Think witches are a bunch of hocus pocus?
We review the differences below for your education and entertainment.
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Some types of witches have strictrituals and customspassed down to them through the ages.
While other witches manifest their own path.
Today, witches are more mainstream than ever.
And being a modern witch is nothing like life during the Salem witch trials.
Now, traditional witchcraft books can be sent overnight to your house.
Crystal magic is marketed like an MLM.
And luckily, witch trials are a thing of the past in western society.
Plus a brief description of their magical beliefs and ceremonial magic.
And theyre called traditional types of witches.
Traditional witches use historic practices and dont align themselves with new age beliefs.
But because of their historic roots, they have a vast knowledge base of witchy customs.
Think of a traditional witch as a database of spells and historic traditions.
Theuse of folk magic is common among traditional witches.
And they have a strong connection with the ancient spirits they call upon.
If you want to learn about older witch rituals and beliefs, then study the teachings of traditional witches.
Which is the case for hedge witches.
The name hedge witch stems from old world witches and seers that lived along the hedgerow of town.
Because the hedgerow is between the edge of town and the wilderness.
But a hedge witch can traverse this boundary.
However, the term has a double meaning.
As hedge witches are known to also traverse the boundaries of the natural world and others.
As well as crossing into the spirit world.
Most often, a hedge witch is a solitary practitioner.
But no longer are they forced tolive on the outskirts of town.
Unless they want to of course.
Kitchen Types of Witches
Part of being a witch isperforming your daily tasks with passionate intention.
Oftentimes, the kitchen is referred to as the heart of the home.
And for a kitchen witch, their kitchen is a sacred space.
A kitchen pop in of witch will fill their home with positive energies and good food.
Often, even concocting remedies and supplements to help others.
Frequently, kitchen witches have their home filled with herbs, and ingredients known for their magical properties.
Even going as far as togrow their own.
So, next time youcook a meal, add some magic to it, and cook it with love.
Eclectic Types of Witches
Not all witches fit into any one category.
Instead, there are witches that practice varying types of magic.
Without practicing one punch in over the others.
Rather weaving them together however theyre compelled to.
Some eclectic witches will align themselves with Wiccan beliefs.
While others may feel no connection to traditional Wicca.
In recent years, there has been a rise in eclectic witchcraft thanks to social media.
However, not all witches support this blurring of the lines.
But those that do, enjoy thateclectic witches honor multiple histories, beliefs, and folk magic.
Ceremonial witches predominantly use ceremonies when practicing their craft.
While any witch can use ceremonies, the practice is far more important to ceremonial witch beliefs.
Which means theres an extensive list of ceremonial witches.
Oftentimes, ceremonial types of witchcraft will use grimoires when calling upon spirits.
Or during the creation of magical talismans and amulets.
Have you ever heard someone ask for the magic word?
What theyre asking for is a magical formulae.
Ultimately,ceremonial magic is an immense magical grouping, with firm belief systems.
And each school of thought is as interesting as the last.
Hereditary Types of Witches
Have you ever heard that witchcraft is passed down from generation to generation?
Then youve heard of a hereditary witch.
But being a witch isnt inherited or biological.
In fact, many practitioners of witchcraft believe that everyone has innate magical abilities.
What gets passed down instead are rites and techniques.
So, many different magical practitioners could fall into the category of hereditary witches.
For example, a kitchen witch could have their magical ritualspassed down from their family.
But that doesnt mean a kitchen witch cant forge their own path.
Ultimately,the practice thats passed down so to speak is unique to the familial line.
Meaning that their witchcraft is only known to their own kind.
Because some hereditary witches practice new age magic, and follow a less traditional path.
Therefore, elemental witches work directly with the elements during their rituals.
Some elemental practitioners feel an affinity for one element over the others.
So, its fair to say there are different types of elemental witches.
However, it isnt a requirement to be privy to one specific element.
But these green witches can also have individual specializations.
For example, garden and forest witches.
Frequently, green witches will study the flora around them, and then use it in their potions.
Sometimes a green witch will grow their own ingredients.
Or have amultitude of plants they care for.
In recent years, green witches have been getting more and more attention.
Partly due to social media.
But ones own feelings towards the natural world is what differentiates a green witch from others.
Sea witches will oftenutilize the water when theyre performing rituals or potions, specifically after a full moon.
As well as using shells, sand, and driftwood in their altars.
Along the beaches, sea witches may choose to forage for potion ingredients.
Or recharge their energies by relaxing near the soothing sounds.
Because of their strongaffinity for the sea, sea witches often reside close to open bodies of water.
And they may practice within a coven, or as solitary witches.
As cosmic witches follow the stars and the moon, they perform corresponding rituals and spells.
Because cosmic witches study the universe in a purposeful way.
This is by no means a casual hobby to them.
Which brings us to secular types of witchcraft.
For a secular witch, their practice isnt reliant on a deity.
Or they approach said deities without religious intent.
And intent is an important factor within witchcraft as a broad subject.
Whether secular, spiritual, or religious.
As an alternative to religious based witchcraft, secular practitioners believe that their power comes from within.
Which means that theirintent and drive to achieve a higher sense of selfis representative of their magical influence.
Overall, secular witchcraft is up for personal interpretation for those that practice.
Maybe secular witches practice magic that calls upon certain deities.
But that doesnt mean they worship, or even believe in those deities.
Which is especially nice for the social witch.
And coven witches can work together to create powerful spells, and manifestations.
However, covens are more than just a group where witches can hang out with their own kind.
In fact, covens are structured groups.
Typically, there is a leader, either a High Priestess or Priest.
And covens can also be run as democracies.
Today, there are even covens online.
So, a witch can be entire continents away from their fellow witches.
Of course, solitary witches could be practicing alone because they havent found the right coven.
Or maybe they just choose to keep their magic a private matter.
However, there are witches that believe a witchs powers are strongest when combined with others.
And that solitary witches might not be as committed.
But solitary witches certainly dont lack commitment.
Theres no shame in practicing alone.
A solitary punch in of witch likes to play by their own rules.
And theymanifest magic that directly relates to them,which makes their path unique.
From healing properties, to providing protection, crystals have long been instruments of witchcraft.
Dating as far back as the Ancient Sumerianswhen crystals were used alongside magical formulae.
Each stone has its own attributes.
Sometimes crystal witches use crystals tohelp with reducing stress, promote healing, and to help align chakras.
Its not uncommon for other witches to use crystals in their craft.
But for a crystal witch, practicing magic centers around crystals and gems.
Gray/Neutral Types of Witches
Even those with little knowledge of magical practices have heard of light and dark magic.
The battle between the two magical forces has been seen in countless witchy media.
With light magic, witches will give a shot to help or heal.
And with dark magic, witches might cause harm or curse others.
But for gray witches, magic is neither positive, nor negative.
Instead, gray witches fall within the middle ground.
And they dont specifically help, but they also dont harm either.
Gray witches use magic in a way that specifically cancels itself out.
So, theyremethodical in their practice and wish to not throw off the delicate balance of the world.
Gray witches do not see the world as good vs. evil.
Instead, they remain neutral forces.
Which is why theyre called gray, or neutral witches.
Healing Types of Witches
Any witch can dabble in the healing arts.
But the witches that excel in the practice are considered healing witches.
Some of the magical practices include hands-on healing techniques.
Which mayinclude spells, Reiki, and other forms of alternative medicine.
Along with hands-on magic, healing witches will use herbs tomake herbal remedies.
So, you could have a green witch that specializes in healing witchcraft.
Much of the magic that healing witches use is passed down through each generation.
And the traditional techniques come from all around the world.
One of which is Dianic witchcraft.
Dianic witches have highly exclusive covens.
And are all women.
But typically, its all Diana, all the time.
These types of witches will alsouse magic to fight back against oppression.
Of course, other types of witches might call upon Diana to help with their spells.
But those practices arent necessarily as exclusive as Dianic types of witches.
And witchcraft thathails from Italyis Stregheria.
In fact, Stregheria is the archaic Italian word for witchcraft.
Stregheria practitioners, or Strega, first came on the Pagan scene in the 1970s.
So, its fairly young for a magical path.
But it has become a sacred space for the hereditary witch.
First, Leo Martello helped to shed light on the Stregheria tradition as one of its founding members.
Then, Raven Grimassis Stregherian beliefs became the central practice of the Strega.
Grimassis Stregheria practices focus on deities known as divine lovers.
But these changes ultimately depend on individual witches, and covens.
Diviner Types of Witches
Any witch that practices divination is a diviner throw in of witch.
Historically, seers, and fortune-tellers have played a large role in magic circles.
Sometimes, diviners are simply known as wise people.
As long as theirsupernatural powers see past the natural world into the future.
There are even witches that use birds, and animals to practice divination; practices that date back millennia.
Many cultures have their own version of wise people, whether theyre shamans, or medicine men.
And as with many types of witchcraft, its common for different magical beings to practice divination.
But that doesnt mean they identify as a diviner.
Chaos magic is a result based magic.
One where witches seek to achieve specific results.
In other words,belief is a psychic energy that can help witches manifest their desires.
Then that witch can use the energy from the gnostic state to charge sigils.
For such a young magical path, chaos magic has a very rich history.
But magic thousands of years ago coincided with pagan beliefs at the time.
And evidence of witchcraft isnt only found in Greece and Rome.
But the attitudes towards magic begin to shift when Christianity starts to take hold.
And Paganism is branded as evil, dark magical powers, with the alleged witches being put on trial.
In part thanks to churchman and inquisitor Heinrich Kramer.
Kramer quite literally wrote the book on how to prosecute a witch titled Hammer of Witches.
Then, witches begin to gain their reputation for being the grotesque, monstrous beings from fairytales.
Even still, different witchcraft is sought out because of strong magical abilities.
Whether someone wanted herbal medicines, or a fortune read.
As seen with the Salem witch trials.
But thats all part of history.
So, what is life like for a modern witch?
Modern Witches
Today, witchcraft flourishes in modern culture.
you’re free to watch TV shows, and movies about witchcraft.
Even play games about witches.
If you want someone to read your fortune, theres probably a psychic a short distance from you.
And you could even find many forms of witchcraft on TikTok, and Instagram.
Instead of hiding in the dark, a modern witch is free to be as witchy as they want.
Even performing witches sabbath over zoom.
Or protesting inequalities together.
Do you ever read your horoscope?
What about adding a little love to your cooking?
Or do you glance into the future with tarot cards, or tea leaves?
Then youve dabbled in the craft.
However, people still take magic very seriously.
Oftentimes its used by different cultures as a way to remember where they came from.
However, you could find practicing covens if you want to hone in on your magical abilities.
While there might be a witch who chooses to keep their beliefs to themselves, others are more vocal.
And witches arent required to look or act any uniform way.
Ultimately, a witch in the 21st century doesnt look like those out of folklore and fairy tales.
And unfortunately, there wont be any owl post with youracceptance letter to Hogwarts.
At least you wont be put on trial and found guilty of being a witch.
But different types of witchcraft are all around you.
Along with the witchcraft they use.
It just isnt all about bubbling cauldrons, and pointy hats.
Frequently Asked Questions About Witches
Do you still have questions about witches?
Hopefully we can give you some answers with 5 frequently asked questions about witches.
Whats the Difference Between Pagan and Wiccan Witches?
When reading up on witchcraft youll often see the words Pagan and Wiccan thrown around.
But exactly how do they connect?
And are they interchangeable?
The distinction between the two is important.
As Paganism is a broad term used to describe many religions.
One of which is Wicca.
Paganism has been around for millennia.
While Wicca is a more recent religion founded by Gerald Gardner.
So, if you practice Wicca, then you practice a Pagan religion.
But it’s possible for you to practice many other Pagan religions as well.
Sometimes a witch will practice a more spiritual form of the craft.
One thats void of any firm religious belief system.
Many witches dont even believe in Satan.
The confusion comes from the many forms of witchcraft which include a horned god as their deity of choice.
Instead, they may work with nature, or the elements.
And the witches that do believe in Satan dont necessarily use black magic.
But other witchescan be religious.
Such as those that practice Wicca, or Jewish mysticism.
What is Black Magic?
Traditionally, black magic is witchcraft practices that revolve around the Devil, orevil from the spirit world.
Oftentimes, youll hear the term used with ideas such as the left-hand path, and Devil worship.
Well, it all depends on who you ask.
However, the concept of magic is real.
And witches are also real.
But the power they hold is heavily debated.
Are All Witches Women?
Frequently the term witch is used to describe women that follow the left hand path.
But the term is not gender specific.
Types of Witches: Conclusion
Whether or not you believe in magic is your own prerogative.
But there will always be many types of witchcraft among us.
And its not surprising that witches have been captivating the minds of humanity for millennia.
As there is much about their practices that still remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, we still know that there is an abundance of magical practitioners all around.
Some might fit into these categories.
While other witches prefer to go without labeling their craft at all.
