Is Trad Witchcraft the same as “witchcraft”?
No. While many Trad Crafters, including myself, do sometimes use the term “witchcraft” informally to refer to Traditional Witchcraft, the two terms are actually very different. 1) Witchcraft is the use of magic and is in itself not a religion. It is possible to practice witchcraft without any association to religion or to the spirits. Thus, it is not necessarily spiritual. 2) Trad Witchcraft is associated with a specific spiritual foundation, it is not just magic. In the British Isles, witchcraft was an outgrowth of local tribal religions, including that of the Saxons. It is the Saxon heritage that has come down to us. Therefore, we utilize witchcraft that is cast within these inherited views of deity and with the assistance of the spirits. Our tradition is centred on the spirits, which are always with all of us. The spirits can readily hear us and may provide their support and help, especially if we ask. All Trads (or groups, denominations) work under this Traditionalist orientation.
