Witchcraft in the present

It is not sufficient to say you are a "witch" or to practice magick. You must also live as a witch.

Do not look for excuses for why you cannot follow the path. Accept responsibility for your failures as well as your successes.

Celebrate the phases of the Moon and the changing of seasons. Do so not because it is part of a ritual calendar, but rather because these acts keep you in tune with Nature and Spirit.

Honor Spirit or the Goddess, but recognize that the spirits of all entities in the Universe are equal.

All life is sacred; all acts are ritual. Your actions should reflect your own divinity and that of all beings.

Achieving balance with the Earth is essential for a magickal life.

Responsibility toward the environment and the Earth's inhabitants should be evident in the activities of your daily life.

Do not take more from the Earth than you need to live. We are mere visitors here; the Earth is eternal.

Wealth and fame are not necessary ingredients for a magickal life.

Know that the joy of life is a gift. Know it as a cat knows it, in his bones and blood.

Power is a sacred gift and must be used wisely and with humility. Pride in ones power will ultimately cause failure.

Power should never be used to prove your ability or in any form of competition with others.

Power should be used to create happiness, not sorrow.

Be certain of your intentions when performing any act of magick. Magick is neither good nor evil, positive nor negative. The intentions of the magician determine the path it will take.

Act always with honor and accept responsibility for your actions. It is honorable to protect your loved ones, but be willing to accept the consequences of your actions with honor as well.

Words are sacred, use them wisely.

There is honor in truth.

Your word is sacred. Others must know that they can depend on you absolutely.

Learn to forgive yourself and others.

Knowledge is the foundation of the Craft. Never believe that you know enough.

Teach those who truly wish to learn, but take care that you do not teach those who only wish to serve themselves or harm others.

Teach the Craft with pride, but not to enhance your own pride.

Recognize that even the least knowledgeable of students may offer you lessons you need.

Live your life in a way that is above reproach to the rest of the world. In doing so, you will bring honor to all witches.

Do not be drawn into the feelings of hate and anger expressed by others.

Be able to look into a mirror and be truly unafraid.




Here you will find some brief deffinitions of different kinds of Witches.










ALEXANDRIAN TRADITIONS



Was founded in England in the 1960s, Alex Sanders referred to himself as the "King" of his Witches. The rituals are said to be modified Gardenarian.




BRITISH TRADITIONAL WITCH



This is a mix of Celtic and Gardenarian beliefs. Most famous organization at this time is the Internation Red Garters. British Traditionals move mostly from within the Farrar studies(the famous Witch husband and wife from England.) They too are fairly structured in their beliefs, and train through the degree process. Their covens are also co-ed.




WICCA



This is the Celtic/Druidic pantheon mixed with a little ritual Gardnerian, and stressin the elments, nature and the Ancient Ones. They had a vast knowledge of and respect for the healing and magickal qualities of plants and stones,flowers,trees,elemental spirits, the little people, gnomes and fairies.




CALEDONII TRADITION



This was once known as the Hecatine Tradition, this denomination of the Craft is Scottish in origin, and still preserves the unique festivals of the Scots.




CEREMONIAL WITCHCRAFT



The followers of this Tradition uses a great deal of ceremonial magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Qabbalistic magick.




DIANIC TRADITION



It was first mentioned by Margaret Murray in 1921 in "The Witch Cult in Western Europe," this term appears to include a mixture of various traditions. However, their prime focus in recent years is on the Goddess, and has been pegged as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.




ECLECTIC WITCH



Basically this indicates that the individual does not follow any particular Tradition, denomination,sect, or magickal practice. They learn and study from many magickal systems and apply to themselves what appears to work best.




GARDNERIAN TRADITION



This Tradition was organized by Geral Garner in England in the 1950s. Gerald was one of the few people so determined that the Old Religion should not die that he took the risk of publicizing it through the media. He understood that the young needed the Craft as much as the Craft needed a new generation to servive.




HEREDITARY WITCH



This is one who can trace their Craft through their family tree.




KITCHEN WITCH



This kind of Witch practices by hearth and home, dealing with the practical side of religion, magick, the earth and elements. There are some who groan loudly at this type of terminology, viewing it as degrading or simply inappropriate. Juest remembger that the Old Religion started somewhere, and most likely the kitchen(or cookfire) was the hub of many charms, spells, healings, and celebrations. After all, where does everyone congregate during the holidays? Grandma's kitchen has always produced magickal memories for humanity; visions of Mother making that something special for a sick child still holds true today for many of us.




PICTISH WITCHCRAFT



Scottish Witchraft that attunes itself to all aspects of nature:animal, vegetable, and mineral. It is a solitary form of the Craft and mainly magickal in nature with little religion.




POW-WOW



Indigenous to South Central Pennsylvania. This is a system, not a religion, based on 400-year-old Elite German magick. Pow-Wow has deteriorated to a great degree into simple faith healing. Although Pow-Wow finds its roots in Ferman Witchcraft, few practicing Pow-Wos today in Pennsylvania follow the Craft or even know the nature of its true birth.




SATANIC WITCH



One cannot be a satanic Witch because Witches do not believe in satan.




SEAX-WICA



This type was founded by Raymond Buckland in 1973. Although of Saxon basis, it was aouthored by Raymond himself without breaking his original Gardnerian oath. Raymond Buckland's contribution to the Craft is significant one. Not only did he develop a Tradition that is more than aceptable to many individuals, he also has written a large volume of textbooks on different magickal aspects and practices of the Craft, thereby enhancing many lives in a positive direction.




SOLITARY WITCH



One who practices alone, regardless of Tradition, denomination, or sect.




STREGA wITCHES



They follow a tradition seated in Italy that began around 1353 with a woman called Aradia. Of all the traditional Witches, this group appears to be the smallest in number in the United States, however their teachings are beautiful and should not be missed.




TEUTONIC WITCH



This comes from ancient time the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. Culturally this included the English, Dutch Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish peoples. This is also known as the Nordic Tradition.