What kind of witch are you?

[Emma]

I see lots of people who define themselves as a witch using specific labels- Green or Hedge or Kitchen or what-have-you, and they always make me curious. So: what kind of witch are you, and what about your witchcraft makes you choose that particular label?

 
I've occasionally used "witch" to describe myself, but not often. It usually happens when I get tired of stumbling over words to explain my craft to someone else.

For me, the word "witch" conjures up images of women stirring cauldrons with glee, singing joyful incantations, dancing between shelves of bottled herbs and potions, and turning the pages of worn leatherbound books between tall, dripping candles. It's unfortunate this isn't easily done in my tiny little home (a 700 square foot rental for two adults and a child leaves not much room for extra shelves or dancing).

I've paired "eclectic" with "witch" in cases when I've used the label, because I feel it can be good for describing my magic work without implying religious structure. Sometimes, I think "shaman" or "curandera" may be more appropriate given my highly situational methods, tools, and spirit work, but I feel that might be presumptuous or even insulting because I hardly do much healing at all these days.

It does make me wonder what term I'll be using should I decide to go down the Feri path like I'm considering.

[Dark Midnight]

For me, the word "witch" conjures up images of women stirring cauldrons with glee, singing joyful incantations, dancing between shelves of bottled herbs and potions, and turning the pages of worn leatherbound books between tall, dripping candles. It's unfortunate this isn't easily done in my tiny little home (a 700 square foot rental for two adults and a child leaves not much room for extra shelves or dancing).

I can safely say that this image definately doesn't describe me!
 
 

[Emma]

I can safely say that this image definately doesn't describe me!
 
 

 
*LOL* I'm a modern fantasy writer; I have an overactive, possibly ridiculously romantic imagination. =p

[Wrynn]

Right now, an armchair witch. I have a lot of different ideas and interests, but I don't practice much in the way of witchcraft. I'm still exploring what that means to me. I am interested in green and kitchen witchcraft, and very interested in exploring work with stones and herbs.

 
I am learning green witchcraft.  I am drawn to the components it uses such as nature and the elements for practice.  Being panentheistic and studying wicca in a kind of eclectic celtic tradition.  they seem to resonate better together and resonate with me more naturally.

[AmberHeart]

I see lots of people who define themselves as a witch using specific labels- Green or Hedge or Kitchen or what-have-you, and they always make me curious. So: what kind of witch are you, and what about your witchcraft makes you choose that particular label?

I practice three Traditions of the modern 'Craft.

I have practiced as a Vocational Witch for nearly 30 years now. Vocational is a non-religious, non-spiritual Tradition of The Craft that focuses on healing, divination, energy work but rarely if ever magic/spellcraft. This label was reached by consensus with others along the same path and it accurately reflects the core of this Tradition.

For probably around 27 years, I have also been a Dianic Witch, which is religious-oriented tradition of The Craft (not related to Dianic Wicca however). Dianic today tends to signify goddess-only, women-only and came into use in the late 60's when Z. Budapest's formed religion became known as New Dianic Witchcraft. The irony is that the name was based off Old Dianic, the best (at the time) known form of Pagan Witchcraft in NA, a tradition formed in Texas based on Margaret Murray's theoretical history of witchcraft. Dianic actually referred to the God Dianus. Still, within the Women's Spirituality Movement of the 60's to today, Dianic became equated with Diana or simply the Feminine Divine. This is where the Craft Tradition I follow within Dianic Paganism fits, hence Dianic Witch.

For the last year or so, I have embarked on a third syncretic tradition, that of Water Witch. Sorta self-explanatory there.

Amber

[Valentine]

I work best when I can relax and leave some room for improvisation.

I do a lot of improvisational stuff my ownself.
I suppose the best answer to the original question I can come up with is "the world is talking, and I try to be a decent listener, and sometimes we have a conversation."  For me the practice is about walking in dark places with a lantern, and being between things and on edges and in doorways, and about constantly trying to remember that everything has something to say.  For me, witchcraft is, at best, integrated into everything I do.  While I used to do more of the high-magicky cast-a-spell-with-lots-of-candles work--especially when I had a side job as an exorcist--I've found that when I'm mindful about what I'm doing, cooking is magic and gardening is magic and writing is magic and taking a walk is magic, that there's a way of doing all of it that's, I guess, in conversation.

My practice used to be much more focused on raw energy work, as I was trained, but I burned out some years ago and lost a lot of my faculty for it.  I've had to learn subtler and simpler things while I've been convalescing.

[Tana]

I suppose the best answer to the original question I can come up with is "the world is talking, and I try to be a decent listener, and sometimes we have a conversation."

 
Awww, I love this!

[outlaw393]

I see lots of people who define themselves as a witch using specific labels- Green or Hedge or Kitchen or what-have-you, and they always make me curious. So: what kind of witch are you, and what about your witchcraft makes you choose that particular label?

Green witch, probably. Though I don't use the term witch hardly ever. Prefer Wiccan or Pagan.

[Malkin]

Green witch, probably. Though I don't use the term witch hardly ever. Prefer Wiccan or Pagan.

 
Y'know, I read two of the Green Witchcraft books back in my teens, but I'm still not totally clear on what it means. What distinguishes it as a style?

[Valentine]

Green witch, probably. Though I don't use the term witch hardly ever. Prefer Wiccan or Pagan.

I mean, there's a difference.  A lot of Pagans and even Wiccans aren't witches, and a lot of witches are neither Wiccan nor Pagan.  "Wiccan" and "Pagan" are descriptions of religious traditions and affiliations, and "witch" is a job description, as far as I understand it.
I say this as a polytheist witch who is not in any way Wiccan and edgy around calling myself Pagan, who was trained by a witch who's Christian.

[outlaw393]

I mean, there's a difference.  A lot of Pagans and even Wiccans aren't witches, and a lot of witches are neither Wiccan nor Pagan.  "Wiccan" and "Pagan" are descriptions of religious traditions and affiliations, and "witch" is a job description, as far as I understand it.
I say this as a polytheist witch who is not in any way Wiccan and edgy around calling myself Pagan, who was trained by a witch who's Christian.

 
In my definition, a witch is anyone who does magick. That means you can be Wiccan, Pagan, or whatever. I'm not exactly sure how one can be a witch and christian. :confused:

Green, kitchen, garden, are definitions of different types of magick people can do. Honestly one can find it just about anywhere. Most "witches" that I've ever met are Wiccan, as the term is usually used there.

[Darkhawk]

In my definition, a witch is anyone who does magick. That means you can be Wiccan, Pagan, or whatever. I'm not exactly sure how one can be a witch and christian. :confused:

 
Uh, by doing magic?  Under your definition?

[Valentine]

In my definition, a witch is anyone who does magick. That means you can be Wiccan, Pagan, or whatever. I'm not exactly sure how one can be a witch and christian. :confused:

Green, kitchen, garden, are definitions of different types of magick people can do. Honestly one can find it just about anywhere. Most "witches" that I've ever met are Wiccan, as the term is usually used there.

 
And my point is, "witch" is a thing one does, and includes people of many backgrounds, including Wiccans.  And likewise, there are people of various Pagan beliefs who don't do magic, because it doesn't suit them or isn't their job or strength--in ancient societies, certainly, not everyone was a witch the same way not everyone was a hunter.  There is a large overlap, of course, especially as much of what we'd call kitchen-witchery is pretty everyday stuff that lay people can do all the time if they're of a belief system that says they can, but the terms aren't synonyms.

My mother, like my grandmother and my aunt and my whoever, did magic.  She did witchcraft.  She was not a polytheist or a pantheist or a Pagan of any stripe--she considers herself a good and observant Christian.  "Witch" is someone who does witchcraft.  There are plenty of monotheist, Abrahamic, even Christian witches.  Likewise, you and I consider ourselves witches even though, I expect, our religious beliefs differ a great deal.

Venn diagrams.  You know.

[Juniperberry]

Green witch, probably. Though I don't use the term witch hardly ever. Prefer Wiccan or Pagan.

I see what you're saying. You would consider the type of witchcraft you practice as Green, but to  others you don't mention this, but rather use the generic (tho often argued) nomenclature of Wiccan or Pagan.

I get that. I don't feel the need to explain in-depth what my path is to people- if I mention it at all.  Usually I give a common explanation to non-pagan people that I know they'll understand, but I don't worry about making their eyes glaze over with long-winded explanations. (Unless they ask or we're having a good convo).

Sometimes labels are good for just a broad overview of a path.

[Adder]

I see lots of people who define themselves as a witch using specific labels- Green or Hedge or Kitchen or what-have-you, and they always make me curious. So: what kind of witch are you, and what about your witchcraft makes you choose that particular label?

I found affinity with the term warlock after reading about its various meanings. One example is that I use music and mathematics to generate sacred geometry which might fit in with the Old Norse definition of using song to call and bind spirits. I dont subscribe to the beliefs that its an evil male witch.