What makes a witch a witch?

Answer 1

Magick, and many other things. First and foremost belief. We believe we are, and we are of many different walks of faith. The one thing that binds us together is simple. Magick, and the earth, and the fact we are human.

Answer 2

Well, there are many different views on what makes a witch a witch. If you're looking for the 17th century view during the witch trials, then that is much more specific than the typical stereotype "witch" of today.

A witch of the 17th century view is one who practices witchcraft. This means being bewitched or afflicted by another witch, or bewitching another innocent person. The 17th century colonials believed that witches were involved with the devil and Satan. If you had anything different about you than the "average" person, you were considered to be a witch. This includes giving birth to a stillborn child, giving birth to a child with deformities, being handicapped [mentally and/or physically], being a different race, having a different religion than Christianity or Catholicism, speaking out against laws or rules, and many more characteristics.

Obviously, the 17th century colonials also had other characteristics that categorized someone as a "witch". Like if they performed ceremonies like the "egg and glass" game. This was when someone separated an egg and only poured the white of an egg into a glass of water. The person would then look at the shape it would form and attempt to tell the future based on that very shape. This was considered witchcraft.

And those are only a few examples and explanations! There were so many things that qualified someone as a 17th century witch which is why so many people were convicted. Although, note how only 19 people died, not counting one man who was pressed to death with rocks. Most of the people killed were women by the way.