The Old World

I’ve done some research and found 14 different types of witches. (There are many, so no disrespect for any witch types I have left out as all witches are honoured in my mind).

I have summarised each witch type as best I could, so let me know which one you resonate more with and if you have any opinions on any of the categories. I identify with a little of some of these, but a lot with the Divination Witch category. I therefore see myself as a Divination Witch. So, which witch are you? Keep reading....

You have a strong connection to mother earth and all things nature. Your power and spells come from the earth and you no doubt love being in nature, swimming, walking along the beach, soaking up the sunshine or delving bare-footed into a lush green forest to find yourself. You own an animal, or a few! You most likely have a green thumb and grow your own herbs which you have a vast knowledge of. Green Witches work with essential oils and enjoy conjuring up healing remedies, meeting your coven outdoors and meditating. You care deeply about the environment and may find yourself rallying for a cause to do with saving it. You feel enlightened and love through the earth and set your crystals out in the sunshine or moonlight to charge. A Garden Witch’s alter may have lost of fresh and dried herbs, a book on how to care for or grow herbs, a figurine of your favourite animal, and one of Gaia. A green candle and animal tarot cards. 

A Home/Hearth Witch is all about the home. These witches care deeply about nourishing themselves and their family through cooking with home grown herbs, concocting home brews and using gentle home remedies. The very thought of magic is comforting, and this witch uses magic in their everyday life. Daily rituals are important. They might be as simple as saying something to be thankful for when you wake up every morning or making a cup of tea in the afternoons and reading or adding a section in your home-made book of shadows. These witch’s cookbooks are filled with comfort food recipes and for summer, fresh food recipes that nourish and cleanse the body. The home is everything feng-shui and witchy, including salt lamps, dried herbs, flowers, witch posters, jars, spell books, cookbooks, witch bells on the doorway, hand crafted items and deity statues. A Home/Hearth Witch is in touch with nature and offers a welcoming home for dinner or advice.      

Much like the Home/Hearth Witch, Kitchen Witches are found with their elbows deep in herbs, potions, and cook-books. If you are a Kitchen Witch, then you too, are a nature lover and may have a green thumb and grow your own produce. That way, you know it’s fresh and even more powerful for your cooking and spells. A Kitchen Witch means possessing high, powerful intentions as you cast your spell while baking or cooking. As a Kitchen Witch, you ‘feel at home’ when you’re in your kitchen. It’s your safe place where you conjure up food that cleanses and feeds the mind, body and soul. You’re most likely into other homely habits too such as drinking copious amounts of tea, reading actual physical books and dabbing in natural oils or crafting something special for someone. The main difference between a Kitchen Witch and a Home/Hearth Witch is that the rest of your home may not be filled with typical witch regalia, as it is a space/place for the whole family, but your kitchen is yours and no-one goes in there but you! You are the preparer of magical, powerful brews and remedies – they can have the rest of the house!

If you are obsessed and fascinated by the moon, stars, sun and other planets, then you might be an Astrology Witch. Astrology Witch’s work with moon phases. Their rituals and spells almost always work around what phase the moon is in and may also involve the time of day/night and what day of the week it is.

Their belief is that what happens on earth, is because of a direct correlation to the cosmos and what the moon and stars are ‘telling us’ and that when we are born, we given a certain fate. Our past, present and future is forecast for us and is “written in the stars”.  

Numbers are used to predict patterns and behaviours, so as the stars are aligned to our birthdays, numerology may play a part in the Cosmic Witch’s life. Numerology, like the stars, is a mystical relationship between a number or set of numbers and one or more coinciding events. So if you are a star gazer and find the connection between us and space magical and mystical, then you may be a Cosmos/Astrology/Lunar Witch.

If you are a Solar/Sun Witch, you will find yourself soaking up the sun as often as possible, walking along the beach, charging your crystals and other tools in the sun and generally feeling the power of sunlight in all your spells. Spells that need banishment qualities will be done at sunset whilst spells that require new beginnings would be cast at sunrise. A Solar Witch’s alter might consist of yellow crystals such as Amber, yellow Tourmaline, yellow Sapphire, and yellow Citrine. It may also have yellow candles, a picture of a sunflower, some summer herbs and wildflowers.

A Nature Witch works with the building blocks of nature, the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. For instance, a witch who works with fire might be ‘firey’ in her personality and want things in a hurry. She would work with red candle magic and collect orange and red coloured crystals such as orange celenite, orange or red topaz and orange or red agate. 

An Air, or Wind Witch feels the power when outdoors in the air and would collect tools from nature to cast spells with such as white coral, driftwood and specially shaped or beautiful natural rocks and shells. This witch might also be a Storm Witch, for the wind is powerful during storms and hurricanes etc. The crystals associated with a Wind Witch are Cats Eye Moonstone, Goshenite (for clear seeing), Selenite and Clear Quartz.  

As an Earth Witch, you have a strong connection to mother earth and the Goddess Gaia. An Earth Witch can also be a Green Witch as much of the practices overlap with a Green Witch. You work with nature, have a green thumb, work with herbs and oils etc. One difference would be that you tend to do work in conjunction with the other elements as well. A Water Witch: This witch obviously loves any kind of natural place where there is water such as the ocean, rivers, creeks, ponds and waterfalls. The ocean is a major drawcard for this witch as her spells are the most powerful next to this vast mass of water. Her tools are once again made from nature such as driftwood, shells, coral, seaweed and salt. Her alter would include a bowl of salt water, a statue of a water God or Goddess such as Chalchiuhtlique, Poseidon, Neptune or Yam and a blue candle.   

To be a Nature Witch though, you do not have to work with all four elements. You might be drawn to one, or two. You can still call yourself a Nature Witch.

However, you might be an Eclectic Witch that works with one or more of these and incorporates other witchy practices from one or more of the other witch types. 

Like a Nature Witch that works with the element of water, a Storm Witch has a strong connection to the ocean and or all bodies of water. Her tools for spells and or an alter are much the same, such as driftwood, shells, sand, rocks, artwork of the ocean, a small bottle or bowl of sea water and a picture of the sea. The difference between a Sea Witch and a Nature/Elemental Witch is that the Sea Witch does not need or particularly want to work with any other elements whereas the Nature/Elemental Witch does. The ocean is also said to be a place where the veil between the earthly world and the other side is very thin. It is a place where the connection can be made more easily with Angels, Ancestors, Gods and Goddesses, so a Sea Witch may also have the ability to connect to the other side, or at least feel very strongly that there IS another side, and she feels that, by being close to the ocean. A Sea Witch also works in conjunction with the lunar cycles and be very protective over sea creatures. Yes, even the deadly ones! 

So many crystals, so little time! If you love them all; their different textures and colours and you know, or want to know what properties each of them possesses, then you may be a Crystal Witch. Crystals are known for their healing properties and high vibrations, so you work with them and use them to enhance and raise your own vibrations. Witches who use crystals, focus on healing, manifesting, intent and higher vibrations to enhance their power and their spells. If you are a Crystal Witch, then you most likely connect to vibrations and energy in all things. You may be able to see and read auras and if you haven’t already, you might also like to try telekinesis (the ability to move objects with your mind) or Psychometry (the psychic ability to be able to see the history of an object through touch). The Crystal Witch’s alter is beautifully laid out crystals, white candles, a salt lamp, a hand-crafted dream catcher, herbs and a statue of any Angel, since they all have crystals that relate to them.    

The Divination Witch can choose from various practices such as tea leaf reading, scrying, using a pendulum, runes, tarot cards or a crystal ball to practice magic. The most important aspect of a Divination Witch is that he/she connects with spirits such as Angels, Spirit Guides, Ancestors who have passed on, Gods and Goddesses, or just a ‘higher power’ to draw power. You can be religious, or not! And if you feel you have a strong intuition, or you’ve already recognised that your clairvoyant in some way – meaning you are able to feel, sense, see, or hear what others can’t, (or you can even talk to the dead through spirit (a medium)), then you are a Divination Witch. Divination Witches connect with high vibrations, meditation, Spirit, crystals, such as moonstone, lapis lazuli, amethyst, spirit quartz and angelite. You may also incorporate candle magic to enhance your connection to a higher power. For the alter, the Divination Witch may have a statue/figurine of an Angel, God, Goddess or Deity such as Hecate, or Archangel Haniel; crystals that aid in connecting to the other side such as Moonstone, Amethyst, Clear Quartz and Sodalite. It may also include white, purple and blue candles, some tarot cards and some dried or fresh herbs.

You feel it in your bones, weather you are from a Celtic part of the world or not. You may have had a past life as a Celt, or you may have ancestors that were from Celtic parts of the world. However you feel that connection, is fine. Practicing Celtic magic usually involves connecting to, and or, honouring the Celtic Gods and Goddesses, by meeting them in your meditation sessions, having a Celtic figurine on your alter, having a deep affiliation with greenery – a lush green forest, wide open spaces with green hills that go for miles, or a green cliff with the sea below. Having knowledge about and liking Celtic art and intertwining Celtic traditions and Pagan customs into your magic, such as using Hag Stones, or Holy Stones, brewing a good broth with intentions, celebrating Celtic festivals (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh & Samhain. There are more not mentioned here). Very briefly, according to history.com, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the Spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland. It is a fire festival celebrating the Goddess Brigit. Beltane (meaning ‘the fires of Bel’, most likely referring to the Celtic Sun God, Belenus). The festival is a celebration of love & fertility. Lughnasadh festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and saying farewell to Summer. This festival is celebrated in hounour of the God Lugh where there would be match-making trading, feasts (as with all festivals) and athletic competitions. Samhain festival is essentially Halloween and is the festival where Celts believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.  

These witches are ones that have gained their knowledge and powers through their ancestors that have passed the gift down to them. Some learned rituals, practices, and spells directly from them. Others have a quiet knowledge that their ancestors were witches and that they received their power through their DNA. They might have some knowledge of where they came from through studying their ancestry and just know that that is where her own power comes from, such as Cornwall, Salem, Scotland, and many other witch-like places. As a Hereditary Witch, you would channel or call upon your ancestors and Spirit Guides to guide you through your own spells, or simply use spells that have been handed down through the family’s book of magic/grimoire etc. 

To put it simply, Traditional Witches honour the ‘old ways’. They practice tried and true spells, do a lot of research to “get it right”, use traditional methods that always incorporate rituals. Folklore is important to Traditional Witches, and they often identify with Wicca as their main approach.

A Solitary Witch is a witch who works her spells and rituals alone – without a Coven. This may be because she hasn’t found her coven yet, or she simply prefers to work alone. This does not mean however, that the Solitary Witch does not attend seasonal festivals. Solitary Witches may choose to be religious and perform religious ceremonies or be non-religious and follow the Pagan path such as Wicca or Traditional British Witchcraft. About 50 percent of Pagans are self-ascribed Solitary Witches. They learn from books, CD’s, online seminars and local communities. It’s maybe because of learning from various platforms and different sources, that many Solitary Witches are also Eclectic Witches. 

At this point, if you’re thinking, ‘well, I’m not sure. I’m a lot of this one, but I’m also a bit of that one’, I would say you are more the witch that you identify a ‘lot’ with. If you are ‘a bit of this one and a bit of that one and a bit of another’, you are most likely an Eclectic Witch.  Eclectic Witches tend to use a variety of tools to aid in their spells and rituals and dip into various pools of beliefs in which to practice their magic – religious, Wiccan or both! You are your own creation, and no-one can put you in a box. You can work alone, or you can choose to find your coven if you want to. You can conjure up a healing dinner, communicate with ghosts with your ouija board, take a long walk on the beach to cleanse your soul or use a bunch of crystals to manifest a lover. You’re not fussy and you’re quite good at a lot of these.  If you feel your practices align with who you are and who you are, is a bit of all of these, and you’re free to be whichever witch you want at the time, you are an Eclectic Witch.

Gaia is the Greek Goddess of Earth and mother of all life.

In Greek mythology, Gaia is the creation of all life . Some refer to her as being the  ancestral mother and depending on which source you read, she gave birth to the sky, the oceans, rivers, time, plains, mountains, and the elements, as well as the all powerful 'Titans'. Call upon the Goddess Gaia if you would like to be further in touch with nature or to aid in grounding yourself or releasing inner fears.

Obviously I have a new found love for the Norse God, Thor since Chris Hemsworth played the part! Thor, today a variation on "Thursday",  is the son of the "Allfather" Odin & his mother Frigg. He is the brother of Loki and he married Lady Siff. The Storm God's attributes include:

His ability to produce thunder and lightning, his strength and masculinity and is known as the fiercest of all the Norse Gods! 

Pic from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Arianrhod is the Celtic Star Goddess! She is Welsh in her origin and is sometimes known by other names such as “Silver Wheel”, “Silver Circle” or “High Fruitful Mother”. She is the Goddess of reincarnation, re-birth, time and fate. Her 'wheel' weaves the tapestry of life. Trust in her to know that all is well in your life and what is meant to be will be. You are exactly where you are supposed to be and if you think you're not, or your 'time' should be different, then call upon her to re-align your fate or experiences in life. If it out of balance, she can fix it.

Picture from the creator of Goddess Power Oracle Cards, Colette Baron-Reid and the illustrator, Jena DellaGrottaglia 

The ancient & powerful Greek Goddess of magic & witchcraft; the moon, the night, necromancy and ghosts. So mysterious is Hecate that her origins are unclear. Suffice to say, she is very powerful and governs the 'in-between'. 

Picture from the creator of Goddess Power Oracle Cards, Colette Baron-Reid and the illustrator, Jena DellaGrottaglia  

The Irish and Scottish God Ogma; the God of Language. Ogma is a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann family. He is Dagda's brother. His parents being Elatha and Ethniu (or Ethlin). According to Wikipedia and the 'Ogam tract', he is the inventor of 'Ogham', the writings in which Irish Gaelic was first invented.

Lilth was often portrayed as a Demon Goddess because she was banished from the Garden of Eden for not obeying Adam. From this, she offers the lesson to all that no-one can make you do anything or be anyone you do not want to be. You are free to choose! Choose self respect, kind friends, freedom & healthy relationships. Call upon her if you need strength with any of these inspirational options.

Picture from the creator of Goddess Power Oracle Cards, Colette Baron-Reid and the illustrator, Jena DellaGrottaglia  

Apollo is an Olympian Deity in classical Roman and Greek mythology.  He is the God of music, dance, archery, truth, healing, prophecy, sun, light poetry and the guardian of mariners and foreigners among other things. He is said to have been the lover of all nine muses (the inspirational Goddesses of literature, arts and sciences).

I found this picture on Pinterest. It's by DaughterGothel on Deviant Art. How fantastic! She uses faces of celebrities and morphs them into portraits of Gods and Goddesses. Beautiful! Her link to this one is here: https://www.deviantart.com/daughtergothel/art/Apollo-259511731

Brigid (High One & Triple Goddess) and member of the Tuatha Dé Danann family. She is the daughter of Dagda and the wife of Bres. Brigid is the ancient and Pagan Goddess of the poetic arts, crafts, prophecy, healing, blacksmithing, domestic animals and divination. She is the equivalent of the Roma Goddess Minerva. Marking the beginning of Spring is the Pagan festival St Brigid's Day (or Imbolc) held on the 1st February (1st August in the Southern Hemisphere) where Brigid's crosses like the one in the picture above, are made to celebrate her.  

Anubis is the the Egyptian God of Death, and funerals. He prepares the soul for death and escorts ones who have past to the hall of judgement. He helped make Isis' husband Osiris' body into the first mummy after he was murdered by his brother Set. He is presented as a man with the head of a Jackle and is the inventor of preserving bodies and taking care of the deceased.