Witchcraft may be one of the faster growing spiritual belief systems in the world today, but there are still a lot of misconceptions and prejudices surrounding it. Some have been generated by modern films, books and TV programmes; these portray the Craft as anything from glamorous and fun, to a satanic devil worship of the worst kind. Other prejudices, and even fears, have a deeper origin in the propaganda of the Church of Rome which sought to superimpose its faith, along with taxation and political control, on the beliefs of rest of the world. As a result, the perception of many people is confused, to say the least.
The following is a brief introduction to Witchcraft, as it really is, and as it is practised by millions of people in the world today.
Witchcraft is one of a number of belief systems whose roots pre-date Christianity and which come under the ‘umbrella’ heading of Pagan. Indeed, Witchcraft has roots which go back to Palaeolithic times, as illustrated by the cave paintings of our ancient ancestors. Having said that, the Craft is a living religion and has as much relevance to us today as it had to its practitioners in the past. We still seek healing of our bodies and minds, strength to deal with our daily lives, understanding and compassion to help us relate to those around us, and to develop ourselves.
So what do Witches believe in and how do they express these beliefs? First, you have to understand that, unlike the more ‘orthodox’ religions, the Craft has no paid or formal priesthood; in the Craft we are each our own Priest or Priestess and therefore make our own decisions as to the expression of our beliefs. As a result there is no ‘one true way’ to being a Witch. This gives rise to a great diversity in our daily practices, and indeed enables the Craft to grow and adapt to the real world in a way that other paths find difficult because of their interpreted doctrine. Having said that, there are many beliefs and practices that most Witches hold in common:
WE BELIEVE THAT THE DIVINE IS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE
We believe that the Divine is male and female in perfect balance, and that we should seek that balance in ourselves and in our lives. Put simply, this means that we believe in the Goddess and the God, and they may be referred to by many names, according to the needs of the individual or indeed their personal preference. It helps to think of the Divine as being like a mirror ball, with each facet having a different identity, although all being part of the Divine. As a result you may find that the Goddess is referred to as, for example, Isis, Astarte or Hecate, and the God referred to as, perhaps, Osiris, Herne or Pan. Some Witches will simply refer to the Lord and Lady or the Goddess and the God, others will call them the Old Ones or the Old Gods, or even just the Gods.
The Goddess is seen as having three aspects: Maiden, Mother and Crone (or Wise One). These aspects are reflected in the cycle of the Moon, and in our daily lives, for everything has its beginning, middle and closing phases. The God also has different aspects, but these are more clearly defined through the festivals of the seasons and the Wheel of the Year.
WE ARE EACH OUR OWN PRIEST OR PRIESTESS
As mentioned above we have no formal Priesthood in the Craft, although those Witches working in a group or Coven setting will have a High Priestess and High Priest who are the leaders of that group. This does not make them better Witches; it simply denotes their standing and authority within that group. Having no formal priesthood means we do not rely on others to interpret or intercede with our Gods for us, we are each entitled to make our own connection with the Divine, in our own way. This might be through ritual, meditation and/or magic, and most Witches will use a combination of different techniques at different times.
WE HAVE NO ‘BOOK OF INSTRUCTION’
There is nothing written in Witchcraft in the way that Christians have the Bible or Muslims the Koran. There are a great number of books on the Craft and it is up to those who wish to read some of these and make personal decisions as to their relevance. Each individual can choose the complexity of their Rituals, and the form that their path will take. For some this may mean working in a group or Coven, while others may prefer a Solitary path. Some will seek to work formalized magic whilst others prefer the Hedgewitch approach, working closely with nature and using herbs to achieve their magics.
EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN, INFORMED CHOICE OF SPIRITUAL PATH, SO LONG AS THEY HARM NO ONE ELSE
Witchcraft is a non-proselytizing belief system; we do not feel the need for everyone to believe as we do in order to feel secure in our faith. There is plenty of room in this world for everyone to find their own way of relating to the Divine. In fact, all religions have as much, if not more, in common than in difference. Hence there is no reason why we should not encourage and celebrate a diversity of beliefs. As Witches we encourage our young to examine many paths and to make their own decisions, based on their own needs. We do not seek to convert others to our beliefs, but neither do we wish to be indoctrinated in turn.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD RESPECT NATURE
This means not taking more than we need and indeed trying to recompense for that which we have taken. This involves trying to live not only in the modern world, but also in balance with the planet. Witches tend to shop second-hand, make at least some of the things they use and to recycle where they can. This does not mean that we are all ‘green warriors’ campaigning against the building of roads or houses. It does mean that we try to tread lightly on the world.
WITCHES UTILIZE THE ELEMENTS IN THEIR WORKINGS
It is not just that we respect nature, we also see ourselves reflected by the elements of Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. Whilst these elements are all around us in nature they are also within us; Air is our thoughts, Fire is our passions and enthusiasm, Water is our emotions, Earth is our bodies and Spirit is our selves. These are the energies we harness in working magic and in order for this to work effectively we must be able to achieve balance between them. These elements also have reflections in daily life. For every project to work it must have its phases of thought, enthusiasm, emotional involvement and formation, and must also be imbued with its own spirit. These elements are represented by the five-pointed star, or Pentagram, which when placed in a circle becomes the Pentacle worn by many Witches as a symbol of their beliefs.
WE BELIEVE IN AND PRACTISE MAGIC
Magic has been defined as the ability to create change by force of will and in some respects is not dissimilar to a belief in the power of prayer. However, in magic it is our personal intervention which creates the change around us. Magic is not like cookery, just a matter of following a recipe and getting a result. True magic requires a deep understanding of ourselves and the energies that are around us, and the ability to control and focus our own energies. One of the greatest keys to this is the ability to visualize. It also requires a study and understanding of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, not just in the world, but also within us. The magic we practise is not that of stage conjuring or of the special effects that you see so often in modern films. It is practised to heal, protect and enhance our lives. It is worked for ourselves, our near and dear, and for those who come to us with requests for help. Magic should always be practised with the Wiccan Rede in mind and also with regard to the law of three-fold return which states that whatever you do, good or ill, will be returned to you three times over. This latter is not confined to magical working, but should be borne in mind at all times. There are other concerns which should be taken into account before starting any magical working, and these are detailed in The Real Witches’ Handbook. However, if you are careful to harm no one and not to interfere with anyone’s freedom of will, then you have the basic guidelines for good magical practice.
WITCHES CELEBRATE THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
The Witches’ calendar contains eight key festivals, called Sabbats. At these we mark the changes of the seasons and the stories of the Goddess and the God. Whenever possible Witches will gather together to celebrate these festivals. We dance, sing and honour the Goddess and the God by re-enactment of their stories. Solitary Witches also mark the Sabbats, and ways of doing this can also be found in The Real Witches’ Handbook. At the end of these rituals we celebrate by feasting with food and wines. Many of the Sabbats have a familiar feel to non-Witches as they have been taken over by newer belief systems and incorporated into their calendars. The Sabbats are the festivals of Samhain, Yule, Imbolg, Oestara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh and Madron and details can be found in Chapter 7 Sabbat Rituals. Taken together they form the Wheel of the Year.
WE TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LIVES
The main ‘rule’ in the Craft is called the Wiccan Rede; ‘An it harm none, do what thou will.’ This in itself includes not only our respect for others and the world around us, but also respect for ourselves. We do not believe that we can blame external forces or other people for our thoughts, words and deeds, and that if we do wrong it is up to us to do our best to rectify it.
There is much to learn in the world and in the Craft, but we do not expect others to feed us this information. We actively seek to expand our knowledge and extend our skills by personal effort. All Witches are aware that they will never know enough, let alone all. This personal development also includes expanding our personal skills and attributes, ‘ironing out’ our personal misconceptions and problems, and each working to become the best self we possibly can. Witchcraft has been called, and rightly so in my opinion, ‘a thinking person’s belief system’, as it involves a course of personal exploration and general study which never ceases.
THE SUMMERLANDS AND REINCARNATION
Witches believe that we live many lives and between them we return to the Summerlands, a resting place where we review the lessons we have learned in the life we have just completed, and select the lessons to be learned in the life to come. When we speak of reincarnation we do not mean that we come back as the same person but rather that our spirit is born again. Whilst it can be interesting to research previous incarnations, and the information we acquire may illuminate aspects of our current lives, it is necessary to remember that the personal responsibility we also believe in means that we cannot blame our past(s) for our current problems. We must live in the present and work towards achievement in this life.
WITCHES PRACTISE HERBLORE
We utilize the properties of plants and nature for healing and self-improvement, and in the course of our magic. Herbs, plants and spices can be used in food and drink, lotions and ointments, sachets and talismans, incenses and candles. They can be used in their natural state (as I write this I have Rosemary on my desk to aid my thoughts and concentration), dried or in oil form, as in aromatherapy which has become so popular in recent years.
WITCHES CREATE THEIR OWN SACRED SPACE
Witches do not have special buildings in which they worship, in fact most Witches do not even have a room or even a space set aside for working. The Witch creates his or her own working space wherever and whenever it is needed, and this can be inside or out. This space is called the Circle, and it is created in several steps, briefly speaking they are:
* The invocation of the elements of Air, Fire, Water and Earth, which are the energies on which we draw. They are always called in this order as Air represents thought, which should precede all our actions. We bring the element of Spirit to the Circle through ourselves and through the Divine.
* The invitation of the Goddess and the God: the Divine, whose assistance we need to perform our working, and in whose honour we gather.
* The drawing of a Circle large enough to contain those taking part and the actions they are there to perform. This is usually done on the psychic level rather than on the physical, although some will place markers to visibly show the boundary. The Circle is drawn clockwise (or Deosil) from the North-East point of the area, between Earth and Air, and overlaps at that point in order to ensure that it is complete. The Circle is there to contain the energy raised, until it is ready to be released, and to protect those within its boundaries from outside energies and distractions.
These steps can be formal and relatively elaborate in group working, or very simple and performed using visualization when created by a Solitary Witch. Any action which takes place within the Sacred Space will have more effect and potency than the same action performed outside of the Sacred Space. In addition, things can be made outside of the Circle and then taken into it to be magically enhanced or empowered, and then Blessed and Consecrated for use.
There are many different branches of today’s Craft:
* Gardnerian – This tradition was founded by Gerald Gardner, who is sometimes known as the Father of Modern Witchcraft. Gardnerian Witchcraft is strongly based around Gerald Gardner’s own Book of Shadows and his Rituals are closely adhered to.
* Alexandrian – This branch of the Craft was founded by Alex and Maxine Sanders. It is less rigid and more flexible than Gardnerian Craft.
* Hereditary – This, as the name indicates, is Witchcraft which is passed down from one generation to the next through the family line.
* Traditional – This term relates to Witchcraft which is not so much learned as remembered. Traditional Witches are those for whom the Craft comes instinctively. They often work magic and understand the precepts before discovering Witchcraft.
* Hedgawitch – These are Witches whose Craft is almost entirely based around the land and nature. They work almost exclusively through herbs and plants.
Witches may work within these traditions on their own as Solitaries, or in groups which are often called Covens.
The term Coven is used to describe a group of Witches who meet and work together on a regular basis. Despite the common misconception, a Coven does not have to be 13 people, but is essentially any number from three upwards. A Witch on his or her own is termed a Solitary Witch. Witches may be Solitary through choice – it can be easier to get things done if you don’t have to take account of others – or because they are unable to locate a suitable Coven. Two Witches working together are usually termed a Partnership, even when of the same gender. More than two and it is termed a group or Coven. As with any group, the Coven has to have a leader and this is usually the High Priestess, either supported by the High Priest or on her own. In some cases a Coven will be run by the High Priest, but this is usually because there is no Priestess of sufficient rank and experience to take the role of High Priestess.
Just as there are many different kinds of Witch there are different kinds of Coven. There are Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Hereditary and Traditional Covens, and even some which combine these and other aspects of the Craft. There are even cyber-Covens, although unless very well directed, these tend to be more of a forum where Solitaries can share ideas, seek magical assistance and generally discuss the Craft. There are some Covens which are single sex, although the majority are mixed. Some are dedicated to specific pantheons of Gods; others are more eclectic. Some will take newcomers (often called Aspirants or Neophytes), some don’t. Generally speaking, most Covens will initially follow the path that was learned by their High Priestess, although their practice will almost always evolve and differ from this in time. This is one of the reasons for the diversity of practice which can be found in the Craft.
There is no ‘right’ type of Coven, but it is important to find, or create, the kind that is right for you.
Witches who have joined a Coven hold the same beliefs, celebrate the same festivals and work magic together. This is not to say that those in a Coven don’t work on their own, but solitary work by Coven members is supported by the High Priestess and the rest of the Coven.
SEEK TO KNOW MORE?
If you would like to know more about today’s Witchcraft I would recommend reading The Real Witches’ Handbook and some of the other books mentioned in the Recommended Reading at the end of this book.