As my old history teacher used to say when debating a point it’s important to ‘define your terms.’ A lot of people use the term ‘traditional witchcraft’ but don’t always mean, by the term, the same thing. My reasoning may become clear and certainly expanded if and when I post my Old Craft – Traditional. Witchcraft history materials elsewhere (see Facebook). I would say the term Traditional Witchcraft generally boils down to one of three things. Some of the following may prove to be controversial and it would be interesting to share views.
1. A tradition of folk magic normally passed on hand to hand, mouth to ear etc. Although there may be others of the same or related tradition, almost always it is a tradition practised alone or possibly with the person having the work done being present. Although in my experience folk that fit into this category hold as wide a range of religious views as are present in society as a whole they have a tendency toward ‘dual observance’. Almost all the folk I’ve ever met fitting this description have little or far more often, no contact/involvement in ‘Pagan’ type groups or activities and most that did kept their ‘traditional’ practice separate if not secret.
2. Traditional practices passed on hand to hand, mouth to ear often but not always practised as a group. Group practice tends to be less ‘formal’ than some ritual groups following established practice rather than strict rubric. Group structure varies from group to group with some resembling formal or semi formal lodges and others being in more recognisable coven-like groups often (especially since the 1920s), identifying their groups as covens. Some of these groups and/or individual members are and/or have been in contact/involved in pagan/magickal type groups and activities.
3. Groups and individuals inspired/informed by information gleaned from the above, books and articles written by or inspired by the above and or folklore sources. Sometimes now these groups can be generations old with the original group being formed as described and then other groups/covens splitting off from it. Sometimes these two or more splinter groups have merged forming new covens/traditions. The majority of the people that fit into this group tend not to join Traditional Witchcraft groups for one reason or another. The minority that do form groups however, tend to have greater contact with ‘modern’ Pagan or magical groups.
©Jack daw 2023
A fourth possibility? see Skillywidden (link below).
Daniel Bran Griffith - The Chattering Magpie 
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