What qualifies one as being a witch?

Question

Someone called me a witch on my last question. I have been called a witch at various points throughout my life. I could say that I'm a pagan animist that believes in magic. Does that make me a witch? As I grew older, I though that a witch was a follower of Wicca? So what makes a person a witch?

(And Satan has nothing to do with it, by the way, so don't even try that route.)

If you're wondering what promted this, check out my last question.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj7HcTCb_le.Wut9t7d.Lwrsy6IX?qid=20070329145116AAqZrJn

Answer 1

A witch is someone who practices the technique of witchcraft -- no more, no less, in my opinion. Being a Wiccan does not automatically make one a witch; there are many Wiccans who do not practice witchcraft, and many MANY witches who are not Wiccans.

Witchcraft 101 would go something like this, at least as I was taught: All things in the universe are interconnected by energy, which some witches (including Wiccans) perceive as Divine in nature. This is how witchcraft works: by focussing my intent, and using sympathetic correspondances (certain herbs for courage, for example), I can create an amulet using those herbs which will stimulate courage in the person who wears it. Similarly, by using a lock of hair from a person who is ill, I can (with their permission) set energies in motion that will help them to heal.

In this sense, witchcraft is a very mechanistic worldview. The entire universe is seen as a giant interconnected machine, and by applying one's will to exert pressure one area, one creates a cascade effect that causes change in another area.

Hope this helps. :-)

Answer 2

The Witch is a Practioner of Witchcraft. Witchcraft is sometimes also referred to as the Craft or the old religion. Witchcraft is both a philosophical spirituality, with a reverence towards some form of higher power or universal source and a craft with ritual, lore and magick (Moura 2002). Ronald Hutton (1999) describes Witchcraft as follows: “Pagan Witchcraft is a fully developed, independent religion…it is a modern development which deliberately draws upon ancient images and ideas for contemporary needs”.

There is a large amount of autonmity and spontaneity in Witchcraft (Broad 2006), this makes it even more difficult to give a definitive answer of what is a true Witch and what it is not.

Answer 3

I am Pecti-Witan (a solitary Hedge Witch, not Wiccan). All Wiccans are witches but not all witches are Wiccan. Some of us prefer the term wiccan (small w) over the term witch because of all the negativity that has been associated with it. But I don't mind being called what I am, a witch. A person who practices the old religion (which predated Wicca by thousands of years)
I guess what it boils down to is that if you want to be called a witch, so be it! And if you prefer another description, that is fine too.

Answer 4

Many Wiccans lay claim to the term "witch", but that's hardly the only use of the word. Essentially, you're a witch if you practice witchcraft - which is not synonymous with magic in general. There's plenty of varieties of magic out there that aren't witchcraft (as well as some other things that get called magic that arguably aren't.)

So, for the most part, whether or not you're a witch depends on what sort of magic you practice, if any.

Answer 5

A witch is usually a person who practices Witchcraft in all its many forms. If you simply believe in magick, but do not practice it, you would not be considered a witch. Some Wiccans are not witches, as they choose to follow only the spiritual beliefs but not practice the magick. It's like one of those questions on the S.A.T. test: if all Wiccans are witches and all pagans are Wiccans, then are all pagans witches? LOL Hope this helps you find your answer.

Answer 6

The actual term of "witch" is disputed. Some claim a witch is synonymous with Wiccan; others (myself includes) view a witch as someone who practices true magick, but who does not necessarily follow Wicca, or even any other religion (a witch can be atheistic as well).

Answer 7

the large moon is Nibiru. it's going to be right here via the 1st area of 2010 good? it's going to be extra crimson than orange yet orange is closer to crimson than white so who's conscious. maybe you experience the fact that Nibiru is coming. Do you have any concern of the Annunaki? You suggested the be conscious widespread two times and additionally the be conscious extensive two times. You suggested the moon is your buddy yet i think of this widespread, extensive element represents something else. I easily have taken the canine for a walk after sundown the final 2 nights and the moon has been and oargish coloration and starts out relatively vast and has given me the belief of Nibiru the two circumstances. whilst Nibiru arrives it is going to initiate out small and then get extra suitable and bigger. via fact that's 4 circumstances extra suitable than the EArth it is going to appear like that's getting extra suitable and bigger and could probably seem to be chasing you. It should not be right here for a 300 and sixty 5 days and a a million/2. which will provide you time to get into shape and be waiting to run for days and outrun Nibiru. stable success! :-) Peace ... 2012 would be right here quickly sufficient

Answer 8

A witch is someone who practices magic. If you practice magic, you are a witch---regardless of whatever other labels that you may qualify for. This is simply my opinion.

Personally, I don't care for the label of "witch", but by my own definition, I qualify. Still, I seldom use the word when describing myself. (I see "witchy" as an adjective with connotations of being "mischievous" which fits me well)

Answer 9

You sound more like a Druid. These were considered Pagan people of the forest who practised magic and probably liked animals like you do. I believe that you are correct in you assumption that witches are followers of Wicca. Depending on the way they worship or practise or even position their pentagrams will determine whether they represent the dark forces or light forces.

Answer 10

I generally refer to witches as Wiccans, or pagans who practice magick, not just believe in it. By this definition I could also fit that description, although I'm not Wiccan.