Witchcraftian

Witchcraftian, commonly shortened as "witch", is a general term used to refer to anyone who practices witchcrafts and chooses to identify with this term. To be a witchcraftian, one must directly engage in witchcrafts, which differentiate this term with "Witchologian". However, one does not necessarily omit other terms that one also identifies with.

The definition of a witchcraftian may change depending on the context. As the standard distinction is relatively modern, many old scriptures define this term differently, some may have a wider inclusion while others restrict it. Regardless, the general consensus in the reformed era is that no school or method of witchcraft is excluded from being a witchcraft, despite their purpose and origin. Hence, as long as a person performs witchcraft, they have full rights to be a witchcraftian, regardless of their school or method of choice.

## **History**

The term "witchcraftian" is found in writings dating back to about five centuries ago, with the earliest appearance being in a letter by a poet named **Marcy Plein**. In the bypassed era, Marcy Plein was called a "witchcraft practitioner", to which she was uncomfortable with, according to her works. She explained her emotions in various creative ways, but it is repeated many times that she felt "*like a God amongst its people*", and "*a God may be superior, but does not belong*". In other words, she felt like she was treated better just for being able to use magic.

There are a lot of historical contexts to this. For once, a witchcraft practitioner limits its use to only witches who practice "proper" school of witchcraft. Mixed connotations were also attached to this term, such as when one is a witch, they are either inherently gifted or fraudulent. As practitioners of this craft were few in number, it became misunderstood that witchcraft, or the necessary talents for it, is innate. Plein called out these beliefs to which she claimed "*restrict her emotional freedom*" while performing witchcraft through her literary works.

Her first mention of the term "witchcraftian" appeared in a letter she wrote to someone she was close to, Piery Hocriax. As they often exchange letters, Plein hoped that Hocriax could refer to her as a "witchcraftian" rather than a "witchcraft practitioner".

After that, the term started to be seen in many different works of hers as well as other witchcraftian poets. Some argument arises that the term could have appeared earlier than Plein's letter. However, no conclusive evidence has been attributed to this argument.

Around the shifting phase, the debate surrounding the standards for who should be considered a witchcraftian surged alongside other debates regarding the witchcraft community. Various organizations, societies and councils were established in an effort to gain control over who-defines-what with witchcraft, as it slowly made its way to being a more seriously regarded field. Through this phase did "witchcraftian" earn many meanings. The Socrates of Witchcraft, a philosophical society of witchcraft, defined it as "*people who performed major schools of witchcraft*"; Phildean Council of Witchcraft said it meant "*witchcraft performers who execute one of the five following schools:...*"; The Poets of Sylveia claimed witchcraftians are "*whoever that performs magic for the better good.*"

However, most of these definitions phased away gradually in educational settings, and through criticisms, official scholars decided on the most inclusive one, which is still used until this day.

## **Types**

According to the Supreme Council of the Unorthodox, the most common method of categorization depends on whether the individual performs witchcraft of one or across many schools of witchcraft. Those that stay with only one commonly have a more well-rounded understanding than others, whereas in return, those that performs many gain certain advantages...