The Craft has some relatively common myths. Here are some of these myths dispelled (no pun intended).

The Craft of a Modern Witch
Many people’s ideas about witchcraft are simply wrong.  Witches are not Satanists, nor do they harm others.  Witches are simply people who wish to study religion in peace.   I want to inform people of all the myths people believe to be true about witchcraft.  I hope that what I write changes people’s views about those we call witches.
Witchcraft means "craft of the wise ones" and is also known as the "Old Religion."   The practices can be traced to Neolithic (Stone Age) cave paintings.  In early times, the witch was the local lawyer, psychiatrist, and doctor.   The field of modern medicine can trace its origins to the herbal medicines of the witch.
Witchcraft is a nature religion not unlike the shamanism of the Native Americans.  The concepts of male and female exist throughout life.  Most witches perceive deities as male and female: the Goddess and the God.  Like the concept of the Trinity, these are not "many" gods; they are aspects of the one Creator.  The Goddess is seen as Mother Earth and Mother Nature and is represented by the moon.   She is seen in the fertility of the plant, animal, and human kingdoms.   Her power is at a peak from May until October.  The God is seen in the woodlands, the sun, the grain, and the hunt.  Since most of the animals that prehistoric humans hunted had horns, he is usually depicted as the "Horned One.”  His power is at a peak from the other half of the year.
Witches do not do evil.  They believe in the Wiccan Rede that states: "If it harms none, do what you will.”   In other words it says, “Do whatever you want; just as long as it doesn't harm anyone, including yourself.”   Witches also believe in the "Three-Fold Law,” which states that whatever the witch does, be it good or evil, comes back to the witch three times over.  This makes sure there is no incentive to do evil.
Witches do not believe in or worship Satan and do not perform any sort of human or animal sacrifices.  Sometimes the craft can be confused with Satanism and other Devil worshipping religions.  Then too there are some witches who will do certain spells they are not supposed to.  These are few and far between.  The Three Fold Law will make sure they get punished for it.  Satan is a relatively new concept that originated with Christianity.  Witches put the responsibility for our own actions squarely on whom it belongs: themselves.  Witchcraft teaches them to take responsibility for their own actions.  The Christian Church decided to obliterate religions that were a threat to its power (including Witchcraft).  They decided their "Satan" had horns and witches were actually worshipping the Devil.  This became the death warrant for millions of innocent people in the Salem Witch Trials.
The Pentagram (a five-pointed star in an upright, one-point-up position) is the symbol of their religion.  The top point symbolizes spirit (the Creator) being “above,” or ruling the four elements of life.  These four elements are air, fire, water, and earth.  The circle, being without beginning or end, symbolizes the deities.  It is completely encompassing the star within it.  The star represents the out-stretched human body, reaching out in search of its connection with Spirit.  Together, they represent the Creator's protection and wisdom.   Inverting the Pentagram, as is done by Satanists, symbolizes that the elements (the "material world") are superior to the Creator.  Unfortunately, through misunderstandings that have been repeated by the media, the Pentagram, in any position, has become wrongly equated with Satanism.
Witchcraft uses a variety of tools for spells.  Witches use candles of all colors, a magickal knife called an Athemed, and the Book of Shadows.  These tools help them to accomplish the spell or worship a specific god in their religion.  The Book of Shadows is the Wiccan book of spells, rituals, Runes, and so forth, composed mostly by the individual of things read or created.  It is not bad or evil.  It is simply a diary of sorts for witches.  Historically, a Book of Shadows used to be handmade, leather bound, and filled with parchment.  At the time of the Witch's death, it was burned for the reason that if it were ever found, it would be proof and an embarrassment to the family.  Occasionally, it would be passed on to other Witches.  In modern days, a Book of Shadows can be anything from a three-ring binder filled with notebook paper to a blank journal or even saved on computer.
Different traditions observe different Festivals.  Some of the most common occur on the solstices, the equinoxes, and the times between them.  Sometimes the major Festivals in some traditions are set to correspond to the new or full moon, and in other traditions they occur on specific days that are usually measured as being halfway between the equinox and the solstice.
The number of observances in a year varies according to the particular tradition.  Regardless, the Festivals are set according to the seasons and act somewhat as markers.  The year usually begins in early to mid November, although in some traditions the new year will start in mid to late March.  Rituals were determined by the position of the sun and moon and the agricultural year that is best displayed by the times when one should plant or harvest their crops, breed animals, or kill livestock.  These times defined when the Gods should be worshipped.  Because Witchcraft differs between traditions, the exact Festival days also differ.  These Festival days are usually celebrated on the evening preceding the actual day, as the night was seen to belong to the next day.  The length of a day is measured from sunset to sunset.
A male witch is not a warlock.   This is a Scottish term, meaning traitor, or oath breaker.   A male witch is simply termed like a female and called a witch as well.
Witchcraft is a legal religion protected under the First and Fourteenth amendments.  They do not seek to convert anyone.  They feel that all religions are equally valid, and everyone should be free to choose the one with which they are most comfortable.  No religion has the monopoly of God despite what some may claim.    This, in their opinion as well as my own, is wrong thinking.   As long as it does not infringe on the rights of others, they all have a right to our own method of worshipping the deities and God.
When we think witch, we think devil worshiper.  People need to change views of witchcraft by being educated on what they are like.  We preach religious tolerance, yet when I say the word witchcraft in class everyone stops and stares at me like I am a freak.  Even though I personally do not worship that religion, I am tolerant of those who do.  What is the difference between a witch, a psychic, or a telekinesis user?  They all have gifts that really cannot be explained.  If it helps others, I see no reason to think differently of them compared to another person.
 
 
 

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