The term “witch” is often viewed as evil and devious, with the side notion that children will run when the witch is near. It is at least fair to say that, as of 2025, the general population does not condemn those who choose the witch’s path or any path for that matter. Although some cultures and religions do so because it goes against everything they believe in within their ideologies. Even though witches may seem “cooky” or “nuts”, witches by the lot are mostly harmless and great people to be around!
One of the largest misconceptions of the witch is that there is a belief system that a witch serves Satan. Witches do not serve Satan, nor do they worship and pray to him; that is the religion of Satanism. Witches are not evil; in fact, they are a source of love and light, embracing the Earth as an equal partner in existence. The aesthetic of witchcraft is mostly perceived by others within the folklore realms and religious and cultural perceptions. A Halloween staple is that of a witch with a black hat and a black dress, but that doesn’t mean all witches look like that. Even though some may embrace it!
To those who have difficulty understanding the difference and versatility of the religions, beliefs, and traditions, that’s okay! It can be quite confusing, as you don’t know where to start. A small breakdown of explanations is as follows:
Lets Go Back in Time…
While many are aware of the Salem Witch Trials beginning in 1682, hunting of the witches was instigated long before then. All together, millions of innocent women were executed, and their lives have been brutally taken from them due to mere speculation. I do say womenbecause it was believed that only women were witches and only women could do some sort of evil magic. Witch hunts were merely a form of social persecution, to say the least.
Misgivings and misfortunes are, unfortunately, a natural part of life, as we know now. Bad things happen that we have no control over, and we find many different ways to cope. Not hundreds of years ago, though, nope. Continuous misfortunes with the mix of the fear of the unknown caused an uproar in shared paranoia and social unease. Only mere coincidences and some pretty ridiculous reasons for accusation would pick anyone out of the ordinary to be a sign of a witch. Some strange cases of accusations include talking to animals (I certainly would have been accused), age discrimination, if a child didn’t like a person, and the list goes on.
Religious extremism played a massive role in the accusations and executions of witches, and to this day, it still baffles millions.
Modern Day
In modern day, witches are rather diverse in their practice and traditions, whilst others are coming out and teaching their practices. Now more than ever, we have an endless amount of information at our fingertips that witches are no longer staying in the dark. With the use of social media, blogs like these, and other media sources, witchcraft is open to all of those who are open to it. I’ve seen countless TikTok videos of spells and rituals and tips and tricks, and it is honestly amazing. The amount of knowledge one can get from sharing our own experiences and research is exponential and can set anyone on the smooth and comforting path of a witch.
Here are a few misconceptions:
Witches are Only Females
Even though witches are often depicted as women, some men practice witchcraft as well. Being a witch has no gender specific roles in the practice. Both men and women can practice the same earthly magic; some may call them warlocks, and others just stick to the base term as witch. In fact, in the mid-20th century, the founder of Wicca (with ideologies from others) was Gerald Gardner, a man. The famous legends and folklore, with modern propaganda, will forever instantly depict a witch as a female.
Witches are Wiccan
In this moment, as I’m writing this, the numbers continue to climb as more and more people transform into a more spiritual quest and dip their toes into a witch’s path. But of course, there is still a large population of those who shun and stay away from witches and witchcraft. Wicca is a modern form of New Age spiritualism and a religious belief that was founded in the early 20th century. Not all witches are Wiccan, and not all Wiccans are witches. Not every witch practices and believes in the same thing because everyone is different in how they feelin their souls.
Witches Curse Others
This is a massive misconception on all four fronts. The average witch that you may cross paths with is certainly not out to get you. Don’t get me wrong, some individuals may follow a path of darkness and curses, but it is a rarity to come upon that type of witch. Everyone practices different varieties of spiritualism, but a lot of witches have one thing in common: the Earth and its natural resources. ‘Spells’ are types of incantations with action that put their intentions out into the universe using Earth’s resources to do so.
Witches Don’t Believe in God
Witches believe in God if they choose to do so. The question is, though, do they believe and worship multiple gods? OR Do witches believe in the same God that the world perceives? Witches can be monolithic, while others may be polytheistic and can believe and worship different Gods and Goddesses. Witches have the right to follow a specified divine belief or not, just as anyone else.
Witches are in a coven
Even though covens do exist, not all witches belong to one, and typically, you will find Covens within the religion of Wicca. Some witches, like I, are solitary practitioners, which means we practice our craft individually, not following a distinct set of traditions and beliefs with no specified religion.
“Real” Witches are Born In Bloodlines
A very popular misconception is that witches are not “real” unless they were born into a witch’s bloodline. Being a witch and practicing witchcraft is a path chosen by those who feel a deep connection with the practice. Although there are children born to witches who have inherited this belief system and practice, you don’t necessarily need to be born in a particular bloodline to be classified as a witch.
Understanding The Modern Witch
Let’s face it, every human has a belief system that may not be the same as others, and that is okay! Witches take in love and light, learn and live with the Earth, and will not try to “preach” to anyone to conform to their beliefs and practices. It’s the beauty and the working of the Earth and the Universe that encapsulate a witch’s soul and move forward with the best version of themselves they can be. Living the life they were granted to live with all resources available to them does not deviate from the definition of a witch or witchcraft. Witches love all the beauty in the world and try to incorporate that into their daily lives, and it fulfills them beyond belief.
Not all witches are bad, just like not all humans are bad. Understanding a witch is simple; they join in unison with the Earth and walk their spiritual path, taking bits and pieces of different belief systems and traditions. A witch simply does what the witch simply feels. Some witches are green, while others may be kitchen witches, for example. A green witch will do a lot of spiritual work and/or magic with plants and herbs, while a kitchen witch will do a lot of spiritual work and/or magic in the food they work with and the foods that they create in the kitchen. I, for example, classify as a green witch or garden witch because I incorporate plants and herbs into a lot of my practices. Also, I just love plants!
So, with all of that being said, if you know of a witch, ask questions! You may learn a lot from them for the greater good, and your eyes may open to the aspect of witches being resilient and beautiful beings!
