For such a simple question, the answer is rather complex. Every witch that you ask will give you a different answer, so I can only explain what a witch means to me.
A witch is a seeker of truth. Not the ultimate truth, for there is none, but their own unique truth. A witch aims to express themselves with the fullest authenticity. Again, this is an impossible feat, but a witch should try to discover the deepest levels of their psyche, acknowledge their shadow side as well as their light, and practise with the clearest of intentions. A witch explores the universe within and without, always in awe of the world's beauty, and feels the need to protect it.
A witch may choose to serve only themselves, or serve others. A witch might follow the old ways, or create a totally new way. A witch might believe that there are worlds beyond our own, or only believe in their own mind. Witchcraft is a true spectrum, not just a linear scale, but a matrix of possibilities limited only by one's imagination.
Okay, this is all pretty abstract. I understand that these definitions don't mean a whole lot to someone who has never been exposed to witchcraft other than in movies, TV shows, and fairy tales. The truth of the matter is that witches are so different from one another that it's virtually impossible to define them.
So I suppose a witch is simply this: a person who identifies themselves as a witch. There are plenty of people who I would call a witch, but because they themselves do not identify as a witch then they are not a witch.
✨ Calling yourself a witch is a dedication to your unique journey to find your personal truth, to connect with nature, and to work with magick. ✨
And to clarify, no, witchcraft is not purely evil. Witches do not worship the Devil or sacrifice babies. Most witches do not even believe the Devil exists. Witchcraft is a tool like any other; a hammer can be used to build a bookcase, but can also be used to bludgeon someone. A hammer is not evil just because it can be used for harmful acts, and witchcraft is exactly the same.
Who can be a witch?
You might have noticed I've been careful to use gender-neutral and all-inclusive pronouns throughout this book. That is because, contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be a woman to be a witch. "Witch" is a gender neutral term, but if that doesn't resonate with you, you can use an alternative like "occult practitioner" or "energy worker"(1). Some male witches like to call themselves "wizards", "mages", or "warlocks" but these terms remind me too much of fantasy. It is ultimately down to personal preference, though.
Later I will discuss the somewhat exclusive nature of Wicca with its binary system of "masculine" and "feminine" dichotomy. But what you need to know right now is that witchcraft is for everyone (2). Any gender identity, any sexual orientation, any ethnic or cultural background.
🌈 Witchcraft is all-inclusive. 🌈
Additionally, you do not have to be specially gifted with psychic abilities to be a witch. Magick simply requires your will and focus. You do not need special tools, to be descended from witches, to be initiated by an elder, or be trained under a mentor. All you need is your intuition and dedication; that is to listen to your heart and follow your own path.
Types of Witches
You might have heard of different types of witches. Types are useful for navigating the seemingly endless possibilities that witchcraft has to offer, but do not feel like you must label yourself. Labels can be limiting when the very essence of being a witch is to escape from the status quo and discover your own unique truth. So I suggest to only use witch types as a stepping stone rather than absolute dogma.
Here is a list of common types of witches. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I must stress again that you do not need to label yourself at all. Defining your own path is something that can take years, and continues to re-shape throughout your lifetime as a witch.
🧙 Ceremonial witch: Otherwise known as high magick, ceremonial magick involves elaborate and precise words, tools, and movements. Ceremonial witches practise very specific rituals from older more traditional occult teachings like Thelema, The Golden Dawn, Enochian magick, and the Kabbalah.
🎲 Chaos witch: Often called "chaotes", a chaos witch works within chaos philosophy. It can be summarised as "anything goes" although of course not quite as simple as that. It is primarily the idea that the mind creates reality, and whatever brings results is the way to go (results-driven magick). It is the polar opposite of ceremonial magick (3). Chaotes often work with sigils, but their practices are unlimited due to the nature of chaos philosophy.
🤐 Closet witch: This does not refer to a set of practices, but rather a witch who is in the "broom closet". This is a witch who has to keep their practices secret from their family, friends, or the general public. As you might have guessed, it's the same concept as the LGBTQ+ "closet", but when you are a witch it is known as "the broom closet".
🪐 Cosmic witch: Works with planetary energies, often keeps track of planetary movements and likes astrology.
🔮 Crystal witch: Likes to work with stones, gems, minerals, and crystals in their craft. They often use crystal healing, crystal grids, and pendulums.
💻 Cyber witch: Also known as a tech witch, a cyber witch incorporates modern technology into their craft. This includes coding spells, using rapid cyclers for divination, and casting spells over video calls using the Internet.
♾️ Eclectic witch: A freeform path with unlimited possibilities. Eclectic witches mix and match different practices with whatever feels right to them. This is the opposite of a witch who may only follow a specific tradition (like Vodou) without ever incorporating ideas and practices outside of their tradition.
🌬️ Elemental witch: Works very closely with the elements. Sometimes they only work with their personal element(s) (this can be determined with various methods like your natal chart or numerology), or they can also choose to work with all the elements (earth, air, fire, & water).
🧚 Faerie witch: Nature-based witchcraft that involves working with fairfolk and nature spirits.
🌿 Green witch: Works very closely in-tune with nature. Likely grows their own herbs and natural ingredients as part of their craft. Sometimes works with the elements and nature spirits. Uses any excuse be in nature's presence and likes to work outside.
👥 Hedge witch: A large mixture of green and kitchen witchery, with lots of work in the spirit world. Hedge witches practise "hedging" or "hedgecrossing" which is the act of using a dreamlike state to communicate with spirits, navigate the spirit world, or access parts of the psyche which are typically hidden (e.g. unlocking memories, trauma work).
🥣 Kitchen witch: uses food, cooking, and cuisine as the primary method to work magick. Every dish is a spell, and the kitchen is their altar. Kitchen witches may also work with household fae. A similar path is cottage witchery - typically a witch that is very in-tune with their home, works on balancing the energies within it, and often incorporates household chores into their craft.
🧠 Mind witch: a term coined by Jessi Huntenberg on YouTube, a mind witch considers consciousness to be at the forefront of their craft, and that the mind is the most powerful tool in witchcraft. Most of their craft is about analysing how the mind perceives the world and making changes to that perception with everyday actions (both mundane & spiritual) to achieve desired results. A lot of mind witches use practices similar to S.A.S.S. witches like placebo magick, archetypes, and mindfulness, as well as other practices like astral altars, dreamwork, journaling, and philosophy (4).
🔬 S.A.S.S. witch: Sceptic Agnostic/Atheist Science-Seeking witchcraft. A witch who wants to explore the wonderful world of magick and occultism, but does not feel comfortable with the idea that spirits and deities literally exist. Some of the more "woohoo" aspects of witchcraft can feel alienating to someone who is more scientifically inclined. S.A.S.S. witches are likely to ascribe to psychological magick; methods that are more science-based like psychological archetypes, placebo effect, and mindfulness.
🌊 Sea witch: Lives on the coast, works with the water element, loves collecting seashells, and feels most at home in the water. May also work with mermaid spirits and faefolk of the sea, lakes, and rivers.
👁️ Secular witch: A witch who does not work with deities or spirits in their craft, preferring to work with energies in general without necessarily putting a name to them, or relying solely on their personal power. A secular witch can still be religious; sometimes witches separate their craft from their religion entirely. Likewise, secular witches can also be atheist or irreligious.
🧹 Traditional witch: Sometimes abbreviated to Trad witch, this is a witch who typically practices folk magick. That is, magick that has been used by local people for centuries way before Wicca or Christianity. Trad witches are very familiar with the local spirits of the land and keep ancestral practices alive.
♻️ Trash witch: Also known as a budget witch, this isn't a fully formed path but rather refers to a witch who likes to recycle, thrift, and reuse old items to both save money and help the earth. Some trash witches practise minimalism, that is they only use the bare essentials for their craft instead of collecting lots of expensive tools & items. Trash witches will often use food scraps, reuse candles and jars, buy from thrift stores, DIY their own tools, and use things they find in nature or in their home as much as possible.
About "Baby" Witches
A "baby" witch is a witch who has just started out and doesn't know very much about witchcraft yet. It is okay to call yourself a baby witch if you are comfortable with that, but please note that a lot of seasoned witches have aversions to the term. It can make you sound rather infantile and co-dependant, when a large part of witchcraft is about taking the initiative and cultivating your personal power.
Historically, witchcraft has been largely associated with women and minorities because of Christian colonisation who perverted it and taught the masses it was sinful in order to control them. And so, often to be a witch is to take back power stolen from you, whether that be by the patriarchy, or colonialists, or organised religion. Therefore, calling yourself a baby witch can negate that, as you are still subordinating yourself to those who told you that witchcraft is evil or that your ancestors were "pagans" and "savages".
It is just a thought to keep in mind, but again it is down to personal preference. "Baby witch" remains a very popular term and does make it a lot easier to locate beginner resources on the internet.
Footnotes
(1) It is also worth mentioning that other cultures have their own words that (approximately) mean witch, so you can use terms more fitting to your particular culture or ethnic background such as "bruja", "strega", or "shaman".
(2) The only exception (and this is just my personal opinion) is that if you are particularly susceptible to delusion and psychosis you should not practise witchcraft, or you should at least practise witchcraft in a more secular way; that is without working with spirits and deities. Practising witchcraft safely requires a healthy mindset with a good dose of scepticism. Witchcraft is mostly safe, but can easily become dangerous if you are prone to paranoia, delusion, hallucinations, or psychosis. If you have a history of mental illness that involves these symptoms then I don't recommend witchcraft for you. It is a tough pill to swallow, but my only goal here is to advise vulnerable readers on how to remain safe and healthy.
(3) That is not to say that chaos witches can't practise ceremonial magick. The idea is that whatever works, works. So if ceremonial magick works for a chaos witch, then they can still use it.
(4) For more information on Mind witchcraft, please watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SDKBbQrxo