Learning Witchcraft

It is important to note here, that you do not have to follow Wicca to become a Witch and practice witchcraft. Wicca is a neo-pagan religion, and witchcraft is not a religion and does not require you to follow a set path to graduate into a witchy title.

Witches are and were known by a variety of names; cunning folk, warlock, ‘unbinding’ witches, blessers, wizards, sorcerers, Kahuna, shaman, and so on. Still, the definition of witchcraft is open to interpretation and debate. Cultural and religious definitions will give opposing views, and we must consider the role of the witch throughout recorded history!

Witchcraft broadly means the practice of and belief in magical skills and abilities exercised by solitary practitioners and groups. The following information will be provided to you, so you can learn how to be a witch in modern times.

Today, in the need to categorize people into boxes for social acceptance and understanding, we like to define witches as “white witches” or “black witches”, and also a new term, the “grey witch”. Many neopagan witches (mainly Wiccans), strongly identify with this concept, and profess ethical codes that prevent them from performing magic on a person without their request. The “Black” witch is often still an outcast in modern witchcraft because she/he is will to perform hexes and curses, and bend the will of another when performing a spell.

Below we will provide a few varieties of modern witchcraft that have manuals or books so you can learn this ancient craft.

Traditional witchcraft

We like this definition of Traditional Witchcraft the most.

“Any non-Gardnerian, non-Alexandrian, non-Wiccan or pre-modern form of the Craft, especially if it has been inspired by historical forms of witchcraft and folk magic”  – Michael Howard, British Traditional Witch.

  • Mastering Witchcraft – one of the best how-to manuals for those wishing to practice traditional European Witchcraft as a craft rather than a New Age religion. Starting from first principles, Huson instructs the novice step by step in the arts of circle casting, blessing and banning, the uses of amulets and talismans, philters, divination, necromancy, waxen images, knots, fascination, conjuration, magical familiars, spells to arouse passion or lust, attain vengeance, and of course, counter-spells to exorcize and annul the malice of others.
  • Modern Magick by Donald Kraig – 
  • Donald Michael Kraig’s Modern Magick has been the world’s most popular step-by-step guide to working real magick. Tens of thousands of individuals and groups have used this course as their primary instruction manual. Now, greatly revised and expanded, this set of lessons is more complete and relevant to your life than ever.

Feri Tradition

The Feri Tradition is an initiatory tradition of modern Pagan Witchcraft. It was founded in California in the 1960s by the Americans Victor Henry Anderson and his wife Cora Anderson.

Strong emphasis is placed on sensual experience and awareness, including sexual mysticism, which is not limited to heterosexual expression.

Stregheria

Stregheria is an Italian witchcraft religion, worshipping the Goddess Diana, her brother Dianus/Lucifer, and their daughter Aradia. Lucifer is not seen as the evil Satan that Christians see, but a benevolent god of the Sun and Moon). (1)

Modern Stregheria popularized in the 1980s by Raven Grimassi, who states it evolved within the ancient Etruscan religion of Italian peasants who worked under the Catholic upper classes. (1).

The ritual format of contemporary Stregheria is roughly similar to that of other Neopagan witchcraft religions such as Wicca. The pentagram is the most common symbol of religious identity. Most followers celebrate a series of eight festivals equivalent to the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, though others follow the ancient Roman festivals. An emphasis is placed on ancestor worship.

https://blackmagicwitch.com/product/cresent-crowned-moon-goddess-agsm728/
Inspired by the works, practice and art of Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor. This bust shows a naked woman covered only in her hair, crowned with a Crescent Moon and wreathed at the waist with leaves, flowers and vines. She is supported on a beautifully carved column that bears the inscription “I Evoke the Dark Sacred Night”

References:

  1. Witchcraft

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