Ravenwood Witches Coven Witchcraft FAQ

[ In the Beginning ] [ Basic Orientation ]
[ Beliefs and Practices ]

Site Owner's Note: The Ravenwood Witches Coven, from which this was taken with permission (retained intact at the bottom of the article), is now defunct.  I have made minor corrections to sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation in order to retain grammatical accuracy but the article is otherwise intact.  The site as it existed at the time this FAQ was shared can still be viewed in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. 

In the Beginning

A.1) What is Witchcraft?

Witchcraft is the harnessing of the natural and supernatural forces of the universe through performance of ancient and newer rituals by means of the practice of magik, conjuration, scrying and by utilizing secret knowledge relating to herbs, crystals, seasons, animals and other substances which naturally occur in the world. Certain practitioners of these magikal arts (among others) were called WITCHES by the Roman Catholic Church which dominated Western religion in the middle ages. True Witchcraft can and is used to magickally manipulate natural phenomena, the activities of people without their knowledge or consent, or in the controlling of events by magikal intervention. These results are accomplished by use of certain magikal rituals; spells, hexes, or conjurations (some of which are summoned by their true and secret name); spiritual entities' (each of whom has their own special powers) knowledge and talents; and commanding them to perform certain tasks for the benefit of the Witch or Coven. The Church persecuted anyone who operated outside its own prescribed rituals and beliefs, branded them heretic, and put them to horrible death.

In rural areas witches often were more open, sometimes dominating the community, where the local inhabitants came to rely on their wisdom, healing, and prophecy. During a time when only the clerics of the Church could read or write, the Church taught by ritual (the services, mass, marriage, stations of the cross, etc.), and Witches followed that example, developing rituals to pass their hidden knowledge from generation to generation by oral tradition. Very little of this knowledge has come down to us in written form since few witches could write and those that could lived in fear that their secret writings might be discovered.  Should this discovery be made, they would almost certainly be denounced as heretics and executed. Most early Witches were in fact (at least in appearance), practicing Roman Catholics. Anyone who was not was subject and suspect of heresy. For this reason, many of the truly old surviving magickal rituals, at least those predating the Reformation, tend to have a somewhat Christian (Catholic) flavor.

A.2) Is Witchcraft the same thing as Wicca?

No, and yes. Practitioners of Wicca call themselves and think of themselves as witches and we at Ravenwood Witches Coven respect their rights to their beliefs.  However, we believe that Wicca and Witchcraft are entirely different even though most Wiccans will style themselves "WITCHES". Here are our reasons for this assertion. Wicca was founded by Gerald Gardner in the late 1930's. It is A COMBINATION OF Western European folk traditions and fictional doctrine in the vein of Lovecraft's or Hubbert's mystical works. Initially Wicca was developed along magikal pursuits. It has evolved into one of the fastest growing religions of modern times. Today, Wicca can be seen as an eclectic system of beliefs with an underlying static ritual and ethics base. Simply put, WITCHCRAFT and Wicca can be distinguished by one easy test. If there is a devotion or worship of any supreme being ( i.e. Goddess or God) that religion is not what we at Ravenwood would call Witchcraft.  It is Wicca.   Practitioners of Wicca will argue this point with an almost religious zeal (as if it matters who is called what). However, we at Ravenwood believe that true Witches do not worship any entity as their superior. Ravenwood Witches believe that humans are equal to, but different from, all other entities in the universe. Ravenwood Witchcraft is heavily based in traditions, some  of which are old and some of which are more modern. We do not acknowledge a so-called Wiccan Rede, or a "three fold rule". Witchcraft is usually practiced by educated, intelligent people who have a love of history, tradition, science, and the arts. Moreover, they are usually traditionalists. It has been my experience that Wiccans almost always refer to themselves as Witches (which is just fine with us). In our experience, a WITCH (by our definition) will either refer to themselves as being a Witch, will say that they follow the Old Ways, or will not comment at all. Witches (by our definition) will never call themselves Wiccans.

A.3) Do all Witches practice magick?

WE DO! Magik is the tool of a Witch. Any activity which is designed to cause a change in the laws of science, control the actions of a person without their consent, control natural phenomena, or effect the outcome of a given situation IS magick. By this definition, prayers in any religion are, by their nature, MAGICK.

A.4) Is Witchcraft a form of Satanism?

No. Satanism is the worship of the Devil. Witches do not acknowledge the existence of any archetype anti-God. Witches do not worship any being or entity what so ever.

During the middle ages the Catholic Church made many attempts to eradicate all other religions. Anyone who was suspected of conducting secret ceremonies was immediately suspect of being in league with the Devil, who, along with hell, was invented to scare everyone from Kings to serfs into submission. The simple threat of being excommunicated from Holy Mother Church and the resulting eternal torment in Hell, deprived of God's grace, did the trick. The concept (and the fear) is still around and still scares the hell out of the faithful. In this way, the Church was able to expand its political and financial power. This control of mind and spirit is evident by its absence in Witchcraft. Witches are left on their own to decide their own right and wrong.

A.5) Are male Witches called warlocks?

The words Witch and Warlock were once interchangeable. They were non-gender specific terms and meant virtually the same thing:  a liar, someone not to be trusted. Today many people use this as a term for a male Witch but true WITCHES do not use it. A Witch, male or female is just a Witch.

A.6) Can I be born a Witch?

No. While it is true that some people are born with natural ability, that talent must be nurtured and trained. Just as someone may be a natural athlete, it takes training to win the Olympics. To become a Witch, one must become a practitioner of the craft. Each coven has its own particular tradition and its unique nuances in training. Some covens and some Witches are more powerful (by virtue of their learned skill and natural ability) than others.

Basic Orientation

B.1) What are some common, basic beliefs in Witchcraft?


Witchcraft is comprised of many individual traditions that may differ greatly in time, geographical location, and ethnic background. However, there are some key elements which most traditions follow. One is the keeping of secrets or mysteries. As stated above, most of the valuable secrets have not been written in a book and those which have been are very old and very rare, existing mostly in European libraries. There is usually some form of initiation or rite of passage, although it may or may not be formal or referred to as such. For some, certain rituals occur when an individual reaches specific times within their mortal life cycle. For others, the rite of passage may be done after an individual has completed a time of study and a demonstrated proficiency in the craft.

B.2) What Gods do Witches worship?


We believe in NONE! At least not as a part of witchcraft. However, we do not believe that this conflicts with a person's right to belong to some other religion (Jewish, Catholic, Moslem etc.). It is the organized religions of the world who are intolerant, not witches.

B.3) What is the netherworld?


The netherworld is a term used to refer to the realm where spiritual entities dwell. It is another dimension occupying the same physical space as ours.  It is a world of angels, spirits and ghosts; good and malignant forces; a twilight world of conflict between good and evil; a timeless place which lies beyond the gate which is protected by the magik circle when the coven operates. Most traditions within Witchcraft recognize the Other World, although the name used to identify it might be different. The realm of the Other World is often seen as being the place that lies beyond our senses and just beyond the boundary of our dreams. In some cultures, it is seen as being the realm of the dead. There are places which are commonly recognized as being sacred loci where the two worlds might converge upon one another; these are trees, hills, lakes, rivers, caverns, wells, and even areas covered in thick mists.

B.4) What is a tradition in relation to Witchcraft?

A tradition is the system or variety of Witchcraft that someone or some group or coven follows. Sometimes a tradition will have a specific name which usually is in the language of the relevant culture. More commonly, however, the name of the tradition is simply that of the culture from which that system of beliefs stems.

B.5) Is there a set liturgy or liturgical calendar?

Different traditions observe different festivals. Some of the most common occur on the solstices and the equinoxes, and the times between them. Other observances take place on the new and full moons. Sometimes the major festivals in some traditions are set to correspond to the new or full moon and in other traditions they occur on specific days which are usually measured as being halfway between the equinox and the solstice. It is also common for covens to have certain days which are unique to that group held special.

The number of observances in a year varies according to the tradition of the witch or coven. Regardless, the festivals are set according to the seasons and act somewhat as markers. The year usually begins in early to mid November, although in some traditions the new year will start in mid to late March.

Rituals were determined when the position of the sun and moon influenced the times when crops where planted or harvested and when animals were bred or slaughtered. Because Witchcraft differs so widely between traditions, the exact festival days also differ. At Ravenwood, most of these festival days are usually celebrated on the evening preceding the actual day, as the night was seen to belong to the next day. The length of a day was measured from sunset to sunset.

B.6) What is the ethical standard for Witchcraft?

Each Witch has the moral responsibility for his/her own actions. There is no good or evil. There is only the intent that one has when committing an action. For example, a tornado, which causes a lot of destruction, is not good or evil..... It just is.

Emphasis is thus placed on the intent of the action. This is such that the whole of the action is the sum of its consequences. Energy is not constant. In terms of returned energy, this means that the energy can have many things happen to it along the way including deflection, absorption, transformation, etc. We do not follow a Rede, a three fold rule, or any such law except that which is written within our own hearts. We take responsibility for our actions.

Things are brought into the perspective of survival of the individual and the coven and of the intent of the individual. Many Witches look at this in terms of protection of clan, family, and self. Many will take action to curse or hex if wrongfully provoked. At Ravenwood our only rule is to defend the coven and the members of the coven, their families, and their friends if asked. If one of our witches wishes the assistance of the coven to lay on a curse, a council of elders is convened and the case heard. If the council finds the cause just, aid will be granted. If not, that witch is free to pursue what ever action he/she wishes on his/her own.

Beliefs and Practices

C.1) How do I become a Witch?

Most people who seek to learn Witchcraft already have some basis in magik. Witchcraft is more than holding rituals and casting spells. It is learning to take responsibility for yourself and your actions. It is not a game. It is very serious business! Youngsters should not fool around with anything occult. We at Ravenwood KNOW that there are dangerous and malignant entities inhabiting the universe. They are crafty and cunning beyond belief. They can disguise themselves and trick the unsuspecting or the unskilled. We know this sounds very much like the Christian concept of the Devil, but is not. These entities are not in themselves evil but they are dangerous in the same way a two year old child might stab a playmate without thinking of the damage inflicted. Seek out a teacher before you conjure anything. You may or may not decide to seek out someone to instruct you in the traditions and pass the lineage on to you. It, however, is advisable that you do. Don't be fooled...Be serious!

C.2) Can I belong to any other religion and still be a Witch?

YES! And don't let anyone tell you different. The big difference between Witchcraft and every other religion is that Witchcraft demands no worship of a selfish god. We have no gods and therefore we leave that choice to the individual. Witchcraft is a religion all unto its own and the traditions within our craft have their own religious structures. BUT - EVEN THOUGH MOST RELIGIONS FORBID WITCHCRAFT --- WE AT RAVENWOOD SEE NO CONFLICT AT ALL! That is an individual decision. Most Wicca traditions which I have run into find a conflict with this. It is one of the reasons why many Wiccan groups dislike Ravenwood. They insist that no true witch can be a member or practitioner of any other religion. A Witch is self governing, self controlling, self judging, and self critical. Even the Ravenwood Witches Coven (I can't speak for the rest) cannot order any Witch to do or not do anything except to keep the secrets of and to protect the members of the coven.

C.3) What are the major traditions in Witchcraft?

That is very difficult to say. Each family, village, and area had their own tradition. As time progressed and the persecution began to become more severe, the various traditions began to condense and intermingle with other traditions. Many traditions merged with other traditions and although the religion was preserved, it began to take many different shapes.

C.4) What is a grimoire? How do I get one?

A grimoire is a book of rituals, customs, notes, and lore which is usually handwritten by the individual witch. The name "grimoire" is used as a general term (like the word "dictionary") as the actual name for this book is usually kept secret.

The grimoire is composed by the individual and the rituals contained therein are sometimes even written in code, runes or pictures so as not to be understood by anyone other than the author. Some of the rituals may have been invented by its owner. On occasion, the contents of the grimoires may be copied from a main book kept by the coven.

C.5) Should a guardian be conjured to protect a sacred area?

Some witches and covens do. It is very necessary for the conjuring of some of the more potent entities.  NOTE:  if the magik operation will open the gate, guardians are a MUST! Guardians are often called to protect the sacred area. As many Witches and covens do not have specific boundaries for their sacred area, the guardians can roam the area freely and protect the area from unwanted influences. In general, they are a good idea.

Guardians are often the spirits or other entities with whom a person or coven feels comfortable and with whom they have developed some form of a relationship, bond, or working relationship. Possible guardians might be one of the coven's ancestors, a "spirit guide," or other spiritual entity. We at Ravenwood enlist the aid of what would be called in the Christian religion an archangel.
 

Source

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