I think I may have found a path....

[dawns_eve]

I have been searching for a path for many years even though it's not necessary...it feels like it is for me. I have never really read about Traditional Witchcraft simply because there isn't much info out there...everything feels like it's been turned into Wicca....not that there's anything wrong with that...it's just that everything seems meshed.
Anyway, I came across a site recently that explains Traditional Witchcraft. Now I know everyone has there own interpretation of it but I got the jist of it anyway. This actually seems to fit me more than the other paths which follow dieties, etc.
All of this being said, although I would love to follow this path, I must study into it more...of course.
Traditional Witchcraft just seems to fit with what my beliefs are.
I do have a favor to ask of all of you......for those of you who follow this path, could you please give a brief explanation of your beliefs/practices and/or a website/book you recommend?
This would be most helpful.
Blessings, Dawnseve

[Temptation]

I have been searching for a path for many years even though it's not necessary...it feels like it is for me. I have never really read about Traditional Witchcraft simply because there isn't much info out there...everything feels like it's been turned into Wicca....not that there's anything wrong with that...it's just that everything seems meshed.
Anyway, I came across a site recently that explains Traditional Witchcraft. Now I know everyone has there own interpretation of it but I got the jist of it anyway. This actually seems to fit me more than the other paths which follow dieties, etc.
All of this being said, although I would love to follow this path, I must study into it more...of course.
Traditional Witchcraft just seems to fit with what my beliefs are.
I do have a favor to ask of all of you......for those of you who follow this path, could you please give a brief explanation of your beliefs/practices and/or a website/book you recommend?
This would be most helpful.
Blessings, Dawnseve

Well, traditional Witches usually don't worship any Deity. Most of them don't even believe in Deity. They practice magic without casting circles and without invoking anything or anyone. They don't believe in the three-fold law and they have no qualms in casting all manner of spells and work with dark magic when needed.
They believe in a universal energy that connects all things.
They also believe in reincarnation and spirits.

Also we like cats a lot ;) ;)

[-Ember]

Well, traditional Witches usually don't worship any Deity. Most of them don't even believe in Deity.

Well, I wouldn't quite say that. Deity has a different place, and worship isn't always the best way to discribe what happens, but that doesn't necessarily mean we don't believe that divinity exists.

They practice magic without casting circles and without invoking anything or anyone.

Quite often true, although a general rule of thumb tends to be "if it works it is ours." If a circle works well in the situation, it may well get used. As for invocation... well.. depends on how you want to discribe it... there are some practices followed by many that are invocation/possession-like. And sometimes that is the best way to work with things on the other side of the veil.

They don't believe in the three-fold law and they have no qualms in casting all manner of spells and work with dark magic when needed.

Have I used the words practical or pragmatic yet? It usually involves a very serious ethical structure... it doesn't mean we think we can just do whatever. Often it is a matter of knowing that without a doubt whatever we do has a price and a cost that will be paid.

They believe in a universal energy that connects all things.

Or something like that ;)

They also believe in reincarnation and spirits.

Well, depending on how reincarnation is defined, maybe (some versions I don't agree with). Spirits... usually cease to be a matter of "belief". To paraphrase Prachett, it gets to be a bit like "believing" in the postman. They just are, no belief required.

Also we like cats a lot ;)

Absolutely no argument there (There are a few who would never forgive me if I tried to argue it.)

[Temptation]

Well, I wouldn't quite say that. Deity has a different place, and worship isn't always the best way to discribe what happens, but that doesn't necessarily mean we don't believe that divinity exists.

What I meant is we don't need a pantheon of gods and goddesses to connect with the divine. Although some Christian Witches, especially in Italy and Spain, do believe in God.


Quite often true, although a general rule of thumb tends to be "if it works it is ours." If a circle works well in the situation, it may well get used. As for invocation... well.. depends on how you want to discribe it... there are some practices followed by many that are invocation/possession-like. And sometimes that is the best way to work with things on the other side of the veil.

Casting circles is a Gardnerian ritual. I think if traditional Witches cast them, they're just borrowing from Wicca. Which is fine :)
My grand-mother and her mother before her, wouldn't have known what to do if told to cast one.
Oh and candles are very big with traditional Witches, we love cats and candles :);)


Have I used the words practical or pragmatic yet? It usually involves a very serious ethical structure... it doesn't mean we think we can just do whatever. Often it is a matter of knowing that without a doubt whatever we do has a price and a cost that will be paid.

See I don't completely agree with that. Not all traditional Witches believe there will be a
price to pay. But they do often say "Be careful what you wish for.." At least I do ;)


Well, depending on how reincarnation is defined, maybe (some versions I don't agree with).

You mean there is more than one way to come back? How many kinds of reicarnations are there? I might try a new one next time ;)

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

I've been looking into traditional witchcraft as well lately. I too think it will become my path...or maybe already is *ponder*

if you check out my site *Points to link in siggy* and look on my links page, i have a bunch of links to sites about traditional witchcraft that i have found to be helpful in one way or another. :)

[dawns_eve]

and everytime I picked up a "Witchcraft" book it started something like...Witchcraft , also known as Wicca....my eyeballs were about to pop out of my skull :aburst:
It's not that I don't like Wicca...that's what I have been studying for some years.....it's just now I want to studying something OTHER THAN Wicca but everyhting seems so meshed.
This store is an excellent metaphysical store I must add but still....nothing what I was looking for.
I have also read somewhere that if you "borrow" from other paths while practicing Trad Witchcraft, then it's not Trad that you are practicing. It would be more like Eclectic...hmmmm...I am so new to it ...who knows?

[Soulsong]

Anyway, I came across a site recently that explains Traditional Witchcraft. Now I know everyone has there own interpretation of it but I got the jist of it anyway.

Can you point me toward the website? I'm curious now. :hmmmmm:

[dawns_eve]

Can you point me toward the website? I'm curious now. :hmmmmm:

well here is one that I found...I cant find the other right now but they are basically the same info.

http://www.traditionalwitchcraft.org/index.html

[Alexandra Asinine]

I am a Student of Blue Star Wicca, which is a branch off of of British Traditional Witchcraft. Here's a website that explains it better than I would! http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A940141

[-Ember]

What I meant is we don't need a pantheon of gods and goddesses to connect with the divine. Although some Christian Witches, especially in Italy and Spain, do believe in God.

Basic agreement here.

Casting circles is a Gardnerian ritual. I think if traditional Witches cast them, they're just borrowing from Wicca. Which is fine :)
My grand-mother and her mother before her, wouldn't have known what to do if told to cast one.

Yep. But I basically meant any technique, once it becomes available, will get used by the witch if it works. Practicality above theory. If it works, and isn't nailed down, it is part of the tradition. If it works, and is nailed down, give me five minutes with a crowbar ;). Not exactly ecclectic. To work it still has to fit right and contribuite to the core of the tradition, but that tradition tends to be open to a lot of individual variance.

Any tradition that goes outside a family (maybe an apprentice situation) has probaly borrowed from Wicca. There just isn't/wasn't a group structure left. And some of the things that don't really make sense for the solitary traditionalist are useful in group settings. Circles and a lot of BT Wiccan structure (although not necessarily beliefs) work and don't violate the core practices/beliefs. None the less, I concede Grandma-ma's grandmother wouldn't recognize some of what her little one did to the tradition.

Oh and candles are very big with traditional Witches, we love cats and candles :);)

Although not together. Seperately. ;)

See I don't completely agree with that. Not all traditional Witches believe there will be a price to pay. But they do often say "Be careful what you wish for.." At least I do ;)

That comes closer to what I meant. An idea that you have an effect and can't just do anything and not expect a result. "Price" and "cost" are the words I tend to think of it in because the debt concept works well. If I owe something, I'm in a more unstable position, if I'm owed... well, it is a better place to be working from.

You mean there is more than one way to come back? How many kinds of reicarnations are there? I might try a new one next time ;)

Some of the theories of reincarnation I've read... :noway:... are just not believable. I tend to a rather simple version, and some of the more moralistic and hierarchical bound ones ("you will become a mouse if you are only this good, a cow if that good, a woman if sort of good, and a man if really good....") I just can't buy them.

[-Ember]

It's not that I don't like Wicca...that's what I have been studying for some years.....it's just now I want to studying something OTHER THAN Wicca but everyhting seems so meshed.

It is REALLY hard to find much Traditional stuff in print. It isn't something taught well that way. Most of it isn't something theorised out. It is just done, just simply a way of doing things.

[Temptation]

I think the reason it's so hard to find info about the (many) different traditions
in Witchcraft is because they are mainly family traditions. And Witches like to
keep their secrets of the craft "within the family".
My grandmother used to say to me "Reveal what I've taught you to only one
other. Chose him or her wisely"
Well, that someone, to me, is my daughter. :)

[dawns_eve]

So would you all say it's going to be impossible to follow this path due to the secrecy? Are their similar paths that are more easily researched?

[Temptation]

So would you all say it's going to be impossible to follow this path due to the secrecy? Are their similar paths that are more easily researched?

I wouldn't say impossible. There are a few books out there that were written by
traditional Witches. I have one or two at home but I can't remember the authors names.
I'll post them later when I get home from work. :)

[Temptation]

Ok, here's a link I found that covers most of the definitions of Traditional Witchcraft :

www.neopagan.net/Witchcraft-Classifying.html

and also this one :

www.armsoftheangels.4t.com/Witchcraft.html

And the two books I told you about :
(actually I think the author is Wiccan, but he does a good job at separating the two paths in these)

Hereditary Witchcraft, Secrets of the Old Religion
and
The Witches' Craft, The Roots of Witchcraft and Magical Transformation

both by Raven Grimassi

[dawns_eve]

Ok, here's a link I found that covers most of the definitions of Traditional Witchcraft :

www.neopagan.net/Witchcraft-Classifying.html

and also this one :

www.armsoftheangels.4t.com/Witchcraft.html

And the two books I told you about :
(actually I think the author is Wiccan, but he does a good job at separating the two paths in these)

Hereditary Witchcraft, Secrets of the Old Religion
and
The Witches' Craft, The Roots of Witchcraft and Magical Transformation

both by Raven Grimassi

Thanks again for your help and the links. :smoochypo

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

and everytime I picked up a "Witchcraft" book it started something like...Witchcraft , also known as Wicca....my eyeballs were about to pop out of my skull :aburst:
It's not that I don't like Wicca...that's what I have been studying for some years.....it's just now I want to studying something OTHER THAN Wicca but everyhting seems so meshed.
This store is an excellent metaphysical store I must add but still....nothing what I was looking for.
I have also read somewhere that if you "borrow" from other paths while practicing Trad Witchcraft, then it's not Trad that you are practicing. It would be more like Eclectic...hmmmm...I am so new to it ...who knows?
I think you might be looking in the wrong spots for the kind of books you want. Try the history section ;) Cunning Folk: Popular Magic in English History by Owen Davies is a good place to start.

http://members.aol.com/akcroebuck/booklist.html (http://members.aol.com/akcroebuck/booklist.html) <-- that site provides some good books to read as well.

[dawns_eve]

The links and recommended books should definitely help. Thats for all of the advice from all of you kind folks. :hearteyes