Traditional Witchcraft

Apollo, I can't say that a "a true witch isn't someone who casts spells, or hurts others" or "a true witch tries to help all, including people, animals, and the earth alike" because that's a subjective perspective based on your personal morals, not an objective one.

I hurt people. I curse people. I can cast spells, but generally I do other stuff. I don't try to help all constantly. To do so would be idiocy for me; I'd run myself ragged trying to help everyone. Also, in my tradition (not one of witchcraft) hurt/harm isn't considered taboo. If it's done to anyone one can deem as an enemy or in need of it, it's within ma'at. That is so long as I don't attempt to unhinge the universe by trying to murder my Nisut-bity. (This is the only known instance in which hekau were charged with performing "bad/black magic", as attempting to kill one of the most important figures in the order of the world is an incredibly isfet feeding thing.)

I don't call myself a witch though, but I know what I do and don't consider a witch.

Based on original definitions:

A witch is a person who has an inborn ability to work with invisible forces (whether of their own or of that of higher beings) in the effort to perform magic. They do not require spells, rituals, or any other form of such things to perform it either.

A sorcerer is a person who has learned how to perform magic through the use of spells, rituals, or any other form of such things to perform it. Without these learned techniques a sorcerer is an average person.

Neither of the original meaning of the terms (meaning not the definitions ascribed to the terms in later ages) involve good, evil, right, wrong, help, or harm. Traditional magic of all sorts believes in the ability of one to perform help or harm. That is why many practitioners would be turned on when things stopped going good; they have suddenly gone from blessing people and the town to harming people and the town.

On another note: I consider such terms to only be 100% true in the case of British (and similar) Traditional Witchcraft. However that's my personal opinion based on etymology.

TL:DR

Beware of putting subjective ideologies as a label for a category of people. Not everyone who may fall under that category will appreciate themselves not considered true witches.

Your right, but in my partaking studies. I do find most people who claim to be witches, try to be nurtures, and eco logical helpers. I am not saying that "all " witches are like that, but it is from I had experienced. I guess i should have initially stated that, in my above post.

Apollo, please understand that not all witches follow a wiccan dogma. You seem to be under the illusion that all witches and pagans are wiccan (I'm only guessing this since you consider the Greek, Roman, and Celtic pantheons to be "wiccan pantheons"), which is false. Wicca is a fairly modern invention, whereas witchcraft and paganism existed centuries before Gerald Gardner was even born.

Blue, it is common to think of witchcraft (that is the practise of magic in all the many languages) to "go back" centuries.It "goes back" much further than that! It goes back to the time when Mankind first noticed the many qualities of grass! It goes back two or three MILLION years! It is the "magic" of grass that gave us Wheat,Corn,Oats, Barley, etc. When mankind first began to use tools. Other animals, especially primates, learnt to use tools; but only Man learnt to make tools that made other different tools! It is not hard for an ape to throw a pointed stick found on the ground; but only Man took a tool and shaped it into a spear!
When early Man learnt the value of plants, which were edible, which were poisonous. the the "magic" of plants was discovered.It has been the gradual learning process that has resulted, over thousands of years, in the Human Beings we are now! That is the "magic" of Life. The Gods and spirits are only "beliefs". But one only has to look at the uses we make of Bamboo, a grass. That's the real "magic". And it is the magic that I was taught. When Mankind mixed two different metals and made bronze, that was magic! The changing of one or more things into something entirely different.

Life is magic, witchcraft is learning how to change it. Mankind has observed, studied, and advanced because of the true definition of Magic. Gods and entities are things mankind thought were necessary throughout history; the real question is are they and why do people believe them to be magical, or in any way relative to witchcraft. The answer is mankind doesn't need a god or spirits, mankind thinks religion is the answer, but I ask you brethren: Is it? Witchcraft's origins are not god related, but mankind's knowledge and discovery is. Witchcraft is for the purpose of human advancement.

My post has been pinned. This pleases me.

Thanks for this post. Great read

Dakota I agree 100%.It's the same with Shaminism.To explain it is to teach it.

Witchcraft is not a belief! It is a Craft. Magic is not a belief, it is a reality!
I can demonstrate magic, and have done many times over the years. But I have yet to meet anyone who can show me a God, or a spirit,or a demon,or a fairy.They are beliefs.Witchcraft isn't!

Brysing-In a truly black and white world I would have to agree with your comments but they have made me question them as well.Gods,spirits etc are beliefs.Are they truly?Idon't think so.
Any God on their own can not lead you to enlightenment.It takes a person believing in that God and what he or she portrays to achieve this.

If an individual deems witchcraft as being sacred I have to ask what does it become?Is it possible for an individual to achieve what is considered enlightment through the use of witchcraft?I think it may just be and there are some on this thread that certainly appear to believe it can.

Who are we to cast judgement on what is right or wrong?I was taught at a very early age to never knowingly transgress another's path as it is deemed sacred to the follower and wrong in the eyes of Spirit.It is not what we believe,it is that we do believe that makes us what we are.