Witchcraft originated in Persia then moved to Greece, Rome and Egypt through migration and trade of goods.
A witch is an ancient practitioner who used a variety of spells and potions to obtain what they wanted. They were mainly male as males were permitted to read, write and do maths. (Maths was a vital point in Astrology and astronomy).
They used lead curse tablets to harm their enemies, win gambling odds at the track, and cause harm to thieves (mainly the ones who operated in the bath houses) and also poppets to bind people into loving them forever.
They bribed restless ghosts to do these biddings and used sacrifices (humans and animals) to appease certain Gods and Goddesses to obtain what they wanted. They did what they wanted, when they wanted but did no spells to kill people.
However, they would leave sacrifices at the crossroads for the Goddess Hecate and she would grant them favor if it pleased her. A request was in the form of asking the Gods and Goddesses for some thing. A spell told the Gods what to do.
They also used herbs to poison but this was not classified as magical.
A Wiccan does not do such things and they do not harm others. Wiccans use the power within and the power of the universe to achieve their ends as long as it does not harm any one. The Gods and Goddesses are invoked but there are offerings of foods.
There is a difference and thanks to Gerald Gardner and few others, Wicca is a modern form of witchcraft. It is separate from Wicca with the ways that it is practiced. However it is similar as things in Witchcraft have been replaced by more accepted ideas and practices
Please do some research on your own about the origins of witchcraft and do not take one persons statements as the truth.
Academically, the idea of witchcraft is a cultural ideology. It is a means of explaining human misfortune by blaming it on a supernatural entity or a known person in the community. It is also recognized, however, that many of the diabolical stereotypes surrounding witchcraft had evolved out of more pagan pre-christian beliefs regarding spirits and the other-world, and that some of those accused as witches were in fact healers or seers with practices rooted in these same beliefs.
"Please do some research on your own about the origins of witchcraft and do not take one persons statements as the truth".
I am doing a university degree and have specialised in this area, meaning that I have done a lot of research in this area as being an academic, I have to do so. They were classified as Magae or magi (among other names) and did curse people using lead curse tablets to get what they wanted.
Say what you want but Earthstag may have a few things wrong but she did have the gist of it.
Hun, don't bag out some one else unless you say "yes, some of your ideas are right however..."
She was obviously trying to define a witch and the differences between them and a Wiccan because there are a lot of people who do not know that there are differences.
I did not see you trying to trying to do this seeing that you are a mod and have a lot of supposed knowledge on this subject.
Kts is right. You cannot say that witchcraft started in Persia. Magick is a part of most cultures, Chinese: Acupuncture, Tai Chi, Feng Shi; Japanese: Reiki, Some forms of yoga; Native American: Healing; etc.
Witches are often said to harm others but that isn't really true. That is simply a Christian sterotype. A Wiccan by definition is a witch, but not all witches are Wiccans.
I agree with you WayoftheWind. Although Silver RavenWolf is not the best author on Witchcraft she does have some ideas that ring true with many in the magical community. As with everyone, we all walk a path that is different, no two people can believe the exact same thing on every subject because no two people are completely alike.
FetishAngel, I am interested to hear about the research you have done on the similarities and differences of magic throughout history. In your research I am sure you have come across the many different names for "witchcraft" and different ways it has been practiced. Since you are here there will be no need for myself or anyone else to have to put a lesson together on it. :)
