What type of Witch are You? — Ohm Terra

0 What type of Witch are You? Feb 27 Written By Julie There are many different types of witchcraft and there is no one size fits all category. Here are most of the different types of witches that I have come across. Most people choose the type of magick that resonates the most with them, sometimes fitting into more than one type.

This post will be broken down into two categories:

I want to touch on witchcraft as a spiritual practice and go over some of the types of witchcraft that you might hear about. Some witches have a spiritual (almost religious) type of witchcraft practice. This includes the influence of deity on their practice and including them in their rituals.

This is the fun part.. This is where you get to look at all of the different types of witchcraft and see where your practice fits on. These are what people refer to when they talk about the type of witchcraft they practice. Most people find they have a slight preference towards a specific type of magick, others will choose a little bit from each of the different types of witches (eclectic).

These types of witches are not related to the types of witchcraft that you practice, but more about your practice as a whole. Each of these types of witches are different in how they practice their craft.

A Wiccan witch is one who sees magic as part of their spiritual practice. They follow the principles of the Wiccan Religion which is a nature based religion. You do not have to be Wiccan to be a witch, nor do you have to practice magick to be Wiccan. Magick and witchcraft can be part of the religion for Wiccans, but is not required. Their magick typically includes deities. There are multiple different classifications of Wicca, such as Gardenarian or Alexandrian, but that’s for another time. Just know that there are some differences, but the concept is mostly the same throughout.

Secular witches practice witchcraft, but do not see it as a form of spirituality. Deities are not used in the magick practice. They manipulate the energies around them using skill and study without calling on deities for assistance. This is the common idea of being a witch, but not Wiccan. This is the most common type of witch today as more and more millennials are adopting witchcraft in place of a religion. Gone are the days of ‘thou shalts’.

This type of witch has probably grown up around witchcraft. Parts or all of the family has practiced witchcraft and have passed down their traditions through the family, by oral learning, weird traditions, or formal learning. Many hereditary witches are taught witchcraft by a family member and have their own way of doing things which may not line up with the more common ways of doing things. They are typically raised using witchcraft in their daily life or are at least familiar with it.

Eclectic witches don’t choose a specific type, but they pick and choose what they like from each type and use it as their own. This is more common in solitary practitioners and more common in today’s witches than it was previously. These witches won’t be able to choose just one of the specialties from below. They will be drawn to more than one, or think “well, I use this type for this situation and this one for that…” This is A-okay. There’s nothing wrong with not have one specialty. You are like a jack of all trades.

A chaos witch is similar to an eclectic witch in that they pick and choose what works for them, but Chaos witches take things one step further and keep no traditions what so ever. Not just from other people, but they don't even create their own traditions. Some say that even writing things down for a chaos witch means that you are not a chaos witch.. But to each their own.

These are the types of witchcraft that witches practice. Each type includes a short description of the type of witchcraft and some of the preferences of each type of witch. As you read through this list, think about which type of witchcraft you feel drawn to.

Sits on the “hedge” between worlds. More commonly called a shaman, or village healer. They have an affinity for the spirit world and herbs and plants which are used for healing. This is most commonly taught by word of mouth and uses a lot of meditation and dream-work to learn for yourself. This type of witch is familiar with the Tree of Life as they travel up and down the tree, crossing the realms, frequently. They are able to work with spirits in the spirit realm and bring back information into the material realm.

Favorite Herbs: You love them all! You should narrow it down to a handful that you can easily grow them or forage them

Favorite Crystals: Howlite- it is associated with new ideas, communication and past lives

Type of Divination: Deep mediation and Runes

Spell Types: Creating concoctions from herbs or simply nature based spells, like dancing in the forest to attract fairies

They base their magick on the use of herbs and plants. Most, if not all, have a garden of sorts. Green Witches also create powerful spells using herbs that they have acquired or grown themselves. They are in tune with the plants in their garden and can frequently be found talking to them. Some believe that plants have a consciousness and that they respond to the witches requests.

Favorite Herbs: They’re all your favorite. Try to find your favorites- herbs, spices, flowers, trees, etc.

Favorite Crystals: Citrine is associated with abundance and prosperity, both things that you want in your garden

Type of Divination: Dowsing with branches or scrying into a bowl of water

Spell Types: Infusing plants with your power and intentions

Cottage witches are a combination between Kitchen witch and Green witch. They are focused on the home (hearth). Infusing common household practices with a little bit of magick. This type of witch loves creating their own natural products and being free of chemicals in their home. Cooking and cleaning have a different meaning to this witch. They see it as a chance to infuse their home with magick- through sweeping away negative energy, removing stagnant energy (dusting), or cooking up a batch of warm cookies to bring the family happiness. They may spend all of their energy on others’ at the expense of their own health or energy.

Favorite Herbs: Oats are associated with abundance and grounding

Favorite Crystals: Green calcite is associated with softness and self-care

Type of Divination: Tarot and oracle cards

Spell Types: Charm bags filled with plants, crystals and other tid bits.

Crystal Witches work with stones, crystals and gemstones for healing, sometimes they work with Chakras. They have a special connection with crystals and may have had a rock collection as a child, maybe even a pet rock. As they grow in their practice, they may incorporate crystals into their magick by creating gem elixirs, mediating with specific crystals and carrying crystals around to be in constant connection with the energies of Mother Earth.

Favorite Herbs: Succulents as they are associated with healing, strength and lunar magick

Favorite Crystals: All of them. You may have a disorganized collection or you may have them organized by color and habitat

These witches love the ocean, and to a lesser extent, most other bodies of water. They use the ocean and its symbols in their magick, which usually coincides with the tides and the lunar cycles. They will typically live near the beach, or spend all of their time thinking about when they can get to the beach. Their altar typically has shells and driftwood. They typically choose deities such as Poseidon, or Aphrodite or water spirits such as mermaids, nymphs, or sea monsters like Kraken or Leviathan.

Water witches will have the same affinity that sea witches have to the ocean to other bodies of water. Sometimes water witchcraft includes all water bodies including, but not just limited to the ocean.

Favorite Herb: Bladderwrack (aka kelp) is associated with protection

Favorite Crystals: Fluorite because it is ruled by Pisces and Neptune which are water signs/planets. Fluorite is associated with meditation, higher awareness, mysticism and clearing trauma

Spell Types: Anything that you can use the beach in- seawater elixirs, sigils on shells, or writing a spell in the sand, only to have the ocean wash it away

They are familiar with local plants and herbs, more into foraging than having a garden. They typically prefer to be in the forest, or the woods. If possible, they will live near the woods, or have a patch of undeveloped land nearby. The Forest witch is in tune with nature at its most primal level and uses the energies of nature that's around her to create powerful spells. The plants and herbs that are used in spells are typically foraged. They also have a connection to the forest animals.