Witchcraft is a practice of Paganism that is widely misunderstood in Western society. Most people have huge misconceptions about Witchcraft – they think that people who practice Witchcraft worship Satan or do the work of the Christian Devil when, in fact, people who practice Witchcraft do not believe in a devil. Those who do are a completely separate practitioners, and they are known as Satanists.

People who practice Witchcraft worship nature.

They believe that the understanding of the complexities of nature our at of our reach and that, if you accept that, you can manipulate the world around you through the powers of nature and the powers of your own mind, which is part of nature.

‘Witchcraft’ is a very broad and misunderstood term. It is used simply to describe the manipulation of the world around us, and in that definition it can be compared to a Christian or Islamic prayer, a Buddhist mediation or any kind of practice that involves going within yourself and asking some sort of something – may it be a God, a tree, or yourself – to achieve a certain goal.

Different people of different religions practice Witchcraft. Generally, people who practice Witchcraft are referred to as Pagans, in the same way that a Methodist person or Baptist person may be referred to as a Christian. It is a broad term and encompasses many different branches of religions, including Druidism, Dianic Wicca, General Wicca, or the School of Wicca, to name only a few.

Those who practice Witchcraft use many different tools, including an alter, candles, and herbs. They use these tools as a representation of nature and their own self, and may use these tools in a completely different way than another professed ‘witch.’ Witchcraft and Wicca are very broad, with their only engrained doctrine being: Harm none, and do what ye will.

Because Witchcraft may be a different concept to a person than it is to another, many people who consider themselves witches (and yes, both men and women can be witches) follow vastly different paths. A belief of witches is that there is no ‘one size fits all’ path for any one person, and that is their only qualm with popular Abrahamic religions.

Someone who practices Witchcraft may be your next door neighbor, your room mate, your teacher or your babysitter. Many people do not ‘come out of the broom closet’ because of the negative stigma associated with the word ‘witch.’ People immediately think of devil worshippers,Godless individuals, and people with evil intentions. In fact, a large percentage of people believe in multiple Gods, with an emphasis on a male and female polarity, in order to personify the concept of the divine, which some perceive as “transcending gender.”

Some people even believe that Witchcraft involves sacrificing animals in worship, which is simply not true, and the exact opposite of what most witches practice. Most witches, incidentally, choose to live off of vegetarian diets because of their strong connection to the Earth and keeping it sacred.

It is easy to use stereotypes to judge religion, but in general, little that is thought of as Witchcraft is what is truly practiced. Therefore, if someone you know or love comes up to you and says they’re a Pagan, Witch, or Wiccan, ask them a little about their beliefs instead of using preconceived notions to understand their life choice.