Why Fictional Witches Differ from Real-Life Practitioners of Witchcraft

It's important to understand that while fictional witches are often depicted in popular media, the real-world practitioners of witchcraft have a very different reality from those portrayals. Let's explore why the two differ so drastically.

Fictional Witches

In the world of fiction, witches are fantasy characters. They are often designed by authors to suit the narrative needs of the story. As a result, witches in fiction can range from the ugly and evil to the beautiful and kind. In my own works, I depict witches as normal people with a bit of a superhuman power to perform magic. They attend school to learn to control and direct their powers. One notable example is Harry Potter, but I believe this is the only type of fictional witches that could be considered reasonable and possible.

Evil beings exist in fictional worlds, and they are not witches. In my world, witches are good or at least not intrinsically evil. Sure, they can be crappy people sometimes, but this is just their human side coming out. Therefore, my fictional witches are quite different from real-life practitioners.

The Reality of Witchcraft

The real question is why fictional witches are so different from real witches. Movies and shows have a habit of conflating the two, leading young people to have unrealistic expectations and scaring Christians and everyday folks into thinking all witches are evil. In reality, witches as a rule are moral and ethical individuals who lead mostly normal lives. They might dress like hippies or goths sometimes, but they are essentially the flower children of the new millennium.

Witchcraft and magic are also more subtle than what is often depicted in fiction. For example, changing your appearance with a wave of a hand is not part of traditional witchcraft. Instead, magick is used to change the impression you make or achieve spiritual goals. It involves no telekinesis or teleportation, no levitating, and no making people hallucinate. These are not themes aligned with magick, which typically focuses more on spiritual goals than mundane ones, although both are part of the practice.

Witchcraft has more to do with personal discovery of the divine and the freedom to be true to the call of one's spirit. Most witches see Christianity as fear-based, stifling, and judgmental, leading them to leave that religion. They are not evil, and they are not even wicked in most cases. They simply seek direct contact with their spirituality rather than relying on a preacher as a mediator between them and the divine.

Conclusion

It's crucial to distinguish between fictional witches and real-life practitioners of witchcraft. Fictional witches often serve as vehicles for storytelling and entertainment, while real witches lead lives that are often no different from those of ordinary people. Understanding the differences can help dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding witchcraft, allowing for a better and more accurate portrayal of this ancient practice.