Tell Me about Witches...

[norseman]

Something else to entertain and amuse the "troops"

Male Witches

So, what would you call a male witch ?
Sorceror, magician, seer, ??

Times past, they did have a name., Warlock. It originated in a chain beginning with Shaman, then Cunning Man, then Warlock – then it fell into disuse.

The word has several contested origins.
Old Norse – varo-lokkur = caller of spirits.
Old English – woerloga = oathbreaker, deceiver.
Modern Scottish Gaelic = male witch.

So where is the true origin and why did it fall into disrepute ?
Initially, it is because of the nature of the Cunning Folk, especially in medieval times during the Witch Hunting period in Europe. Prior to that time, the Cunning Folk were quite open in the rural communities but after that time, they became “hidden” but hidden in plain view. They were, in fact, the first target of the church for eradication but were regarded as “too valuable” in their villages, etc and so were protected by those they served. The church turned it’s attention to the archetype witch – often old women with personality disorders who were soft targets. It was even suggested that the Cunning Folk were ideal witch hunters. There arose a clear distinction between Cunning Folk = good witches, and ordinary witches = bad – whereas, truth be known, the Cunning Folk were the real article.
Certain Cunning Men hid is plain sight as Christian Priests, using the bible as a source of spells, etc – a fifth-column inside the church. This is what resulted in the Oathbreaker meaning but not as you might assume.

It was a derogatory word applied by the christian church to priests who were actually "hidden" Cunning Folk - hiding in plain sight - one of the reasons they escaped the excesses of the witch hunt. The other [main] reason being that they were shielded by the rural communities they served because they were too useful.


So, the oath that was being broken was their oath as a priest.
I quite like the appellation Warlock !

Anywho, this coming Sunday marks Beltane, the beginning of summer and a fertility festival [the Maypole = pagan porn ]
Big shindig at Thornborough Henge - the gathering of the Northern Pagan Clans

www.sacredbrigantia.com

[It's still freezing cold here - no skyclad stuff for me this year ]

[Jenny Crow]

Originally Posted by nightowl

I am interested in what a witch really is. I am not looking for information about how evil they are, so please don't go there.

Do you believe the abilities that a witch has is learned, inherited or both?

Do you believe these abilities come from a higher source or a source outside yourself?

Do you as witches have sacred text or books that are a standard in your belief system?

Do you consider your beliefs as a religion?

What is the history of your beliefs?

Are there signs a person exhibits that could indicate that they may be a witch?
nightowl

First I'd like to say how much I've enjoyed this whole thread - very interesting and I'm glad it was revived.

How things have changed since I was taught the Craft almost forty years ago, it almost makes my head spin.

I believe that the abilities of a witch can be learned, although not by everyone. The abilities can be inherited and it's my experience that certain abilities do run in families......so could you take it one step further and say that being a witch is in the blood? As well, I believe that it's possible that witch blood can be passed down from the ancestors.

I believe that some of the abilities come from being in touch with and in tune to the energies of the earth, the sun and the moon but can definitely be enhanced by the deity (or deities) you honour and work with which would indicate them coming from a source outside oneself. But also I believe because of our energy fields much of it comes from within us.

When I was taught Gardnerian Witchcraft yes, there were texts and certain rituals that we followed. However, I follow a more Celtic path these days which incorporates Irish and Scottish folk magic and very little standard texts.

Yes, I consider my beliefs as a religion, although as has previously been posted some Witches see their path as a craft only.

Norseman has posted a lot of info on Gardner and has covered much of the history of Gardnerian Witchcraft. The Celts left very little in the way of standardized texts but certain customs and folklore have come down through the years e.g. the custom of inviting Brighid into your home on the Eve of Imbolg.

As far as signs indicating that someone is a witch, well, I'm not certain but I've met some people and instinctively known that they were a witch (I know that Norseman doesn't like that term, sorry, lol), but I don't really know what 'signs' they were exhibiting.

Jenny Crow

[norseman]

A minor quibble, Jenny. It's Gardnerian WICCA, not Witchcraft. That is something different entirely. Put simply, Wicca is a religion, Witch Craft is not. Craft is extremely ancient, Wicca is not. I know that many people use the words as interchangeable [even me at times] but it helps to keep them apart.

Incidently, Jenny. I was at a Beltane Festival last weekend at a 5000 year-old henge near to me and we invoked the name of the goddess Brigantia [Brigit, Brigid, etc] She was a pan-celtic goddess.

[Jenny Crow]

Hellooo Norseman,
I'm fairly certain that Gardner didn't call his tradition Wicca - that term didn't become popular until much later. Even his books were entitled "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft". I believe he used the term Wica or Wicce (not perfectly sure of the spelling he used, sorry). As well, back in the day Witchcraft was often referred to as "The Old Religion" although that was later refuted.

I realize that at some point people decided to call Wicca the religion and Witchcraft as something you do. But what about the many descriptions from the Middle Ages that describe Witches celebrating the Sabbats and worshipping their goddess and their horned god? And I believe that it was because of the witches worshipping their horned god that the Church, in all its infinite wisdom, declared they were worshipping the devil.

Just for argument's sake, lol, Wicca and Witch are really the same word, Wicca simply being the earlier form of the word Witch. As we know, the word witch comes from the Saxon word Wicca, which is a noun with a masculine ending and it should be properly pronounced as "witch-ah" not "wick-ah". When you consider that the Saxon "cc" was pronounced "tch" it is easier to understand how the modern word witch is derived from the Old English "wicca" and how ultimately they are the same word. Just for interest sake the oldest extant appearance of the word 'wicca' can be found in the Law Codes of Alfred the Great circa 890CE.

I know people think of the Gardnerian tradition as something made up by Old Gerald but he did start with some of the rites of the Old Forest coven which had a lot of holes in them, so to speak and that's when he started taking his material from the many sources you listed elsewhere. So really, there are threads of the older Witchcraft tradition in his material if one wishes to dig deep enough.

Sorry for ranting on...........

Jenny Crow

[Jenny Crow]

I meant to say also, that I wish I could have been there with everyone at the Beltane festival. How did you find the energies when you called Brigantia? The Brigantes tribe settled in Yorkshire in the area that I was born in.

Jenny Crow

[norseman]

Originally Posted by Jenny Crow

I meant to say also, that I wish I could have been there with everyone at the Beltane festival. How did you find the energies when you called Brigantia? The Brigantes tribe settled in Yorkshire in the area that I was born in.

Jenny Crow

No problem finding energies at Thornborough, Jenny. It is 5000 years-old and rich in ancestral spirits. The centre circle is like a cauldron of energies and a major portal. I have been tempted to try "striding the hedge" there but I doubt whether I could back out of it - too much temptation to just stay in the spirit world.
Brigantes held most of the North including part of the Scottish Lowlands and over to the Mersey and South-East Ireland. I have memories of being a Brigantes auxilliary attached to the legion and we manned Hadrians Wall.

[Jenny Crow]

OMG I'm gob smacked, lol. In a past life I was a member of the Brigantes, too, fighting. I have a strong memory of a particular skirmish that we won although many of us, including myself, were wounded.

I enjoy living in Canada but I miss England, the moors and the smell of the North Sea. I'd go back in an instant but my family is all here.

Jenny Crow

[miss_vanora]

Do you believe the abilities that a witch has is learned, inherited or both?
I personally believe that Witches are born, but not in the sense that you're born with the knowledge or ability to cast a spell from birth. Nor do I believe that everyone born to a Witch will follow the same path. When I say Witches are born, I mean that I believe you're born with an inclination towards that path, but you may not feel called to it until your teens, young adulthood, or even middle age. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding you in your own life. Hell, you might not even feel drawn to it for the first time at the age of 70, who knows!

Do you believe these abilities come from a higher source or a source outside yourself?
Both. I believe your personal power comes from within, but that we're created from the God and Goddess so your personal power is actually from them as they created us with that power.


Do you as witches have sacred text or books that are a standard in your belief system?
I don't think there are any set books that are standard. Most Witches will have some kind of spell/ritual book that is known only to them and is a very personal thing that normally isn't allowed to be read by others. There are also several books you can buy with information on all kinds of Pagan paths, including Witchcraft

Do you consider your beliefs as a religion?
Some do and some don't. I personally believe Witchcraft is just that, a craft. But I use it in my Wiccan practice almost daily in some form or another.

What is the history of your beliefs?
Wicca was created in the 50's by Gerald Gardner and is an offshoot of Paganism. Other than that there is no information on the religion earlier than that. However, Witchcraft can be traced to pre-christian times.


Are there signs a person exhibits that could indicate that they may be a witch?
Witches come in all shapes, sizes and colours. A lawyer can be a Witch, the girl next door can be a Witch, etc. I don't believe there are any set behaviors that someone can exhibit and a lot of people tend to keep that side of them to themselves. I think the surest sign that you could be a Witch is that you're drawn to it and that you feel like you are.

Hope that helps!
.

Incidently, Jenny. I was at a Beltane Festival last weekend at a 5000 year-old henge near to me and we invoked the name of the goddess Brigantia [Brigit, Brigid, etc] She was a pan-celtic goddess.

Hi Norseman,

Interestingly, I have been drawn to Brigid and the little pic on my posts is from a Google images search I did when trying to get some information on her. I thought the image was beautiful so I saved it until such time as I was allowed to have a pic on my profile.

When I saw the name Brigantia a week or two ago, I did wonder if there was any connection between the two, and your post has kind of confirmed, unless I've misunderstood, that they are one and the same...?

Blessings!
LL

[Jenny Crow]

Hello Lanzalady,
I noticed your question to Norseman and I hope you don't mind my responding....but yes, Brigid and Brigantia are the same goddess. She is known by many names, Brighid, Bride, Brigit, Brigantia, Brigid and Bridey to name but a few. She is a very popular goddess in Ireland, Scotland and England and in parts of Europe. She was so popular in Ireland that she became a saint.

She is the goddess of healing, poetry, divination and smithcraft and Imbolc is her festival.

Jenny Crow