What is Witchcraft?

In the past few hundred years, witchcraft has been given an incorrect definition. Witchcraft is not turning your soul over to Lucifer in exchange for immediate personal gain. While the Torah, Bible and Quran all do specifically list types of witchcraft as prohibited, only in the past handful of generations, here in the West, has it gained such the connotation it has today.

The Salem Witch Trails are one of the more famous stories of witches in the United States. Ending in the 1690's, it is often considered old history... but it is old history of the "new world." Still, even generations after the famous executions, witchcraft was practiced in most American homes. Most of your great-grandmothers were practicing some form of witchcraft or another. You most likely have performed some form of witchcraft.

Witchcraft is merely the redirection of energy and/or spirituality for a desired outcome.

In Judaism there is kiddish lavana (the blessing of the full moon), you can go to a mekubal (Jewish witch) for a segula (spell), and most Jewish homes will have at least one mezuzah on their door post. The purpose of the mezuzah? To ask their gods protection over their home. These are various forms of Hebrew witchcraft.

In Catholicism you have blessing candles, confession to remove sin, offerings left before statues of saints. Those offerings foster a positive relationship between the spiritual being, in this case a saint, and the person giving the offering. These are forms of Catholic witchcraft.

In other Christian sects you have speaking in tongues (a mild form of possession, known as horsing), being slain in the spirit, being blessed in the name of the Christian god, and many faith healers (some openly frauds while others much more authentic). These are forms of Christian witchcraft.

In secular culture you have blowing out the birthday candles (which removed negative spiritual energy for new birth), saying "bless you" after a sneeze (which directs positive, healing energy at someone) and pop cultural omens such as a black bird hitting your window being a sign of death or a broken mirror being an omen for bad luck. Using lavender essential oil to help calm yourself after a stressful day... These are forms of non-religious, nondenominational witchcraft.

Witchcraft is merely the redirection of energy, and it is practiced by every religion and group of people on our planet (just by a different name). It is not evil; it does not require Lucifer (though it could if the practitioner chooses to reach out to him) and can involve any being or no beings.

Anyone who acknowledges that they practice any form of witchcraft is a witch, though in their tradition they may have a different name for themselves. Those who know they practice witchcraft, in any of its forms, typically seek out a mentor and study their craft in a semi-professional setting. Eventually becoming well learned or even an expert and eventually passing their knowledge onto another, continuing the tradition. If you look into any folk lore, you will find what we today tend to shrug off as superstitions. Those are the remnants of witchcraft passed down parent to child through our own family lines.