Traditions of Witchcraft

Appalachian ‘Granny’ Tradition:  A tradition dating back to the first settlers of the Appalachian Mountains who came to the United States from Scotland and Ireland in the 1700’s and who brought with them their “Old World” magical traditions. Those traditions were then blended with the local tradition of the Cherokee Tribes into a combination of local herbal folk remedies and charms, faith healing, storytelling and magick. The ‘Granny’ Witches will often call themselves ‘Doctor Witches’ or ‘Water Witches’ depending upon whether they are more gifted in healing and midwifery, or if they are more in tune with dowsing for water, lay lines and energy vortexes. This tradition is termed ‘Granny’ from the prominent role played by older women in the mountain communities.

Asian Traditions:  In Japan, the Shinto religion is itself a shamanistic religion and thus the Japanese do not attach negative connotations to witchcraft. The word “witch” is actually used with positive connotation in the Japanese language as a female with high skills or fame. Asian witchcraft generally centers on the relationship between the witch and the animal spirits or familiars and in Japanese witchcraft, witches are commonly separated into two categories: those who employ snakes as familiars and those who employ foxes; the Fox Witch being the most commonly seen witch in Japan. In China, witches employs books, staffs, and other implements, similar to the western traditions of witchcraft and the witches are often accompanied by familiars in the form of rabbits, which are universally associated with the Moon, with fertility and with the Goddess. The witches of China are notable for their  extensive knowledge of the occult properties of plants and herbs, as well as for clairvoyance and the study of astrology.

British Tradition: Primarily a mixture of traditional Celtic and pagan beliefs from the pre-Christian era. They often train through a structured degree process and their covens are usually compromised of practitioners of both sexes. (Not to be confused with “British Traditional Wicca”.

Caledonii (Hecatine) Tradition: A denomination of The Craft that comes from a Scottish origin which preserves the unique rituals of the Scots. A fairly secretive tradition, not much is known of their rituals by outsiders.

Celtic Tradition: Practitioners of the Elements, the Ancient Ones and of Nature. They are usually healers who work with plants, stones, flowers, trees, the Elements, the gnomes, the fauns and the fairies.

Cornish Tradition: The traditional magic of Cornish Witches commonly includes the work of the making and provision of magical charms, simple rituals and magical gestures with muttered incantations, the healing of disease and injury and divination. (see below: Cunning Folk)

Dianic Tradition: A mixture of different traditions. Its primary focus is the Goddess who is worshiped in her three aspects of Maiden, Mother and Crone.  A “divine feminine tradition”, its covens are mostly for women only. (see: Arcadian Tradition) To an outside observer, Dianic Witchcraft may appear as a single tradition, but actually it is an intertwined group of traditions that have influenced each other over the centuries and millenia.

Arcadian Tradition: A form of Dianic witchcraft, except that Arcadians place greater focus on the divine masculine along with the divine feminine. Unlike most Dianic groups, this Tradition allows both male and female members.
Pictish Tradition: Originally from Scotland, it is a “solitary witch” form of “The Craft”. Pictish Witchcraft attunes itself to all aspects of nature; animal, vegetable, and mineral and it is more magickal in nature and practice than it is religious.

Pow-Wow Tradition: (from the Algonquin word “pauwau”,  which means literally “vision seeker”) Its principles encompass shamanic like rituals of healing through visions and the application of traditional medicines, which are often accompanied by prayers, incantations, songs, and dances. The word pauwau (pow-wow) was came to be used for Native American ceremonies and councils because of the important role played by the pauwau in both. The Pow Wow Tradition places great significance on the vision seeker as the nexus of  group (coven) activites and rituals. Though some claim that the Pow-Wow Tradition is German in origin, it is more of an amalgamation of local Native American traditions with those traditions of the German/Dutch immigrants of pagan heritage who settled in the Pennsylvania region of the United States.

Strega Tradition: Originally coming from Italy and Sicily, it is said by some to be based on the teachings of a 14th century woman named Aradia. They follow a tradition that is based on the appreciation of wisdom and beauty. Stregheria is not a singular tradition, but instead a collection of practices that have descended from the native traditions of the Italian/Sicilian regions.

Teutonic (Nordic) Tradition: From ancient times the Teutons have been recognized as a group of people who speak the Germanic group of languages. A Teutonic Witch finds inspiration in the traditional myths and legends and in the Gods and Goddesses of the areas where these dialects originated.

Welsh Tradition: Originating in Wales, Welsh witches believe themselves to be one of the oldest traditions. Members are “awakened” to their calling and pass through 9 levels of attainment. It is hereditary, but you can “convert”..