The Museum of Witchcraft

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What is Witchcraft?

Witchcraft is a belief system that incorporates the use of magic. Witches effect change by using magic.

Records of witchcraft go back to ancient times and are found around the world. Witches and magic have always played an important role in the day to day life of village and towns folk.

Modern witchcraft is a nature-based religion and lifestyle often called Wicca. Its practitioners celebrate the changing cycles of the year, worship ancient deities and use magic. Many believe that there are remnants of early pagan religions within the rituals used by Wiccans.

Other than court confessions and trial documents little is recorded of' the village Wise Women and Cunning Men that were the predecessors of modern witchcraft. These important people were healers, councillors and therapists and were an essential part of village life. There is also evidence that some of these village witches could and would curse or ill-wish anyone who upset them. Some witches made their income from lifting or banishing curses.

There have always been good and bad witches, often referred to as black and white. Witches do not necessarily associate black with evil and white with good and consequently many prefer not to use these expressions.

Modern witches do not worship the Devil or Satan. Many do however worship a Goddess and Horned God. There is plenty of historical evidence to demonstrate that many witches were 'good Christians' and regularly attended church.

Witches will usually acknowledge the eight major festivals of the wheel of the year as well as full moons with a ritual celebration.

Tens of thousands of witches practice their craft in Britain today. In every city, major town and thousands of villages throughout the land witches are quietly worshipping the 'Old Ones', revering nature and working their magic.

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