What do you think makes a witch?

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[Juni]

"Witch" is such a tricky word, isn't it? I find that it, like "pagan" is so widely used with so many variants on the meaning that it almost means nothing to me. So I figured I'd pick TC brains and see what you all think.

So what makes someone a witch, in your opinion? (And I think we can probably skip the "well, if they self-identify as a witch..." part, because that's pretty obvious.) Is it a mindset, or a type of practice, or a method of belief, or some combination of the above, or something else entirely?

[FierFlye]

So what makes someone a witch, in your opinion?

The main thing that comes to mind is spell work.  This could be anything from blessing a meal with good health as it's being stirred in the kitchen, to a full-blown magical ritual.  Being a witch means one does a certain kind of PRACTICE (spell work), whether regularly or irregular, formal or informal.  In my opinion.

[NibbleKat]

The main thing that comes to mind is spell work.  This could be anything from blessing a meal with good health as it's being stirred in the kitchen, to a full-blown magical ritual.  Being a witch means one does a certain kind of PRACTICE (spell work), whether regularly or irregular, formal or informal.  In my opinion.

I agree  with wonderful FierFlye here. I think what would be the defining line for me, personally, of a witch is magic and/or spell work. 

Then again, there are just as many variations and wide uses of the word "witch", that it's just as floppy of a word for me as pagan seems to be for you. 

[SunflowerP]

The main thing that comes to mind is spell work.  This could be anything from blessing a meal with good health as it's being stirred in the kitchen, to a full-blown magical ritual.  Being a witch means one does a certain kind of PRACTICE (spell work), whether regularly or irregular, formal or informal.  In my opinion.

I'd agree with this as well, except that I'd say "practice of magic", of which spellwork is just one possible aspect.

Sunflower

[Owl]

I'd agree with this as well, except that I'd say "practice of magic", of which spellwork is just one possible aspect.

Sunflower

Yes

[RandallS]

I'd agree with this as well, except that I'd say "practice of magic", of which spellwork is just one possible aspect.

Some forms of magic aren't usually considered witchcraft why their practitioners, however. Ceremonial magic, for example.

[treekisser]

So what makes someone a witch, in your opinion? (And I think we can probably skip the "well, if they self-identify as a witch..." part, because that's pretty obvious.) Is it a mindset, or a type of practice, or a method of belief, or some combination of the above, or something else entirely?

Frankly, self-definition and magical practice aside, the more someone resembles Granny Weatherwax/Nanny Ogg/Magrat Garlick/possibly Agnes Nitt, the more I think of them as a witch. 

[Jenett]

I'd agree with this as well, except that I'd say "practice of magic", of which spellwork is just one possible aspect.

Sunflower

Given Randall's comment further down, I might modify this to "Practice of magic that runs the energy for same through the witch, rather than through use of purely external tools, egregores, or techniques."  (Witches, in my trad's definition, run the essential energy to fuel the magic through them, rather than draw solely from external sources.)

[Owl]

Frankly, self-definition and magical practice aside, the more someone resembles Granny Weatherwax/Nanny Ogg/Magrat Garlick/possibly Agnes Nitt, the more I think of them as a witch. 

Yeah - though I prefer Maleficent myself.  Great minions and she can call on 'all the powers of hell'. 

But seriously, the general idea of more natural magic and herbs and headology and such does tend to make one think witch rather than magician.

[Rowanfox]

Frankly, self-definition and magical practice aside, the more someone resembles Granny Weatherwax/Nanny Ogg/Magrat Garlick/possibly Agnes Nitt, the more I think of them as a witch. 

LOL When my kids asked what I wanted to be called by the grand kids (Grama, nanny, grandmother ugh) I said Granny.... I just have always wanted to be Granny Weatherwax when I grew up!

I would class a witch anyone practicing any of numerous magical systems (herbcraft, spell craft, divination, etc) that does not belong to an order of practicing magicians (OTO, etc) Believe it or not, there are many today that say they are Wiccans that I would not consider witches. I just can't seem to separate witches from magic, some kind of magic. Wicca as purely a religious practice, with no magical component.... they are Wicans, I guess.... but not witches.

And this is MY OPINION, as asked for......for sure YMMV.

[NibbleKat]

LOL When my kids asked what I wanted to be called by the grand kids (Grama, nanny, grandmother ugh) I said Granny.... I just have always wanted to be Granny Weatherwax when I grew up!

I would class a witch anyone practicing any of numerous magical systems (herbcraft, spell craft, divination, etc) that does not belong to an order of practicing magicians (OTO, etc) Believe it or not, there are many today that say they are Wiccans that I would not consider witches. I just can't seem to separate witches from magic, some kind of magic. Wicca as purely a religious practice, with no magical component.... they are Wicans, I guess.... but not witches.

And this is MY OPINION, as asked for......for sure YMMV.

Er, on the Weatherwax side of this, there's a woman who comes into the store who is a crazy cat lady... and her name is Anne Weatherwax... and she looks almost exactly how I would expect Granny Weatherwax to look. Not quite as formidable, but close.

[Chatters]

But seriously, the general idea of more natural magic and herbs and headology and such does tend to make one think witch rather than magician.

I agree, this is how I see witchcraft. For me personally I'm a practising witch but I still see myself as being in training and studying. I also see a witch as using natural energies through themselves that could come from within or externally. Being a witch is also a mindset, a way of living. Magic for a witch is a part of every day life, ceremonial magic does not need to be a part of this, unless this is a preferred way to work.

Love Granny Weatherwax,  Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick. 

[Rowanfox]

Er, on the Weatherwax side of this, there's a woman who comes into the store who is a crazy cat lady... and her name is Anne Weatherwax... and she looks almost exactly how I would expect Granny Weatherwax to look. Not quite as formidable, but close.

I wanted to get a little sign to put around my neck for when I am meditating saying "I hain't dead" but my SO and kids wouldn't get the joke.....

[treekisser]

Frankly, self-definition and magical practice aside, the more someone resembles Granny Weatherwax/Nanny Ogg/Magrat Garlick/possibly Agnes Nitt, the more I think of them as a witch.  

To expand, I don't mean this purely facetiously. I can't pin down a common element to these characters, but when I see people whose personality traits or magical approaches more or less correlate with one of these types, I do think 'witch'.

Although this might be problematic to map onto male witches.

[Morag]

To expand, I don't mean this purely facetiously. I can't pin down a common element to these characters, but when I see people whose personality traits or magical approaches more or less correlate with one of these types, I do think 'witch'.

Although this might be problematic to map onto male witches.

How about Rincewind? 

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