Witchcraft FAQ

Witchcraft FAQ

Over the years, I have been asked a lot of questions about Wicca/Witchcraft. Many times, it is the same question. In an effort to make the information publically available and easy to find, I have created the following list of Frequently Asked Questions, and their answers, listed in no particular order.

“Am I a Witch?”

This is probably the most common question I get asked. People want to know if they are a Witch. The answer is…I don’t know. The only one who can tell you if you are a Witch, is you. We all walk our own Path, and it is not for me, or anyone else to say what you are, or are not.

How do I become a Witch?

This is the second most common question I get asked. The simple answer is, you become a Witch by practicing Witchcraft. The problem with simple answers is, they don’t tell you everything. In order to practice Witchcraft effectively, you must learn a lot of things, and the rituals, holidays, and other information you can get here, or from books, is just the beginning.

Mostly, you must learn about yourself, who you are, and what you really desire. Once you learn that, you will have the information to become a Witch. Witchcraft Academy can help guide you along the way, but you are the one who must do the work of first learning about you, and then becoming a better you. Witchcraft is a spiritual Path. That means you must be a serious student, if you wish to learn what it truly means to be a Witch.

What is Wicca?

The most basic answer is, Wicca is an Earth-based, polytheistic religion that holds reverence for Nature in all its forms. We see the world, and for that matter, the Universe all around us, as Sacred. Everything that exists within this Universe is also Sacred. Wicca celebrates eight holidays, or Sabbats, around the Wheel of the Year. Four of them are on the Equinoxes and Solstices, with the other four equally spaced between. Each of these Sabbats marks the Turning of The Wheel, and the change of season. There is so much more, but there isn’t room here. Look around the website, and learn. You will find what you are meant to find.

What is the difference between Wicca and Witchcraft?

Traditional Witchcraft is less a religion, and more a practice, hence the term Craft. Wiccans can practice Witchcraft, but not all Witches are Wiccan. Witchcraft is more about the herbcraft, knowing what plants will cure, what plants will kill, and which may do both. It’s about knowing to properties of stones, or what the planetary alignments mean. It’s about divination, and magick. Witchcraft is the practical aspects that make up the Craft, where Wicca is more the spiritual pursuit.

What does Pagan mean?

Pagan comes from the Latin, Pagani, which simply referred to a person who lived out in the countryside, not in the city. Later, it was used by the Christian Church to label those who refused to follow their One God. The modern use of Pagan typically refers to any person who follows any number of pre-Christian spiritual Paths. It is to Wiccan, as Christian is to Catholic. It has become an umbrella term to include many different types of worship.

A Heathen was once a person who lived on the Heaths of England. Because they too tended to follow the Old Religion, Christians tended to lump the Heathens and Pagans into a single group. In modern usage, Heathens typically follow the Norse Spiritual Paths, and the Nordic Gods. They were, and still are a hardy group. They tend to talk straight, and mean what they say. They tend to be firm believers of the strong survive, and that you should be strong enough to survive. Because they aren’t known for political correctness, friction sometimes develops between the Heathens and other Pagans.

Can I be a Witch, and still be a Christian?

Someone who follows the teachings of Christ, is a Christian by definition. Can a Witch invoke Christ as a Deity in their ritual? Yes. There might even be a good reason for doing so, but ritual is for honoring and worshipping the Gods, so if you are honoring and worshipping Christ, are you really a Witch? A Christian could certainly practice Witchcraft, substituting Christianity for Wicca, as their Spiritual Path, but it probably won’t win you any friends at church.

Do I have to believe in the other Gods to become a Witch?

This question always puzzles me. If you aren’t willing to believe in the Gods other than the one you were raised with, why would you want to become a Witch? You aren’t required to believe in any particular God, or set of Gods, but unless you are ready to leave the Christian God behind, you probably won’t get far on this Spiritual Path. We do not believe in a single All-Powerful God, nor do we believe in a single manifestation of pure evil. We see neither of those things in the natural world. The only place we can find those, are within humans.

When a Cheetah kills an Antelope, it is not being evil, it is simply surviving. It is balancing out the Antelope’s ability to breed prolifically, and it is making the herd healthier by killing off the old or the weak. Our Gods reflect this reality. They are neither good nor evil, they live lives just as we do, and they make choices that display traits that we may label good or evil, but they in themselves are neither. Our Gods reflect the world around us. They also reflect who we are as people. This makes them much more relatable than an All-Powerful man sitting on a golden throne.

What are the punishments for being a Witch?

Social or religious outcast perhaps. There were many Gods before the Christian God came to the fore, and there will be many Gods after He falls out of favor. A Christian will view that sentence as pure blasphemy, but the archeological evidence shows that the Christian God has only been prevalent for a few thousand years, and was adopted from other, much older religions. If you are a True Believer in the Christian faith, then to stray from that Path means Eternal Damnation. Few people are True Believers. Only you can decide what it is that you Truly Believe, and the Gods do not punish those who truly follow their beliefs.

Will I be a bad person if I practice Witchcraft?

Are you a bad person? Practicing Witchcraft doesn’t make you bad or good. Wicca/Witchcraft are simply another way to honor and worship Deity. If anything, the opposite is true. Practicing Witchcraft requires you to take responsibility for yourself, and all that you do. We have no Sin or forgiveness. You can’t simply Confess, and be Absolved. If you want to be a person worthy of the Gods, you must work hard at becoming such a person. The harder you work, the farther you go.

Am I too old/young to be a Witch?

There are no age limits on belief. There are however, legal issues in teaching someone who is not a legal adult. For that reason, it is unlikely that a real Teacher of the Craft will take a student who is not a legal adult, without permission, and most likely participation from the parents. Children and young Witches are typically second, and now third generation Witches, whose parents are also Witches.

As for being too old to become a Witch, you are never too old to follow your heart. I have had students who were in their 50’s and 60’s. They make fantastic students because they no longer worry about what others think, and they have the life experience to make a choice and stick with it until it is no longer a valid choice.

If I become a Witch, do I have to remain a Witch, or can I change my mind later?

No one can make you be something you don’t want to be. The fact that you are reading this, is proof of that. Witchcraft isn’t for everyone, or everyone would be a Witch. If it seems the right choice for you now, then follow it. Sometime in the future, tomorrow, next year, 20 years from now, you may find a better Path to follow, or you may not. Only you can decide what is best for you, and only you have the power to make yourself what you choose to be.

What’s the difference between a Coven Witch, and one who practices solo?

A Witch who belongs to a Coven, has others they can count on to help them through the bad times, and celebrate with them during the good. They have Teachers who can show them new skills and mentors to train them. They have chosen family who can and will help them along their Path. They have others to help then celebrate the Sabbats, and Work the Esbats.

The solo Witch can do all of the above, but not generally with a single group of people. They may find others to group with, but typically they work alone.

How do I find a Coven?

Typically, you don’t, a Coven finds you. Most Covens are hidden from public view. If you have a viable Pagan community, go out and join that community for events. Get to know people. Become friends with members of that community, network. If a local Coven is looking to add members, and they believe that you are someone that can work well with them, they will talk to you. Most likely, you won’t even know it until they decide to invite you to one of their rituals.