What Type of Witch Are You?

          It can be argued that there's simply "Witchcraft" and if you choose to identify or rather not identify, that's completely okay. Never think that you have to label yourself as a certain type of Witch. I know many Witches that are simply that. They dabble in this and that of different aspects of Witchcraft and don't identify with any one label. That being said, it's also completely okay to want a specific label. Labels are here for a reason and often make it easier to explain things to others. With all of that said, here are a dozen or so different types of Witchcraft that you might be interested to learn a bit about.

ALEXANDRIAN

          Around the 1960's, a man named Alex Sanders and his wife funded a movement that is now recognized as 'Alexandrian Wicca'. A bit cocky, I think. It's based on the Garderian practices, but incorporates bits of ceremonial magic as well. It's newer, of course, since it came about some fifty ish years ago. Alexandrian Wicca emphasizes gender polarity and is also considered a bit eclectic. Alexandrian Wicca shares with other traditional Wicca systems that only a Witch can make another Witch. This is to say that only a Witch can take an individual through the process of becoming a Witch.  As with anything, there are more things to learn and you can find information here on the Wiki page ---> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandrian_Wicca

CEREMONIAL

          Ceremonial Witches hold ceremonies and rituals in very high regards. They likely get their practices from books and follow rituals or ceremonies to the letter when executing them. They might have a B.O.S. (Book of Shadows) always on hand (like me!) and might draw on their knowledge of more scientific approaches.

ECLECTIC

          Eclectic Witches don't follow certain religions, certain practices, etc. They sort of go their own way and follow their intuition. They'll tend to follow practices that work for them alone, rather than something found in a book. They might have rituals or ceremonies, but they were most likely something they created themselves. Their practices are basically their own creation and used for their purposes alone.

FAERY

          Faery Witches are a bit similar to Eclectic Witches, but a Faery Witch tends to use their own creations to seek communication with the fae folk and nature spirits. There's no known organized practice of Faery Witches, so most of their approaches are individual.

GARDNERIAN

          This was founded in the 1950's thanks to a Mister Gerald Gardner, whom many consider the "father of Wicca". Garderian is similar to Alexandrian, especially in the ways of initiation. You must progress through various degrees in the movement and go through a structured system where you slowly learn more and more about Witchcraft.

GREEN WITCH

          We're getting down my alley here, folks. A Green Witch predominantly communicates with Mother Earth and works with Her energies. You'll typically use natural items and places (rivers, sacred tree, etc.) for your rituals or ceremonies. This is done so you can be closer to the Spirit that is sensed strongly through nature. You'll typically make your own materials (say hello to my new clay items drying by the fan!). There are actually two types of Green Witches. Flora, who uses mostly flowers and flora in their practice, and Herbal, who uses mostly herbs and other types of plants. Personally I don't judge and tend to use both herbs and flowers and mosses, leaves, eggshells... etc. etc.

HEREDITARY/BLOOD WITCH

          Hereditary Witches are a bit.. harder to explain. Rather than a type of Witch like the ones listed so far, this simply states that Witchcraft is passed down to you. You can only be a hereditary Witch if it was passed to you by being born into a family that practices.

KITCHEN WITCH

          Kitchen Witches are the Witches that most of us didn't know we knew. Like our grandmothers and mothers who globbed us with smelly goops for bruises and cuts or smeared a leafy paste onto a rash. A Kitchen Witch uses practical tools for rituals, ceremonies, and magick. She (or he) enjoys keeping the home and surrounding place sacred. You aren't confined to the kitchen, but you'll tend to spend a lot of time there making potions, stews, and various teas.

SECULAR

          This type of Witch uses tools like crystals, herbs, stones, etc. You don't recognize them as divine or spiritual. A Secular Witch believes that the materials she/he uses and the energies that she/he connects with come from the natural world and the Earth, but you don't necessarily worship any deities or spirits.

SOLITARY

          This type of Witch is fairly easy to understand. You don't follow or belong to a set practice, group, or organization. Legend has it that these Witches have practiced over many lifetimes and remember their previous knowledge upon reaching puberty. They begin to remember the craft and don't need the help of other groups or organizations to perform magick.

SATANIC

         This is a type of Witchcraft centered around Satan in two ways. One being a literal sense, where the Witch believes in Satan literally as a deity or form to worship. The other being that Satan is regarded as a symbol and not treated as a literal deity or form to worship.

CHRISTIAN

          Believe it or not, this is possible. Witchcraft itself isn't religious and therefore it's possible to be a Witch who is still Christian. This form of Witchcraft is performed to offer the Christian God as the primary and only deity.


         

          Truthfully, you don't have to give yourself a label. Given how many types of Witchcraft there are (I'm certain I didn't name nearly them all) it's possible to dabble in a ton of different styles. I know that I personally dabble in a bit of Kitchen Witchery, some Green witchery, and I'm a Hereditary Witch. Honestly, I think it's a bit impossible to define yourself with only one label. I'm a Hereditary Witch, I'm solitary, I'm a bit Eclectic for sure, but there are parts that I pull from all areas.

          It's okay to feel like you don't fit into one label, even if someone else is telling you that you have to. You still fit, even if it doesn't feel like it. You're a Witch and that's all anyone needs to know. ;)  Have a blessed day!