Traditional Witchcraft

Traditional witchcraft is a religious belief system that has
been handed down to us through our traditions and

Samhain as the agricultural year.

conventions. Traditional witchcraft predates most of the
main religions of the world. Some people claim that this

Believers in traditional witchcraft do not follow any guide
book, nor do they believe in a singular god or deity. They

knowledge originated several millennia ago, as far back as
Paleolithic period.

believe in an all powerful nature. The practitioners of
traditional witchcraft have their covens. They select the

Though the witchcrafts across the world may have some

coven leaders on the basis of their knowledge and
experience.

regional and social dissimilarity, one common feature that
runs through the witchcrafts of all the societies is that it

They believe in the existence of spirits and in the equality

is an earth based religion.

of all the living beings in the universe. They also, at the
same time, recognize their different status. Though they

Traditional witchcraft is close to what is generally called
paganism which is basically the worship of nature.

believe in the existence of the deities, yet they call up
only the spirits for assistance.

Witchcraft and paganism, as we all know are opposed by
Christianity.

Witches consider that although the spirit world and the

physical world are linked, yet they are separate. The only
time this veil of separation between the two worlds becomes

The mainstay of the people in ancient times was agriculture

thin is on the night of Samhain.

which depended upon the seasons. The seasons, in turn, were
associated with the movement of Earth, Sun and Moon. The

Traditional witches use witchcraft in a very practical way.
For example, they use herbs to cure the diseases. They may

people believed in spirits and gods and goddesses and they
associated them with Earth, Sun and Moon.

also use hexes and curses in certain cases.
Traditional witchcraft attaches great importance to

The agriculture year ended with the completion of harvest

pentagram and use it for protection, healing and magic.
Pentagram itself symbolizes the basic elements such as the

and sowing of new seeds for the crop in the New Year. This
is the reason why Pagans and traditional witches consider

earth, fire, water, air and spirit.