Canny Crafting Traditional Witchcraft

Traditional Witchcraft is a Land and Ancestral based faith.           

                                                     

By tapping into the energies of the land we can gain knowledge and wisdom and utilise this in our workings

We can also gain these values by acknowledging and honoring the Ancestors of these lands.

Traditional craft is related to shamanistic workings as we use trance state techniques to gain access to the underworld. Places such as woodlands, grave mounds, crossroads, rivers, springs, lakes, hills and hollows can be used as entry points into the underworld. Sacred sites such as henges are excellent underworld openings too!

The Heathen/Pagan Ancestors of these lands would have honoured the  Gods of the northern European tribal folks.

To some of these tribes the God of the Heathen/Pagan folk was seen as an Antlered  Horned God who is depicted in some ancient cave paintings. Other Tribes, especially the Anglo/Saxons  would have honoured Woden.

The Goddess was seen as the Queen of elfame, Queen of the underworld and because of her seidr (magic) she would have been known to the Anglo/Saxons as Freya.

Rituals in Trad Craft differ from those that are wicca and ceremonial based in that they are not scripted, they are spontaneous and spoken from the heart. There is no circle casting and quarter calling as such but a compass-ring or round is traced widdershins with a stang or besom.

The Compass-Ring or rounds function is to create a space between this world and the underworld and unlike wicca we are not calling the spirits to join us, we are joining them !  

The cardinal points representing the elements differ from tradition to tradition. I see North as representing Air, the cold air that comes from the winter. East as Fire where the sun rises. South as Earth as the warm winds bring forth growth from the underground . West as Water as we return to the Water when our earthly existence is ended.

The term Witch has its roots from Anglo/Saxon words such as witega, wicce and witcha. According to scholars these names mean wise-person.

In old german, names such as Wikkerie, Wickhersen, Wicken and Wicker are related to Witch, Witchery, Seer and to foretell.

The modern image we have of the witch riding a broom probably comes from the hedge-riders with their riding poles and brewing pots, who used certain herbs to gain trance states in which to travel to otherworlds.

I would like to thank the following Individuals who have influenced me, this website and my spiritual path over the years.

Robin Artisson.

Robert Cochraine.

Runic John.

Peter Paddon.

Nigel Pennick.

Suzanne White.

                                                         Wassail & Frith.

                                                             Chris Croft.

                                                       Updated on 24/1/08