The home web site of the Traditional Craft Association

Bringing together the craft of old, to serve mankind.

Select from

Portal - this site

Religion

Introduction

The following is by necessity a generalization, and is based very much on the beliefs of the Water Witches. This description therefore does not relate completely to all members, Druids for example are not a religion but a class of society, but has beliefs which are different, likewise modern witches like Wiccan's have a different perspective, but this description does hold good for most of the traditional witchcraft groups, who have a great deal in common.

Organizations or individuals do not have to agree to this or practice this in order to join, it is provided here more as an answer to those who think we are connected with a devil type character, or anti Christian in some way. In many ways it might be said that this was written for the comfort of those who want to feel comfortable with craft practices and Christianity.

It has been written by a Water Witch who has a good knowledge of very many of the traditional groups.

The religious aspects of traditional craft groups.

Within traditional witchcraft, such as Water witches, around the same number would count themselves as Christians and pagans with quite a large percentage who choose not to have any label.

We have a somewhat simpler view to Christianity, in that we believe in one god,  that is intelligent, able to present itself to different peoples in the way that they wish to communicate with it. So we see not different faiths as such but people choosing to look at different faces of the one god. We have no Satan style of god or character.

This single god being intelligent is not fooled by ritual, or make believe, or people pretending to do anything for other motives. We talk with god, via something akin to very light hypnosis, and can choose the face we meet that we feel is most relevant to the subject in hand, and from this we get advice, which we have the right to act upon or to make our own decisions. 

We have no fight with Christians, other than some over the claim to own the gateway to heaven or over tolerance of other peoples beliefs, and the Christian JC is one of the faces of god we discuss things with regularly.  Historically, some centuries ago in Britain, all people had to belong to the established church and witches were not one of the groups who fought against it openly, and we must therefore assume that for much of the time many involved in the craft would have classed themselves as Christians. The overall organization for the craft is ‘the traditional craft association’ and quite a lot of groups do not use the word witch, some you may think of as country study groups or even historical preservation societies, and have little or no religious involvement.

Although we speak directly with god, as a two-way conversation. We never act as a spokesperson for god, leaving each person to personally interrelate with god in the way that suits them, and when they are ready to. We do help people of all beliefs who have loss of faith or have not mastered how to carry out a two way conversation with the face of god of their choice. We have no missionary task so are just as happy for someone to find the spirit through Christianity as any other religion, providing they remain tolerant to others. We seek no recruits; people who come to our path will do so when the time is right for them.

We believe that opportunities or situations arrive or are offered to us and we may take up these opportunities or not, and that further opportunities will be provided when the time is right. We believe we can do what we like as long as we do not harm anyone else, which means that we have to consider any harm that we might do, including to a third party, or distant person.  Where we are able and feel the situation justifies it, we offer a hand to help any person who wants it, irrelative of their faith, with no cost, or obligation, providing that we do not harm any other person. In many cases this involves allowing others to have opportunities in life, or to make their dreams come true.

We see science and magic as two extremes of one line, where new scientific discoveries, conjuring and craft skills occupy the middle ground, and magic is only something that we know works but do not yet have a scientific answer for. We see witchcraft as comprising craft skills and ceremonial magic, the first being paramedical and skills that can be controlled and explained and ceremonial including spells, prayers and what can be achieved via raising powers. We are more inclined towards craft skills. Many of these skills traditionally developed from country skills, such as herbal healing, dowsing, and trance based skills, but many of our people now attend courses to bring in wider ranges of skills. Within a coven different members have different skills so that they can support each other.

We are able to develop or update our knowledge over time, keeping it alive and relevant to the age, and no member has to pretend to accept anything they are not happy with, giving the impression of a pick and mix religion, that people can grow into at their own pace.

From published scientific information, many personal accounts, and our own research we know that we are in one of many lives we will have on earth, that between lives there is a period of rest and assimilation of what has been learnt, that the spirit can when it is ready choose to learn more lessons and again be born as a body. This we equate to the Christian Heaven or pagan summerlands, we know of no one who has either in a near death or between past life experiences come across anything similar to hell, and of no reincarnation in any form than human, although the same people report lives as both males and females and across many countries and cultures.  We know a lot of past life experience relevant to our current lifetime is available to us, and use this in past life healing.

People do not have to be involved in any religious practices in order to join any group, to be helped or to help or to practice any craft skill. 

Within covens or groups, water witches and some others have two routes up, those interested in ceremonial magic, spells, religion tend to become high priests/priestesses, while those who are able to teach their craft skill, and act as consultants or professors are referred to as Wizards, and some groups have a different costume style for them. They are however still witches.

This description is fairly typical of craft groups that fall under the heading of traditional witchcraft, this does not include Wiccan's,  and  cannot be applied to all member groups. If the religion of any group concerns you then ask before meeting with them.

None of the groups in this association have any anti god charter such as a devil, Satan etc, and most including all traditional witchcraft groups do not accept that such an entity exists. We rather see evil as something groups of people do.

Spirits and ghosts

 To send us corrected links, suggest new links, content corrections etc.  - please use the general enquiry form.