What do you all think about witches are they real? If so what are they? What do they do? Are there different types of witches? I already know what I think about this but I would like to see how people answer these questions. Please try to the best of your knowledge since there seems to be some confusion about what witches are and weather or not they exist. It would be nice to have some clarification for the sake of other topics that have to do with witches and witchcraft to have an idea of where people are coming from with some of their opinions. Also it might prove helpful in clarifying for people who do not have any idea one way or another what a witch is to have some explain it if they are willing (in terms of their own personal practice of course).

I recall that there are people that practice witchcraft, but I don't think there are witches in the classical storytelling sense. Like harry potter and flying brooms.

Witches don't do magical spells like turning people into frogs, that's propaganda. Their spells are rituals, prayers ect to invoke spirits as well as their gods.

Exactly that's hollywood/fairytale witchcraft. Witches just don't do that stuff but since that is what the public is exposed to it makes some doubt their very existance. To the best of my knowledge no one can actually turn anyone else into a toad or a newt or any other critter. But that does not mean witches do not exist it just means that witches can't do that type of thing.

The term Witch as its used in movies, fairy tales and Halloween costumed, the green skinned, bulbous warty nose, square feet and broom, is just a stereotype, meant to scare kids.. these are real in as far as someone can make a believable costume!! The Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz was likely the best example of these things, but no one ever remembers there was also a good witch, with white dress and pale skin who helped Dorothy. (this is referring to the movies BTW, the mass media, not the books. Images are power.)

The word Witch was used as a threat in the 1600's, any outcast or annoyance, mostly women, but sometimes men, could be labeled a witch and dealt with very quickly.. MOST of these people had no dealings in witchcraft, i.e. magik. The simple practice of herbal medicine, while endearing to a witch, is not Craft itself, and many women who practiced natural healing remedys where labeled Witch. It should be noted, that at this time, the word "witch" meant one who consorts with the devil. Witches where seen as evil beings who killed children and cursed familys and crops.

A Witch in modern terms is mostly associated with any pagan, neopagan or wiccan. The beliefs range far and wide, and every coven or solo practicner has his or her own system of believes, so the word Witch tends to encompass the entire group. While during the Witch Trials, a Witch was seen as a consort of the devil, most, if not all "witches" do not believe in the devil, Satan, Lucifer or any other theist name given to the outcast of "God". The word Witch is now being taken back from its missuses in the 1600's and most witches take pride in their title.

So yes and no. If you believe in green skinned hags on brooms, then no, Witches are fake. If you believe in pagan, wiccans and neopagans, which are for the most part religious more then magikal, then yes, Witches are real.

On a side note, my Hoover XL does 0 to 4 in 9 seconds flat! >.>

Those spell casting turn you into flogs ect witches that the catholics back in the 1500's believed were real...never existed

I very much real, I'm a solitary witch.
Been one for just about all my life.
Yes there are lots of different types of witches out in this big world.
Keepers of the Keys.
The Unexplained Mysteries

Witches are real. I know a lot of them, nice people for the most part. I use to be one, before started the Druidry stuff. Actually what I do in Druidry is not much different from what I did in witchcraft.
Here is a site that lists the different kind of witchcraft.
http://www.neopagan.net/Witchcraft-Classifying.html
It list 23 different kinds of witches.

Thank you all for your posts and clarifications. You have all been very helpful in providing informative links and giving your opinions as to what a witch is/is not. I figured I better put this on here now before somebody bops in and starts spewing some whacked out stuff. Although I already knew most of what has been said I appreciate the links, always looking for more sources of information. Also I think they will prove helpful for people who may be less aware of what witches are and beleive. I had planned on posting a few of my own in the initial post but had thought it less than prudent. I will put a couple in later for anyone who is interested I got to run right now but thanks again.

Witches that call themselves witches aren't really witches.

The word 'witch' didn't really exist until the church thought it up.


The proper term would be druid. They were Celtic. They invaded England with the Anglo-Saxons and then Roman soldiers invaded........etc etc.

Druids weren't able to summon up their gods..they were only able to summon fire and such.



Voodoo, witchcraft...all of it is just another way to scam people out of their money these days.


Or in the case of the 1600's a reason to burn them alive. Ehhh....God loves us all though right?

Witch face wash is brill yea I guess I do believe in


The only real witch craft I stick to LOL

For some reason, I was under the impression that the word "Witch" meant "wise one" - I could be wrong though. Personally, I don't like boxes and labels, but that's just me lol.

Thanks for that link Darkwind