Have you always wondered if you were a Witch? Have you began to question your current spiritual path and are looking for an alternative? Has something happened in your life that led you to research Witchcraft and you’re wondering if it’s the path for you?

This article is for you.

What is Witchcraft?

Witchcraft has been a taboo and dark subject for many years. The word itself conjures up images of old women living in huts in the woods with warts and possibly green skin who are evil incarnate. This is due primarily to the spread of Christianity but also heavily impacted by movies and books. Films like The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, and many others have introduced this evil, atrocious looking woman as a Witch.

Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things.   Most importantly however, it teaches responsibility.   We accept responsibility for our actions and deeds as clearly a result of the choices we make.   We do not blame an exterior entity or being for our shortcomings, weaknesses or mistakes.   If we mess up or do something that brings harm to another, we have no one but ourselves to blame and we must face the consequences resulting from those actions.

wicca.com

We will delve a little deeper into that at a later time, but it is important to note that this is only one interpretation and each Witch might interpret what Witchcraft is to them in a different way.

Branches of Witchcraft

Much like classifying a species, Witchcraft is an extremely broad term. There are those who practice what I may see as Witchcraft, but they identify it as something else and would be shocked and disturbed by my classification of their practices as Witchcraft. Below are 3 of the most popular “subclasses” of Witchcraft.

Disclaimer: These are all extremely different practices/religions that I have found to be associated, however loosely, with the term Witchcraft.

Paganism is a very large umbrella under which a host of Witches identify. Paganism is, most simply, a religion that is not contained in one of the main religions, and is distinctly a belief in a deity or group of deities other than the Judeo-Christian God. Deities like Odin, Zeus and The Morrighan are all examples of Divine Beings that pagans might choose to worship. A pagan witch may choose to worship a specific pantheon, or to pick and choose deities that resonate with them specifically.

Wicca is what most people think of when they hear the term “Witchcraft”. Wicca is a pantheistic religion in which Wiccans, or Witches, worship and serve the Goddess and the God, who exist in all things. A core component of Wicca is the practice of the Rule of Three. That is to say that whatever energy a person puts into the world, whether that is positive or negative energy, will return to the individual 3-fold.

Satanism is what most Christian-oriented people think of when the term Witch or Witchcraft is used. Images of dark robed figures sacrificing a virgin to Satan always seem to be involved. Satanism is far from this in fact. Satanists do not, in fact, believe in a literal physical entity named Satan. The origin of the word itself, “Satan”, literally means adversary. They are not worshipping Satan so much as they are actively opposing the Judeo-Christian God and Christianity.

Those are the major types of witches in the world. However, there are also witches who do not identify as any of the above, or some blend between them. There are also Christian Witches, Hindi Witches, and Jewish witches. Zoroastrianism, Kaballism, and Shamanism could also be identified as Witchcraft, though individuals who practice it might not label it as such.

To sum it up, the term Witchcraft is extremely broad. The main thread that all of these religions, teachings and practices have in common is that it is possible for an individual to use their energy to effect a change in the world around them.

How can I tell if I’m a Witch?

Signs that you might be a Witch, or one who is in-tune with the energies of the Universe as varied and unique as there are Witches. Everyone in the world has magic. They may not choose to acknowledge it, or they are unable to accurately pin down where their unique abilities lie, but EVERYONE HAS MAGIC.

Nature Born

Almost all Witches have a close kinship with Nature. Something about the outdoors puts you at ease and seems to recharge your soul. This is the most telling sign of an individual with innate Witchcraft. When I say Nature, this can mean a beach, a forest, a thunderstorm, wide-open plains, mountains, desert, or more. Nature is just a s specific type of natural setting that you feel at home in. For me, personally, this is a forest with green grass I can walk barefoot in. I can feel the damp earth between my toes, hear the wind whispering through the canopy above, and the rustling of various creatures around me. The sun shines, broken and dazzling, through the leaves and branches, gently illuminating and giving life to the plants and animals all around me, as well as myself. TThat’s my Nature and one of the ways I began to realize that I was indeed a Witch.

Animal Friendship

Due to their close ties with Nature, most Witches find themselves drawn to animals, and find that animals are naturally drawn to them. This doesn’t mean that you have a lot of pets (although it can), but rather that animals are at ease around you, as you are with them. When I was first on my path towards Witchcraft, I had an encounter with a wild fox while in Poland. I was up late many nights in a row, and I would sit outside and think for hours. I started seeing this bushy tailed fox each night, and I jokingly named him Todd from The Fox and The Hound. After two or three nights, Todd would begin to sit next to me, allowing me to pet him and he would just relax next to me. He was a sign from the Universe, personifying my curiosity and playfulness with the topic of Spirituality and Religion.

Psychic Tendencies

Most Witches are extremely sensitive to the energies around them. This means that they have a sense of intuition and foresight, albeit raw and untrained, regarding the people and events in their lives. Have you ever met someone, and you immediately didn’t trust them? For no apparent reason, this specific individual just struck you as “odd” or “off”? This is your natural psychic abilities feeling the energies around you and letting you know that this individual is not a person you need in your life right now.

A lot of Witches are also Empaths, meaning that they feel the emotions and feelings of the people around them. This can lead to stress and anxiety when around a large crowd of people, such as parties or concerts. You go home afterwards and you feel exhausted emotionally, seemingly for no reason. Your emotions may also switch gears rapidly depending on the emotions of an individual around your space. Without proper training to block these energies, going out in public can be an exhausting experience, leading a lot of Witches to identify as Introverts.

There are many more signs that you may or may not be a Witch! If you’d like to read more about the subject, Layne Holmes wrote an excellent article about this that you can find on her blog here.

Blessed Be and Good Vibes!