What is Witchcraft? | A Brief History of British Witchcraft

[@TheOakWitch]

I want to make two things clear here: Me saying it's misguided to separate your craft from Wicca is in response to people who are very hateful towards Wicca and don't acknowledge it being the backbone of the modern Witchcraft movement. It is *NOT* me saying that everyone is secretly practicing Wicca and we can never practice anything other than Wicca. I make it clear in the video I don't believe this is true. Of course *many* witches and forms of modern Witchcraft have stepped away from Wicca and formed practices that do not look like Wicca - one example being folk witchcraft which I explain in the video. Acknowledging the influence of Wicca is completely valid and important to do still, which why I make that point in the video. Also I made a typo and Scott Cunningham died in *1993, not 1933. He was 36 when he died! Sadly, quite young.

[@Elizabeth-ll4tt]

I was not aware of hate toward wicca within the witchcraft community, just the separatist movement trying to identify and define boundaries between the craft and the religious aspects (which are few and far between, imo). This was helpful and informative, tyvm!

[@AutumnLeaves_011]

Don’t use the term Wicca search yourself why

[@carolescutt2257]

Wow I'm very impressed and intrigued you certainly seem to know your stuff. I have always been interested the craft and the subject matter. I have a paranormal sympathy and I feel & sense unexplained "things" iam really happy to have discovered your channel. A very grateful new subscriber❤❤

[@FrogsLikeFruitSnacks]

wicca isn't witchcraft its a religion while witchcraft is just a practice that can be a component of someone's religion

[@FritsvanDoorn]

I can see (hear) that you know what you are talking about. Two thumbs up.

[@gergojuhasz4263]

Thank you for this video 💜 A lot of people don't know the history and we need videos like this and people like you

[@dailycj2214]

Thanks im not sure what path imma go on I think Wicca but I’m not sure

[@TheOakWitch]

You got plenty of time to figure it out! I wish you best on luck on your journey.😊

[@claralaviola8846]

Mind if I ask what exactly would be a disrespectful way of adopting another culture's tradition? Only asking cause I really don't wanna offend anyone by any means. Your channel is great, btw!

[@TheOakWitch]

Disrespectful ways of adopting another culture's tradition, is to do so without proper historical and cultural research - so not researching that tradition in it's original context - and to divorce the magical concepts or traditions you want to practice, from that culture. If something is open, and not closed by hereditary formats or by initiation and other closed practice structures, then it's okay to adopt that cultural practice, but make sure you're understanding the context of that practice in the tradition it came from. An example one could look at is the Chakras, a very popular concept now in Western spirituality, that can be seen a lot in New Age spaces and in eclectic Witchcraft. But majority of the time it's a Westernised version of the Chakras, that have been divorced from it's original Tantric roots and not practiced in that tradition. It kind of goes into that decolonising mindset, where it's best to learn from people of that culture and research widely. Hope that helps? And thank you!

[@claralaviola8846]

@@TheOakWitch thanks, it helps a lot!

[@skarinblackraven9212]

@@TheOakWitch This is easily one of the best ways I've seen this explained.

[@apothecareyarts4076]

Thank you!

[@sylvie1941]

New subscriber. Really enjoying your videos!

[@TheOakWitch]

Thank you!

[@BellBookandCandle13]

Scott Cunningham died in 1956- 1993, lil typo there you had 1933, lol.

[@TheOakWitch]

Oh thank you!! I knew I had a typo somewhere 😂😂

[@robertbradley8309]

Excellent video on witchcraft basics!! I tend to lean towards the Demonolatry end. I am reading a lot of different occult books, Sefer Zohar, Qaballah, Luciferianism, Satanism, Ronald Hutton's witchcraft books, exorcism. I know very little about folk magic. I doubt anything local (Virginia, USA) would interest me. LOL But a great scholarly survey on witchcraft! KUDOS!!!!!

[@jayythepotato3035]

i was the 69th like. Nice. ALSO! i love your content i just found you today and im already in love

[@TurquoiseTerrorizer]

Really enjoying your content. You clearly have a passion in witchcraft and you’re also rather cute

[@lockandloadlikehell]

lol oof

[@pamelasavage5157]

So when you speak of the devil in witchcraft are you speaking of the horn God Crunnous? Or the Christian verse of the devil 😈 just wanting clarification on that please.

[@kristinchilders8052]

I think maybe modern British witchcraft is heavily influenced by Wicca but some crafts are older. For example: Appalachian folk magic predates Wicca and is passed down from mixed families that lived there. Also not tied to the devil.

[@TheOakWitch]

Definitely! But I wouldn't personally conflate folk magic traditions with Witchcraft. Here in this video I'm describing the modern Witchcraft movement, but certainly folk magic has been around for ages, and magics from all across the world have existed dating back centuries 😊

[@redstar7292]

If you talking about the Roy Bowers, EJJ founded BTW, this has been badly hijacked by dark fluffies. Also an initiatory mystery tradition, but of completely closed invitation only Covens. If you want to know something of what the tradition is about read books by Shani Oates. Emma Gary, is ok, but what they release to the public is still the Scott Cunningham formula, with some besoms, stangs, compasses, and some different terminology thrown. If it floats your boat, and you want incorporate it's style in your practice that's fine, but it's nothing to do with what the actual tradition, and you don't represent it.

[@kristinchilders8052]

@@redstar7292 what are you talking about? I’m genuinely confused

[@redstar7292]

@@kristinchilders8052 well there is always google..

[@JohnDoe-pd2lh]

@@kristinchilders8052 You aren't the only one who's confused. Seems they're off on their own tangent.

[@rosethorn7923]

I certainly think it's important to acknowledge modern witchcraft's roots, but I don't agree that trying to have a practice that separates itself from Wicca is "misguided." Well, I suppose what you mean by "separates". If you're just trying to say separate itself as in, forget what the roots are, okay sure I agree that's not the best idea. But the way it's phrased right now makes it sound like you mean, trying to create a distinct path is misguided, or even, it's impossible to create a truly distinct path because everything is so connected to Wicca. I don't celebrate a god and goddess; in fact, I entirely oppose this dichotomy of "male" and "female" energy that's so prevalent in Wicca. I don't follow the Wheel of the Year or believe in the Rule of Three. My correspondences and rituals are personal and often created from scratch. I can't claim I have *no* influence from Wicca, but at this point it's pretty indirect.

[@TheOakWitch]

Yeah that's exactly what I mean. And I thought I clarified that when I say "that's not to say I just think everyone's actually just practicing Wicca, because I don't think that's true" and also where I say "modern Witchcraft is not inherently pagan". Apologies if that wasn't clearer! I fully agree with you :)

[@rosethorn7923]

@@hrusewif You are free to have a different perspective from me. However, claiming that my perspective is such an outlier that I am somehow making the conversation worse by sharing it? Is extremely rude. You have seen people claiming to practice non-Wiccan witchcraft while still following the tenants of Wicca? I agree that's not ideal. I think that's an interesting point. However, that doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of people actually practicing non-wiccan witchcraft.

[@rosethorn7923]

@@hrusewif I'm not forcing you to do anything, bud. If you find my comment a distraction you are free to simply not respond.

[@christianbailey207]

Christian do not hate at all.they do not like witchcraft or devil at all. But we love uand firend ! U have christian people all worry about them... I will porayer for uand who are fo r witchcraft..... 🙏✝️🧙‍♀️

[@lockandloadlikehell]

Your devil and your plagiarized foreign desert cult has no power in these woods, Mediterranean.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

Here's how it works: Gardnerian Wicca/Witchcraft + remove some things + add some things = Hey! I belong to a new ancient witchcraft tradition!

[@redstar7292]

You might want to read, D'Este and Rankine - Wicca Magickal Beginnings.

[@Master_Blackthorne]

"Naturist" is British for "nudist."

[@LiliaWarunLW-vd5po]

Witchcraft is an abomination to God.

[@TheOakWitch]

Amazing thank you

[@lockandloadlikehell]

We're not the ones worshipping in a foreign plagiarized desert religion. The weak worship the weak- so, it's not surprising you're a desert cult afficinado.