Folk Witchcraft and Traditional Witchcraft: What's the Difference?

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[@TheOakWitch]

As usual, I watch my video back and realised more things I should've said!! Expanding more on traditional witchcraft eclectic philosophies, here I refer to the idea that many TW traditions will draw from many spirits or deities from European folklore and amalgamate them into an idea of a divine archetype. If anyone's read The Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel Jackson - this is what I mean 😂 Also - regarding groups in this idea of folk witchcraft, definitely something to consider are hereditary folk magical paths that get passed down through families! Again, this can often be paths unique to the family and closed as a path, which may not call itself folk witchcraft but in what we call "folk witchcraft" today, can fall under that label.

[@peckishpagan]

I miss so many points sometimes that I want to do VR to some of my own videos😂 It gets frustrating, so as a fledgling creator, it was a comfort to see it happens to experienced creators, as well.

[@faeriehearthwitch6185]

This was so interesting and I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this often confusing subject! Very timely, as I want to read more on both British Folk Witchcraft and Traditional Witchcraft. As someone who lives in New England I think US witches have trouble with "regional" witchcraft, as it didn't really exist. I am part Mohawk, and while we have our own animistic ways, our own traditions, some have died out with our people and those of us who are not full-blooded or live on reserves have little access to the practices, though I have good relationships with our council. My father is English, and since most of the original white settlers in this particular area came from England, English folk magic seems to be the most prominent survival. But with 2 Swedish aunts and a Norwegian best friend, who introduced me to the Norse pantheon when I was a wee thing, that became a big part of my practice, but I am not Asatru nor belong to any other group, and am a solitary practitioner. Categories/titles are hard! Hence the Hearthwitch. I am definitely a Folk Witch but with influences from three different backgrounds!! I also had a Lithuanian Aunt who was Catholic with a leaning toward Slavic Folk and a Pennsylvania Dutch Aunt who adorned her house with Hex signs, but was definitely more of a Bible thumper! Thank you for this video!

[@fredfine]

Thanks for this video! Re lack of initiation in folkcraft: while there might be no coven-based or self initiation to become a folk magic practitioner, the way in which passing down some charms from one practitioner to another is ritualised can resemble an initiation to that specific practice 🙏

[@McMoldys]

I loved this video! I completely agree. I identify as a folkloric sabbatic witch. My practice is based on witch lore and folk devil lore of my ancestry. I’ve been trying to find resources on both kinds of magic but its hard. Some sabbatic currents see the folk devil as lucifer, others see the folk devil as the horned god. In my folk tradition some see the folk devil as straight up satan. Then when it comes to authors, some like Shani Oates fail to see that the witch lord and lady are essentially the same as the wiccan old ones but pass it off as luciferian. Most people lump every path you talked about in the video as traditional witchcraft simply because its non-wiccan.

[@activistwitch]

First: the big mug is hypnotic!!! Need!!! Edit: can confirm my experience of folk witchcraft from being raised in Italy and now researching italian folk magic is that regionality and locality really is a thing: what we did in my village is sinilar to what eastern france used to doand has something in common with say, neapolitan tradition, but the further away geographically the thinner the shared points of contact become. One examplary thing is how every region of Italy has their variations for divination card decks

[@TheOakWitch]

I do love me a big mug!! And thank you for sharing! It's amazing how practices can vary in such a relatively small area

[@Ohsosimplypaige]

Thank you Ari for this video , i have been moving away from a wiccan mindset to a folk witch practice with my specific practice being rooted in what im calling Texas Folk Magic which is a blend of Mexican folk magic / folk catholicism ie working with saints and so on. As someone else commented (being in the city ) i live in the Dallas area so not a whole lot of "nature " but im enjoying learning about the plants and animals around my apartment, in the local prairies etc . I appreciate this distinction because it is helpful when looking for recourses Lots of blessings ~ Abbi

[@mharastarling2730]

Great video as always! I identify myself mostly today as a "Welsh Folk Witch", though I will be honest and say that I identify this way mostly for ease. If I were to say to someone casually that I am a "Swynydd" or "Swynwraig" who practices "Swyngyfaredd blended with modern traditions of magic"...I think most people would just go "whaaat???". So it's just easier to say I practice a Welsh stream of "Folk Witchcraft". A Witchcraft that is inspired and informed primarily by the folk traditions of the past and present, my local landscape, the teachings of my mentors, and my own personal relationship with my culture, land, and local spirits. I used to identify as a "Traditional Witch" because I believed that term to be a bit broad and expansive and a descriptor for exactly what I just described above. However, I started realising that when I said I was a "Traditional Witch" people would assume I was Cochranian, or part of a similar "tradition" as that. So I've moved away from that recently. "Folk Witchcraft" just sits nicely with my own practice. A Witchcraft which is of my folk, my people, my land, my community, my history, and my locale. Inspired and informed by the past, yet rooted in the here and now.

[@TheOakWitch]

Oooh I love this: "Inspired and informed by the past, yet rooted in the here and now." So eloquently put!! 👌

[@tbonstaff1971]

I am an Eclectic Folk Witch in New Orleans. I am also Cajun.

[@BeverleyButterfly]

As always an incredibly well researched and thought out video I love listening to you whether I know the subject of not! I have no idea what I would call my craft.... Chaos maybe but I have always walked to my own drum beat xx

[@TheOakWitch]

Thank you Beverley!

[@SerenaMonteli]

Let me see if I got this right, because I understand your point and actually I think I have the same idea... Or mostly a something very similar: For me "Traditional Witchcraft" and "Folk Witchcraft" have common dots that are intertwined like: the use of magic, connecting with the landscape / bioregion and traditions. And one OF THE MOST important dots between them is "traditions" but is at the same time the reason of why they are different from each other: Because, what exactly constitutes a tradition is from where this "practices" get separated. Because Folk Witchcraft, will directly drive their practices from: family heritage, local traditions, land and geographical areas to embrace this magic in a way it can be categorized as unique to the place it belongs and it's faitful or rooted significantly to the source and it doesn't follows any type of "universal" principles to do it because this type of witchcraft is only inspired by how it was done in that place specifically. While, "Traditional Witchcraft" it's more eclectic practice where we can go from one place to other, looking for the "old traditions" and doing the same research, but while we are doing that and embracing the magical knowledge of this pre-christians old ways of working with magic and understanding magic, we don't have to label us to just one place specifically or permanently, but we can make use of this "old ways" to make some magic. So in my view: In essence, Folk Witchcraft tries to honour the magical practices of a specific zone or place or family heritage not necessarily removing aspects like religious syncretisim if they have and even can go very deep on the magical lore and spiritual practices around that dimension while their remain untouched.. And it's not the case of Traditional Witchcraft, with is more a collection of different paths that are influenced and inspired BY FOLKLORE as a meaning to understand better how to work with magic and spirits,, like going back to the past and bringing them back to the present day (at the same time, trying stay away from any religious syncretisim if there's any} and always taking in mind that "traditions" are fluid in nature, so what is done in one place will differ from other and they don't have any trouble learning or adapting their work. For me it's just a more organizaded eclectic witch who has her eyes in the past or in her "history" book {the landscape, spirits, magic, traditions} and every time she needs to understand something better for her practice she goes to the "old ways" whatever if it's on her zone, country, landscape or not. I DON'T KNOW IF I EXPLAINED MYSELF BUT THAT'S HOW I SEE IT AT LEAST... {sorry English is not my 1st language} So it's like "Every Folk Witch it's a Traditional Witch but not every Traditional Witch is a Folk Witch"

[@anonimuska99]

Thank you for great explaination. I wasn't sure about what the difference between those two is, you clarified this topic to me well, thanks and subscribed 🌙

[@rhyshirah9822]

I'm a traditional folk witch. While I really resonate with trad craft, there's a part of my path that loves working with local folklore and environments. I mostly work with the Witch Lord/Old One but I also work with local spirits and English/Welsh deities.

[@Brunnhalk]

I'm from Brazil, and I am a multiethnic person (Iberian-African-Amerindian descent). I usually define myself as a "polytheistic and animist witch." However, after watching your video, I realized that my practices are more aligned with Folk Witchcraft than Traditional Witchcraft. But which folklore? That's the hardest question. What can I incorporate into my practices and beliefs without appropriating from other cultures, whose people might get upset? Indeed, I have three centered devotions: to some African (Osanha) and Afro-Brazilian (a spirit that my grandparent used to worship) entities, to Greek - Roman deities (Hekate and Diana), and to the land and local spirits, both from my bio-cultural region and from my home. I consider this to be ethical, but sometimes I wonder, how can I be sure how ethical it is? It's a little bit more complicated at the ex-colonies...

[@artmakerforever3510]

Very interesting, thanks so much!

[@helenahelvellacrispa2764]

Excellent video. Need to watch it through again. Just wanted to comment and send some 💚💚💚 your way for the algorithm!

[@TheOakWitch]

Thank you Helena! I super appreciate it 💚

[@JosephFry-hj4oe]

I like how you explain things thanks oak witch good joice

[@sandyblack9698]

great content.Hope your uni studies are going well,Blessings🐛📚

[@TheOakWitch]

Thank you! I actually graduated my masters over two years ago now 😅 I'm in full time employment as an Ecologist!

[@WitchSpiritTarot]

Hi, Ari! I have only been learning for 2 years on my own. I am animistic and appreciated fairy and fae folk, but I am in the city and most nature is experienced through a video screen. I have used the term folk, but I having trouble with it because of lack of connection with the local area even though I have lived here for a long time. I have done a lot of research, and find I am intuitively driven. I do things when I feel a need. What should I call myself?

[@TheOakWitch]

I guess my first question would be, what label resonates with you most? Some people just go by "Witch" and that's totally fine! Also, there's definitely a lot of folk magic and spirits in cities too 😁 so if that's your concern, connecting to your local land can look like the egregore of the city itself, roadside plants, street trees, etc! There's a lot of city witchcraft books and videos out there to help get an understanding of connecting to your local land in cities. ☺️

[@WitchSpiritTarot]

@@TheOakWitch Could 3 major categories be Folk, Traditional (including ceremonial) and Contemporary? **Smile**

[@TheOakWitch]

Sure! Labels are more of a guiding descriptor than a restrictor, but go with what makes sense to you! Those who feel like their practice draws from various elements often use eclectic as a label!

[@WitchSpiritTarot]

@@TheOakWitch I am so early on on my practice which makes it difficult to describe. I am learning about a lot, but where I live limits nature experience. I miss the woods & the ocean, since I grew up with them. My family primarily come from Scotland and England, ancestors. I find myself drawn to learn more from these countries! In Canada I grew up in Nova Scotia aka New Scotland. Thank you!

[@WitchSpiritTarot]

In Nova Scotia I grew up on the Island of Cape Breton (aka Cape Britain). In spirit Nova Scotia is a Mini UK in reverse. I did also know a family who originated from Wales! **Smile**

[@furqansalam7013]

I like u so much

[@BenStimpsonAuthor]

One of the big issues with modern labels is they are just that, modern labels. 200 years ago, 100 years ago people weren't calling themselves 'Traditional witch' or 'Folkloric witch' they were just practicing cunningcraft. I wouldn't necessarily say 'anything goes' in folk witchcraft, you're still dependant upon the traditions you decide to take on and this is the major crux of the matter. whereas traditional witchcraft is organic in a tradition sense, folk witchcraft as it is right now is stagnant because so many rely on the old folklore material to inform them of practices and customs. I know plenty of folk witches who are striving to bring it into the 21st century, and that can mean a lot of ridiculousness gets added. what folk witches lack, in my opinion, and I say this as one... is a worldview. so many folk practicioners seem to emerge from first having explored Paganism or Wicca and try to apply those worldviews when the reality is folklore and folkpractices as being practiced emerged from the Christian worldview. So it's complicated. The other big issue is this thing of bioregionalism because again, people become reliant on what scant evidence exists for their region and in some cases (such as, Cornwall, or Hertfordshire, or the County of Durham) if a folklorist didn't write down the practices by the 20th century a lot of those practices died out... so the only thing people have are to look more broadly.

[@50shadesofbish]

Traditional witchcraft is the ways of the “ old” meaning Pre Christian etc. They don’t follow Wicca. Unfortunately now..everything is getting watered down and everyone has an opinion. I’m so glad I learned from elders about the true meaning of witchcraft and the diversities 💕