Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Witchcraft - Er What Is It Exactly...

Inspired by my less than brilliant score on the Witchcraft Quiz posted by Herne in the snug I thought I'd ask the question - how do you define witchcraft?

So here's mine (well the version on Fool's Paradox is about 2 A4 pages so this is heavilly edited )

Firstly you have to remember that the term witchcraft is not solely in use by the Western nations. The terms witch and witchcraft are applied to people from other nations and other cultures, sometimes the meaning is similar enough to the western concept to be interchangable, in others it means something similiar only in the fact that they deal with the 'supernatural'

Well if we stick to defining witchcraft in the sense of neo-pagan western terms..

Witchcraft is not Wicca (though Wicca can claim to be an outgrowth of witchcraft, though in a specialised sense)

Witchcraft is mastery of a collection of varied different disciplines, including but probably not limited to:

Herb lore, weather lore, animal lore, human social dynamic/psychology, occult lore - including forms of divination, magic and the like

The practise of being a witch is to use these skills to take action where it needs to be taken and decissions based on experience and need.


There that was very brief. Didn't include any worship of gods there did I, well thats coz witchcraft aint as such a religion. However belief in and worship of gods can be incorporated into an individual's practise and if this is tightly done then it can be argued that in that person's case their witchcraft has become their religion.

Hence the rare, but not unknown, case of Christian witches.

now thats my take, its over to you:

How do you define witchcraft?

well I have to say cos, that your definition is pretty much my definition.

My definition of witch craft (possibly simular to fool's?)

Witchcraft is a skill ( well more like a mix of different skills) which is sometimes used within religion such as wicca.

I like your definition I made a half-hearted attempt at a description of sorts when I set my website up a few years ago:

http://www.the-healing-garden.co.uk/witchcraft%20main.htm

Which is pretty pants really!

I have to say I agree with you also Cos, basically for me witchcraft is exactly that, a craft with many aspects, as you have said, herblore, weather lore, animal lore etc. it is a method of using what nature provides us and shows us, but we don't always notice. A way of tuning into and using those things for specific purposes.

This post has been edited by Herneoakshield: Oct 24 2005, 01:45 PM

Nicely done, Cosmic Fool.

How do you define witchcraft?

Wisdom. And it doesn't always come with age.

witchcraft
i say the ability to change the outcome of events through word or deed

witchcraft
i say the ability to change the outcome of events through word or deed

hmmm that means that Jamie Oliver is a witch....

I see what you are saying, but you need to have the knowledge and other skill sets there to do this effectively.

Kev

witchcraft
i say the ability to change the outcome of events through word or deed

Mmm, sounds more like a loose definition of magic.
Witchcraft, I feel, is far more, its learning to become intuitive, being able to sense the world around in a far deeper sense than your average person does. Its becoming proficient in the skills mentioned earlier, and while magic is clearly a part of witchcraft, I don't think witchcraft is magic. If you get what I mean.

Ooh definitions are tricksy.

I define myself as I witch so to me "witchcraft" is what I do as opposed to what I think and believe, if that makes sense. It's the culmination of my acquired knowledge and wisdom (such as it is ) , the ability to craft spells, to use herbs and tools of divination, etc. Perhaps more importantly, its the wit to know when to use such skills and to do so ethically.

In a way, I also see the craft as the ability to be the person that people seek out for advice and help. Like when they are looking for answers from divination or someone to "sort out" their ghost, which happens to me a lot for some reason. I guess it's what a certain literary witch would call "Headology".

I'm begining to realise you never stop learning. Been into wicca/ witchcraft for a long time but was always under the impression they were one and the same thing. I'm realising now after reading this that they aren't really. Its certainly given me food for thought.

Oh definitely Ebony-Rose, I don't think any one person could learn everything there is out there to learn!

And oh yeah, witchcraft and wicca are two seperate entities, although Wicca incorporates witchcraft within the actual religion and of course Witchcraft itself is not a religion, it is purely a craft. There are tons of variations too, Folklore witchcraft, your african type witchcraft and so on. Fascinating topic.

Witchcraft itself is not a religion, it is purely a craft.

Agree with you entirely on that one, Very - I see witchcraft as a practice, like alchemy or medicine, and Wicca as a religion, which along with Christianity and Judaism is not one that I choose to follow. It does annoy me a bit sometimes when people refer to me as a Wiccan because I call myself a witch.

Cailleachna

Ah but wiccans are witches, it's just that most witches aren't wiccans Hollywood feeds the myth, as do all of the dodgy books out there I like the analogy of witchcraft as a practice like alchemy, yet witchcraft can bring about great change or tiny change but each changes everything completely

Hollywood feeds the myth, as do all of the dodgy books out there

Sad but true. "Charmed", anyone? Bleugh! And am I the only one who really feels that pink-covered paperbacks that give you spells to get a boyfriend DO NOT belong in the Mind/Body/Spirit section at the bookshop?

oh I don't know, it'll teach them how to value things and to realise that you think you want isn't always what's really good for you

Mind, Body, Spirit is about self improvement and empowerment, what better way to learn than with a kick in the bum when they get saddled with a right tosser Ok, I'm wicked

oh I don't know, it'll teach them how to value things and to realise that you think you want isn't always what's really good for you

Mind, Body, Spirit is about self improvement and empowerment, what better way to learn than with a kick in the bum when they get saddled with a right tosser Ok, I'm wicked

Yep WW you are, very wicked! But oh so delightfully!


Have to say I enjoy Charmed, of course I do worry at those individuals that think its real, which is total poppycock! However, I am encouraged that more and more "magical" and fantasy type programmes are being shown on our tvs. Not an accurate representation, but in some ways Charmed has probably helped the Witch image quite a bit.

Afterall 3 witches who are attractive, normal women, with families, the usual difficulties in finding and keeping a boyfriend. Work difficulties etc. Just normal (so to speak) woman, who also happen to be witches... Yeah ok, the book of shadows, fighting demons, elders, whitelighters, and whatnot is exaggerated..but hey, it is TV afterall.

oh I don't know, it'll teach them how to value things and to realise that you think you want isn't always what's really good for you

Mind, Body, Spirit is about self improvement and empowerment, what better way to learn than with a kick in the bum when they get saddled with a right tosser Ok, I'm wicked

Ahhhh so all these Ravenwolves and Titanias are really just aspects of the Trickster Gods then.

Now that explains a lot, though not the furry covers

Kev