What do
Witches do?
Practices to which the witchcraft label have historically
been applied are those which influence another person's
body or property against his or her will, or which are
believed, by the person doing the labelling, to undermine
the social or religious order. Some modern commentators,
especially neopagan ones, consider the malefic nature of
witchcraft to be a Christian projection. Witchcraft can
also be a magical art alone, not necessarily part of a
religion.
Influencing
another person's body or property
The concept of a magic-worker influencing another person's
body or property against his or her will was clearly
present in many cultures, as there are traditions in both
folk magic and religious magic that have the purpose of
countering malicious magic or identifying malicious magic
users. Many examples can be found in ancient texts, such as
those from Egypt and Babylonia. Where malicious magic is
believed to have the power to influence the body or
possessions, malicious magic users can become a credible
cause for disease, sickness in animals, bad luck, sudden
death, impotence and other such misfortunes. Witchcraft of
a more benign and socially acceptable sort may then be
employed to turn the malevolence aside, or identify the
supposed evil-doer so that punishment may be carried out.
The folk magic used to identify or protect against
malicious magic users is often indistinguishable from that
used by the witches themeslves.
There has also existed in popular belief the concept of
white witches and white witchcraft, which is strictly
benevolent. Some neopagan witches identify with this
concept, and profess strong ethical codes that prevent
them from attempting magic on someone without that
person having requested it or at least given
permission.
Where belief in malicious magic practices exists they are
typically forbidden by law as well as hated and feared by
the general populace, while beneficial witchcraft is
tolerated or even accepted wholesale by the people - even
if the orthodox establishment objects to it.
Spellcasting
see our FREE Spells page
Probably the most obvious characteristic of a witch is the
ability to cast spells. To some
witches, spells are viewed as a form of prayer. Spells
can be cast by many methods, including meditation,
burning of candles, chanting or reciting incantations,
performing physical rituals and making herbal, oil or
incense preparations. Sometimes quite simple and mundane
actions can constitute the physical casting of a spell,
and it is a common belief amongst modern witches that
the intention behind the actions is at least as
important as the actions themselves. Methods are many
and differ from witch to witch.
Conjuring
the dead
Strictly speaking, "Necromancy" is the practice of
conjuring the spirits of the dead for divination or
prophecy - although the term has also been applied to
raising the dead for other purposes. The Biblical 'Witch'
of Endor is supposed to have performed it (1 Sam. 28), and
it is among the witchcraft practices condemned by Ælfric of
Eynsham:
"Yet fares witches to where roads meet, and to heathen
burials with their phantom craft and call to them the
devil, and he comes to them in the dead man's likeness, as
if he from death arises, but she cannot cause that to
happen, the dead to arise through her wizardry."
In Wicca, Samhain or Halloween
is held to be the time when the veil between the living
world and the Other World is at its thinnest, and this
is a common time to attempt contact with those who have
passed on.