Witchcraft

The correct spelling of the adjective is humorous (funny, comical).

The bone of the human upper arm is the humerus.

NOT MUCH

To help answer this question I will use electricity as a mundane corollary.

The energy itself is neither good nor bad. It is in its use that polarity can be attributed. When electricity is used to cook food, heat homes and light the darkness it is perceived as good. When it is used to torture people, damage things or kill someone, then it is perceived as bad or evil. The energy itself is neither, it simply is.

In the same way, magical energies are simply there. It is how we draw upon and use the energies that determine how they are perceived. Black, grey, white, purple or green is in the will that directs the energies. Ethics in a practitioner are of paramount importance.

The branch of medicine that deals with the care of infants and children and the treatment of their diseases.

Answer WitchCraft is a faith, just as Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are faiths. WitchCraft is not a branch of, or anything to do with, Satanism or the Devil, which are technically offshoots of esoteric Christianity.

Just as in the above faiths not all practitioners of the the one faith believe and do exactly the same thing, neither do people who practice WitchCraft. However, by and large, WitchCraft is marked by a reverence for life and nature, a respect for variety and difference of belief, and a general belief in immanence, and in the ability of people to directly link with the Divine. Many, though not all, Witches choose to follow several different Gods and Goddesses, although some focus their practice solely on one deity. And some people blend aspects of WitchCraft with parts of Christianity, Judaism and other faiths - there can be Jewish Witches and Christian Witches, for example.

Most Witches observe eight holy days, known as Sabbats, which are spread relatively evenly throughout the year. Collectively these holy days are known as The Wheel Of The Year.

Most Witches also cast spells, and believe that they what they do can have a direct impact on the everyday through magickal means.

Some Witches practice as solitary practitioners, but many choose to work in small groups called Covens or Circles. The traditional number of members in a Coven is 13, but most Covens these days are smaller, constituting half a dozen or fewer members.

Both men and women who practice WitchCraft are known as Witches, not Warlocks.

Just a clarification here, there isn't really such a thing as "black magic". Magic is power. It is the way the power is drawn and the manner in which it is used (determined by the practitioner and his/her ethics) that give the power its polarity. As to believing in god... which one(s). It is difficult to wield real power and not believe in something greater than yourself.

Conversely,

I completely agree with the clarification of black magick.

However, technically speaking, you dont have to believe in the array of Pagan Gods for your spell to work. You can just believe in the power of the Universe, (minus the Gods), and do what the CoS's (Church of Satan) do. CoS magick users believe in themselves, and believe that they get their own power through hard work and etc. They dont believe in any form of deity whatsoever.

In my opinion, though, magick should be practiced as a form of worship to the Gods. Magick is the highest forms of worship. And to me, who doesnt have a specific sect of Paganism I identify with, witchcraft is just as much as a dedicated religion as Wicca is.

Warlock derives from the Old English wǣrloga meaning "oathbreaker" or "deceiver." It is not a commonly acceptable alternative for the term Witch except in story books. A practitioner of Witchcraft and Magick is known as a Witch regardless of gender. Some may deem themselves simply Pagans, high or low Magickians, Eclectics, or any other term that best describes their respective pathway. In America, Wizard is sometimes also used.

Other names for witches:

Pagan. Many, but not all, practitioners of the various pagan paths call and consider themselves witches.

Heathen. Another group of practitioners that sometimes, but not always, call or consider themselves witches.

Practitioner of the Craft. A general term used to describe those who practice Witchcraft and/or Magic.

Priestess/Priest. This applies to most practitioner of many of the Pagan paths. (A High Priestess/Priest is generally the leader of a group of practitioners.)

Magician. This term is often confused with a stage Magician (hence the purposeful use of the misspelling "Magick") however it is a completely legitimate term to describe one who practices magic. (with or without a 'k")

One who studies the Esoteric. In most cases these are people who study magic, alchemy, and the various esoteric uses of the mind. Including but not limited to hypnosis, self-hypnosis, positive thought, manifestation, telepathy, telempathy, telekinesis, and levitation.

Wizard (in some cases this is used to describe someone who studies and practices magic outside of a Spiritual path).

Wise woman/man. This is a very old term used to describe the people eventually known as witches. They tended to be healers, creators of potions, prognosticators, advisers, dowsers, and often weather-wise.

Herb woman/man. Another term as above.

Congerer Another as above. with a strong leaning to the healing aspects and the creation of potions..

Hedge witch Another old term used as for a Wise woman/man.

Kitchen Witch This very old term tended to be used to describe women who where more or less like the above mentioned Wise women.

There really is no answer to the oft heard question; "Are you a good witch or a bad witch." Or in this case Holy magic Vs. Black-arts.

Fact is the magical energies we use are very much like other forms of power.

- For this discussion I will use electricity as a mundane corollary. The energy itself is neither good nor bad. It is in its use that polarity can be attributed.

When electricity is used to cook food, heat homes and light the darkness it is perceived as good.

When it is used to torture people, damage things or kill someone, then it is perceived as bad or evil.

The energy itself is neither, it simply is. And very much so...

In the same way, magical energies are simply there. It is how we draw upon and use the energies that determine how they are perceived.

What few practitioners of any discipline come right out and say is all magic is manipulation. This means as conscientious magical practitioners we are obliged to constantly monitor not only our actions, but also our motivations.

Some cultural beliefs believe that when you die, you become one with an energetic or magical force (For instance, Star Wars and the Jedi). But alongside this idea is the possibility that those who die and transform into this force of magical energy can choose what it is used for initially. So, therefore, magical energy, such as Holy Magic, has chosen its uses unlike electricity which has no life-force or "magical" entanglement at all. If you will go by this system of beliefs, then the energy CAN be one or the other and NOT Simply be its own (or used by the intentions of its user). - Krilon