The Great Grimoire of Madame

Part 3

MADAME: "Paganism - Weston Area Health NHS Trust, Britannica, google" Thank you so much! This was not at all a mini info chapter it was a very big chapter and that's why it took me a little while to get out so I kind of skipped it for a little bit which is why some of y'all who have been here from the beginning will see that the third chapter was missing in the book for a little bit but now it's not so thank God so I finally got it done I didn't even need a progress spell not that I know one.

What kind of witches are there?

First things first, let's separate practice from religion. Practice is a form or craft that you do which can entail spellwork, potions, (I know that sounds so damn cheesy) divination, necromancy, etc. It demands intention no matter what. Religion (in a witch sense) involves worshiping, believing, or devoting oneself to a particular deity and usually practicing under intentions that align with that deity. 

Paganism - religion

Pagans believe that nature is sacred and that the natural cycles of birth, growth and death observed in the world around us carry profoundly spiritual meanings. Human beings are seen as part of nature, along with other animals, trees, stones, plants and everything else that is of this earth. Some Pagans believe in a multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses. Others see them as merely names and forms that allow us easier contact with the divine. In most cases Pagans see the divine as present in both male and female principles. A pagan is not necessarily a witch but a witch can be pagan. Paganism is an OPEN RELIGION. Back in the day, Christians used to group anyone who wasn't monotheistic and believed in one true God was considered pagan and therefore outside of the church. Many pagans observe and celebrate the following "holidays"

 Winter Solstice (Midwinter / Yule) Yule influenced christmas btw

Imbolc (Candlemas)

Spring Equinox (Ostara)

Beltane (May Eve)

Summer Solstice (Midsummer / Litha)

Lughnasadh (Lammas)

Autumn Equinox (Mabon)

Wicca - religion

Wiccans commonly call themselves witches and belong to a form of modern paganism. Wicca witches are known to use the pentagram, a star which is drawn with one pen stroke and five points easily confused with the satanic star which points downwards toward Satan instead of upwards towards God. Wicca publicly emerged in England during the 1950s and wiccan witches belonged to covens led by a high priest and high priestess or one or the other. Covens can have as little as 3 members or the ideal number 13. Covens typically have an initiation ritual and might have a hierarchy. When wiccans became public movie makers began creating films and shows on fictional witches using wiccan terminology. Naturally this triggered a surge in teenage "Witches" having a phase in 1990 and 2000. This happened again in the 2010s and newer practitioners labeled themselves "traditional witches," a term that was also used by adherents of various non-Wiccan forms of occultism, like Luciferianism. Wiccans commonly perform rituals as a coven and share a meal afterward and contrary to popular belief invoked by the media and other religions, most wiccans share a ethical code "If it harm none, do what you will." Wiccans like christians have many denominations separated by beliefs on the afterlife and whether deities are real or symbolic. Because Wicca is a nature religion many wiccans follow the eight   Sabbats or wheel of the year. This wheel of the year is flipped for wiccans in the other hemisphere to better work with their seasons.

the winter solstice, or Yule (December 21 or 22)

; Imbolc (February 1 or 2)

; the vernal equinox, or Ostara (March 19 or 20)

; Beltane (April 30 or May 1)

; the summer solstice, or Litha (June 20 or 21)

; Lughnasadh (August 1)

; the autumnal equinox, or Mabon (September 22 or 23)

; and Samhain (October 31) a precursor for halloween or hallows eve

Witchcraft - purely practice

Witchcraft is a practice because it is something that you do and does not require any believing besides intention at all.  witchcraft derives from Wicca and paganism and is kindly defined by the Bible in this verse; "Deuteronomy 18:10-11 – Let no one be found among you who consigns a son or daughter to the fire, or who is an augur(a religious official who observed natural signs, especially the behavior of birds, interpreting these as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed action) a soothsayer(prophet), a diviner, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits, or one who inquires of the dead."

MADAME: oooh boy that was a lot, happy witching my dears and remember to comment if you have extra info so you might help us all.