Is witchcraft an official religion? Yes it is! It is recognized as an organized religion by the U.S. supreme court. But it goes under the name of Wicca. Acording to Margot Adler in her book, Drawing Down the Moon,..."Participants in the witchcraft revival generally use "witch" to mean simply an initiate of the religion of    Wicca, also known as the craft." (p10) Wicca comes from the root words "wicce" or "wic" which can either mean "wit or wise" or "to bend or to shape" (depending on where the root comes from). Witches bend or shape reality through their thoughtforms( i.e. spells and visualization through meditation). I would like to clarify not all Witches are Wiccan. So  what does a witch do? Witches do several things... They honour 8 cycles of the earth called sabbats. These sabbats mark the changes the earth and seasons go through every year. They were very important when people depended on farming and game for sustinence. They are important for the witch today in order to remember the old traditions and celebrations our ancestors took part in and also to reconnect with the earth cycles and the earth mother herself.  Witches honour deities (gods and goddesses). A witch believes there is both a god and a goddess. It depends on the witches' tradition which gods or goddesses they honour. Witches believe in duality, or balance of the masculine and feminine in the cosmos, nature, and ourselves. Therefore, there cannot be just a god or just a goddess. Each deity of a particular tradition serves a specfic function or functions to the witch. But it is a two-way street...The deities will do nothing unless they are honoured and respected.  Witches honour nature. Most of the witches I know, in fact all of them, Love to be in nature; whether it be by the ocean, in the woods, or on the desert. Witches know that nature is alive and very sensitive to any changes. So it must always be kept clean and natural.  Witches do cast spells. But spells cannot be used to harm. There are many different kinds of spells: money, love, protection (physical and psychic), for success, etc. there is a Wiccan rede that states, "An it harm none, do what thou wilt." Basic English: You can do any spell, any action you wish as long as it doesn't harm others or yourself physically or mentally. Witches perform community service. Some witches are very active in their community. Some witches are very subtle in their activities...On the more active side, some do things such as feed the homeless, participate in the politcal process to better the community, help at hospitals, etc....On the more subtle side, some help old ladies cross the street, pick up trash whenever they see it lying around, help stray animals (and people!), and are as nice to everybody they can be in order to spread good energies (especially to those working in customer service!!!). Witches lead normal, everyday lives aside from their craft. They are teachers, politicians, lawers, retail workers(guess what I do), veterinarians, plumbers, you name it. I have known some witches who were caught up in their craft so much, they just ignored the everyday waking world. It was easy to see how unhealthy it was for them, psychologically as well as physically. But most witches do what is called "living between the worlds"; the world of witchcraft and the normal everday world. It can be a very balanced place to be and a little of each world can be incorporated into the other. There are a lot of other things witches do but these are just the things off the top of my head and are the most basic.     what's the first thing I should do to get on this path? Read about witchcraft. Get your information from different sources. Although humorous and interesting to read, avoid the books that describe witches worshipping the devil, and how they fly around on broomsticks in the middle of the night to demonic orgies to sacrifice animals and children. Forgive me, that's a bunch of bull@#$!. It's a horrible monster that the Catholic church gave birth to called negative propaganda. For the penny pincher, I suggest going to the library, a used book store, or a retail book store where you can read the book in the store over a cup of joe. (Look under sections such as New Age, Metaphysical,Wicca, Witchcraft, The Occult). -Or go to the internet. There are several web sites like this one itching to teach people what they need to know. Read about the history, beliefs, sabbats, deities, altar set-up, elements, and priniples. Do witches hate Christians/Catholics and vice-versa? It's hard to say what some people in those religions feel as well as any other religion. It all comes down to tolerance. So I can't even really go there. Some are just ignorant as to what Wicca is and don't know any better than to be intolerant. As for Wiccans...One of the underlying beliefs or rather concepts is tolerance...And hate is a very evil word if there was ever any. I personally do not mind any other religion as long as it makes that person a good soul and as long as they don't proselytize. I'm not knocking on anyone's door... what kind of clothes do you wear when you are performing your rituals? Witches wear whatever they wish. They are not instantly recognizable by their clothes or the way they look. However, when working in groups, especially outdoors at night, Witches will often wear dark or black clothing, for two very practical reasons. First, if you are disturbed in your working it is far easier for you to disappera if you blend into your surroundings.  Witchcraft is not a spectator activity and no one wants to grather an audience of dog walkers or people returning from the pub who fancy a bit of light entertainment. Secondly, dark colours show dirt less. Witches may be tending a fire or sitting on the ground or simply brush up against a tree - and light clothing generated extra laundry!  Many Witches do have a long cloke for outdoor use, as it covers clothing and keeps the weather out.  It is especially useful if you wear robes. Also, a long dark cloak with a hood enables you to pull up the hood, step into the trees and become invisible, to even the most keen observers.. Some witches work skyclad (naked). It gives the Witch a sense of freedom and greater ability to project energy without the restriction of clothes. It is also a way of moving from the mundane world where clothes are the norm to the spiritual world of the circle (robes or other ritual attire are just as effective for this).This encourages contentment with ones own body, while affirming union with the mother earth and the Goddess and God. There is also a practical reason, as the Lord of the Summer Isles says in the film the Wicca Man "It is much too dangerous to jump over a fire with your clothes on!". Do you know how and when to use wands and how to make homemade ones? The wand! There are two types, one for rituals and one you create for a specific purpose then bury afterwards. A wand should always be handcrafted. It can be simple or as decorous as you want. You can have sigils and inscriptions on it if you want. The length should be as long as your lower arm is, that is from fingertip to your elbow. You can use hazel, oak, rowan, hawthorn, elm, blackthorn, birch, beech and applewood. Do not kill a productive tree for your wand, take the piece of wood to be carved into a wand from a tree that has already felled or is going through a winter period of dormancy and is not productive. As a ritual tool, the Magic Wand has a history that goes back hundreds, if not thousands of years.  It is used in many pagan/spiritual paths, primarily to direct energies during magic rituals.  A magic wand held upright may be used to call or invoke the chosen deity(s), spirits,  or Watchtowers to be present during the ritual. In traditional Witchcraft, as well  in some other Pagan paths, one may use the wand to draw the "magic circle", which creates a sacred space. The wand may also be used to draw magic symbols and as a focal point for directing magical energy.  The energy will be released in the direction the magic wand is pointed. In Wicca, the magic wand is related to the element of Air. Some other paths relate the wand to the element of fire. In some ceremonial paths, you cannot work without a magic wand, and in others, no wand is necessary.   Many paths use magick wands made of different types of wood, some are made of crystal/stone, some of metal, and then some are any combination of these. Many magick wands will be decorated with symbols, beads, stones, wrapped with leather and feathers attached, as well. This all depending on the owners personal taste, use and the chosen path. Some magick wands are called healing wands and have been used for directing energy from, drawing negative energy out of the sick body. These are commonly made of crystal or metal, or a combination of the two. Page 1   2  3