DIY Rituals

Rituals can be a confusing area for new Witches and Wiccans; there are literally thousands available online and in books, many of them amended versions of each other. It's hard to sift through them all to find one in particular that speaks to you, that's why it's important to learn how to create your own rituals, ones that come from inside.

I know what you're thinking "Me?? Write something like that?? I wouldn't know where to start!"

Trust me, creating yoru own rituals isn't as hard as you might think, once you look at the basic structure of a ritual, it's all fill-in-the-blanks from there. However, if the whole idea of being creative with your rituals feels a little bit too much all at once, it's perfectly okay to use pre-written ones, just try to put a little of yourself into it too.

RITUAL BASICS

Before you sit down and start writing, it's important that you understand the purpose behind the ritual you'd like to do, and how it makes you feel. While the idea of research might seem like a pain, if you don't do your homework, you'll end up with a ritual that doesn't really mean much to anyone. Keep in mind that rituals don't have to be ornately worded affairs that take hours to perform; some of the most powerful rituals are the ones spoken directly from the heart, without the benefit of pencil and paper...it's up to you.

Once you've gotten the idea in your mind and you're comfortable with all the information you've read, it's time to start writing. Every ritual, no matter how many people or Gods it involves is set up basically the same way:

**Casting the Circle**

This is perhaps the most obvious of all steps included here; the space within your circle is sacred and sometimes considered to be "between worlds". Not only does it keep out any unwanted negative influences and energies, it also helps to keep your own energy in for the time being.

**Call the Elements/Corners/Quarters**

This is known by so many different names by so many people, but the intent is the same...to call upon the elements so they can watch over you and lend some protective aid if needed. Consider them your circles "bouncers".

**Call Upon the Gods**
Perhaps one of the most personal parts of a ritual, you can ask for their presence during this time, either for a specific purpose, or just to get to know them better. If you don't have a particular God/Goddess to call upon, you can ask for the presence of the "Lord" and "Lady".

**Build Your Energy**
Known by lots of different names, this refers to the part of the ritual where you begin to build your power, either by chanting, dancing, singing or all of the above. This is an important step if you want your rituals to work out

**State the Purpose**
Once you've called upon these energies and deities to be at your side, you'd best have a good reason for doing it...you can state your intent verbally, in writing or by meditating. However, it's important not to move on from this from this step until you feel your purpose has been properly stated.

**Cakes and Ale**
While not really necessary, but more traditional, this particular step helps to further "ground" you, and by eating and drinking, you can easily focus yourself back tot he more "real" world.

**Release Your Energy**
You raised the energy earlier, now you must let it go in order for your ritual to be effective. Most times this is a draining experience, and some Witches feel tired but "good" after ritual work.

**Thanking the Gods**
This part is fairly obvious...if you've asked for the presence of the Gods during your ritual, it's important to thank them and let them know you appreciate them being with you.

**Releasing the Quarters**
Similar to thanking the Gods, this simply lets the beings you called upon to know that their task is done, and that you appreciate their help.

**Release the Circle**
The final step of a ritual. This clears your sacred working space so that it, and you can go back to the normal routines of life feeling much better about it all.


Please keep in mind that these steps are guidelines, not elements written in stone, to help you better organize yourself when it comes to ritual work.

How to Become a Witch/Wiccan

It is often asked where one should start when they've discovered this wonderful system.

First of all, when you ask this question, doesn't matter where, you should put in as much detail into the question as you can, as to what you are looking for, without creating a wall-o-text. Ask for specifics: what resources should I read? Should I buy tools now or wait? How can I tell when a deity is calling to me (IF one is calling to me)? Details matter oh, so much when you're asking a question. If you want the best from your question, the responders need to know in what capacity you want to know the information. Simply asking "I'm interested in Wicca, I need some help" is not enough information for an experienced practitioner to help you. Be specific as to what you want to know.

Now. The FIRST thing you need to do is determine whether you want to be a Wiccan, Witch or Wiccan-Witch. You don't have to be a Witch to be a Wiccan; you don't have to be a Wiccan to be a Witch. You DON'T EVEN have to be Wiccan, you can be eclectic with Wiccan undertones. There's nothing wrong with being an eclectic. **I** am an eclectic, and I love it. No structure I need to abide by, no groups I must be a part of...just me and my spirituality.

(I'm going slightly off topic here)
It seems that so many people seem to get defensive or offended if someone tells them that some aspects of their spirituality are not Wiccan in nature, yet they call themselves "Wiccan". It IS acceptable not to use the label Wicca. Your spirituality may reflect many Wiccan concepts, but unless you follow ALL aspects that make one a Wiccan...I'm sorry to say, you are not Wiccan. You just aren't. Yes, there was a point in time when I was one of those who got all defensive saying "It doesn't matter what you say, all that matters is what the Gods think!!". But I was young and naive back then. I've learned a LOT throughout my years and now know it is perfectly acceptable NOT to be Wiccan.

Now...going back ON topic...
Once you've determined if you want to be a Wiccan, Witch or both, the next thing you need to do is ask yourself "WHY?". Why do you want to be a Witch/Wiccan. What do you hope to gain from the experience? What do you hope to accomplish? What draws you to it, and is it reflective of actual Wicca or is it your perception based on word of mouth and works of fiction? These are very important questions to ask and I would recommend you not move forward from this until you've answered all of these questions in great detail. If you answer these questions with one or two words, then you may have a misconception about what you believe Wicca/Witchcraft is. The vast majority of young people come to Wicca from bad resources and believe it's a gateway to power, or a way to gain "mystical powers". Wicca is a religion. It's focus is the Gods. Witchcraft is an alternative means of attaining goals...NEITHER is about "powers".

I urge anyone truly serious about taking on this spirituality to really dive into these questions (they may even be a good addition to your spiritual book; questions you can ask yourself over and over again throughout your time as a Pagan). Choosing to ignore or by-pass these questions shows a lack of true dedication you have to your pursuits.

The next thing to do is to dive into study. Study is very important. And when I say "study" I don't mean going out and purchasing all the "spell" books you can find or books that say "only book you'll ever need". I mean books that discuss history, practical applications, techniques etc. Anything that starts off with giving you a shopping list is better used at leveling your table, than teaching you anything of use. Above is a listing of books I've read and have been recommended by people I've had the privilege of knowing, who have 15+ years more experience than I (some even running their own covens). The lists are separated into categories. Please start with the "Beginners" category.

Once you've gotten the basics done (and this should take you some time...I don't recommend zooming through the books without absorbing the information. Read them, do the lessons some books have, and take your time with it), then start focusing on specific subjects. But I'll get into that later.

You should note that most of the books I've recommended in the link above will discuss at length, Wicca. So what about those who are not interested in Wicca, or religion at all? I say read them anyway. 1) It'll educate you more on Wicca and give you a better understanding of what the religion is, so you can educate those who are not as well educated as you will be and 2) these books will also contain valuable information on Witchcraft. If you're not interested in the religious aspects in these books...simply omit them. I've learned a great deal about Witchcraft from these books, you will too.

I can't reiterate this enough, though, to study and read BEFORE delving into practices. It's so easy to get excited and want to start practicing right away. But you only hurt yourself (metaphorically) if you refuse to do the necessary work.

As I said before, once you've gotten the basics down and have established a good routine of practice, start looking into more specific practices. Tarot, for instance. Roam around the book store and see if you find a deck that seems to "call" to you. There are some ideas out there that a tarot deck should be gifted to you, but honestly, how many people do we know who can gift us something such as a Tarot deck? I've bought all my decks. One I bought at the cheap table at the book store because I wanted a deck, but I didn't feel any connection to it. The pictures were rather blah and didn't convey any meaning to me, so later, when I could afford it, I bought the Gilded Tarot deck. I love the imagery on it and what I get from it.

Though, the best (thought) deck to start with is the Rider-Waite deck. But I'm not really one to discuss Tarot with as I still haven't found my niche with it. This is just one example of the specified practices you can start studying once you've learned the basics (or 101's). Herbalism is another practice many Witches (and Wiccans) delve into. It's a fun and fascinating thing to learn, and has lots of practical applications.

Once you've learned a good deal about techniques, basic ritualistic structure, specific practices, it's time to dive in. And don't worry if everything doesn't fall into place in the beginning. I say make use of "Trial and Error". Write down everything that goes right AND wrong. These are learning opportunities. Once you've determined what works and what doesn't, practice will become easier.

But don't think that once you've learned the basics and specific practices that study has come to an end. I can assure you it doesn't. 16+ years later, I'm STILL studying and learning. There's always something new to learn, and the humble Witch never believes he/she knows everything.


Now I have some extra questions you can ask yourself (or even add to your BoS). There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they'll help you to better understand yourself and what you want to get out of becoming Pagan. Like the questions posted above, I think it's a good idea for once in a while to re-do the questions and see if you've evolved any throughout your time. And be honest. It's ok if some of the answers are no, to these questions, just be sure to detail why. You may change your mind later, and it'd be interesting to see the change (NOTE: I borrowed these from somewhere, and I can't remember where, but I've also altered them and omitted some to sort of gear them towards deeper understanding).

Personal Test
1) What are your real, deep reasons for wanting to practice Paganism?
2) Can you discipline yourself to follow through on plans and goals?
3) Have you balanced your life mentally, physically and spiritually?
4) What changes can you make to achieve this balance?
5) Do you fear the unknown? Why/why not?
6) Do you believe in a "Supreme Power" that created everything in the universe, yet you feel uncomfortable with the accepted orthodox explanations?
7) Do you have trouble with patience when your desires are not met immediately?
8) Have you faced and/or are you willing to accept responsibility for your actions or for what has happened in your life, or are you going to/still laying blame on others.

Please don't think these questions are restricted to Wiccans or Witches. Anyone can answer these questions. I hope they're helpful.

Wicca/Witchcraft on a Budget

There are lots of things used in Wicca/Witchcraft; anything, from books, to tools, to herbs, gemstones, sticks/dowels, cloth baggies, bottles, etc. It could seem overwhelming to those living on a VERY fixed income or tight budget. But fear not my Pagan-y friends...good news arrives! You CAN be a Wiccan/Witch, AND have all the things you want without blowing your budget!! You just might have to relax a bit on the embellishments.

**FIRST OFF** --- Wicca and Witchcraft are not about things. Yeah they're nice to have, and give you a better opportunity to get in the right frame of mind for practice, but you can be equally effective in your craft with nothing at all.

However, I know it's a fun idea to peruse around the internet looking at all the metaphysical shops that abound with fanciful tools and bags of herbs, but along with these shops come a hefty price tag...especially the more fancy the item (and include hefty taxes or shipping fees, especially if you're shipping internationally). In the 16+ years I've been a studier/practitioner of Witchcraft I only entered a metaphysical shop ONCE, but I never bought anything. I went in with the hopes of buying something, but the prices turned me off. There's nothing wrong with these shops. If this is how you prefer to buy your things, then so be it, I'm not saying "don't ever shop in these stores!!!" I'm saying there IS a more budget friendly option out there.

Option 1: Dollarstore
--This is probably one of my main go-to stores for the majority of my practice needs. Naturally there isn't anything fanciful or elaborate in a dollar store...it's a "DOLLAR STORE"! But I've found almost everything I need in these stores. I frequent my local dollar store for pens, paper, glassware, candles and even some herbs (yes HERBS!). The pens and paper (or even notebooks) I use for making BoS's and notes/lists. The glassware I use to hold ritual drink on my altar, the herbs...you have to really look at them. Some are decent quality, while many have just filler. It's a good place to look for small containers of sea or rock salt, though.

If you're lucky enough, you may find even things like ceramic cast iron cookware for an alternative to your cauldron (if you don't have one or need a replacement/extra). I found a small, personal ceramic cast iron "casserole dish", but being the purist that I am, I wanted black and it only came in orange.

I also found what is now my statue representation of my Goddess at a local dollar store. It's a black angel...I found it close to Christmas time, and each time I went into the store, the statue seemed to "call" to me. So I bought her. She's been on my altar ever since.

Option 2: Department Store
--Places like Walmart, Target, K-Mart, etc all carry stuff you can use in your practices. Scrapbook supplies, pens, paper, dishware, makeshift athames, candles (both flame and battery), lighters/matches, herbs, statuary, decorations, etc. Almost anything you could think of to use in your workings you can find in these places. If you can't find it in one store, I'm sure another would have it and so on. And don't negate the seasonal section in these stores. I bought a cloak at Walmart one year, and a "Pentacle" I was going to use to decorate one of my BoS's. I also bought black and orange candles from a store called "Zellers" here in Canada (it's since been closed) during the Halloween season. Christmas can yield colored candles for various workings too.

Here too is where I obtain books and paper for my BoS workings (I do a lot of BoS work). I also find things to make spiritually related items, like prayer beads, and jewelry.

Option 3: Grocery Store
--Here would be the more obvious choice for herbal needs. Grocery stores often carry a wide variety of culinary herbs that work perfectly well in workings (and are of much better quality. Depending on which store, you can even get hard-to-find items like whole star anise seeds). I can only find Lavender in certain grocery stores. You can also find makeshift-athame's here as well as candles.

Option 4: Bulk Food Stores
--Probably the top place for finding herbs for workings. You can also find pure essential oils here (not fragrance oils). Both can be used in either Wicca or Witchcraft. Herbs you can use for offerings, oils you can use for fragrance or for dressing (**SAFETY WARNING** please be careful with oils, many can burn the skin, so your best option would be to put it into a carrier before dressing any candles. Herbs also warrant a warning...while herbs found in both bulk AND grocery stores are meant to be consumed...they are meant to be consumed in small amounts. Ingesting too much of any herb can make one seriously ill. Know what you're doing or consult a professional herbalist before consuming anything).

Option 5: Online Stores
--Ok. There are LOTS of online stores where you can buy just about ANYTHING you could imagine. These are good options if you can't get something in a store nearest to you. I would suggest something like Amazon, though because you can buy used or discounted items here that are in good to excellent shape, such as books. Beware, though of stores that look rather amateurish, don't offer paypal as an option or other security features. These stores are more apt to steal your information (hence why I would highly recommend going to brick and mortar stores, and if you can, pay cash). Typically if brick and mortar stores don't have what you want, chances are you don't really need it or can use an alternative.



As you can see there are a LOT more options than sticking to metaphysical stores. Before choosing to buy that expensive athame on eBay, perhaps try looking at an army surplus store for bootknives. Instead of that Etsy store selling herbs, try Bulk Barn. Instead of Amazon for your BoS, try getting a binder or scrapbook from the dollar store. Lots more options and avenues for creativity.

Witchcraft: Magic and Spell Work

There are many misconceptions as to what Witches do. Many people believe that Witches are somehow accurately portrayed in books and in movies or that somehow we believe WE can do what we see on tv and in movies. Naturally this is an incorrect assumption.

**First misconception is the spelling of magic itself. There's the assumption that all Pagans and/or Wiccans intentionally misspell the word "magic" because somehow we can't seem to be able to tell the difference between stage or "sleight-of-hand" magic from Pagan magic. I'm not sure about anyone else, but I don't need bad grammar to help me tell the difference between something. Depending on the context of the sentence or topic, I can tell the difference between Polish, and polish...I don't need to misspell them to tell the difference.

-The Polish are a people residing in Poland

-I use polish to shine my silver

Not all Pagans or Wiccans will spell magic with a "k" (magick). I'm a bit of a spelling fanatic...if I see something misspelled, it's almost like nails on a chalkboard, so for me to see magic spelled with a "k", it picks at me like a bug bite.

Aleister Crowley essentially started the fad (in the context of Paganism) with the reason I mentioned above...somehow he felt the only way he could tell the difference between stage magic and his Thelema practice was to misspell the word. I assume it has to do with archaic spelling (like spelling old with an "e"). Long ago people used to add extra letters to words, today we don't really need to add unnecessary letters to words (or even make complete words anymore thanks to text-talk).

It's completely up to the individual if they want to spell magic with a "k", but it's an incorrect assumption that ALL Pagans will spell magic this way.

**Another misconception, as already stated above, is that many people think Witches think they are what we see on tv. As a Pagan Witch for...oh...roughly about 16 years, not once have I ever claimed, nor ever believed I was capable of doing what Witches do on tv or in movies. Oh how life would be simpler if I could just throw a couple ingredients into a smoking pot and poof, all my problems would go away. Alas, Witchcraft is just not like that. There are a lot of mundane tasks that need to be done alongside the "production" art of Witchcraft. I certainly can cast a spell using all kinds of ingredients and make all kinds of talismans and charms, but if I don't do the mundane tasks alongside my "witchy" tasks, my spell will not work.

Take for example the common "Love Spell". Now, I don't condone the use of Love Spells when it involves someone specific. Love spells should be used to bring closer to you, the one the universe intends you to be with, not to force someone you WANT to be with you, to come to you. But I digress here. With a Love Spell you could either place flower petals, sweet smelling oils, trinkets and/or herbs associated with love into a bottle or a sachet, then empower it and carry it with you, but unless you go out LOOKING for Mr. (or Ms.) Right, it's just a bottle/bag sitting in your pocket/purse or in your car. You have to take the initiative and go out LOOKING for Mr./Ms. Right. You have to help your spell along (or more appropriately, your spell is helping YOU along).

Now, normally I don't give this guy below the time of day [anymore] because he's very ignorant, but here is an excellent example of someone who believes the nonsense perpetuated about Witches and Wiccans without knowing what he's talking about (I've already tried explaining things to him but he's set in his ignorance).

Now I'm going to keep this person anonymous...just for his own privacy, because unlike him I am respectful of other people, regardless of if I disagree with them or their incorrect assessments.

This is a typical copy/paste response from...let's call him "B". Now I won't address what's written here because that draws me away from the point of this post. The point of this...point (lol) is that this is what people THINK Witches THINK they do, while none of it's true. I've come across a number of Witches and Wiccans throughout my 16+ years as a Witch. Some were quite naive and actually DID believe they were Witches seen on tv, but usually they fizzled out after 2 weeks and I never saw them again...where as the serious, most dedicated Witches and Wiccans I've met and know, are nothing like the BS and nonsense perpetuated in the image above.

**The last misconception I want to talk about here is that all Witches and Wiccans are teenagers. Sure...most of the LOUD Witches and Wiccans you see on the internet are teenagers, but typically these people fizzle out after 2 weeks, once they realize how much work Witchcraft and Wicca ACTUALLY are. Out of all the forums and associates I've met throughout my years as a Witch, there have maybe been a teeny handful of Witches/Wiccans who were teenagers. For every teenager I've met claiming to be a Witch or Wiccan, there are perhaps 20 Witch/Wiccans out there who aren't loudmouthed attention-seekers (but please don't assume I believe all teenage Witch/Wiccans out there are loudmouthed, attention-seekers...it's just the loud majority I see online). The vast majority of truly dedicated Witches/Wiccans that I know of are my age (mid-30's). I know one 20-something, but I know her dedication is sincere and I encourage her whenever I can.

There are plenty of misconceptions out there about Witches, Wicca and Paganism in general. Instead of going off third hand knowledge, which is most likely biased and opinionated...if you really want to understand these systems, read a book. Learning about something doesn't automatically make you a follower...it makes you educated.

What are the Ethical Standards for Witchcraft?

Witchcraft itself doesn't have any universal ethical standard that all Witches MUST adhere to. Witchcraft is not an organized grouping and as such it has no universal standard set by any authoritative figures. Unless practicing within a group or Coven, Witches adhere to individually set ethics. Usually these ethics abide by common sense...don't kill, don't intentionally hurt for the purposes of amusement, etc. but some actions may seem contradictory to common sense unless you actually understand the concept behind these actions.

Take for example, the simple "Curse". To most, modern Witches may avoid using curses. Perhaps to avoid confirming any bias set against Witches in that they use curses to hurt others. On the contrary, curse can be used to protect others. For example, someone is continually being abused by a family member or loved one. To place a curse on this abuser could potentially stop him/her from further causing harm to those people, thus being protective. 

Now, if you are a Wiccan who is also a Witch, you may adhere to the ethic "The Wiccan Rede" (alongside whatever personal ethic you adhere to). The Rede, an EIGHT WORD guideline that states "An it harm none, do as thou will". Essentially, in a tiny nutshell, it says if what you want to do doesn't harm anything, then go ahead...though it says absolutely NOTHING about what should happen if you should harm. Harm is a personal choice. You choose whether or not you want to harm, but you also choose to accept the consequences of your actions should you DO choose to harm. This is why it's so vital that you think long and hard about what you want to do, if it will in some way cause harm, and whether or not that harm is justified for a greater good. You also have to think if you can accept the consequences of your actions. Can you handle what comes of what you do?

This is essentially what I mean by common sense. Will what you want to do mesh with your personality and what you would normally do?

Witches are not the sort to wave their hand and do what they want. Just because they possess a knowledge and practice what most don't understand doesn't mean they literally do whatever they want. Most have that personal ethic they abide by. I personally do not take curses lightly. I believe they are only to be used if all other means have been exhausted (and essentially, this concept also goes for spells as well). Just because I can curse someone I dislike greatly, doesn't mean I should. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just because I don't like their opinion doesn't mean I can negate his free will to have that opinion; just because someone hit my car in the parking lot and caused a big dent doesn't mean I get to curse him for the incident. My ethic is to not believe my practice is my toy; that I need to be responsible for what I do therefore I need to be vigilant and cautious before casting. It's not a difficult concept, and living with an ethic can stop you from doing something you may regret in the future.  

Do Witches Have Priests or Clergy?

This question is largely dependent. The answer can be both yes and no.

For the answer to be yes, the clergy would be a part of a group of Witches, known as a coven. Covens generally (but not always) consist of about 13 people all agreeing on the kind of practice they want to participate in. Covens are typically seen as Wiccan, but there are certainly non-Wiccan covens out there, especially within more traditional aspects of Wicca, such as Trad Witchcraft, Fam-Trad Witchcraft, British Traditional Witchcraft, Dedicatory Religious Witchcraft, etc. As long as there is a group led by experienced and trained practitioners, they could use the term "Coven". They gather during certain periods of the month and year for spiritual observances or study. Beginners to this group would be considered novices and would take on the label "initiate". The initiate would then work their way up over years through the ranks of the coven, eventually reaching the title of "Priest" or "Priestess". How long this takes could depend, but it could take up to 10 years of dedicated study. Priests and Priestesses then would lead the coven in rituals. But there are more responsibilities for these leaders than just conducting rituals. Like other clergy of other religions, they are also counselors for the group, conflict-resolution officers, advisers, organizers for charity work, etc.

For the answer to be no, generally these practitioners have no group or coven to work with and work solitary (or on their own), usually by choice, though some solitaries are so because they live so remotely they have little choice but to be solitary. Solitary practitioners have no clergy as they tend to be their own Priest/Priestess, though with no formal training. Normally, though, because of this reason solitaries don't label themselves "Priest/Priestess" as this term would mistake the individual as being a part of a larger group. Of course, like everything, there are exceptions to every rule, and there are some out there who will call themselves "Priest" or "Priestess" of their own rite, but usually these titles are reserved for group workers.

So as you can see, it could be a bit confusing when asking whether or not Witches have their own clergy. Depending on who you ask, the answer could be yes or no.

What is a Witch?

A Witch is someone who practices Witchcraft, a practice of manipulating natural energies and forces to bring about desired changes in one's life and the lives of others. It's also a means of achieving goals in your life and/or the lives of others.

All kinds of people can be Witches. The term "Witch" is not gender specific, therefore both women AND men can practice Witchcraft (and so can children). It's a rather sexist misconception that only Women may take on the term "Witch", where men are called "Warlocks"...the term "Warlock" is intended to be an insult, meaning "oathbreaker", as typically those who were Warlocks were ones who in some way betrayed their group and are now seen as untrustworthy.

Witches blend easily into our society for the simple fact that (despite popular convention) there are no designated uniforms or dress codes, nor do they wear outrageous jewellery, or draw unneeded attention. At least those who take the practice of Witchcraft seriously tend to look like everyone else. Some novices and "role players" tend to be more outlandish in their attire. Should a novice dress in this manner, it's usually because they've gotten a hold of some questionable material that told them this is appropriate attire. As a well seasoned practitioner, I can assure you...there's no dress code.

Then there is the misconception that somehow one is only a Witch if they have some sort of "bloodline" or relative who was a Witch. **I** am the first and only Witch in my family. I've been a Witch for over 15 years. No one in my family has ever practiced Witchcraft. While Paganism does indeed run in my family (druids, Native traditionalists, etc), the actual practice of Witchcraft falls solely on me. So, if one is only a Witch if they have a bloodline of Witches, how is it I can be successful in my practices? Because I've studied the practice. I took the time to learn my craft. It's not a DNA anomaly in which all my knowledge is unlocked at the age of 16. Everything in life needs to be learned, whether or not you have a natural tendency towards it. Piano prodigies need to study their craft to be adept, Witches are no different.

Now, Witches practice a variety of crafts that either are or often not considered "Witchcraft". Most popularly is the art of spell craft. Essentially spell craft is using various materials, associated with certain elements, astrological assignments, colors, etc having to do with aspects dealing with the goal you are trying to achieve. These goals by no means involve sparkling lights, *poofs* of smoke or instant materialization. Spell work is NOTHING like we see on tv (this misconception is another topic altogether). Spells can manifest anywhere from a few hours to a few years, and are hardly fantastic. Being the caster of the spell, you should know what to look for to know whether your spell "worked" or not.

Other crafts can include divination...making use of tools such as pendulums, tarot cards, crystals, astrology, scrying, etc. herb craft...making "potions" (for lack of a better word) to either enhance one's practice OR for practical uses such as creams and ointments for minor wounds.

Witchcraft can be a broad practice, and is not restricted solely to Pagan religions. Christians may be Witches if they so choose (but reconciling it with their beliefs would be their burden), and so can atheists...as Witchcraft has NOTHING to do with deity worship.