[Info] Witches

"The Italians call them Strega. The Yoruba of West Africa call them Aje, meaning
mother. Where my mother was from, they called them Häxa. And here, we call
them witch. Over the centuries, vampires have fought them and fought beside
them, bedded them and burned them. Whether adversary or ally, they have been
a force to be reckoned with."  
–Eliljah Mikaelson The Originals

Witches are supernatural beings who are born with or develop the power to affect
change by magical means, known as witchcraft. They are the human conduits of
the Triple Goddess, Hekate, and exist to maintain the delicate balance of order
versus chaos in nature; however, some may choose to lean more towards one
than the other by virtue of universal free-will. Weak or strong, they remain one of
the most powerful mortal species in known existence. The source of these powers
vary between individual and groups, ranging from within themselves to demons
and artifacts. Though their abilities may be described as psychic in nature, they do
not relish the comparison to those they consider lesser than themselves, given they
possess a broader range of potential.

No one knows when they first came to be, but their ancient practices have been
passed down across thousands of generations by word of mouth and written text.
Traces of them have been found as far back as the ancient Mesopotamians and are
considered to be more archaic still. However, despite evidence of their presence in
the world, precious little is actually known about them. They are an elusive group,
actual practitioners functioning more as a secretive order rather than advertising
their skills to the world. Though, exceptions to this rule exist, particularly within the
Voodoo and Wiccan sects, who tend to make themselves known—the extent of their
power remains mysterious nonetheless.  

Facts About Witches

• Witches are witches, no matter gender. True
practitioners of the craft do not answer to
epitaphs such as wizard, warlock or sorcerer.

• Witches have a higher resistance to disease
and infection than most humans but are still
subject to them.

• Even with Wiccans magical practices are not
freely discussed. Witches will often gauge the
interest of a person's inquiry and only divulge
secrets to the "recruit-able".

• All classes of witches are capable of having
a familiar. What a familiar means to that witch
depends on the craft they follow.

• All witches have knowledge of basic tools such
as candles, runes, crystals, incense and oils.

• Witches tend to have general, functional
knowledge of all other types of craft.

• Witches are not generally the enemy of anyone,
be it supernatural or otherwise and you do not
want a witch for an enemy.

• Witches are immune to the glamour/compulsion of
vampires. Their metaphysical shields are natural and
automatic and can be strengthened beyond that of
many supernaturals in terms of mental self defense.

• Witches can be turned by other supernaturals, unless
they ward themselves of such things prior. Once turned,
they loose all connection to witchcraft.

• The art of witchcraft predates that of any known
culture. From this, it is often believed that the creation
of all supernatural creatures is the failure or triumph of
witchcraft.

• Witches are not generally sympathetic to the plight of
supernatural humans. It is known that supernatural
humans are often the offspring of generations of spark
witches. Their singular ability is not an indication of
practicable magic and therefore, they are not to be
included under the umbrella of witches -- though they
have been for ages by ignorant humans.

Terms To Know

Cradle Witch
Cradle witches possess an internal source for their powers, and come
into their abilities easier and faster, often making them a Jack of All
Trades. It is common for a cradle witch to be born to established
bloodlines or covens and be brought up in and around the full knowledge
of the craft allowing them to become masters of their craft at much
younger ages. Because of this, their aura is also much stronger, and it is
harder for them to remain hidden from other supernatural beings.
Unchecked, however, this swirling of magic within a single human can be
explosive and draining.


Spark Witch
Spark witches, like all other witches, are born with a preternatural
inclination; however, they are born to mortal parents and often are
often unaware of the full extent of their powers until they are of age
and able to explore and tune them of their own volition. It takes years
to gain mastery over their skills, because of this, spark witches tend
to be singularly focused, giving them incredible control. Even with a
singular form of magic being the most hard hitting in their arsenal
of defense, they remain incredibly powerful beings able to hold their
own against other supernatural beings. If they are descended from
another witch, they are at LEAST third generation.


Pathway
For lack of a better comparison, a pathway is denomination of witchcraft.
Sometimes the witch chooses, and sometimes the pathway chooses you.


Coven
A group of witches that practice the same form of witchcraft. Their
numbers may vary according to their denomination. Multiple covens
may exist within a city, but they all answer to the same witch regent
and council.


Spell
Also known as incantations, spells are an invocation of some source of
power to make something happen (or not happen). They require
concentration, time, and focus, the stronger the witch or power-source,
the stronger the spell. Though witches can create change with the simple
usage of their mind, spells are reserved for bigger actions.


Curse
A spell used to incur harm or punishment upon a target. They can
sometimes be broken by a stronger witch, but the process is difficult
and grueling.


Hex
Hexes are curses that cause the target to go slowly insane or develop a
cancer-like illness; however, unlike the typical curse they must be broken
by the one who cast it; however, if the spellcaster dies a direct-line
descendant may perform the ritual. Otherwise, its effects are permanent.
Their target must be mortal (not necessarily human), and cannot be
another witch. Vampires may not be directly affected, but their human
servants are susceptible.


Potion
A liquid made with magical, healing, or poisonous properties.


Amulet
Items blessed by a witch or divine being imbued with a magical property,
or containing the soul of another. Typically worn as a necklace.


Familiar
A witch's familiar, or familiar spirit, are a representation of the individual's
power source. They serve to assist with the usage of magic and advise their
masters in the arcane arts. For Wiccans and Ancestral witches, the spirit
inhabiting the familiar belongs to a deceased witch; oppositely, for Voodoo
and Dark magic their creatures are inhabited by demons.

Grimoire
This is no ordinary spell book. Purchasing a book form Barnes and Noble with
pre-written spells does not a grimoire make. This spell book(s) is a personal
journal of a witch. It is an extension of the witch and does not only document
spells but experiences and the growth of one's magic. This is not a book that
is often shared with others and even in the cases where grimoires are handed
down through the ages, witches are expected to add to the library of magic by
making their own. Grimoires are often made of soft parchment and crude
leather. The strongest grimoires are made by the hand of the witch they serve
and all the materials are gathered by them. The more natural the better.

Power Structure

Regent
Witch regents are the equivalent of a vampire city master. They
are the supreme figure for all the covens within a city. They are
more often than not a cradle witch, and in the absence of a regent
the authority falls to the witch council. The witch regent may
draw from all forms of magic within their coven at one time in order
to maintain the sacred balance between order and chaos. If unfit,
they may be voted out of office by the council. The process is
uncommon, and the vote must be unanimous.


Councilors
The Council
The witch council consists of three witches chosen from a city's
covens. Upon the death of a regent they confirm the next, if a
clear heir is not selected by the previous regent they will do so.
They are the official advisors of the regent. If a witch regent is
placed on trial by the covens for treason, the councilors become
temporarily impervious to the regent's powers. The trial period
may only last one lunar cycle.


Viceroy/Vicereine
The leader of an individual coven. They may be referred to as a
High Priest or Priestess. Some denominations may have one of
each gender; however, they represent one unit and in the event
of a vote between the covens they only receive one for both.


Elders
Older witches that live within the jurisdiction of a coven. They
are revered and serve as advisors to their respective viceroys
and/or vicereines.

Laws Of Conduct
Classified as humans, witches must uphold human law.
They prefer to defer to human law before resorting to
their practice. With supernatural laws now in place and
law enforcement more equipped to handle preternatural
disturbances, witches tend to feel more comfortable
"playing" human than lashing out.

The following are laws that all witches must abide by no
matter their inclination to law enforcement. These are
ancient and sacred laws that have keep the witch community
safe for a millennia or more.

1. Honor Thy Neighbor.
Witches live in a world of discretion with no need to announce
their presence. A simple nod, the way a hand is shook, the
quiet crackle of other worldly power, lets a witch know when
they are in the presence of another witch or something else
entirely. As such, witches keep a cordial distance between
themselves and others. As long as their space is respected
any other creature can expect the same.
2. As Above So Below
Witches are people. Their desires drive them. However, most
witches focus their desires on the good of the community
and thus remain in tune with the natural flow of the world
around them. Their practices and spells are performed when
and if Gaia allows, with the opportune conditions. While this
is the expectation of all witches, those that follow more selfish
desires may attempt to force conditions with grave results and
false positives.
3. You Shall Not Pass
Witches often show more grace to outsiders than has been
shown to them. However, there is clear distain in the witch
community for anything considered "unnatural". Creatures
created from malice or accident, even by their own hand or
the hand of their gods, are often shunned or at the very
least kept at arms length, depending on the grace of the
witch encountered.
4. Waste Not, Want Not
Witches understand that everything that is given can be taken
away. The gods give and take in equal breath. Mother Nature
provides to only those that tend her. Because of this, even in
modern times, witches forage, they DIY, they live away from
cities. Purer ingredients create more powerful spells, and no
part of the tree, the animal, or ore should be discarded
inappropriately, lest Gaia curse your efforts.
5. The Cost of Doing Business
All magic runs along the same vein; keeping balance. Therefore,
magic comes with a price. A witch must always remember that
whatever they put out into the world, returns to them threefold
and life has a funny way of catching you off guard. You may reap
the rewards of your magic now, but ill-intent has a way of burning
your family tree.

A Synopsis of Witchcraft
We Honor Those Who Came Before Us


Traditional magic is the oldest variation of witchcraft, dating back to ancient times
and said to have existed long before recorded history. Within the witch community
the term "traditional" refers to the similarities that all practitioners of magic share.
Such as, use of runes, smoke, candles, seasons, moon phases and deities which
span cultures and crossed borders long before the human race began to explore
what was beyond their line of sight.

In the beginning, magic was the understanding of one's surroundings and those
who could attune to the unique rhythm of life were considered the shamans, the
conjurers, the fortune tellers. Their goals were healing and balance. Given this
neutral position, it was neither entirely good nor entirely bad with practitioners
often pulling from both light and dark elements to maintain the sacred balance
of the universe.

As time passed, those who were gifted in the control of the natural auras of the
world, began to commune amongst themselves, and so with it, the creation of
covens. Within covens, came the breeding and sharing of magic through
bloodlines. When strife and war and human fallacy became the norm of grown
civilizations, these witches turned to the ones that had come before for more power,
insight and strength. It was the birth of ancestorial magic. This form of magic is
practiced amongst every pathway, the logical child of traditional magic.

White Magic
Cleanse the World of Evil


A Synopsis
White magic is light and light is blinding.
Selfless benevolence is an absolute must and when darkness falls the light will always
prevail. White magic is focused purely on benevolence and good. While they possess
the standard powers of any witch, they are sworn only to use them for beneficent
purposes. Many of them are healers or work to shield mankind from attacks. Those
with pure hearts are drawn to this path. They may call on deities such as angels,
gods/goddesses, or light spirits.

Playing White/Light Witch
A practitioner of this path will have no ill intention toward anyone around them and strive
for complete healing within themselves. Fully aware of themselves emotionally, mentally,
and physically; one must know themselves fully if they wish to give light to the world. Those
who practice this righteous path of divinity seek to maintain balance and order, they do not
do well with neutrality or grey areas.


Classes
Divine Magic
Call Upon the Angels

Divine, Angelic, or Evangelical magic sources their power from the Angels. Usually, these
witches live under an Abrahamic religion and, like their Voodoo cousins, carry their magic in
their given bible. The sword and shield of light, is the manifestion by which they live and breathe
their magic. While, as white witches, they do not seek to attack, make no mistake their sword is
as sharp as their shield is strong. However, a majority of their practice lies in passing blessings,
general good deeds, and healing.

Appearance: White witches must maintain a clean and well-kept appearance at all times.
During their rituals they wear white and do not bare themselves in any way, the women will wear
hair-coverings held in place by wreaths of white flowers while the men simply wear the wreaths.
Jewelry is not permitted during these events, save for wedding and engagement rings.

Attributes: These white witches adhere to one of the three Abrahamic religions, and nearly all
their children will attend a religiously-affiliated school. Though they often avoid conflict, they are the
natural enemies of other dark witches. Nonetheless, they work to shield not offend.


Sun Magic
Rise and Be Steady

Sun or solar witches believe the sun gives them all and is the greatest, purest light ever given. They do
not take kindly to being compared with or confused with, ancient sun worshippers, who were actually
prone to very dark arts. These witches follow a white pathway and believe deeply that the warmth of
the sun is its nearly singular purpose and they are the disciples to spread that warmth and light. Covens
of these witches holds high ceremonies in meteorite craters and around volcanoes though they often
avoid ancient ruins of sun worshippers.

Appearance: Witches of this pathway often wear gold in gluttonous amounts. If given the option,
they will wear only gold. They choose to wear as little as possible to keep light on their skin at all times.

Attributes: Cheerful and friendly, they can be nearly toxic in their positive outlooks on life. They
are energetic and gregarious, even those that choose to practice alone, but can grow morose if they are
in the dark too long.


Reiki Magic
Heal the Soul

Reiki is using the power to heal by the universal life force. This universal life force has
common names such as ki, chi, or prana. Reiki itself is a system from Japan, and is one of
the most known. The practice is focused on chakra energy and moving energy through a
recipient's body by gently removing any blocks and increasing the flow of life forces to
areas that are ill or injured.

Appearance: Earthen jewelry, hand crafted and raw crystals are a staple in the creation
of outfits for the Reiki practitioner. They may also be painted/tattooed with runes for their own
protection as removing negativity from people, places and things, as a tendancy to stick to them
if they are not careful.

Attributes: Shamanist in their practice, Reiki practicioners are often solitary witches but are
not opposed to combining powers with others or full covens for the sake of the greater good.

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Basic Powers
• Divination/Scrying
• Empathy
• Spell Casting/Glamour
• Spiritual Sensing/Healing
• Sheilding

Higher Powers
• Clairvoyance
• Mediumship
• Invocation
• Conjuration
• Hex/Curse Reversal

Master Powers
• Reality Warping
• Elemental Control
• Spirit Cleansing
• Mind Clearing

Black/Dark Magic
There Is No Light Without Dark


A Synopsis
Dark or Black magic is the second oldest and most dangerous variation
of witchcraft. It is the exact opposite of Wicca in that it favors chaos over
order. Despite the typically negative goals of this particular group, they
must be allowed to exist in order to maintain the sacred balance.
Individuals who practice this variation of magic may not belong to a coven
at all, but witches are social creatures and are therefore stronger in groups
than alone. Multiple covens of dark magic may exist within a single city, as
the entity they serve is not always a singular being. Some may sell their
souls to a demon, the devil, or a deity. These individuals are empowered by
the entity to which they sell their souls and must ultimately serve their will.
Some within this practice have achieved the goal of immortality; however,
their master may choose to recall them at any given time.


Playing a Dark/Black Witch
To be a practitioner of the dark arts, you can not be squeamish. The practice
requires defiling of one's own body, corpses and the sick. They work with
maggots and rot and use sex and masturbation in the darkest, most disgusting
of places to cast their spells. They deal in death and disease in order to keep
their power and the illusion of youth and beauty. They are trapped in the
conundrum of forever battling age and decay while causing it nearly
indiscriminately amongst others. This battle is terribly taxing on the body and
the soul and as such, the life span of dark
witches is often short, snuffed out abruptly. Since they deal with fickle demons
and deities, those who bestow power among them are known to rip it out and
place it with another without warning.

With the help of glamour spells they may slow the faster aging process their
bodies will undergo, but death is inevitable. If they do manage to live a longer
life, cancer, dementia, or the contracting of limbs is inevitable—Hekate's curse.
The EXTREMELY RARE exception to this rule occurs when an individual manages
to achieve immortality; however, their physical state of being and appearance
are completely dependent upon whoever granted the gift, and they may revoke
it at any time. This process would cause them to age immediately and is
excruciatingly painful.

These witches are extremely powerful individuals, nearly the rival of a cradle
witch at their prime. Dependent upon how "dark" they're willing to go, the more
powerful still they will become...but the costs grow continuously higher and
more twisted.


Classes
Black Magic

Individuals who have sold their soul to Lucifer, the fallen angel of the Abrahamic
religions. They are considered "contract" witches, and may continue to serve the
devil for as long as it suits his will. The head of their covens must engage with him
sexually, regardless of gender or preference.

Shadow Magic

Individuals who serve a particular deity, such as Persephone, Lilith, or Echidna.
While they are not under contract, they serve a deity of darkness and must accept
that their bodies may be possessed by their particular deity at any given moment,
which will result in their immediate death once said deity leaves their body.

Demonic Magic

Witches who contract themselves with a particular demon. Non-witches may
become one, but are then classified as spark-witches. Their contracts typically
last 10 years and result in being dragged to hell by a hell-hound. Extensions
may occur, but they are at maximum another 10 years and come at great cost,
they must sacrifice the life of a loved one.  

Blood Magic

The magical properties of supernatural and/or innocent blood is used as a source
of power for those who practice this form of witchcraft; however, the product is
used directly not ingested. The power continues so long as the supply does. This
form of magic is usually found in the bowls of the others, and used to strengthen
and darken the practices.


Appearance & Attributes
All witches of this craft suffer greatly. The horrors of their deeds mar their flesh
and steal their humanity. Since they age like humans, once they move past the
threshold of youth, the hag that once only reflected in the mirror and was
reserved for the eyes of their victims becomes their daily visage. For them the
right to beauty and youth rests in the blood of those who already have it.
Without a steady supply the glamour does not last, thus most black witches
seclude themselves and use their glamour sparingly, mostly to seduce and
capture prey.

Their familiars are lesser demons in the bodies of a creature most suited to
them. Once a familiar is found, a "witch teet" forms somewhere on the witch's
body in a convenient place for the familiar to suckle. As long as the familiar
is suckled regularly they will do whatever it takes to see to it that the witch
completes her tasks. A witch may bleed their familiar for ritual or rite, even
sacrifice them and the familiar will return.

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Basic Powers
• Telekinesis
• Spell Casting
• Invocation
• Scrying

Higher Powers
• Hexes/Curses
• Dream Interference
• Pain Infliction
• Potion Brewing

Master Powers
• Demonic Mediumship  
• Conjuration
• Hypnosis/Voice Manipulation
• Glamour
• Immortality (Rare)

Euro-Slavic Magic
You Have Always Known Us


A Synopsis
As the name suggests, Euro-Slavic Magic is the woven tapestry of all of the magics
from Russia to Portugal and the touches of other pagan magics across the centuries.
Under the strong wave of Christianity, a few strands of magic survived, even migrated.
This form of magic, aside from Wicca, is probably the most broadly known and usually
what people are talking about when they talk about "witchcraft" in general.

Playing Euro-Slavic Witch
Thriving through centuries, these witches adapt, grow and change but never forget their
roots and always keep their magic close. They have become masters at blending in, many
even captilize on their gifts but more often than not they simply exist amongst the others
and tend to their own.

Classes
Classical Magic
The Old Way

The roots of European witchcraft trace back to classical antiquity when concepts of
magic and the supernatural were interwoven into societal beliefs. From the Norse in
the North, Slavs in the East, Greeks in the South, and the Franks and Celts in the West,
their practices have woven together over time to result in the modern practice of
Classical Witchcraft. They value the balance between life and death, good and evil,
and nature versus nurture. Bloodlines are sacrosanct, and they often draw from the
power of those who came before, “The Ancestors.”

Appearance: Given the influence they yield over modern culture, one may be
hard pressed to say that a practitioner of this walk looks or dresses any one particular
way. In general, they are private about their true inclinations and would seldom present
in a way that might betray it to others. At festivals and ritual ceremonies they don flowing
garments of white or earthen tones, adorning their hair with flowers or feathers, the
exception being elders or regents who garb themselves in black. Silver jewelry is a
popular choice of attire as well.

Attributes: Their existence is known only to themselves and to other witches within
a particular city. At no time will they reveal their true nature to a regular human unless
presented with one in need by a witch or supernaturally-blessed individual who possesses
knowledge of their power. Their ultimate goal is to preserve the balance of nature. If they
believe another being is offending this, they are honor-bound to remove them by any
means necessary.


Gypsy Magic
The Fates

Stereotypically reduced to fortune tellers, Gypsy magic is deep well of culture. Like Voodoo,
it is nearly a completely closed practice, handed down orally through the generations of traveling
bands and tightknit communities. Their magic is woven into their everyday activities but though
they modernize, albeit slowly, they never trust an outsider.

Appearance: By birth, they are dark haired and olive skinned and often wear their
hair long in thick braids. Their style of dress is marked by colorful layers, head wraps and scarves,
as well as yellow gold jewelry and old coins.

Attributes: Oral history, folklore, myth and superstition are abound in this practice as
it is also part of their culture. As is, secrecy. While you maybe able to spot a witch or person of this
culture from a mile away, that is about all you will learn of them. However, if you are one of them,
no matter how long it's been, or how you try to hide it, or even if you don't know, they will.


Fae Magic
The Vilas

This lineage of magic, Celtic in its roots, is said to be handed down directly from Titania, the queen
of the Fae and her husband Oberon, who would not be outdone by his wife. These witches are typically
vain, and traffic in beauty and love magic. If you're thinking Ursula, you're thinking correctly. While not
true Fae themselves, they often are tricksters and their magic comes at a steeper prices than magic itself
and it's always for sale with them.

Appearance: Glamour is heavily used for these witches. Typically prone to sparkle, glitter and
and anything ostenatious, they both create and promote a lot of outrageous fashion trends. Bright colors,
heavy make up, and loud prints express their need for attention and awe.

Attributes: The witches of this pathway, are agents of the Fae. They wield their magic for the
tenuous balance between their desires and that of the Fae Queen and her King. They will often have a fae
familiar who doles out their power as it serves the realm.


Sinful Magic
The Benandanti

These witches like to call themselves Maenads, the handmaids of Dionysius. They are often
mistaken for devil worshipers by outsiders for their practices that traffic in orgies, gluttony,
all forms of excess and human sacrifice. However, their sacrifices should to be willing and alert
to be accepted by the god. These witches often develop an unyielding appetite like the god
from which their power is derived.

Appearance: These witches can be anyone. Their defining trait is the vibration of their
aura during their rituals and the way their pupils bleed to cover all of their eyes. Anyone around
them with the same pupil dilation is possessed by their magic (this is always temporary but can
have lasting side effects).

Attributes: There are many derivatives of this practice, but all worship in excess to the
Horned God. To complete rites in this path, the most powerful of the coven or the lone practitioner
must gather as much sexual energy as possible and wear the ceremonial head of the Horned God.
As long as you are in service to the god, your life is in his hands and taken out of the mortal coil.

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Basic Powers
• Telekinesis
• Divination/Scrying
• Empathy
• Spell Casting/Glamour
• Pain Infliction
• Spiritual Sensing

Higher Powers
• Hexes/Curses
• Pain Infliction
• Clairvoyance
• Mediumship
• Invocation
• Conjuration
• Moderate Injury Healing
• Moderate Illness Healing

Master Powers
• Reality Warping
• Elemental Control
• Necromancy
• Mind Stunning/Control/Hypnosis
• Immortality
• Possession

Wiccan Magic
Spellbound to the Earth


A Synopsis
Wicca is a form of witchcraft where tools and knowledge are the primary
source of becoming part of the divinity; one with nature, one with thyself,
one with the unspoken energy of magick, otherwise known as magic. Wicca
is primarily spark lit, meaning you have to keep practicing, keep feeding your
flame to burn into power. Ancestral lines are not noted part of the practice but
there are many ancestral witches that forgo bloodlines to move into a Wiccan
practice.

An open practice, Wicca welcomes all. Their hard and fast beliefs in the natural
mechanics of magic; that the universe hears and provides, bars no soul from the
practice, making it the most public, most known practice of recent times. It's
deep pagan roots harken to Euro-Slavic magic but it is ages older.

Playing A Wiccan
Wiccans are neutral practitioners. They are neither evil nor good. They believe
in balance of nature from living to death and respect all of the divinity. Wiccan
Witches see beyond the modern world, they see beyond black and white. Any
sort of ill force driving against their mental, emotional, and physical well-being
suffer consequences by three. Any selfish gain will result in consequences that
could potentially harm themselves or worse those that they hold dear. Wiccans
want peace in all living things, and in the afterworld.

Follow the 13th Principles Wicca
01. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces
marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

02. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward
our environment.  We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance
offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

03. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the
average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called
“supernatural”, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

04. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through
polarity – as masculine and feminine – and that this same Creative Power lies in
all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and the feminine.
We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive of the other. We
value sex as pleasure as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the
sources of energy used in magical practice and religious worship.

05. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds sometimes
known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Inner Planes etc
– and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal
phenomena and magical exercises.  We do not neglect one dimension for the other,
seeing as both as necessary for our fulfillment.

06. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy but do honor those who teach,
respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge
those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

07. We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one
views the world and lives within it – a worldview and philosophy of life which we
identify as Witchcraft – the Wiccan Way.

08. Calling oneself a “Witch” does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity
itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations.  A Witch seeks to
control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely
and without harm to others and in harmony with nature.

09. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution
and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and
our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or
philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be “the only
way” and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of
religious practice and belief.

11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the
craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different
traditions.  We are concerned with our present and our future.

12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity
known as “Satan” or “the Devil” as defined by Christian tradition.  We do not seek
power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be
derived only by denial to another.

13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our
health and well-being.


Classess

Folk Wicca
Traditional


Known for the old ways of magic, this class is passed down from a superior witch of a
coven, who has been taught from a former superior. It is a heavily oral tradition of
practice, based on text not seen since the birth of Christianity. Thus, it comes as
little surprise that the practitioners of this magic function in very cult-like covens.
They are private in their teachings and don't take kindly of treacherous tongues
passing on knowledge to outsiders. Typical practices are group driven and the only
text that is held in any regard is of the grimoires of witches past. Just like most
witchcraft they have the basic tools of crystals, runes, herbs, and candle use.
There are rumors of solitary Folk Wiccans. These are the individuals who fled from
the cult and remain hiding in fear. Folk Wiccans that remain solitary only remain
within practice because once you begin practicing Wicca you become tangled in the
spirit world and the divinity. The dead will speak, nature will call, and it's your job
to respond to it or you will just be a grey aura highway for spiritual energy to speed
through.

• Appearance: Since this is cult driven, it would depend on the leader of the coven to
dictate how they would dress and act from the public eye to private eye. Rituals tend
to be in robes and pointed hats. Preferably seasonal to the holiday Wiccan calendar.

• Attributes: Folk Wiccans tend to be more powerful by numbers compared to a
solitary witch. The more bodies producing energy, the stronger the spell will be.
They are very formal and extremely disciplined in the routine of rituals. All casting
and practices are by circling around and being in unison.


Herbal Wicca
Green Thumb


Typically singular witches with a passion of growing herbs for potions and remedies.
Wicca generally has lessons regarding common herbs but this class goes beyond and
typically are the farmers who produce the means for other Wiccan classes. They live in
isolation in the deep forest. Green witches typically coexist with wild animals and don't
believe in harming nature, but protecting it at all costs. They tend to be stronger pulling
energy from the elemental towers of fire, water, earth, and air. Groups of witches who
reside in a coven under the green thumb run green houses and farms usually on the
edge of a nearby forest or group up to become activist in protecting the forest.

• Appearance: Tend to wear what they made from natural homemade resources, have
living floral crowns and like to walk bare foot to be with nature. They often have long
hair and are known for being hippie of all witches.

• Attributes: This is the class that most solitary witches start off learning. They are the
ones who write the cook books for most witches. They tend to be less sick with the
knowledge of remedies. Potions are their strongest suit when it comes to the craft. They
have stronger bonds to mythical/supernatural creatures than others of the craft and are
quicker able to detect them.

Astrology Wicca
Cosmic

The cosmic craft is neither for the faint of heart nor the beginning witch. Most Wiccans
generally take five or more years to learn the tools of the craft and once they have
mastered the history and customs of the calendar then they will turn to the stars for
more complicated magic. Cosmic witches seek mastery level in celestial energy. They
read auras, and feed off of the energy around them. They are empathetic to those around
them. They follow the horoscopes, the zodiac signs, read within and outside of the
universe.

• Appearance: They wear charged crystals to ward off negative energy and often have
a slew of shirts with quotes or motivational art; clothing that speaks with purpose.

• Attributes: Spells within this craft take even the simplest of
concepts and make them extremely difficult to achieve. Once a witch begins to extend
past the bounds of her known reality something as easy as stepping out of one's body
and into the spirit replica of the same room becomes a hundred times hard. Opening
yourself up to the cosmos can take you to places beyond your comprehensions. That
said, it is not uncommon for cosmic witches to be seen as dreamers, schizophrenics,
or even empty shells of themselves. A constant pull to the worlds beyond makes it hard
for a cosmic witch to remain rooted. A cosmic witch that is well rooted is something to
fear. They are highly in tune with auras, not just of individuals but masses. The ability
to siphon this energy and twist and shape it as they feel, is theirs and they must work
doubly hard to remain neutral and true to the faith of Wicca, which demands balance.
These witches tend to be precognitive and often find their familiars in the form(s) of
spirit guides from the many avenues of the unknown that they travel so often.

Celtic Wicca
Heathens

Celtic Wiccans believe strongly in the Norse interpretation of Hekate. That is to say, that
Hekate took the form of a giantess, Angrboða, married Loki and became the mother of
monsters. She gave magic to the lover of Hati, her grandchild and the child of her wolf
off-spring, Fenrir. Because of this, Celtic Wiccans are often seen with the sigil of the wolf
head and the moon, and tend to be the Vargamor for wolf packs.



• Appearance: Even in modern times, they prevail with their more Viking-like style with
hand forged metal jewelry be it piercing or otherwise. They often tattoo themselves with
sigils and runic symbols. Women tend to leather clothing and "warrior" braids. Men often
sport top knots and a few braids themselves. They are the primary forges of amulets and
use runic sigils in their every day practice.

• Attributes: They practice rituals through song and chants and grand ceremonies through
the seasons. Because of their cultural connections to monsters, it is said their primary
familiars are Fey, and that they share or trade power with the creatures. Perhaps it is because,
like green witches, they are in tune with nature and often solitary, living in forests or along
shorelines, often distanced from crowded cities and the more modern world. Witches of
this craft, often hail from northern countries where the stories of Fey and Witches are
often intertwined.

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Basic Powers:
• Cleansing Spells
• New Moon & Full Moon Rituals for Energy Renewal
• Banishing Spells
• Prosperity Spells
• Locating Spells
• Palmistry
• Tarot reading
• Protection circle drawing

Higher Powers:
• Levitation
• Elemental Binding
• Protection Shielding
• Curses
• Connection to the spiritual world

Master Powers:
• Astral Projection
• Affliction
• Clairvoyance
• Telekinesis
• Telepathy
• Psychic
• Healing

Voodoo
We Walk With The Other Side

A Synopsis
Originating in Africa and amongst the Polynesian tribes, Voodoo is quiet, closed and
deeply ancestral practice, with many variants and offshoots such as Obeah, Santeria,
and Hoodoo; all which incorporate Catholicism and Catholic saints into their rituals.
Unlike Voodoo, these variants are the product of practitioners attempts to conceal
their ancestral magic within the colonization of their heritage. Voodoo practitioners
do not look down on these practices but appreciate their survival skills.

To the average outsider, Voodoo is dark, scary and foreboding magic, often mistaken for
magic with ill-intent. While you do not want to get on the bad side of a Voodoo priest or
priestess, their magic is not necessarily dark. More akin to Viking Paganism or modern
day Wiccan, Voodoo has its roots in healing, the worship of the deities, and maintenance
of balance. They would, however, be accurately described as the flip-side of the coin to
Viking Paganism, in that their deities and the focus of their practice pulls power from the
undead. Their deities do not reside in hallowed halls of shining gold and blinding white light,
but instead in the shadows, and recesses of the dark planes beyond natural consciousness.


Practicing Voodoo
Heavily dependent on the practitioner, and truth be told there is a lot of resentment and
turmoil clinging to the roots of Voodoo, it is a practice that can swing like a heavy pendulum
between good and evil. As wielder of this magic, you must decide how best to both appease
and harness your ancestors. Thier whispers can be loud, their demands high, but in the end,
they desire is to rest in peace. Be careful, you can be a means to an end for some of the
deities you worship.

With a natural inclination to animation and necromancy, you will find creatures of the undead
persuasion may avoid eye contact with you but you may also be hunted out of fear.

While you respect and often follow the ancient laws of witches, as a practitioner of voodoo,
you are not as subtle as the rest, often wearing your garb proudly as your practice is not just
one of your choosing but deeply embedded in your culture and heritage as well. Those that
practice Obeah, Santeria and Hoodoo will be more subtle, a bible holding the secrets of their
grimoire, but not you. Your home is your altar, your kitchen your cauldron, your grimoire a
great beast of a book often of made of the remnants of your ancestors, whatever that may
mean to you. Even greater than your altar, is your sacred place. Whether you be a lone
practitioner or part of a coven, a scared place is something you must find. This can be a
graveyard full of your ancestors, a cave or cavern that calls to you, or simply a bonfire near
your home built with the accepted offerings to your ancestors/deities.

There are touches of Voodoo in many magics that came to be heavily practiced after the slave
trade, but since then, you and your kind do not share the methods of Voodoo. You will make no
doll that leaves your house and conjure no rite in front of the eyes of outsiders, no matter how
trusted.


Classes
Voodoo
The Origin

A strictly ancestorial practice, Voodoo has been handed down and endured through
generations going back long before the recorded word. This ancestorial magic burns
in the hearts of the practitioners and is fueled by the power of the past and the dark
deities they are bound too.

Hoodoo
The Reconnection

In cases where the ancestorial line to Voodoo is broken, Hoodoo seeks to reconnect
those ties by reaching out to kin who have shown themselves worthy of the magic
and protective of the heritage. Hoodoo practitioners are often without coven but are
my no means alone. Their guides are the ancestors that have chosen them.

Obeah
The Mystique

Obeah is an elusive practice popular amongst the Arawak tribes of the Carribean
but unlike Hoodoo and Voodoo, the practitioners bent under the weight of
Christianity and learned to meld their magic with the other stolen traditions of
their colonizers. A heavily oral practice, it is hard to find a witch of this lineage.

Santeria
The Reborn

The afro-Latin counterpart to Obeah, Santeria is a little more well-known and not
as oral dependent as Obeah. It is also the more structured of the classes, having
a notable initiation rite that requires the new witch to spiritually revert to that of
a child and be cared for by an elder that chose them. Like Wicca, this process is
a year and a day of deep study and devotion to the faith, forsaking a lot of
modern conveniences.


Appearance and Attributes
Witches of this vocation often wear many layers and wrap their heads, particularly
during their initiation rites. During initiation is customary to wear only white and
after any color your desire. They hand-craft their jewelry out of beads, bones,
feathers and shells. Piercings, tattoos and alterations of the body in the name of
the craft are common.

During ceremonies they will dawn white again and use earthen paint in many
colors to draw runes on their skin. Dance is a heavy part of many rituals, often
accompanied by hand-crafted drums. For the lone practitioner, modern means of
using ancient music works just as well. These witches often have beautiful atonal
voices as well, like their pagan counterparts, and sing to their deities in many
ceremonies. Bare feet, and bare hands, are essential parts of rituals. Their sacrifices
are often birds, such as chickens or pigeons, or reptiles of any kind. It is not wise
to leave your bodily fluids or hair with a witch of this sort as it can easily be used
against you and they use their own bodily fluids and parts in their magic, even
their white magic.

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Basic Powers
• Chalk Magic
• Connection to the Spirit World
• Cleansing Magic
• Candle Magic
• Healing Magic

Amateur Powers
• Doll Making
• Summoning
• Curses | Hexing

Master Powers
• Blood Magic
• Bone Magic
• Possession Magic