When addressing either male or female it is still Witch. The word Warlock translates to "oathbreaker". If you call a male Witch a warlock, he's going to get angry at you. The word Warlock was made popular by movies and media. (There is no such thing as a "warlock"). It sounds very mysterious and magical and makes for good movies. *shrug* As usual, Hollywoods poetic license I suppose.

Another answer

* WITCH is genderless- it applies to all who practise the craft. Also the term Warlock, if it is used, would refer to an alchemist. An old form of magic and science that was blended together and studied the natural laws of the planet and nature and ways to change one thing (lead) into another (gold). Now days warlock isn't really used anymore and so the word Witch is used for both genders and is universally excepted.
There is no gender for the term Witch. Both male and female the word Witch is used.

The words Warlock or Wizard have different meanings than the word Witch means.

A Pagan Perspective

Paganism, Witchcraft & magic are as old as mankind. Anything, beyond your understanding or comprehension can be considered magic. A cell phone to a primitive is magic.

When mankind first started being self aware, we looked beyond ourselves and needed answers to things like, where does the sun go at night? How do we insure it will come back? How do we heal wounds and illnesses? How do we find food?

Eventually members of the group who discovered things, like which plants helped an upset stomach, where to find water, what the migration patterns of the local animals were and other things, became the ones others turned to for answers. These were the Wise Ones...

The cycles of the seasons where in our blood and instincts, as they governed our survival. The wise ones were the ones who kept track of the right time to plant, and harvest, ensuring the continuance of the people.

As we became more evolved the amount of knowledge expanded, and those with the answers learned a few tricks of their own.

If someone tells you a certain herb will cure your cut, you may or may not believe them, if they are well respected and do a little spell/prayer over the cut at the same time as using the herb, you tend to believe... Particularly if it works... you then tell others of the "power" of the Wise One... Eventually a name gets made, and expectation are raised...

It is a commonly accepted fact that your mind has a strong influence on your body... If you believe in something it has a better chance of working. the Wise Ones figured this out early on, so a little "showmanship" helped their reputation...

As spell/prayers/magic/ became standardized and passed on from generation to generation, the words became of equal importance to the practical application...

Magic became accepted as something that worked...

Science is today what magic once was, a practical, evolving set of standard results from repeated experimentation...

Even modern medicine can't tell us everything the mind is capable of, so some of us still believe in and practice Magic...

Sudden change in your life.

Usually people will only notice a sudden negative change in their lives. For example, every time I run into a certain person on the street the following few weeks will be filled with bad luck for me. I would just pass it off as a normal fluctuation in my luck, health, relationships, etc. It took me years to realize that seeing "Liz" and having bad luck follow our meeting was linked. Her sister finally revealed to me that "Liz" is a black magic practitioner and enjoys passing bad luck onto all her female competition (she tried to seduce my husband once upon a time and still holds a grudge that I caught her). Now that I know, I simply cast a counter curse and protection spell upon myself and my home every few months to keep things smooth (not abundantly luck but not unlucky either, just normal).

However, spells can also bring you luck. For example, if you suddenly see an abundance of luck enter your life, it could be the result of someone casting a spell of luck, good fortune, health, wealth, etc. upon you. I've received requests from clients to cast a spell on a friend or family member of theirs to help them trough a rough patch. Though I don't like casting spells on unknowing "targets" as long as the spell is of positive energies, I don't really object (though I do prefer that they ask the person's permission before I cast).

An Alternate Thought

Much as the idea of there being people out there (witches or other) who randomly and secretly cast spells on others has a fascination for many people, the truth is there really are not that many who: A) can, B) would.

Most ethical practitioners who regularly cast spells do so only with the express permission and full knowledge of the person. Hence, if you asked for a spell, you would know it had been cast.

If you have engaged someone to cast for you, the effects are usually quite subtle, more of an appearance of things going "a bit more to your liking." This depends on the type of spell cast of course, but magic rarely if ever comes like a "bolt out of the blue."

- A prosperity spell does not generally result in an instant lottery win, but more often manifests as a great new job offering.

- A love spell will not have Brad Pitt or your favourite sports figure walk up to your door with flowers in his hand, but may manifest as a new person in your circle of acquaintances who shares your interests and is looking for a new friend.

- A protection spell may not "blast" a burglar who is about to break into your house, but instead send a police cruiser down your block, discouraging the thief from hanging around your neighbourhood.

If you are suddenly experiencing a "run of bad luck" I would suggest that the cause is more likely internal than external.

There is such a thing as cause and effect. If your thoughts and actions tend toward the negative, you are more likely to attract negative energies.

Should you find yourself in such a situation, stop and reflect, be willing to take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions and make an adjustment in your outlook.

Do a few "good deeds," be a bit more charitable (in words and actions) to others, look less to lay blame and more to changing the way things are.

It shouldn't take long before your "luck" will change, good things (that you may not have noticed before because of negativity) will become more evident.

Magic (the real magic, not the "movie magic") is available to everyone, it is in you as well as me and if you channel the positive and let go of the negative you will not need to wonder if someone else has cast a spell on you, because your own magic will be balancing your life.

If you are a believer in that sort of things then I'm not going to lie to you, yes, you can. I know people who have been through this sort of thing and have had to have their houses cleansed. One of my friends aunts is a ghost whisperer.

Witches who do not cast the circle properly (when it is necessary) are at a high risk of getting possessed.

Witches who work with Goetia, or those who summon spirits often, or those who communicate with spirits using Ouija-boards, mediums etc. have a risk of possession.

If you work with lesser entities, you shouldn't work alone and you could be able to banish them at the drop of a hat.

If someone does their magic without the help of lesser entities or spirits, and uses sources of energy such as Natural energies, Personal Life force, Crystals etc. have a very low possibility of getting possessed. Casting the circle properly and not lighting candles on bare floor (using small candle stands) minimize the such risks. Protective amulets, talismans and banishing rituals are added protection for an occultist.

The belief that magic and its practice, is basically wrong/evil/bad is usually espoused by those with little true knowledge or understanding of the craft.

Most practitioners are good/honest/caring people who follow one of many spiritual paths that are not that much different from other spiritual paths.

Outsiders, dabblers and the uninitiated (by that I mean the uninformed) can and often do get themselves into difficulties by not following the basic rules, not being honest about their motivations and goals, or undertaking works they did not write themselves and/or research carefully enough to be certain of the outcome.

a coven

a convocation

a circle

Coven is what a group of witches is called. It's pronounced 'kuh-vehnz'. There can be more than one coven. So the plural form is 'covens'.

A blood witch is a witch that uses blood magic. Basically they drink the blood of a human to get power, they predominately use babies and infants as the younger the blood more powerful. It is considered more powerful than Bone magic.

The first is - any practitioner of magic who uses blood (their own or the blood of others including animals or other humans) in the practice of their magic.

- Not all blood magic is as ominous as it sounds, for example; Blooding a blade or candle - adding a drop pf your own blood to the oil used to anoint the object- is considered blood magic and all it does is enhance the bond between the practitioner and the object.

- Blood is one of the most powerful essences of life and has many legitimate uses.

- However, the idea of witches draining the blood from sacrificial animals or "virgins &/or babies" is part of the negative propaganda used by some of the old organised religions to cast aspersions on practitioners of the more ancient Paganism paths.

- The ideas do however linger today as they make for wonderful, frightening and imaginative fodder for the people who write fiction, create computer games and make movies.

The second and more commonly used meaning of "blood witch" describes a practitioner of any of a large number of pagan spiritual paths who has come to their knowledge via a "family tradition" or a "blood-line."

- It is not necessary for a modern day practitioner to have a family tie to their spiritual path, although it certainly can be helpful.

- Most neo-pagan paths have their origins in the early part of the last century, which makes them very new.

- Family traditions often can trace their roots and practices back to the "old world" and some can claim an unbroken line from before Christianity.