Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is a craft name and how do you get it?
2) I heard that the fifth and top point of the pentacle symbolized the spirit. Isn’t the spirit a Christian concept?
3) How do I know if my chosen Craft name is right for me?
4) Can I be a witch even if I am a Christian?
5) What is a natural witch?
6) I want to become a witch.
7) I don't understand the law of threefold.
8) If you cast a good spell, can it come back to you bad?
9) Are there spells that we cannot do? Like that are not allowed?
10) Can you take back a spell once it is already done?
11) Who are the God and Goddess?
12) Does the altar have to be set up at all times?
13) Do rituals have to be performed in the same spot every time?
14) Are there any spells that you can have fun with like hair or eye color?  And are there any for like weight loss or something out of the ordinary?
15) What do you know about Covens or how we could get in touch with anybody who could assist in our learning process?
16) How many people can you have in the circle while performing a spell or ritual?
17) Do you know how to call up spirits and/or the dead? 
18) Is it better to personalize chants you say while doing spells? Will they still work?
19) I want to do glamour spells like change my eye color, hair color, etc...
20) Has being a witch in a past life helped me in my craft?
21) What is Dragon's Blood?
22)  How old do you have to start to practice the art of witchcraft?
23) Where can I buy an altar?
24) What kind of pen do you write with when your writing in a Book Of Shadows?
25) I need help. I believe someone has put a hex on me.
26) When I was young, I went to a séance and began speaking in another tongue. Does this have anything to do with my past life?
27) I want to be a Wizard. Can you help me to become one?
28) Is there a way to get stuff for free? I don't get much money and its hard to buy stuff
29) How can I prove to my friends that magic is real?
30) I'm male and do male witches have a certain name?
31) How do you know which spells are real and which are fake?
32) How do you know if spells have worked after casting them?
33) While meditating some things appeared but not clear enough. Can you give me a bit  more details on meditation?
34) My friend's dog growls when he goes by her room and she often sees shadows. Is this because of her practicing witchcraft?
35) What is a gift in witchcraft? does each person have one? If so how do i get it?
36) Aside from the obvious, what other items could I use to represent the Elements?
37) If you were born into a Christian family is it still possible to be a witch?
38) Is there a hex on me? How do I get rid of it?
39) Most of the info I find is referenced to female gender. Is the craft different for men?
40) Who is the founder of witchcraft?
41) Can I practice witchcraft without worshiping the Lord and Lady?
42) Why do you spell magick with a k?
43) Why aren't my spells working? They used to work all the time!
44) Why are witches always pictured on brooms?
45) I have heard by some that you must be initiated into the craft. Is this true?
46) I was reading your glossary and came across a word for the underworld. Is that like hell?
47) Can you make this guy I like like me back?
48) I had a spell backfire on me. What do I do?
49) I'm having trouble meditating. Is there any way to keep my mind focused?
50) I think I might be part witch. Is there any way to tell if someone in my family history had witch blood?

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1) What is a craft name and how do you get it?

A craft name  is the name that a witch either chooses for themself based on their likes and their beliefs or a name that they receive upon initiation into the Craft.  A witch does not have to have a Craft name. One may choose to go by their real name, their Craft name, or both. A witch can also obtain a Craft name by meditation or it can come to you in a dream.

2)  I heard that the fifth and top point of the pentacle symbolized the spirit. Isn’t the spirit a Christian concept?

The five points of the pentacle represent the five elements: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. While the name sounds like that of the Christian Holy Spirit, they are actually not the same thing. When a witch says “the spirit” they mean the energy belonging to a certain body. All forms of matter have energy. Energy is, in itself the prime element as it makes up all other elements. Spirit is the pure energy form that gives each object or idea its energy. The sun, in essence has a spirit, as do rocks, trees, planets, animals and also people. These spirits may or may not be like the human idea of spirit: the thinking soul of a person, but the soul is in essence the human embodiment of its spirit.

3)  How do I know if my chosen Craft name is right for me.

There are really no easy answers to this question. There are many kinds of witches and many different beliefs on the Craft name. Some will tell you that you must be given your name by an accomplished witch after a year and a day of study. I believe, as do others, that you only need to choose a name that you like. It should be a name that you feel comfortable with. A Craft name can be changed at any time (because you change as well) and many witches will change their names a number of times before they settle on one for life. There is also a numerological method of determining if your name is right for you. Though I do not use this method, many will swear by it. Begin by adding the digits of your birthdate:

may 10, 1980 = 5+1+0+1+9+8+0=24=2+4= 6

in the above case, your astrological number would be 6. Then you would take your name and refer it to a numerological chart as follows:

1          2            3            4            5            6            7            8            9

A         B            C            D            E            F            G            H            I

J           K           L           M            N           O            P            Q           R         

S         T            U            V            W           X           Y            Z

Take your craft name and determine the number of each letter. Then add them together as you did your birthdate.

AmberSkyfire = 1+4+2+5+9+1+2+7+6+9+9+5 = 60 = 6+0 = 6

If both of the numbers from your name and your birthdate match, then your name is said to be right for you.           

4)  Can I be a witch even though I am a Christian?

I actually get this question quite a lot. I have recently become familiar with Christian witches. They hold all of the beliefs of a  witch, but they believe it is held in God’s name; that God created everything and that there are lesser aspects of that God defined as Gods and Goddesses. If you are interested in looking into it, there is a site by a young woman named Christy who is a Christian Wiccan. She has a beautiful and inspiring web page about Christian witchcraft with pages on craft ideas, books and details of what she chooses to believe. Follow the link below to see her website or find her on the links page.

http://www.smokylake.com/Christy/bosal/bos.htm

5)  What is a natural witch?

A natural witch is a person who was born with unnatural magical abilities. A natural witch may be highly psychic, telekinetic, or sensitive to auras. Some may even be able to speak to animals. Witches who are not born with these abilities may spend their entire lives developing them. Most natural witches have a mother or grandmother who was also a natural witch, but naturals can also arise from any hereditary background.

6) I want to become a witch.

hey amberskyfire,
my name is sarah and i really interested in becoming a witch. i'd just love to know all about it how to start what to do what spells to do and when. please please write back cas im just dieing to know,
yours, sarah

Dear Sarah,
Wow. I wish that I could answer you in just one letter. The fact is, however, that Wicca is one of the most complicated religions that there are. Assuming that you have not done any reading on witchcraft, you may want to check out these books:

Buckland's Complete book of Witchcraft - Raymond Buckland
To Ride a Silver Broomstick - Silver Ravenwolf
Celtic Magic - D. J. Conway

Also, a good web page to look at is :

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca0.htm

Wicca is not about casting spells and curses on people whom you do not like. Nor should you expect lightning bolts to fly from your fingers and be able to walk on water like in the movies. Wicca is a nature based religion in which we give thanks to the earth and nature as well as all of the spirits that inhabit them. We use our magic to move freely and unhindered through the world in a way that allows us to be balanced with all things. Do whatever you will, as long as you harm no one. There is a punishment: whatever you do will come back to you three times as bad (or good). Witches do good for themselves and for others. The wiccan reede is as follows:

Abide the Wiccan law ye must
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan reede fulfill
"an' it harm none, do as ye will"
and ever mind the rule of three:
What ye send out comes back to thee.
Follow this with mind and heart
And merry ye meet and merry ye part.

-Amber

7) I don't understand the law of threefold.

This will sound very weird. You know that in the wiccan rede it says that what ever you send out comes back three times. Well I was wondering that if you for example want to heal your friend from an illness does it come back three times worse? That´s something that isn´t really clear to me. And I don´t worship anything. I believe that I´m in control of my own life. I don´t believe in destiny or faith. I see the gods and the goddesses as help to me.I only "pray" to mother earth and that isn´t really praying more like thanking. And sometimes in my rituals I do ask for help from a certain god or goddess. But I don´t really think that they exist only that it will help.
-Phoebe

That is very much like my choice of religion as well, so I think that I know where you are coming from.
As for your question about the wiccan reede:
It does say that whatever you do will come back to you three times three. What that means is that if you do something to harm someone, it will come back three times worse or if you do something to help someone, then a good thing will happen to you three times as good as what you did for someone else. It is sort of a punishment/reward sort of thing. Just this weekend I was at work (I am a waitress) and two men left their $700 tab with me and did not even tip me. I was so upset because I did not make any money that night. When I went home, I found that my fiancee had found a painting that I have been looking for for five years on the internet and had ordered it. It was waiting for me when I got home. I was so happy. Then the next day I was at work and I found two twenty dollar bills crumpled up in the middle of the floor and no one would claim them so I got to keep them. Just an example of what can happen. You may call it karma or whatever you wish
-Amber

8) If you cast a good spell....Can it come back to you Bad? and....

9) Is there any spells we cannot do?  Like are not allowed?? 

Dearest Katie,
You have some good questions. Let me begin by saying that if you cast a spell, it WILL come back to you. If you cast a bad spell, it will come back to you and you will come to regret it. You can call it Karma if you like. Always try to work for the good and not the bad. Never cast a curse on someone. If someone is hurting you, you can cast a protective spell on yourself in defense, but never cast a spell on anyone without asking them first. Even if you think that someone deserves to be cursed, you should never work against them. In time, they will get all that they deserve. We, as humans, have no right to judge or punish others for what we believe is wrong. (Excluding, of course, judiciary punishment.)
As to your other question about spells that witches cannot do, there are many spells that cannot be done by normal witches. There are no laws stating that we are not allowed to do certain spells. One is free to do what one wants, but many witches believe that certain things are simply impossible to do, such as levitation, fire from your fingertips, etc. If it seems so impossible, it probably is. There are, however, those who practice and believe in a more arcane type of magic where such things are possible. I have never witnessed any of these, myself, but who am I to say that they are wrong?

10) Can you take back a spell once its  already done?

You certainly can. In fact, I have a spell for that in my book of shadows if you want to look that up. 

11) Who are the God and Goddess?
 Hello, I would like to let you know that my friend Skye and I are very interested in this religion. We would like to know more on the explanations of the gods and goddesses. The reason I want to know more about the gods and goddesses is because I feel as if I must know what I'm worshiping.
*ShAy*

Dear Skye and Shay,
A very good question. First you must know what religion it is that you follow. If you are wiccan, then you will "worship" a god and goddess. I am not wiccan, just a witch, and I do not worship a god and goddess, or anything for that matter. I work with and give thanks to the earth, but I do not believe in worshipping anything as I believe all things are equal. If you choose to become a Wiccan witch, however, you will worship the All-Mother, the Goddess. She can look any way that you wish. She is the mother of all things, the giver of life. She is represented by water and earth and is often symbolized by large breasts and a rounded stomach. She symbolizes birth and rebirth and the cycles of life. She is also represented by the moon.
The God, also called the Lord or Great Father, is the symbol of masculinity, maleness, fertility and life. His elements are air and fire. He is represented by the sun and animals, which he rules over. He is the lord of the underworld (not hell) and is the mate of the Goddess. The goddess gives birth to the God on Yule. He represents life and freedom as well as virility.
I hope that this helps.
May you both walk in light and love.

-Amber

12) Does the alter have be set up at all times?

The altar, though it is sacred space does not have to be set up at all times. If you are performing a ritual that requires that something be left on the altar for a period of time, then you should leave it, but normally, the tools should be wrapped in black or white cloth and stored inside of the altar or in a cabinet or box until the next ritual. Some altars, such as altars that honor a house spirit or permanent altars to the Gods can be set up and left up at all times. Usually these altars inhabit a living space such as a bedroom or living room and serve mainly as decoration.

13) Do rituals have to be performed in the same spot every time?

Normally if a ritual is performed, it is performed in the circle which usually remains in the same spot known as a sacred space. Rituals do not, however, have to be performed in the same place. Any place will do fine, but it is best to work with an area that you are familiar with.

14) Are there any spells that you can have fun with like hair or eye color?  And are there any for like weight loss or something out of the ordinary?

Although the media and Hollywood would like us to think that we can sporadically change our eye and hair color whenever we want, it is not possible as far as we know. There are some spells such as glamoury that you can perform. Glamoury does not actually change what you look like, but it can slightly change a person's perception of you. You can make yourself more or less noticeable or you can make yourself look and feel a little more or less attractive. You are probably better off with hair dye and tinted contact lenses. You can try a spell for weight loss, but eating right and exercise are the best way to go. You can also try herbal supplements.

15) What do you know about Covens or how we could get in touch with any body who could assist in our learning process?

If you are interested in joining a coven and you do not want to make one of your own, you might try clicking here for the coven listings on my coven page.
If you do want to start your own coven, Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft is a fantastic place to start.

.16) What amount of persons can you have in the circle while performing a spell or ritual?

You can have any number of people inside the circle during a working as long as it is no more than 13. You may also have as many people in a coven as you want so long as it is no more than 13. Multiples of three are good numbers to work with: 3, 6, 9, and 12.

17) Do you know how to call up spirits and/or the dead? And can you tell us how?

Wiccans do not call up spirits or the dead. You may want to contact what is called a necromancer (yes, they do exist) for such things. I will warn you, however that you will gain nothing but illness and bad luck from whatever you do regarding the dead and deceased. Also remember never to use a ouija board or allow any spirit to inhabit your body. You will lose control of yourself a little each time you do this and they are more likely to do harm than good.
On the other hand, if you wish to speak to a loved one who has passed on, it is quite easy. Because spirits inhabit the spiritual realm, which is all around us, it is easy for us to meet loved ones on the astral plane in dreams and during meditation.

18) Is it better to personalize chants you say while doing  spells? Will they still work?

You can personalize chants if you like. Usually, any chant will work if you like it. I generally do not feel comfortable with many of the chants that I read or obtain from others and so I write my own, but it is whatever you choose. You can experiment with different techniques and see what works best.

19) I really want to know how do to glamour spells I want to change my hair color, length, make my teeth nice and get rid my circles under my eyes, make my nose normal, and  my lips a little bit bigger.

Dearest Kara,
This is going to be a little disappointing. Unfortunately, witchcraft is nothing like what you see on television. You cannot change what you look like simply by doing spells. Instead, witchcraft teaches you to believe that you are perfect without change. I understand. I have a huge nose and I also have very dark circles under my eyes. I have thin lips and my hair is frizzy and it took me eleven years to get it to the three feet of hair that I have now, and am very proud of it, though it has been difficult to take care of. Witchcraft teaches you that if you believe that you are beautiful and can be beautiful, then you will become beautiful. I would never change anything about myself, though I see things in myself all of the time that make me wish that I looked like a model. Everything has a price. We cannot all be models. You can look on my spells and recipe pages, however, and find recipes for beauty products that can reduce the appearance of dark circles and spells that bring out inner beauty as well as true beauty. Try some beauty spells and see what you think of the results. Though Hollywood would like us to think that witchcraft is easy, it is not. It takes much trial and error. Keep working at it, though, and you will find that you feel much better - and more beautiful!

20) Has being a witch in a past life helped me in my craft?

That is a very good question. Many people who are witches in this life believe that they were also witches in a past life. It is also beleived that most people take on the religion of their past lives, so yes, there is a very good chance that you were a witch in a past life as well. Since the soul retains knowledge from one life to the next, it is quite likely that your being a witch in a past life has helped you in this life on your path.

21) What is Dragon's Blood? It is in lots of recipes and I was wondering if it is a funny name for something else.

As a matter of fact, it is a fancy name for something else. I have heard that Dragon's blood is opium. Dragon's blood incense is opium scented incense. It does not contain actual opium, merely the scent. Dragon's Blood refers to anything that uses the scent or power of opium. I cannot be 100% sure of this. If anyone has heard anything different, let me know.

Here is a link sent to me by Jamie. Thanks! - http://93.1911encyclopedia.org/D/DR/DRAGON_S_BLOOD.htm

22) Dear AmberSkyFire,
How old do you have to start to practice the art of witchcraft?
Sincerely
§RogueAngel§

One can begin to practice the art of witchcraft at any age. Like any religion, a person can be born into a family of witchcraft or can begin learning when they are ten, fifty or even 100 years old.

23) Dear Amber,
I want to buy an alter I' ve been searching the web for a long time and the only thing they have are things for the alter like alter tiles etc. could you give me a place where alters are sold

An altar is nothing but a table. Any table can be made into an altar and I don't believe there is any one way to make one. I have also not heard of anyplace where you can buy one. Just choose a table. Mine isn't even a table, it's just a stack of boxes with an altar cloth draped over it. Most witches prefer to make an alter out of what they call their "magickal cabinet". This is just a low cabinet where you can keep your supplies when you are not using them. Put your items on top and it doubles as an altar.

24) What kind of pen do you write with when your writing in a Book Of Shadows?

Any type of pen can be used to write in the book of shadows. Mine is just a fine black felt tip pen. If you want it to look older, you might try a quill pen or a calligraphy pen. It is really up to you.

25) I believe that black magic was worked on me in the form of crosses. Everything I have attempted to do to improve my life has worked in reverse, even lost my soul mate to a street woman.

(Shortened answer) What happened to you had nothing to do with your past life experiences. Séances are very dangerous as they allow other spirits to inhabit your body for a brief period of time. Other ways of invoking spirits are the ouija board and automatic handwriting. As much as we would like to contact benign spirits from the otherworld, almost any spirit that will wish to contact you will be evil. Of these spirits, most are what we like to call "demons". Demons are spirits that have never been human. No one is certain where they come from, but they are most certainly evil. They will answer you and will usually tell you that they are who you are looking for or that they are the Devil. These spirits prey on humans and do, in fact, wait to inhabit bodies. These forms of "divination" are very dangerous and should never be practiced as even professionals often get hurt.

27) Hello and good greetings. My name is Tommy. I want to be a wizard and I need help

Dearest Tommy,
I am afraid I am not a wizard and I know nothing of wizardry. Wizardry is much different from witchcraft and has very different beliefs and practices. I suggest you try and get in touch with a wizard. There are many places on the internet where you can get in touch with groups and schools. Try a search for wizard or look in the Omphalos directory.

28) Is there a way to get stuff for free? I don't get much money and its hard to buy stuff.  -Josh

If there is one thing that all witches know and believe in, it's Karma. In the end, you will get what you deserve. Try doing nice things for others. Do some money spells. Just remember, you will have to pay for what you want one way or another, but it doesn't necessarily have to be with money. Perhaps you can find a way to get a little extra income. Just remember to help others and be as kind as you can whenever you can. It will come back to you. You can find spells for money in my book of shadows section. You can also create almost any tool you need for free. Wands can be found in the wilderness and can be used in place of the athame or the sword. One does not have to have a cauldron. Any bowl which has been consecrated for this purpose will work fine. There are other natural things that you can use as well. For a cauldron, a small pond or a simple hole dug in the earth works fine. If you cannot build a shrine indoors, it is easy to make one in your garden or around your house. If you need something that you cannot afford, try and think how earlier witches might have done it or make up something. Your personal tools should be made by you and you can create them however you see fit.

29) Dear Amber,
I have contacted you on being a wizard before and you gave me great advice. But I was wondering, do you know a spell or incantation I can do to prove to may friends that Magic is real?

I am sorry. Magic should NEVER be used to impress someone. If they do not believe it, then they never will and no amount of proof will do anything about it. Magic was never meant to be shown to ANYONE. It is very private and is always kept a secret unless someone has asked you do do a spell to help them as a service or a favor.
I hope this helps instead of frustrates.
-Amber

30) I'm male and do male witches have a certain name?

Male witches are called witches and nothing else. Warlocks are not male witches. Warlock is an insult as it means "oath-breaker."

31) How do you know which spells are real and which are fake?

All spells are real spells. A spell is just something to chant to bring yourself into a certain state of mind. The magic is in you, not in your words, although many have found that certain spells work better than others for different reasons. Most witches write their own spells, but it is okay to use others' spells, especially if you are just practicing or are new to the craft.

32) How do you know if spells have worked after casting them?

Sometimes a spell will not work. This is usually because it is cast at the wrong time or using the wrong tools. Sometimes your body is just not in well enough health to cast a spell. Make sure that you are feeling as well as you can and that you perform it at the right time. If you find that a spell does not seem to be working, try casting another. It is not uncommon for one spell to work for one person and not for another.

33) While meditating some things appeared but not clear enough. Can you give me a bit  more details on meditation?

Meditation is when we go into ourselves and rely entirely on our subconscious to reveal things to our conscious mind, sort of like dreaming. What makes this difficult is that, often, our subconscious does not make any sense. We may see symbols or visions that we do not understand or that seem not to make any sense. Later on, we realize what the messages meant. Meditation will be difficult at first and the messages will be unclear, but remember that they are true and come from you, not an outside source. Write down everything that you remember from your meditation each time you do it. If you want to try and figure out what it means, look at each symbol individually. Write down what it means to you. Symbols mean different things to different people. For example, if you are terrified of spiders then it could be a warning or it could mean that you have to overcome your fear before you can move forward in life. As you practice, visions will become clearer and you will have an easier time understanding them. For example, I sometimes have prophetic dreams. In one dream, I dreamed that my mother died because she took some pills prescribed by a doctor that had the wrong prescription. I saw her spirit wearing a long, shiny bright red dress. I told my mother this and the next day, she called me. She had a horrible headache, she said and asked my grandmother for some pain relievers. She gave my mom a bottle of pills her doctor had prescribed for her and said they worked wonders. My mother opened the bottle and looked at the pills and said they were bright red. She told me she looked at the outside of the bottle and the prescription was the same one from my dream. So you see, you may not understand the symbolism at first, but when it really counts, you will understand.

34) My friend's dog growls when he goes by her room and she often sees shadows. Is this because of her practicing witchcraft?

Your friend's troubles may very well have come from practicing witchcraft. There could be a number of different reasons, however, why she is having trouble with spirits in her house. When we cast a circle, we open a door between the worlds. Wiccans cast this circle to open the door and to protect them while they cast their spells and perform their rituals. This circle makes it possible for their magick to exist on the earthly plane as well as the spiritual one. Often, if the circle is improperly cast or closed, or if a protection charm is not used, spirits from the other world can enter your circle and can sometimes cause harm. Casting the circle is only a precautionary measure, but it can cause harm. Luckily, any negative spirits can be banished from the house by performing a simple cleansing ritual of the house and the property. On the other hand, it may not be evil spirits which inhabit your friends' home. On the contrary, other things are attracted to a witches' power aside from evil spirits. Lost or curious spirits may hang around, attracted to the power that they find there. Often these spirits are seeking only help or solitude. Fairies and forest spirits are also attracted to magick and to witches and might just be hanging around, just out of view. Animals tend to have a more developed sense of spirits than humans. Cats, dogs and birds (and especially horses) have a knack for sensing spirits and faeries. The dog could be spooked by any spirit, it does not need to be an evil one. If the spirits remain after the cleansing ritual then it is most likely that they are quite friendly.

35) Dear amber,
What is a gift in witchcraft? does each person have one? If so how do i get it?

Dearest Celia,
Everyone has the gift of second sight (psychism). Everyone is born with psychic ability. When someone has a psychic ability that is stronger than another person's it is called a "gift." There is no way to just get psychic power, but if you practice meditation, remember your dreams, and always listen to your intuition then your power will grow, but it will take many many years. Witches spend their entire lives trying to hone this power. Everyone has it. For example, have you ever been around someone that you just do not trust? They seem nice, but you have, for just a moment, a funny feeling about that person? Or let's say you are going about your day to day life and suddenly you just get a bad feeling? or you think about someone you haven't seen in awhile and then they call you? These are examples of psychic power. Animals also have them, but animals are better at it because they have not been taught to ignore it like people have been. For example, you may be going to give the dog a bath and no matter how you try to hide it, the dog runs and hides even though you haven't turned on the water or anything. Many pets know when their masters are coming home and will sit by the door when they feel them coming down the street. As long as you practice meditation and always pay attention to your feelings - NEVER deny them - then your psychic power will become greater.
-Amber

36) Aside from the obvious, what other items could I use to represent the Elements?

As you know, candles are not necessary for working. You can use anything else to represent the elements. You can use symbols depicting each element instead of a candle. Carve or paint the symbol onto a stone or on the floor. You can used colored or painted stones in the colors of the elements. You can also use pictures or objects that represent the elements. For example, you can make pictures of animals: a bird for air, fish for water, dragon for fire and rabbit for earth. These are the best animal representations because birds fly in the air, fish actually breathe the water (dolphins and whales breathe air), dragons breathe fire and rabbits actually live inside the earth. You can also use the actual elements. A bowl of water for water, a candle for fire, a stone for earth and incense for air. The possibilities are endless and you can use your imagination.
-Amber

37) Hey I was wondering if you were born into a Christian family is it still possible to be a witch? I am 13 and I wish to know how to do magic! Please help me !!!!

ANYONE can be a witch. It does not matter what religion you were born into. Just the same, anyone can become a Christian or a Buddhist or Muslim. Religion is simply a set of beliefs and a state of mind.
Just remember that witchcraft is not about magick. It is not like what you see on tv. You will never learn to fly or light or extinguish candles with a gesture. You will never be able to make lightning or change your friends into toads. Witchcraft is an art that works BECAUSE of religion. When a person has undying faith in something, that gives it power. Spells are like prayers. The more you belief, the more it will work. You won't be able to do the things that you see on television, but if you truly believe and stick to it and work hard then you will learn some amazing things. Witches are known for their ability to speak to animals, hone their psychic skills, divingin (such as tarot cards), and their ability to heal. You will have to learn first how to heal with herbs but later you will learn how to use certain stones and what we call "laying on of hands." This means that you heal a person through touch by drawing the sickness out of them. Just always remember to study often and read as much about it as you can. No one person can teach you all about it. You learn all your life. If you do decide to become a witch, you will find a fascinating world of religion and learning. Good luck!
May you walk in light.
-Amber

38) Is it possible for somebody to perform a certain ritual to make your spells in vain and you useless as a witch? For example, a person might do a ritual to turn the Dragons, spirits, Mother Nature, against you. Would their plan succeed or not? In other words, they'd turn everything that helps you so you will be of no use as a person of witchcraft. My last question is how can you tell if you're under a spell or curse yourself? In other words, how do u recongize if you're under a spell/curse?

Dear Raananah
It is not possible to perform a spell to turn the elements against someone or to make their power useless. If you think you might have a curse on you you can perform a spell to rid yourself of negative energy. Feeling excesses of negative energy around you or feeling that you are trapped or not in control may be a sign of a curse. It could be a curse that someone put on you or one that you unknowingly put upon yourself. We call these type Karma. When you do something wrong, it comes back to you and can hang around you like a curse for a short time. If it is for a prolonged period, however, you could be cursed or just be doing something wrong in your life.
Here are some good spells to rid yourself of curses:

Angelic Charm to Break all Enchantments and Protect from Injury
To work this charm, you need only sit with your cat in your bedchamber under Bride's new moon, watching the stars. Have a little phial of rose water ay your elbow, made holy by a blessing. Speak thus to the great angel Sophiel:

Shining Angel Sophiel
Work for me this goodly spell,
All glamour and evil enchantments break
And guard me when I sleep and wake;
Bless my friendship with this cat.
May our hearts ne'er closeness lack.

Take the phial or rose-water and anoint your animal friend with three drops. The cat is likely to clean herself, which is a fortunate sign. Listen in your heart to the wisdom your friend will impart to you for you shall share many secrets, and she shall reveal unto you many things which you could learn from no other source.
- Claire Nahmad from Cat Spells: A Collection of Enchantments for You and Your Feline Companion

To Reverse a Hex
"Spell, spell, spell be gone!
Back to which ye belong.
Back to the caster
Take your disaster"

OR

"Thinking of me
But just the same
Return this spell
From whence it came
Upon my safety, I do hold
Send the damage, return threefold!"

39) Most of the info I find is referenced to female gender. Is the craft different for men? Should I be looking for specific reading or is it all the same?

Dear Henry,
The reason most of the information you see is for women is because paganism is currently a strong feminine religion. Women have been oppressed in many cultures throughout the world and Paganism offers freedom from male-oriented religions. That is why women are often more likely to choose Paganism over Christianity than men are. Christianity teaches that women are evil or dirty and subordinate to men. Men are the leaders of the household and make all the decisions in Christian families. Men tend to be more comfortable with Christianity and often choose it for their own. If you find info that is written purely for women, then it is probably written by a Dianic Pagan (women only, Goddess only). Paganism is, however, for both men and women equally. It is best to learn from info that is not gender-based as many goddess-worshiping religions are. Most websites are made for both men and women, you just have to know how to steer clear of the Dianic pagans. Some men believe in worshiping the goddess and not the god. It all depends on what you are comfortable with.

40) Who is the founder of witchcraft?

There is no founder of witchcraft. Witchcraft is an ability that lives within every person. It is a natural ability and has been practiced as long as humans have existed. As Raymond Buckland states: "The late Dr. Margaret Murray traced back and saw Witchcraft's origins in Paleolithic times; 25,000 years ago." Now, the father of the religion known as Wicca is the late Dr. Gerald Gardner. He organized Wicca as a religion, but is not the father of witchcraft.

41) Can I practice witchcraft without worshiping the Lord and Lady?

You can, of course worship anything that you like and still practice witchcraft. Wicca is the most common form of witchcraft in religion, but you can be a member of any religion to practice. Magic does not work, however, if you have no belief system. Magick is based on faith and what you believe in and will not believe if you do not have any religion. You do not have to worship the Lord and Lady. They are just the main gods of the Wiccan religion. Because most of the information you find on witchcraft is for Wiccans, you will often see the terms "Lord" and "Lady" used, but you can insert the main deity of your choice, depending on your belief system.
-Blessings,
Amber

42) Why do you spell magick with a k?

Pagans wish to distinguish their type of magick from regular "magic." "Magic" means magic done as a trick by a performer such as a magician. "Magick" is the special type of magick done by witches and people of other religions which focuses on prayer and getting real effects. By spelling it differently, we know which word mean which type of magic/magick. That way, we know when someone means a magician or a real witch.

43) Why aren't my spells working? They used to work all the time!

Well, there could be a few reasons why it is not working.
1) did you write the spell? Usually spells written by others will not work well for different people.
2) did you do it during the correct moon phase? (full or waxing moon to bring things toward you, waning or new moon to send them away)
3) Did you use all of the correct corresponding ingredients? (ie: candle colors, incense, herbs, oils, etc.)
4) also, sometimes spells just don't work. That is why you should always write down everything you do and when you do it. Some spells will not work at different times. Every witch knows to experiment with their workings. Change the spell up a bit and try it again. You would be surprised at how much trial and error a witch goes through before they find a good spell that really works.

44) Why are witches always pictured on brooms?

Many Pagans will say that it is because witches once practiced astral travel while sitting on their brooms. This is not true. Actually, there was a town in the UK where the young girls practiced a certain fertility rite. The broom, because of its shape, has always been considered a phallic symbol and represents fertility. The girls would pull up their skirts, sit astride the broom and run and jump over a large bonfire. This fertility festival was not practiced everywhere. Outsiders who saw it performed most likely told others stories of young women who rode around upon broomsticks. The idea likely grew from there. Today, broomsticks are still used as symbols of fertility, as is jumping the bonfire. Couples also jump the broomstick at wedding ceremonies in many countries to ensure fertility.

45) I have heard by some that you must be initiated into the craft. Is this true?

Just like any religion, you can practice what you believe without being initiated. There are some witches and magicians who believe that you MUST be part of a coven and that you MUST be initiated by someone. This is just not true. If you want to be part of their group you must be initiated, but it is not necessary if you are going to be following your own path by yourself. There are many self-dedication rituals that you can perform once you have decided to devote your whole life to the craft but these are also not absolutely necessary.

46) I was reading your glossary and came across a word for the underworld. Is that like hell?

Good questions.
First of all, the netherworld or under world is not Hell. It is nothing like hell. There are no demons and no fire. The underworld is different in many different religions. Some believe that souls go there to rest before going on with their journey. Other cultures believe that it is another world, just like this one, but opposite in every way.
If it is easier for you, you can think of the underworld as being the faery lands. The underworld is also represented by the subconscious.

47) Can you make this guy I like like me back?

Actually, this is the very worst thing you could do.
Everyone has someone they were meant to be with. You cannot force love. It is impossible. It cannot work. If you try, disaster will be the result. True, human nature is very selfish. We want what we want and we don't care what we have to do to other people to get it. Just remember that forcing someone to do something against their will is not right. You wouldn't want someone to do it to you, would you? There is a law in magick. Whatever you do to someone will come back to you. Instead, try a spell to find your TRUE love. It will be earth-shattering and far better than any fake love you could try to magick-up.

48) I had a spell backfire on me. What do I do?

The only thing you can do is to wait it out. Always remember never to do a spell to harm or control someone. Those are the ones that backfire.

49) I'm having trouble meditating. Is there any way to keep my mind focused?