What are the differences between magical humans such as wizards witches warlocks sorcerers druids etc?

Answer 1

ANSWER

There is a distinct difference in all of these terms, historical and real.

A wizard (wyzard) is a male practicer of magic(k). Often this title was used interchangeably with witch. In the middle ages, the title became more common with users of HIGH magic(K), or what is known as ceremonial magic(k). This was different from the magic(k) practiced by many people of the heath, known as heathens or pagans, who tended to practice low or natural herbal magic which relied less on christian and Hebrew themes and overtones and more on nature spirits.

A Magician historically was not sex specific and was applied to either males or females who practice a form of magic(k). In time it has been used almost exclusively to mean stage magicians, who use illusions and slight of hand to appear to obtain some sort of occult knowledge. But a practicing magician, not a stage magician, is simply a practitioner of magic(K).

A shaman is someone, often in more tribal groups, who is a spiritual healer of sorts, who often heals by communicating with otherworldly spirits or energies to heal the ailments in a person's spiritual being which in effect heals the person's physical bodies. They may also work as intermediaries or spiritual leaders of their communities like priests or clerics. They often do not practice other forms of magic beside the more spiritual healings and some protections for their tribes or clients.

A sorcerer is a practitioner of magic(K), male or female with the female version of the word often being sorceress but sorcerer is still appropriate, but this label has been historically associated with malicious intent, so someone who uses magic(k) for ill or for negative ends. (also sorcerers are also associated with conjurations and not just ritual magic(k) or talisman work though a sorcerer may be proficient in both.

A warlock is a badly used term. People ignorantly use it interchangeably for the male version of the word witch, but it is not. It means a liar or someone who is a traitor. In it's worse terms it means a person who has sealed his soul with an demonic entity, hence why the name was labeled onto male witches (or wizards) during the 14th century in Europe, as a form of disgrace. I hope that helps you.

Answer 2

There's no hard and fast definition for these since they depend not only on etymology, history and present culture to define them but also overlap. That being said, here are the most general modern definitions:

Witch/Wizard: Magical practitioners, generally nature oriented like the modern wiccan movement, though they may also practice tarot, Astrology, etc. Think Harry Potter.

Druid: Any pagan/neo-pagan who practices (or attempts to practice) the traditional rituals of the Celtic priests from 2,000 BC-1000 AD (approx). Very similar to Witches/Wizards but not exactly identical. Think of Merlin.

Warlock: Depending on who you ask, warlocks are either male witches (aka wizards) or "evil" wizards. Warlock actually comes from an old term meaning "oath breaker" and was a slanderous term used by the Catholic Church to describe pagans as being tools of the Devil. You will find this label used by people trying to 'reclaim' the word, but most commonly by self-proclaimed satanists/black magicians/etc. Think of Jafar

Sorcerer/Sorceress: Ritual magicians (frequently with a negative connotation like 'warlock' but not necessarily). They are generally more formally oriented: magic/ritual occurs in the temple only, etc. and not quite so nature based. The 'witches' from the film 'The Craft' are fair examples.

Wiccan: Anyone who follows the tradition formally codified by Gardner in the early-mid 1900's, based off (arguably) "traditional" practices of witches in Europe/Britain. It has since splintered into a variety of traditions (ecclectic, fairy, dragon, traditional, and others) but they all share the same root. Can't think of any good examples on this one.

Enchanter/Enchantress:Someone who creates entities to act on their behalf. People who make Golem/Egregores/Familiars and the like would also generally fit in this category. Think of Mickey in the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Magician: Either Chris Angel (or any other performer) or the general term of any practitioner of "occult" activities. Magician comes from the eastern term "magus" meaning wise, and originally referred to astrologers/mathematicians/dream interpretetors and the like (the Three Wise Men in The Bible were called Magi which has the same etymological root).

Alchemist: Natural scientists who use complex chemical processes to create "the philosopher's stone" which is supposedly able to transmute lead into gold among a wide variety of other supernatural things. Modern chemistry comes from 12th-18th century alchemy. Issac Newton was an alchemist.

Answer 3

A wizard is someone who uses spells to do magic. spells can include poems or magic words, but can also use objects and movements, like a dance. experienced wizards can sometimes do magic simply by recalling the memory of the spell, without actually performing it.

A warlock is someone who practiced magic in a coven of the wiccan religion, who was later banished from the coven, usually by revealing secrets or breaking coven laws. coven laws usually include using magic only for "good" things which do not interfere with people's free will. the commonly understood way to be banished from a coven and live as a warlock is to use magic for evil, such as to harm or control people. all traditional witches, where they use spells and potions to curse people or control people, or whatever you can think of green, ugly witches doing with magic, are most likely warlocks.

warlock/witch magic follows wiccan magic rituals. wizard magic follows fantasy story magic rituals. it can be said and argued that wiccan magic is realistic, while wizard magic defies laws of physics by creating things from thin air and manipulating things in impossible ways.

Actually, in the wiccan religion there are no wizards, only witches- male and female. Warlock is a derogatory term for any witch even those outside of wicca. Witches who use magyk for evil may be banished from their coven, but the wiccan rede and the threefold law forbid black magyk and attatch a consequensce to doing so. Green is a sacred color in wicca, representing the earth mother and the element of earth. Witches do spells fro healing, connections, and understanding to help themselves develop a bond with nature and the goddess to understand themselves, the devine, and everyone of any religion or path.

Answer 4

Sorcerers are born with the inherent ability to use powerful magic, whereas a Wizard is trained to use magic.

Sorcerers (much like witches) are generally practitioners of a spiritual path that includes the use of magic, divination and/or worship of deity (singular, plural, upper case, lower case, male, female and/or unknown).

Wizards are more frequently scholars of the "science of magic," most commonly Alchemy, and many do not find it necessary to do so within the disciplines of a spiritual path.

Answer 5

A wizard is someone who can channel magic from around them and use it for spells. They usually have an object made of wood which can help with this. i.e. staff, wand, etc. The wizard can us rituals for more complex magic, and they can recite poem, song or a combination of illegible magic words.

A sorcerer however, is said to use souls in their magic. This means that they can call upon spirits of dead, or living things and can force them into doing their bidding. Sorcerers are known as evil tormentors because of such practices, and are now well liked within the magic community.

Answer 6

A witch is one who works in potions, balms, and unguents. typically using natural or organic components. The witch may use incantations while working with ingredients, but it is not necessary. Typically a "witch" is thought of as a woman, but it is not gender exclusive. The biblical book of Exodus has an infamous passage that has been misused far too often in history, (22:18) "Thou shalt suffer not a witch to live." Yet King Saul sought the counsel of the Witch of Endor. In Exodus, the word "witch" means poisoner, and it is certainly not wise to leave a person who poisons others free. In I Samuel, the witch Saul consults is a diviner of future events. Speaking to her did not help him much, but she does not seem to have done much wrong.

Wizards on the other hand are pretty much exclusively male. They may or may not dabble in potions and preparations, and seem to rely elusively on incantations and spells specifically to channel magic, black, white and otherwise. A wizard may be a sorcerer, a necromancer (a manipulator of the dead or spirits), a conjurer, a magician, a juggler, a thaumaturge (worker of miracles), or a diviner (finder of things or foreteller of the future). It is not as old a word as witch. It is derived from 15th century Middle English, wisard: a combination of the prefix wise and suffix -ard (denotative of a person who regularly engages in an activity--in this case, wisdom).

On Wizards of Waverly Place Alex is a wizard so I do believe that witches are more gender exclusive as they are typically portrayed by females but wizards can be either sexes.

Answer 7

A Wizard is a practitioner of a scientific form of magic (the Quabbahl being one).

A Warlock is a misnomer, often incorrectly used by those who do not know they are being rude, to refer to a male witch. The correct term for a male witch is "Witch", the word is not gender specific. Warlock however is in fact an old word meaning oath breaker (aka liar).

Answer 8

Wizards use scrolls, wands, orb and other magical items. Wizards can cast fire, ice, lightning and other elemental spells, while warlocks tend to cast only shadow and summoning spells.