Witchcraft and Pagan Practices

Witchcraft and paganism are two labels for living with the natural world in a magical way. While many consider themselves both, a witch is not always a pagan and a pagan is not always a witch. You can call yourself whatever you like while studying the stars, drying protection herbs, and warding your home. As pagans and witches, these are your labels, so you define them rather than letting them define you.

Paganism is a family of nature-based and polytheistic religions. What most have in common is a way of living with nature, honoring the turning of the year and the land they live on. They remember their ancestors, gods, and guides by keeping the eight sabbats or celebrating the solstices and equinoxes. Individuals vary widely, from atheist pagans to devotional polytheists. Some follow the moon, some are solitary Heathens, and some are families of Druids, and many of them also practice witchcraft.

Rather than being a religion, witchcraft is the practice of magic through spells, herbs, divination, and ritual. Sometimes these practices are used with intent to bring about change, and sometimes they are used to hold steady while the world spins around you.

The crone is the witch the folk stories describe, the grandmother at the hearth who knew which herb to cut and which way the weather was turning. But anyone can be a witch, and whether your craft is one of healing and protection or aimed at something else, you may practice alone, in covens, or with your pagan family.

The practices are how pagans and witches live with the natural world day to day. Some are cast and some are brewed, some are read and some are stewed. Every one of them can be practiced at your own hearth and home, whether you celebrate, learn, and work with children, family, a coven, or as a solitary pagan or witch.

Start with what is already in your home. A pot of rosemary on the windowsill, a candle on the table, a deck of cards in a drawer, or the meal on the stove is where most witches and pagans begin, and the practice grows from there. Gardeners take to herbs, cooks to kitchen witchcraft, readers to divination, so your favorite practices are usually the ones that fit your life the best.

The eight sabbats are a good way to start timing your craft. Look to the next sabbat for the easiest place to start, set the table for it, light a candle, and read what the season means. Take what you like, leave the rest.

Explore the Wheel of the Year

• Ostara, the spring equinox, eggs, hares, and the balance of light and dark
• Beltane, May 1, the summer fire, the maypole, and the fae
• Litha, the summer solstice, the longest day and the height of the sun
• Lammas, August 1, the first harvest and the first loaf
• Mabon, the autumn equinox, the second harvest and the season of thanks
• Samhain, October 31, the ancestors' night and the witch's new year
• Yule, the winter solstice, the longest night and the return of the light
• Imbolc, February 1, Brigid's day and the first stirring of spring

Explore Modern Paganism

• What Is Neopaganism, the modern movement, where it came from, and what its branches share
• Paganism in a World of Religions, where paganism stands beside the faiths around it
• Paganism in Our World Today, how pagans live and practice now, at home and in the open
• Modern White Supremacy and Paganism, the misuse of pagan symbols and how practitioners answer it

Kids and Families

Free Pagan Worksheets

Pagan Homeschooling

Best Pagan Books for Kids

Kids Pagan Activity Books

Pagan Kids Holiday Crafts

Disclaimer The information provided on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, legal, or professional advice. While these herbs have a long history of traditional and spiritual use, individual results may vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herb, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition. Use herbs responsibly and follow all safety guidelines.