What is WitchCraft?
WitchCraft is also known as the Craft of the Wise or simply the Craft. The definition of WitchCraft varies depending on who is doing the defining. However, all of these different explanations revolve around related definitions of the word “magic” — a reality that is at the heart of the Craft. I would like to focus on several definitions of magic offered by self-proclaimed practitioners of the Craft: • “Magic is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will.” — Aleister Crowley • “Magic is the art of changing consciousness at will.” — Dion Fortune, Starhawk • “Magic is what happens when you have encountered the Divine.” — Phyllis Curott Definition #1 (D1) is one of the most common definitions. Most Witches take this definition quite literally. This means that we believe that by focusing our will, we can directly affect change in the world around us. We visualize what we desire, we charge this image with spiritual energy, and we project or release that energy
Outside of Wicca, there are a seemingly endless number of stereotypical and outlandishly definitions of Witchcraft, even within credible sources such as dictionaries. However, even within Wicca, the word Witchcraft has many different meanings and contexts. The following are some of the (sometimes contradictory) definitions and usages for the word Witchcraft: Wicca refers to the spirituality (the relationship or worship of deity). Witchcraft is the practice ( for example, magick, healing, divination and so on). This is a very popular definition. Witchcraft encompasses all practices of Wicca, including rituals for worship and magick. Generally, Wiccans create sacred space by casting a circle. Within that circle, the honour and worship Goddess/Gods and they also work magick. Wiccans consider everything that happens within that sacred space to be Witchcraft. For them, Witchcraft is a spiritual ritual and magickal art.
Witchcraft is the continuation of the practice of the native religions and cultural beliefs of Europe after the advent of Christianity. Witchcraft is the name that was given to these practices by the Christian Church. Before that, the people who followed a religion were just believers. There were special roles that equated to what we would now call a priesthood. These positions often involved law enforcement, settling of domestic disputes, counseling, omen consultation, blessings, administration of medication, keeping the calender, and such. There are names for those who took these positions, but the name changes with the area. People continued, even under persecution, to worship their Gods. These religions often dominated in the more remote areas, and tended to localize themselves to specific regional areas, or were kept within the members of a family. In these families, the traditions of the religion were passed down from generation to generation. Many were forced to masquerade under
