Witchcraft is the use of supernatural or magical powers. Practitioners of witchcraft are known as witches. Witches have been around throughout all known history. They were the midwives and herbalists. The old hag (or beautiful woman) who lived at the edge of the village, or the hermit who hid himself away. Their knowledge was handed down from parent to child, or from master to apprentice. They held a knowledge of herb lore, healing, midwifery and spells. Their knowledge and abilities in and of themselves made them seem magical to their neighbors.

In ancient times, agriculture was the mainstay of existence and agriculture depended upon the seasons. The seasons, in turn, were associated with the movement of the Earth, Sun and Moon. Then people believed in spirits and gods and
goddesses and they associated them with the Earth, Sun and Moon. The agriculture year ended with the completion of harvest and the sowing of new seeds for the crop in the New Year. This is the reason why Pagans and traditional witches consider Samhain as the agricultural year. Believers in traditional witchcraft did not follow any guide book, nor did they believe in a singular god or deity.  They believed in an all powerful nature.

The casting of spells does not mean the changing of a person into a frog, nor is spellcasting inherently evil or good. The spell is an extension of the user. Nor do spells generally release a pyrotechnic show or deliver immediate results, this is a media-driven effect. Most spells help the user to focus on their wants and desires and it may take some time before the results of the spell will be realized (remember the movie Practical Magic).

Some witches prefer to be solitary, while others may practice in a group or coven. The practitioners of traditional coven witchcraft chose their coven leaders on the basis of their knowledge and experience. Witches consider that although the spirit world and the physical world are linked, they are separate. The only time the veil of separation between the two worlds becomes thin is on the night of Samhain.

Wiccan is a religion whereby the practitioners are witches who believe in a God and Goddess and a crede of “do no harm”. Their religion openly acknowledge magic.

Today witches use witchcraft in a very practical way. For example, they use herbs to cure the diseases. They may also use hexes and curses in certain cases. Traditional witchcraft attaches great importance to the pentagram and they use it for protection, healing and magic. The pentagram itself symbolizes the basic elements such as the earth, fire, water, air and spirit.

Whether you are a witch, a wiccan or a neophyte, we hope that our blog and resources will help you on your quest for understanding.