Witches by Jenny Semmence

Witchcraft is an ancient practice of Earth reverence under the Paganism umbrella. Witches work with the natural cycles of the planet, herbs, spells, rituals and rites and honour the earth deities in the form of the Goddess and God.

Dispelling myths (if you’ll pardon the pun)

Ask someone what they think a witch looks like and the good old Halloween visualisation of a cackling old hag, riding a broomstick wearing a black cloak and a pointy hat. I’m not sure anyone ever dressed like that, if they had in ancient times they would have been ‘dunked’ or thrown from a cliff. In modern times, there are estimated to be over 15,000 witches in the UK alone (or those that wrote witch on their consensus forms) who come from all walks of life.

Wicca or Witchcraft?

Witchcraft is an ancient form of spirituality that works with the energy of Mother Earth and deities if they wish, The Wicca religion was bought into the mainstream by a British man called Gerald Gardner in the 1960s. It aimed to be a more acceptable form of Craft worship in an increasingly religious tolerant society. Wicca is seen as a 'branch' or denomination of Witchcraft – A Wiccan is a witch, but one who follows witchcraft isn't necessarily following the Wiccan path.

Those who study witchcraft work with the energy and environment around them. This energy is neither ‘good’ or ‘bad’ it is just there, its how the person uses it that can cause different results. Are there black and white witches? Those who cast hexes and brimstone? Those who would cringe at the idea of doing so and cast spells to aid people? Without a doubt both exist. Witchcraft is a very personal belief structure, there are no rules as such, no holy book to work from. It all comes from within.

Wicca attempted to change the freeform old religion into a more structured and therefore more acceptable religion. One of the major rules of Wicca is that 'ye harm none' and many witches believe in the three fold rule – anything that is done in sorcery will be repaid three times on the practitioner. It popularised covens, group learning and structured learning through High Priests and Priestesses. Rules and boundaries aren’t necessarily a bad thing and Wicca certainly has made calling yourself a witch more acceptable.

The Goddess

Witches work with nature and the spirits of nature. They honour the Goddess and God which can take the form of any deity but the Goddess is most important in rituals and worship. Common Goddess incarnations are Isis, Diana, Epona, Athena and Minerva. The Horned God often balances her.

The Goddess and her form is a key part in the Witchcraft 'religion'. Sometimes referred to in one Godess such as Hecate (Greek), Brighid (Ireland), Kali (India) or Morrigan (Wales) but they are often split into different entities that show the ever revolving cycle of life/death/rebirth.

The Maiden

As a young woman or maiden, the goddess is carefree, she is innocent, youthful, excitable and represents enchantment and the female principle.

Common Maiden Goddesses include Anatha, Brigid, Ninniane, Kore, Persephone, Gerd, Caer, Rhiannon, Parvati, Chalchihuitlicue and Blodeuwedd.

Associated colours: White or pink.

Associated animals: Owl, deer or wild animals

Season: Spring

Festival: Ostara

Moon Association: Waxing Moon

The Maiden is invoked at new beginnings.

The Mother

The Mother is about stability, fertility, power and stability. She is the birth giving matron, the protector and sustainer.

Common Mother Goddesses include: Aa, Ambika, Anahita, Asherah, Babd, Ceres, Coatlicue, Danu, Demeter, Freya, Gaia, Hathor, Ishtar, Isis, Lakshmi, Luonnotar, Nintu, Pachamama, Sheng-Mu.

Associated colour: Red

Associated animals: Cat, Dove and Dolphin

Season: Summer/Autumn

Festival: Beltane

Moon Association: Full Moon

The Mother is invoked when we need to be maternal or need guidance. She is also invoked when protection is required and when we wish to develop spiritually and psychically.

The Crone

The Crone is the third part of the triple goddess, she is about wisdom, compassion, experience and death (as well as reincarnation). The Crone is always followed by the Maiden in all cycles. The seasons end and begin, the moon goes full to wane to new.

Crone goddesses include: Annis, Baba Yaga, Cailleach, Greine, Hel, Maman, Nephthys, Brigitte, Oya, Sedna, Skuld, Takotsi, Tiamat, Tlazolteotl, Toci.

Associated colour: Black, dark blue or dark purple.

Associated animals: Owl, Wolf, Crow and Raven

Season: Winter

Festival: Samhain

Moon Association: Waning Moon

The Crone is called on when we need help in ending something, whether it be as aspect of our life or otherwise. The Crone brings strong protection from non-human influences and aids us in talking to guides.

Types of Witches

There are many different paths within witchcraft and one can choose to work on their own (solitary) or in a coven (more information below). Some choose to label themselves into a section, some just prefer to be witches and work in areas that feel comfortable.

Alexandrian – established in the 1960s by Alex Sanders (known in some circles as the ‘King of Witches’) and his wife Maxine Sanders. Alexandrian Witchcraft is based upon Gardnerian Wicca but brings in the Kabbalah and more ceremonial magik. They believe that initiation is required from another witch to become a witch yourself (‘Only a witch can make a witch’). Sanders didn’t have the best of reputations in the world and many covens picked up his belief pattern but not his name.

British Traditional – the American term for a Gardnerian Witch.

Caledonii –also known as the Hecatine Tradition founded in Scotland.

Celtic – an all encompassing term used to describe Druidism, Celtic Shamanism, The Grail Religion, the Culdees and Celtic Wicca. All have their own paths and beliefs but they all date back to the ancient, pre-Christian regions of Gaul and Great Britain. Some of the best healers are Celtic.

Ceremonial – Ceremonial Witches enjoy using a lot of ceremonial magik, often times being Egyptian or kabbalic in energy.

Dianic – based on the Gardenerian way of Wicca, Dianic Witchcraft is all centred on the Goddess only and practiced by only women.

Eclectic – liberal thinking branch that do not believe the initiation is necessary, the need to be secret or the need for coven hierarchy.

Fae – created by Victor and Cora Anderson in the mid 1900s. It has original roots in Africa but is more Welsh folklore influenced nowadays. Their core beliefs are practical magic, self development and 'theugy' and some of their teachings can get quite racy in some parts!

Gardnerian – the branch of Wicca that can trace its roots back to Gerald Gardner. They believe that witches should belong to a community or coven rather than in solitary and that they should be initiated into witchcraft.

Hedgewitch – lots of different views on what a hedgewitch is! To me it’s a witch who works in solitary but follows her own path in witchcraft.

Hereditary – a witch born into an ancient witch family who does not require initiation.

Kitchen – a witch who works at home and ‘at the hearth’, cooking and working with herbs and the more practical side of the religion.

Minonian Brotherhood – a gay men's branch of witchcraft created in the Mid 1970’s by Lord Gwydion in New York. (the Minonian Sisterhood for women was established around the same time). Based on the Gardnerian rules and rituals, core mythologies were changed as were some rituals to allow gay men to explore witchcraft.

Pictish – Scottish derived and usually studying in solitary.

Shamanic – Shamanic Paganism is another umbrella term. A shaman is a healer, priest, magician, diviner, teacher and guide in one using different states of consciousness to cross the abyss and travel into the spirit realm. Shamanic priests and priestesses serve the wider community in healing, rites, rituals, and counselling. Shamanic witches uses psychotropic plants to alter their consciousness which sets them apart from other branches.

Stregheria - native to Italy and deep rooted in the folk religion of the Latins and Etruscans.

Covens vs Solitary

Witches can work either on their own (solitary) or through groups called covens. Nowadays there are many covens across the UK, mostly guiding young witches and initiates through the path of witchcraft.

Covens aren’t just about getting together around a cauldron and chanting things. If you find a good one then it’s about sharing in a community, learning from the High Priestess and Priest, your elders and your peers. They help you to find your own ways of honouring the Goddess and hold parties for the Sabbats. However, entering a coven isn’t just a case of deciding to randomly turn up at a meeting – you normally have to be accepted into one and some covens aren’t open to new members.

The best way to find a coven is to look in the Moots and Public Events page in your local Pagan Newsletter of your area. If you can’t find a local one, The Pagan Dawn, which is the official newsletter of the Pagan Federation has a lot of information. Other source would be the Pagan Association or the Children of Artemis.

The important thing when finding a coven is that you feel comfortable in it and with the people around you. There is no point in attempting to join one where you don’t get on with the High Priestess or other Elders in the group. Covens shouldn’t charge for initiation into their coven (a couple of quid maybe to cover teas and biccies, but nothing else). Be careful as there are those out there that do take advantage of newbies.

Those that decide to follow a solitary path will need to hold their own initiation ceremony – this can be as elaborate or simple as you wish where you dedicate yourself to the Lord and Lady (God and Goddess in your chosen form). A typical ceremony can be found in many books.

The Sabbats

The major festivals in the witches calendar are called Sabbats which mark specific points in the seasons in the wheel of the year. Four of them fall on equinoxes and are often referred to as Lesser Sabbats (Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon) the other four fall on the in between Equinoxes and are known as Greater Sabbats (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh).

Festival Name: Samhain

Other Names: Last Harvest, Blood Harvest, Ancestor Night, Feast of the Dead, Noson Calan Gaeaf

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 1-2 Nov (alternatively 5-10 Nov)

Position of the Sun: ≈ 15° Scorpio

Light and the Natural Cycle: The 'death' of light with winter closing in quickly

Rituals: Samhain is the celebration of the end of the growing season and marks the start of the Celtic New Year. Pumpkin carving is a common Samhain ritual. Samhain is believed to be the time where the veil between the physical and spiritual world is the thinnest, making it a time to celebrate ancestors and those who have passed away. Its for lighting a candle and remembering loved ones.

Festival Name: Yule

Other Names: Cuidle, Alban Arthan, Midwinter, Winter Rite

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 19-23 Dec (on the winter solstice)

Position of the Sun: 0° Capricorn

Light and the Natural Cycle: The 'rebirth' of Light – from this point on the sun becomes stronger and stronger.

Rituals: Yule is celebrated with the burning of a Yule log, the ashes of which are used in spells through the year. Decorations of holly, candles, bows, cinnamon and pine are used to adorn houses. Songs are sung, gifts are given and kisses are exchanged under mistletoe.

Festival Name: Imbolc

Other Names: Brigit, Brigid's Day, Candlemas, Bride's Day, Brigantia

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 1-2 Feb (alternatively 2-7 Feb)

Position of the Sun: ≈ 15° Aquarius

Light and the Natural Cycle: The depth of winter but the days are becoming noticeably longer.

Rituals: Candles are lit to honour the return of the sun and left to go out on their own The sunrise is often watched to celebrate Imbolc.

Festival Name: Ostara

Other Names: Earrach, Alban Eilir, Lady Day, Festival of Trees

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 20-23 Mar (Spring Equinox)

Position of the Sun: 0° Aries

Light and the Natural Cycle: Light is maturing and day and night are perfectly balanced - the light half of the year begins.

Rituals: The festival of the Goddess Eostre, Ostara is celebrated by honouring her symbols – rabbits, flowers and decorated eggs. Eggs are decorated and hung with ribbons from trees and the eating of green vegetables such as nettles and dandelions to detoxify from the winter (which are often also left out as an offering to fae folk).

Festival Name: Beltane

Other Names: Beltaine, May Day

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 1 May (alternatively 4-10 May)

Position of the Sun: ≈ 15° Taurus

Light and the Natural Cycle: Spring is in full bloom but the light is waxing.

Rituals: Beltane is the festival of fire where the old bedding was taken from homes and burnt and livestock was driven out onto the summer pastures. The lighting of fires is still a major part of the Beltane ritual, as in maypole dancing. Beltane is also the time of the element of fire – sexual energy, passion and fertility.

Festival Name: Litha

Other Names: Midsummer, Samradh, Alban Hefin, Aerra Litha, Mother Night

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 19-23 June (Summer Solstice)

Position of the Sun: 0° Cancer

Light and the Natural Cycle: The longest day, and the start of the waning half of the year.

Rituals: Litha is the time to watch the sunrise and often groups can be seen at stone circles to watch it. It is the time for purification and healing and reconnecting with the God when he is in his prime.

Festival Name: Lughnasadh

Other Names: Lammas, 1st Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of First Fruits

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 1-2 Aug (alternatively 3-10 Aug)

Position of the Sun: ≈ 15° Leo

Light and the Natural Cycle: The height of summer, but days are becoming noticeably shorter.

Rituals: The festival of harvest and baking bread is a great way to celebrate this sabbat. Its about getting ready for the winter so making jams, drying meat and storing foods.

Festival Name: Mabon

Other Names: Foghar, Alban Elfed, Harvest Home, 2nd Harvest, Fruit Harvest, Wine Harvest

Date (Northern Hemisphere): 19-23 Sept (Autumn Equinox)

Position of the Sun: 0° Libra

Light and the Natural Cycle: Day and night perfectly are balanced, and the dark half of the year begins.

Rituals: Mabon brings a time for making wine and gathering herbs, spices and seeds for future use. Taking a walk in an autumnal forest is a lovely way to celebrate this Sabbat.

The Four Elements

The four elements are in integral part to the witches’ way of life, often being invoked during spells and rituals when forming a sacred space.

Earth – Associated with the compass direction of North, Earth is the element of grounding, of stability and material possession. It encompasses the energy of Gaia – giving important life energy to all. Earth is normally called in when protection, grounding is required. Green and brown are their associated colours.

Air – The element of the East giving power of the mind, intellect, sharpness, wit, wisdom and aid us with communication. Yellow and grey are this elements associated colours. Air energy can be sharp and powerful, like a good spring clean to blow out the cobwebs!

Fire – The Southern element giving creative power, passion and energy as well as having a very powerful cleansing energy. Probably the most volatile of the elements, fire can either heal or harm and care should be used when calling it in. Associated colours are of course red and orange.

Water – The energy of the west. Water is about emotions and spirituality. It is a very calm and gentle energy and often used in the place of fire to heal after purification (holy water!). The colour is blue. 

Moon Magik

The Moon and its phases are important in witchcraft, spells and rituals are often done in conjunction with what stage the moon is in and its position, both in the sky and in which astrological sign it is in.

There are generally four stages:

New Moon – a time where no magik should be performed

Waxing Moon – a time for drawing things to you (wealth, happiness, love)

Full Moon – The most powerful time to work with magik. The rituals carried out at this time are called Esbats, of which there are thirteen in a year

Waning Moon – where spells and rituals push things away from you (ie push away poverty and ill health)

There are also Gibbous Moons (when more than 51% of the Moon is visible) and Crescent Moons (where less than 49% of the Moon is visible).

Esbats

The Wolf Moon

Month Celebrated: January

Other Names: Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon, Disting Moon, Moon of Little Winter

Ritual Magik: Protection spells are normally set up in January but the theme for most magik in this time is slow burning projects – those kind of things that need time to energise slowly or run a long course. Ideas that need stamina.

The Ice Moon

Month Celebrated: February

Other Names: Storm Moon, Horning Moon, Hunger Moon, Wild Moon, Red & Cleansing Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath (Sun Month), Big Winter Moon

Ritual Magik: The Moon for purification, releasing past traumas, forgiving past mistakes and laying down plans for the future.

The Storm Moon

Month Celebrated: March

Other Names: Seed Moon, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Worm Moon, Hrethmonath (Hertha's Month), Lentzinmanoth (Renewal Month), Lenting Moon, Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Moon of the Snowblind

Ritual Magik: Growth of the ideas and work in the past two months, learning, prosperity. Balancing of the light and dark and seeing what is really going on in your life, whether it be good or bad.

The Growing Moon

Month Celebrated: April

Other Names: Hare Moon, Seed or Planting Moon, Planter's Moon, Budding Trees Moon, Eastermonath (Eostre Month), Ostarmanoth, Pink Moon, Green Grass Moon

Ritual Magik: Growth, creativity and the development of both self-confidence and self-reliance. It is also a time to work on anger issues and emotional issues that are causing trouble.

The Hare Moon

Month Celebrated: May

Other Names: Merry or Dyad Moon, Bright Moon, Flower Moon, Frogs Return Moon, Thrimilcmonath (Thrice-Milk Month), Sproutkale, Winnemanoth (Joy Month), Planting Moon, Moon When the Ponies Shed

Ritual Magik: The energy of the year is in full swing now so this moon is about using its full power. Its about working intuitively and connection with the higher spiritual planes.

The Mead Moon

Month Celebrated: June

Other Names: Moon of Horses, Lovers' Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Honey Moon, Aerra Litha (Before Lithia), Brachmanoth (Break Month), Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, Moon of Making Fat

Ritual Magik: The Energy is still full but it is now turning restful and should be turned toward protection and strength, especially when making decisions in our lives. A time to work on personal power and variations but also to be positive about ones abilities.

The Hay Moon

Month Celebrated: July

Other Names: Wort Moon, Moon of Claiming, Moon of Blood (because of mosquitoes), Blessing Moon, Maedmonat (Meadow Month), Hewimanoth (Hay Month), Fallow Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon

Ritual Magik: The resting energy intensifies, focussing this moon on work done during meditation and divination. Plans and goals for the future should be dreamt about.

The Corn Moon

Month Celebrated: August

Other Names: Barley Moon, Dispute Moon, Weodmonath (Vegetation Month), Harvest Moon

Ritual Magik: The other re-balancing part of the year, where light and dark are equal. De-cluttering and harmonising is the name of the game. It is also the time to appreciate ones health and social network.

The Blood Moon

Month Celebrated: October

Other Names: Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Falling Leaf Moon, Ten Colds Moon, Moon of the Changing Season

Ritual Magik: Continuing with the de-cluttering and actually letting things go to bring balance into your life. Out with the old, in with the new.

The Blue Moon

Month Celebrated: October 27th - November 1 (depending on the year)

Other Names: The Blue Moon, also known as Moon of the Dead, Hunting Moon, Ancestor Moon, Hunter's Moon

Ritual Magik: Being around Samhain, this is the Moon to focus on loved ones that have passed and allowing old patterns in your life that do you no good to die away.

The Snow Moon

Month Celebrated: November

Other Names: Dark Moon, Fog Moon, Beaver Moon, Mourning Moon, Blotmonath (Sacrifice Month), Herbistmanoth (Harvest Month), Mad Moon, Moon of Storms

Ritual Magik: Grounding and preparation for the coming winter. It is a time for reaffirming your faith with the Lord and Lady (God and Goddess)

The Cold Moon

Month Celebrated: December

Other Names: Oak Moon, Wolf Moon, Moon of Long Nights, Long Night's Moon, Aerra Geola (Month Before Yule), Wintermonat (Winter Month), Heilagmanoth (Holy Month), Big Winter Moon, Moon of Popping Trees

Ritual Magik: Focussing on the Wheel of life of birth/death/rebirth and transformation through this. It’s a time for making an extra effort within the community.

The Moon and Astrology Signs

As a witch it is also important to know in which ‘house’ the Moon is in when working with spells and rituals.

House 1 - Aries - The Self. Action, leadership, authority, willpower, enthusiasm and rebirth (Healing of the head).

House 2 - Taurus Love, money, gaining material wealth, possessions, renewal, new house (Healing of the neck, throat and ears).

House 3 - Gemini Communication, writing, creativity, travel and social interaction (Healing of the shoulder, arms, hands and lungs).

House 4 - Cancer - The Home and Family. Nurturing and emotions (Healing of the chest and stomach).

House 5 - Leo - Pleasures and leisure. Vitality and courage. Fertility, authority and power (Healing of the upper back, spine and heart).

House 6 - Virgo - Work, duties and chores. Employment, careers, study, health and diet (Healing of the intestines and nervous system).

House 7 - Libra - Relationships and bringing balance (mind, body, spirit and karmic). Justice and legal issues (Healing of the lower back and kidneys).

House 8 - Scorpio - The Wheel of Life. Sexual matters, power, secrets and transformations that take you back to your true self (Healing of the reproductive system).

House 9 - Sagittarius - Foreign relations (travel and cultures). Publication of writings and truth (Healing of the liver, hips and thighs).

House 10 - Capricorn - Aims and ambitions. Organisation, ambition and recognition (Healing of the knees, bones, teeth and skin).

House 11 - Aquarius - Groups, clubs and charity. Freedom, science, problem solving and the getting rid of addictions (Healing of the calves, ankles and blood).

House 12 - Pisces - Mysticism and spiritual development. Music and creative art (Healing of the feet and lymphatic system).

Of course, these just aid in the power of the results when a witch casts spells, you can cast a wealth spell in October or when the moon is in Scorpio, or a happiness spell when you wish.

Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows is a diary if you will of the spells that have been cast, the moon magik that has been worked, details of clearances or anything that has been invoked. It is important to keep detailed reports of anything that you do including the wording of spells, the moon at the time, the date, the weather conditions, any thoughts you had during the ritual etc. Its also a good place to write down any prayers you pick up or core rituals like initiation.

It doesn’t need to be fancy, a log on a computer screen and word document would do but it is lovely to find a beautiful recycled book and take the time to write down your thoughts, feelings, aspirations and journey along the witchcraft path for future reference.

Spell Casting

Spell casting is probably one the most well known aspects of witchcraft but least understood by those outside of the community. It is not an essential part to being a witch and many choose not to.

Witches cast spells for lots of different reasons – for world peace, for attracting love or for assistance with studies, the list is endless. They can however be a bit hit and miss depending on how you say your spell. You have to be incredibly specific when you write a spell otherwise the results are often not what are desired.

The other rule of spell casting is that you do not interfere with the free will of another human being. For example, a spell making ‘Peter fall in love with me’ or ‘for Sarah not to be able to make it to the show so I can play lead’ are totally unacceptable to make and the three-fold rule would certainly come into play. Instead a general spell to attract love into your life should be cast (with careful wording).

When casting spells a witch will sit in their designated space (normally in front of their alter), create a sacred space around them and then say the words of their spell. Sometimes offerings are given to the symbol of the Goddess of God, specific coloured candles are lit or herbs used. Once completed they give thanks, close down the circle and leave the space, ready for the spell to manifest.

Need herbs and incense for your spells? Have a look at The Creaky Cauldron - http://www.seekthemagic.org in Stratford upon Avon who have an amazing range of items!

The Witches Altar

The Witches’ Altar is normally where she casts her spells and works with the energy of the God and Goddess. Offerings are left and the Altar is decorated according to the Sabbat of the time or the work the witch wishes to do.

Symbols of the four elements along with other tools are common place to aid the witch on her path.

Earth is normally represented by a pentacle or a small bowl of soil, fire by a candle, water by a chalice or cup and air by a bell or a feather. Other commonly seen tools are:

The Witches’ Athame (dagger) which aids in the collection of herbs and spices as well as using it to cast circles, during advanced healing or rituals such as handfasting.

A Broom that is placed near to the alter to use during purification rites

A Cauldron for making elixirs and mixing items for tonics or spells. Some are filled with water and used during scrying.

A Wand for casting spells.

A Witches' Altar does not need to cost much – all of these items can be hand made from wood or crystals. An alter is very personal and should feel right to the owner so when choosing the items it is important to resonate with what you have and if you feel as though you want to add more then do so. It is your own personal space!