The closest tradition I saw to the art of witchcraft I was shown would be Strega. There were many similarities, but from a different culture, so therein lay the differences. Even in the UK, different parts of the UK had different methodologies of the same practice. Each tended to favor the elements they were surrounded by, and family traditions that grew in those communities grew stronger in the enfusing community rites as well. I have no problems with recreationists, but what I have read on the internet and books on the subject tend to avoid or actually skip past what has been found and documented in the feilds of archeology and athropology.
What I do know is the witchcraft is something natural and deep. It cannot be contained by rules or theories found in books today on the subject either. It is something wild, and too free to be made a dollar off of. It is a way of life that does not exist for convenience sake. Sorry if the experiences differ - in fact I wish those that taught me could have taught everyone. Hell, even the ones I talked with in the UK would be worthy teachers of a craft that really barely exists over here. Sure there are plenty of 'copies of an immitation' of it, but unfortunately I understand why many of these do not teach: they do not want their craft exploited. If it is something your truly love and care about, you protect it. Exploitation tends to suck the life out of anything it markets.
It is witchcraft, believe what you wanna believe. Whatever thrills your gorilla. The methods we choose are those we are strongest in or can understand best. There is no applicable guide or rules in our personal experiences, and many are pleased by what is before them, so why go further? I will not define it, and will only define what i have experienced, learned, and witnessed. This should mean nothing to any but myself.
Will rethink responding in the future.
Bookmarks