to day purposes (or what would have been such for people living in pre-Industrial, rural societies), which doesn't require extensive training or education, and is conducted with a minimum of ceremony using tools which would be easily available in that kind of environment.

But that's just me, everyone seems to have their own definition in these kind of matters.

I'm just going to split some hair here,. Don't take this too serious.
What is the difference between folk magic and witchcraft?

Desecrated wrote:

Rin wrote:When I think of Witchcraft I think of rural magic.

More specifically, I think of magic which is conducted for mundane, day to day purposes (or what would have been such for people living in pre-Industrial, rural societies), which doesn't require extensive training or education, and is conducted with a minimum of ceremony using tools which would be easily available in that kind of environment.

But that's just me, everyone seems to have their own definition in these kind of matters.

I'm just going to split some hair here,. Don't take this too serious.
What is the difference between folk magic and witchcraft?

Both are far from my main areas of study, but from my perspective, I don't see any real difference, except that there's a certain image associated with withcraft, a European/Western aesthetic, which the term "folk magic" is a little more detached from. In practice they seem like much the same thing to me, in my limited understanding of the subject.

Just about anyone can do folk magic. It's power comes from the ritualistic components and the ingredients. Witchcraft is more involved. While they may access the same energies its like the difference between a lime rock road and an interstate. Sure, cars can travel down but they're different and handle different levels of volume.

RoseRed wrote:Just about anyone can do folk magic. It's power comes from the ritualistic components and the ingredients. Witchcraft is more involved. While they may access the same energies its like the difference between a lime rock road and an interstate. Sure, cars can travel down but they're different and handle different levels of volume.

Well this is more your forte than mine :p If you don't mind indulging my curiosity, what would you consider a decent practical example to expand on the metaphor you used?

Rin wrote:

RoseRed wrote:Just about anyone can do folk magic. It's power comes from the ritualistic components and the ingredients. Witchcraft is more involved. While they may access the same energies its like the difference between a lime rock road and an interstate. Sure, cars can travel down but they're different and handle different levels of volume.

Well this is more your forte than mine :p If you don't mind indulging my curiosity, what would you consider a decent practical example to expand on the metaphor you used?

The original LBRP is kinda folkish, by the definition RR is trying to explain. It mainly relies on the ceremony, the tools and dress, the ritual process. It calls on external forces and, using the tools of the trade, moves those forces in a certain way to achieve a certain effect. The original Lemegeton is the same way. It's the practice of Natural Magick - taking external forces and manipulating them a certain way, regardless of personal development, talent or power.

Craft is more about Inner Power, the personal talent and ability of the individual. Think about the difference between the original LBRP's manipulation of Elemental Forces, compared to the Inner Development taught in the IIH - the difference between External Redirection and Internal Control.

That's Folk Magic and Witchcraft. Anyone can study a bit and, with the right tools, manipulate the forces of nature. It's basic Natural Magick, as Hermetics dubbed it. Witchcraft, though, is about Talent and Power. A Witch, Wizard or Sorcerer doesn't need tools. We can just grab hold of the forces of nature and directly wield them by the might of our own spirit and soul. The tools and external bits, if we choose to use them, just add to what is already present internally. [wink2]

Also, while I'm here:

Caerdon wrote:(or male, usually termed Warlock, though witch has since become unisex in modern times)

A Warlock isn't a male witch. It's someone of either sex who caused some sort of trouble, was branded a traitor, and outcast from the group or community they were previously working in. It comes from the Old English "wǣrloga," which means "deceiver" or literally "truce-breaker."

The original term for "witch" was the Old English "wicca," which was a male or female "wise one" - someone who knew the ways of spirits and nature, someone essentially shamanistic in Old Europe. As the term grew more associated with females (which was mainly a propaganda attack of the patriarchal Christian Church, targeting goddess worship and women in general), the male "wise one" became a Wizard or Magician and Sorcerer came about in some places too, with each of those terms representing specific styles of practice (kinda like there's more than one Martial Art in China). There were also the Cunning Folk, and numerous other shamanistic and priestly titles all over Old Europe. [wink2]



~:Shin:~

Yeah, what he said.

I'm not sure how much further I could take that one but I do love mixed metaphors lol

Look at the classic wart removing spell. Take a stick and some string. Wrap the string around the wart and let it soak in the energy of it. You're tying it up. Knot magic. Then you transfer it to the dead piece of wood when you tie and knot the string around the stick. That's binding it. The wood itself becomes a food source for the viral 'entity', then you bury it.

That spell has been used so many times that it has its own egregore behind it that empowers it. Anyone with a spark of Talent or faith in the natural order of things can wield this. It's folk magic. Short, small potent rituals that the common folk can do.