How adaptable is witchcraft?

To what extent can witchcraft adopt concepts and practices from other systems of magic/belief?

(Is it just me or does what i have just written read a bit like an exam question?)

lol...

You forgot to end the question with "Discuss..."

I think its pretty adaptable. I know there are some that feel that you should stick to the magic practices from where you are, but... ( I think there was a discussion recently where I said something similar to this so forgive me if I am repeating myself).

...I think we all learn to connect with things in different ways.. someone was saying in a previous thread that knot magick is from outside the UK. Personally, I use it. It makes a connection for me, it works for me so I have intergrated it into what I know and its not that different from some home grown practices. To me.. connecting to the path is about connecting to the requirement and getting there whatever way is best for you.

If that means adapting something from somewhere else or making it up completely... so long as it speaks to you... whatever works.

Like with any application, it depends highly on what the individual interprets of what the situation requires. In other words, a matter of strategy and a fair dose of Machiavellianism when you really get down to it. Too much of a moral bias in one's judgement tends to be self-defeating, as nature is essentially opportunistic (like Sod's Law for instance). Personally, being a non-theist, I don't bother with the formalities- rather, read the causality and its variables, then effect these accordingly to achieve the desired outcome. I may use divination, but often it is not necessary, given the extent of my psychic abilities. If, of course, I foresense something already deterministic in the making, I usually leave it alone. It usually means the situation will resolve itself. As for healing or communion, I do that empathically.

The term witch is derived from the Anglo Saxon Wicca/Wicce (pronounced witcha) and means wise one, so witchcraft technically means craft of the wise one, therefore I feel that witchcraft is as adaptable as those who call what they practice witchcraft, which includes Wicca, Traditional witchcraft, Hedge witchcraft, Solitary witchcraft, Hereditary witchcraft and many others.

Storm Ravne

Much as Quasi says, I reckon the adaptability depends as much as anything on the adaptability of the practitioner.
Nothing remains static, so new ideas are amalgamated with the old, and in this way the Craft flourishes. Where would we be if our adherants were incapable of adapting to change as and when needed?

I heard that was just one of several theories, and the word could be traced back to the Anglo Saxon word for 'twisted' amongst others.

As for how adaptable witchcraft is, I suspect that depends on the witch. According to Owen Davies (in the last chapter in Cunning Folk), the original crafts of the wise (healing, curing cows, midwifery etc) are all now being done by other people. The laws of the country have made it impossible for wisewomen and men to practice what they originally did, so now witches are marginalised. I know some people still do healing, but what about the rest? Is it just charms and divination we do, or do we now practice a less tangible craft; listening to others, headology, that kind of thing.

As for absorbing other paths, it has always done that. If you follow the types of books written about witchcraft you will see that it started out as an offshoot of Modern Witchcraft. Then authors tried to tie it with a darker path. then in the 80s and 90s it got a PR makeover which is where the love and lighters came in. Now you have have Chaos Witches (I know a couple), Christian Witches, Pagan Witches, Atheist Witches, and so on. And every witch does their magic their own way.

Good point Quasi and Tas, I think that the Craft requires it's practitioners to be adaptable, to be able to adjust to new circumstances and to be able to think on their feet for apart from certain disciplines that may or may not be practiced by the individual, it is up to the individual practitioner to find out what works for them.

Storm Raven

wot the others say, it is very adaptable.

fizz

Could not agree more.

Exactly! As a previous thread explored, there are now Christian Witches, Jewish and Islamic ones. And also of course Haitan Vodou (hope I spelt that right?) from when people simply had no other option but to incorporate the new into the older ways in order to survive.

As "witchcraft" has no rules, and no universal practices, there's nothing to adapt, surely? One does what works.

Or have I misunderstood the question?