An eclectic witch is someone who practices witchcraft by drawing influences from different traditions and belief systems. Instead of following a specific, structured path, they choose to incorporate various elements and techniques into their practice to create a unique and personal approach to witchcraft. Eclectic witches value freedom and flexibility in their spiritual journey. They believe that there is no one right way to practice witchcraft and that individual intuition and personal experience play a significant role in creating their craft. They are not bound by the rules and restrictions of a particular tradition, allowing them to explore different practices, rituals, and techniques that resonate with them. One of the key aspects of being an eclectic witch is the ability to adapt and change.
10 Types of Witches
There are a multitude of different types of witches out there in the world and I'd like to give you an introduction to some of them. To begin with, I think it's important to first define what a witch is. To me a witch is simply someone who practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is something you do, like ritual or spellwork, and it’s not necessarily a belief system in of itself. So, you don’t need to follow any specific religion to call yourself a witch or to practice witchcraft. There are, however, many witches who use witchcraft as part of their religious practice. So it's up to you to determine which path best fits your own spiritual journey.
1: Gardnerian Witch
A Gardnerian Witch is someone who follows the belief system of Gardnerian Wicca, which was created by Gerald Garner in the 1950s. Gardnerian Wicca is hierarchical system that consists of a high priest and priestess as well as various initiations. So, one is not a Gardnerian Witch until they have learned their specific traditions and have gone through proper initiation.
2: Alexandrian Witch
Alexandrian Witchcraft is like Guardian Wicca in that it is a formalized belief system which contains it’s own traditions and initiations. Alexandrian witches follow some of the similar traditions in Guardian Wicca, but also incorporate ceremonial magic as well as the Qabalah.
3. Solitary Witch
A solitary witch is someone who performs spellwork and rituals alone and without a coven. This may be by choice, or perhaps they just haven’t yet found a group of fellow witches they would like to work with. A solitary witch can incorporate various different paths based on their interest and may or may not use witchcraft as part of a wider spiritual path or religion.
4. Eclectic Witch
An Eclectic witch is someone who pulls from various witchcraft traditions for their spellwork and rituals. They rely on a variety of different cultures, beliefs, and systems to formulate their own personal witchcraft practice which may change and evolve over time.
5. Traditional Witch
A traditional witch is someone who takes a historical approach to witchcraft. They look at old grimoires, witch trials, various witch lore, and historical accounts to lay the foundation for their own spells and rituals. Often traditional witches focus on working with the nature and history of the place they live and may work with the genius loci, or the local spirits.
6. Hereditary Witch
A Hereditary witch is someone who was born into a family that practices witchcraft. Usually their knowledge is passed down through generations and each family may have their own traditions and belief system. Though, just because someone is born in a witch family it does not necessarily mean that they will be more knowledgeable or powerful than a non-hereditary witch.
7. Hedge Witch
A Hedge witch works with the liminal spaces and the spirit realm. In the past a ‘hedge’ would mark a boundary of a village or settlement and thus represents the boundary between our physical reality and the spirit world. A hedge witch may be skilled at crossing that boundary through practices like astral travel.
8. Kitchen Witch
A kitchen witch enjoys making their home and surroundings a sacred space. They often like to incorporate witchcraft with their cooking and put their energy and focus into to the food and the meals they create. They care deeply about the ingredients, and may have their own herb and vegetable garden.
9. Green Witch
Green witches are extremely nature based. They are likely to be in-tune with the seasons and often use natural materials to create their own magical tools. They most likely try to perform all their spellwork and rituals outside in nature when possible.
10. Cosmic Witch
A cosmic witch incorporates astrology and astronomy into their witchcraft. They most likely closely follow the alignment of the planets and they will often will coordinate their spells and rituals based on the location of the planets and the moon.
What type of witch are you? Share in the comments below!
You can learn more about these types of witches in my corresponding Youtube video below:
Eclectic Witchcraft: Old Ways for Modern Magick (Paperback)
Humans are unique, multi-faceted beings. Naturally, our witchcraft should be the same. Sharing a modernized and inclusive approach, Charlotte Wilde shows you how to build a practice that perfectly fits your flavor of magick. She teaches not only foundational skills, but also a collage of time-tested techniques you can choose from to personalize your eclectic path.
Featuring essential information on the sabbats, elements, witch's tools, divination, and shadow work, this beginner-friendly book inspires you to fully step into your magickal power. You'll create your own spells, connect to the energy all around you, and explore more than two dozen exercises. This book makes it easy to follow your intuition and embody your unique path every day.
Includes a foreword by David Salisbury, author of Witchcraft Activism
About the Author
Charlotte Wilde is the owner of the occult shop Eclectic Charge, cohost of the Cosmic Cauldron podcast, and an article contributor at Pagan Patheos. She is a lifelong student of the occult but, more specifically, a practicing eclectic folk witch whose practice centers around the use of natural materials to create magick and further her connection with divinity. Through her platforms, she teaches awakening or aspiring witches some of the fundamentals of witchcraft by sharing her knowledge gained through both research and rigorous trial and error. In her spare time, you can find her attempting to tackle her to-be-read pile or ticking off travel destinations on her bucket list. Visit her at www.EclecticCharge.com.
- Witchcraft (See Also Religion - Wicca)
- Magick Studies
One of the key aspects of being an eclectic witch is the ability to adapt and change. They are open to learning from various sources, including books, online resources, workshops, and even interactions with other witches. This constant exploration allows them to discover new practices and incorporate them into their craft, making their spiritual path ever-evolving and dynamic.
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As an eclectic witch, one may incorporate rituals and spells from different cultural traditions, such as Celtic, Norse, or Egyptian, and blend them with modern practices and techniques. They might choose to work with various deities or pantheons, or even create their own unique system of belief and connection with the divine. Eclectic witches often have a diverse collection of tools, such as crystals, herbs, candles, tarot cards, and other divination tools. They might also create their own spells, charms, and talismans based on their personal goals and intentions. The emphasis is on personal empowerment and finding what works best for the individual practitioner. One of the advantages of being an eclectic witch is the freedom to tailor their practice to their specific needs and values. They can focus on different aspects of witchcraft, such as spellcasting, divination, herbalism, energy work, or any combination of practices that resonate with them. This flexibility allows for a deeper exploration of their spiritual path and the ability to find what truly works for them. In conclusion, an eclectic witch is someone who embraces a flexible and adaptable approach to witchcraft. By drawing from various traditions, techniques, and beliefs, they create their own unique practice that resonates with their personal spirituality. This freedom to explore and experiment allows them to create a deeply personal and meaningful spiritual path..
Reviews for "Magical Herbalism for the Eclectic Witch: Incorporating Plant Allies in Your Practice"
1. John - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Eclectic Witch" after reading some positive reviews, but I was quite disappointed. The writing felt disjointed and lacked coherence. It seemed like the author was trying to cover too many topics without a clear focus. Additionally, I found the organization of the book to be confusing and difficult to follow. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to someone looking for a comprehensive and well-written guide on witchcraft.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Eclectic Witch" was a complete letdown for me. The author's writing style was difficult to grasp, making it hard to understand and apply the content. I also felt like the book lacked practical guidance and was filled with unnecessary information. It seemed like the author was trying to impress with their knowledge instead of providing useful tips and techniques. I was really looking forward to learning more about eclectic witchcraft, but this book fell short of my expectations.
3. Emma - 2 stars - I found "Eclectic Witch" to be a confusing read. The author jumped from topic to topic without clear transitions or explanations, leaving me frustrated and lost. There were also several concepts that were poorly explained, assuming the reader already had a deep understanding of witchcraft. As someone who is just starting their journey, I was hoping for a beginner-friendly book, but this was definitely not it. I would suggest looking elsewhere for a more comprehensive and accessible guide to eclectic witchcraft.