How to Recognize the Types of Witchcraft

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Many people would be surprised to learn that there nearly as many different types and traditions of witchcraft as there are denominations of Christian religions. There are several paths of Wicca, a nature-based religion that supports the practice and preservation of witchcraft. If you're seeking your own path and you're not sure where to turn, learn how to recognize the types of Wiccan witchcraft.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Recognize what is not a type of witchcraft. If you have ever heard the terms "white witch" or "black witch," you can disregard both. Anyone who professes to practice "black magic" for the purpose of causing harm to another is not practicing true witchcraft. Likewise, it is pointless to designate a witch as being "white" or a "good witch," since all witchcraft embraces the creed of harming none.
Step 2

Learn about the Correllian tradition. Correllian Wicca promotes spiritual development and the use of witchcraft with an interest in preserving native cultures, particularly Native American traditions. Correllian witchcraft also emphasizes the acceptance and encouragement of public ritual for all faiths.
Step 3

Explore global Pagan traditions and cultures through Shamanic Witchcraft. This form of witchcraft furthers the purpose of the priest or priestess to include the role of counselor and healer of the community.
Step 4

Learn that Teutonic Witchcraft followers align themselves with ancient Germanic tribes and make use of traditions, deities and symbols specific to Norse and Germanic cultures.
Step 5

Know that Celtic Wicca or Celtic Witchcraft follows a Celtic/Druidic pantheon and incorporates the elements of nature and elemental spirits, including fairies and gnomes.
Step 6

Expect to see plenty of Egyptian and Qabbalistic ceremonial magick when you witness Ceremonial Witchcraft.
Step 7

Know that the Gardnerian Tradition of witchcraft was a campaign to revive the "old religion" in Europe through the public media by founder Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. While the tradition has lost its popularity (and even credibility) since then, the tradition was focused on Goddess worship while performing rituals skyclad.
Step 8

Keep it simple with Kitchen Witchcraft, which makes use of earth and the elements to safeguard home and hearth.
Step 9

Know that hereditary witches have been handed down the traditions of their ancestors. This inheritance form of witchcraft is also known as Family Traditions.

Comments

ixacacau said

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on 11/1/2009 Disregard #1. Witchcraft does not embrace "harming none". That is a Wiccan rule. Correllian Wicca is a fairly new denomination (although they deny this) and can be learned about at www.witchschool.com. Take it with a grain of salt. They have been known to ordain household pets.

bevvieryan said

on 8/16/2009 Wicca and witchcraft are different, in the sense that witchcraft does not believe in OMG there's a God there must be a Goddess which has to emasculate the God!! My great grandmother taught my grandmother magic which appeals to a force yes but not a Isis/Osiris pairing neither to a Hera/Zeus pairing and had very little to do with the "Horned God" yet it is still witchcraft. Saying that Wicca is the only form of witchcraft is like saying Wicca is the only form of paganism... untrue!

asdf1234 said

on 7/31/2009 "Anyone who professes to practice "black magic" for the purpose of causing harm to another is not practicing true witchcraft."

Oh, please. To claim that Wicca is the only "true" witchcraft is just ignorant propaganda. I'm not putting down anyone's beliefs here, but some Wiccans need to just accept the fact that they're not the only type of witches in the world. Whether you like it or not, there are even Satanic witches. So, deal with it.