What comes to your mind when you think of witches? Do you see an old woman in a forest, or a collector of crystals? What about someone brewing potions and burning herbs? Or a mystical reader of tarot or runes? Witchcraft comes in many forms. There are different crafts and philosophies that witches can follow and adopt. Finding what works for you and your own practice can be overwhelming, but doesn't have to be all that challenging. You can ask yourself a few simple questions that can help you with your own path towards a world of magic.
If you’ve ever felt that an inner witch calls to you, but you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use this guide to find the type of practice that fits into your own life. It isn’t required to choose a specified path in your practice, but if you find it useful, we’ve listed the common types of witchcraft below.
Are you a Solitary Witch or should you join a Coven?
First, it might be a good idea to ask yourself if you prefer to practice alone or with others. Many witches like to work with a coven, while others choose to pave their own path. Ultimately, its up to you! If you're not sure what a coven has to offer, or find it unclear of what the solitary benefits are, then it might be good to start with the basics.
A coven is a group of witches, who practice together. Many covens draw upon traditions, while others depend on the interests of the group’s members. Whether you choose to join a coven, or not, is your own choice. Many witches choose a solitary path, and that doesn’t mean that you’re alone. There are gatherings, events, and sabbats, which can bring like-minded witches together.
The Solitary Witch is a subcategory of witchcraft. Choosing this path can give you more freedom to work on what interests you, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Solitary Witches can still practice with others, but they generally stick to their own guidance, making their practice more personal and specific.
Hedge Witch
Often the Solitary Witch and the Hedge Witch are considered one in the same. In the old pagan traditions, that would have been the case. The Hedge Witch is connected to the ancient tales of the forest witch. The hedge was a border where the forest met the village, and the Hedge Witch was comfortable between the safety of the village and the wild unknown. Usually, a healer or older wise-woman, the Hedge Witch practiced alone, sharing her wisdom and remedies with others. Today, the Hedge Witch is considered to live between realms, practicing spirit work, meditation, and lucid dreaming. Nature is still a comfort for the Hedge Witch, so they’ll work with wild herbs and plants in spellwork and rituals, just like the Hedgewitchery of the past, but they are now considered mediums or psychics, in addition to healers. If you are deeply intuitive, you might connect with the traits of the Hedge Witch. Many who practice with this type of witchcraft will often work with tarot and other forms of divination, sharing their knowledge with others.
Tools for the Hedge Witch:
Divination Tools: Tarot cards, pendulums, runes, and mirror scrying are great for tapping into the Hedge Witch's psychic abilities.
Herbs: Spending time outside and connecting with nature allows the Hedge Witch to cultivate their intuition. Herbalism will help with spellcasting and healing remedies sacred to the Hedge Witch.
Crystals: A way to amplify their magical practice is to work with crystals to add protection and deepen the spiritual connection when doing spirit work.
Books: Study the traditions and historical importance of Hedgewitchery. This type of witch is wise, so learning the roots of their craft is an excellent way to dive into the practice.
Green Witch
So much more than a green thumb, the Green Witch is a friend to nature and natural spirits. Connected with the Earth Mother, they work with herbs and channel energies from natural sources, like crystals, plants, trees, and the elements. This path is similar to that of the Hedge Witch, or even the Kitchen Witch. They’re all based on folk magic, and tend to be solitary practitioners. The Green Witch often believes in harmony and balance, focusing on the earth and humanity. Community and self-care is just as important to the Green Witch, as the earth. As an herbalist, an alchemist, and a forager, this witch cares for all living things. That includes plants, humanity, and animals. They respect the earth and work with ancient rituals and traditions to grow plants and create healing remedies. The Green Witch is often found brewing teas and potions for their medicinal or protective properties, and grounding themselves in nature. The Green Witch often works with Earth Magic, worshipping Earth Goddesses like Gaia or Corn Mother.
Tools for the Green Witch:
Herbs & Teas: Working with herbs, teas, and potions are foundational to the Green Witch's practice. Start with reading books on herbalism, if you aren't certain where to begin.
Crystals: Holding a piece of the
Altar Adornments: Gathering natural elements for your altar is a great way to practice Green Magic. Feathers, plants, and things that symbolize the elements (lighting a candle, or adding a bowl of water) creates balance, and represents nature's harmony.
Sea Witch
Are you called to the sea? Do you dream of water, or feel a deep connection to sea life? Maybe you’ve felt energized by a rainy day. Water is a powerful element, with its energy often ruled by the moon. Being a Sea Witch comes with the ancient lore of water creatures, sea goddesses, and moon magic. Sea Witches gather tools from the shoreline, like seashells, plants, or driftwood, to incorporate in their rituals. Keep in mind that Sea Magic is not always the same as Water Magic. Sea Witches can bring Water Magic into their practice of Sea Magic, but Sea Magic is usually associated with the sea and shoreline, while Water Magic includes rivers, wells, and other sources of water. Of course, you can work with both.
Tools for the Sea Witch:
Altar Adornments & Sea Treasures: Collecting items that represent sea-life can serve as a reminder of the lore and mythologies of the sea, even when you aren't near the sea itself. Add shells, mermaids, figurines, and other symbols of the sea to your altar or incorporate them in rituals.
Books: Get familiar with ancient sea lore. Learn about the mythologies of oceanic deities, sea creatures, and traditions to add to your practice.
Salts: Create spells and rituals using salts, water, and crystals. Many spells for purification and prosperity are great to begin with.
Kitchen Witch
Often thought of as mundane routines, cooking and caring for the home, are sacred, ritualized practices to the Kitchen Witch. These types of witches work spells into their cooking, using herbs and remedies for healing the body and mind. The kitchen is a sacred space, and cooking is a ceremonial act. Magick is infused into their food, and they carry a deep knowledge of healing properties in edible plants and herbs. Washing dishes is a careful meditation, while preparing a table is setting an altar space. The kitchen is their sanctuary. The Kitchen Witch nourishes the body and spirit, and prepares teas and cooks according to the seasons. This kind of witch is often ruled by the Wheel of the Year, and lives by the harvest.
Tools for the Kitchen Witch:
Recipe Books: Bring intention into your kitchen with recipes and spellwork. Their are many books on the subject, so let's get cooking.
Cauldrons & Kitchen Tools: Adding the kitchen tools needs to grind herbs, brew teas, and cultivate mindful kitchen practices are important for the Kitchen Witch.
Herbs & Teas: Working with herbs, tea brewing tools, and potions in the kitchen are great ways of incorporating ordinary life in your practice. Start with reading books on herbalism, if you aren't certain where to begin.
Candles: Fire and the hearth are important to the Kitchen Witch. Add candles to the home to create a magical space for your practice.
Wheel of the Year: The seasons are essential to the Kitchen Witch. Learn more the Wheel of the Year through books, and celebrate the sabbats.
Lunar/Cosmic Witch
This practice honors the moon and is influenced by the lunar cycles and other cosmologies. The Lunar Witch, or Cosmic Witch, lives their life by the moon, planning events and working with magic according to the phases. They may dive into birth charts and become an adept astrologer, or grow plants to harvest under the phases of the moon. It is common to associate their practices with the traits of certain moon goddesses, like Hecate, Artemis, or Selene. This is considered a subcategory of witchcraft, because many Lunar Witches can follow another tradition alongside lunar and astrological practices.
Tools for the Lunar/Cosmic Witch:
Crystals: Working with stones that align with the moon, and harness lunar energy is significant to the Lunar/Cosmic Witch's practice. Start with crystals such as Moonstone, Selenite and Amethyst.
Incense & Smudge Sticks: Cleanse your space and bath on a full moon, and burn incense and herbs to prepare for rituals.
Journals: Lunar Witch's observe the moon phases and track their experiences, dreams, and emotions while journaling. Either keep a grimoire or journal to keep track of intuitive messages and lunar cycles.
Oracle Cards: For lunar guidance, intention setting, and clarity, Lunar Witches work with lunar themed oracle decks.
Astrology Books & Tools: Learning about lunar cycles and astrological charts allows the Lunar Witch to plan rituals and spellwork according to the cosmos. Find altar pieces and decorate your space with lunar symbols and astrological representations.
Eclectic Witch
Do you feel like all these categorizations don’t fit your energy? Maybe you’re just not the one to choose a single discipline. The Eclectic Witch gathers different parts of many variations of witchcraft to suit their needs. They will work with whatever feels right, without following a set of rules. Borrowing from pagan traditions across the world, they make old practices new again, reinventing ancient rituals for a modern time.
Tools for the Eclectic Witch:
Altar Adornments: Creating an altar that speaks to you, is a great way to explore what works for you. There are no rules for creating an altar, so find whatever calls to you.
Pendulums: A great tools for intuitive guidance, allowing you to tap into your higher self.
Books on Witchcraft: Learn about the different practices and familiarize yourself with the rituals, traditions, and practices that influence your own unique experiences in witchcraft.
Secular Witch
It’s not always about deities and spirituality. Some witches like to focus on their skills. Secular Witches can still have a separate religion or spiritual practice, but they don’t usually blend their practice with the spirit world. They use tools like crystals and candles, and work with herbs for its earthly benefits, setting aside the religious path.
Tools for the Secular Witch:
Books: Study the ancient practices and explore the practical nature of witchcraft.
Candles: Using candles for meditation and spellwork are a great way to enhance your skills.
Crystals: Decorate your space with crystals and incorporate them in your spellcasting. Secular Witch's often prefer the healing properties of these stones.
Interested in finding out where to start? Take a look at your Shopping Guide to explore the path that's right for you. The Empress offers books, metaphysical tools, and everything witchy on our online store.
