Religions that Use Magick
Wicca
Wicca is probably the best-known modern form of pagan witchcraft, emerging as an alternative religion in England in the early 1900s under the leadership of anthropologist and occultist Gerald Gardner, the “Father of Wicca.” Wicca is inspired by the pre-Christian folk beliefs of pagan Britain and Celtic traditions, though Gardner was criticized for cherry-picking previously unconnected folk beliefs. He also spuriously claimed that it was a continuation of traditional practices that had existed continuously from ancient times, and that many practitioners were genuine pagans persecuted for witchcraft in the early modern era.
Gardner’s original Wicca, largely duotheistic, focused on the worship of the Horned God and the Mother Goddess. Over time, this has become more symbolic, with the deities representing fundamental concepts of nature rather than specific gods. Fundamental to Wicca is reverence for the Earth and its cycles, with celebrations according to the Wheel of the Year, with holidays on important days such as solstices and equinoxes. Gardner’s Wicca included magical rituals, conducted by covens led by a high priest or priestess, which he recorded in his Book of Shadows. Today there are various offshoots of the original Gardnerian Wicca.
Neopaganism
Wicca is considered one of several neopagan religions, revivalist movements that aim to recreate ancient pagan religions. These are called “neopagan” because they are new religions inspired by the past, and have not been practiced continuously since ancient times, unlike religions such as Zoroastrianism. Wicca is a form of British neopaganism, while Heathenry is a Norse neopaganism that revives worship of the old Norse gods. While many neopagans are also interested in witchcraft, not all neopagans would consider themselves witches.
Folk Magic & Cunning Folk
Folk magic is generally used to refer to traditional cultural beliefs, often with a practical element, such as herbal remedies for illnesses and ensuring good fortune. Specific practices depend on local customs and will utilize local native plants and common household objects. The practitioners are often called wisemen, or more commonly wisewomen, or cunning folk. While they were among the people targeted during the witch trials, most cunning folk fervently opposed witchcraft and were often called on to block malevolent forces.
Modern Hellenistic Religion
Modern Hellenistic, or Hellenism, encompasses both the ancient Hellenistic cultural legacy following Alexander the Great and contemporary religious revivals of Greek polytheistic practices.
Shamanism
Shamanism is a type of folk magic, employing practices such as herbal healing, but with shamans also specifically acting as intercessors between the mortal and spirit realms. Shamans customarily use altered states of consciousness to access the supernatural domain and then act as a conduit for messages. Shamanism is most often associated with indigenous cultures throughout the Americas, Siberia, Australia, and parts of Africa.
Hedge Witchery
The phrase “Hedge witch” was coined by Rae Beth in her 1990 book, “Hedge Witch: A Guide to Solitary Witchcraft.” As the title suggests, a notable component of Hedge witchery is that it is an individual craft, unlike the covens of Wicca. Hedge witches also use altered states to interact with spirits, with the name deriving from the Anglo-Saxon hedge riders, who rode between the mortal and spiritual worlds. Today, journeying through meditation is a common practice, in search of insight and clarity.
Green Witchcraft
Green witchcraft serves as a type of blanket term for witches who base their practice on the power, magic, and spirituality of nature. There are multiple sub-genres like sea-witchcraft, forest-witchcraft, or garden-witchcraft. Central to all is the harmony and peace found within nature. Herbalism and plant magic are the cornerstones of the practice to create charms, spells, and potions.
Today, green witchcraft is often explicitly political, advocating for environmentalism and sustainable living. Green witches are often strong proponents of conservation, biodiversity, and managing climate change.
Kitchen Witchcraft
Kitchen or cottage witchcraft has become extremely popular in recent years thanks to social media. Originally, a kitchen witch was a homemade doll or poppet kept in the kitchen as a symbol of good luck and a magical entity to protect the home and its residents. However, as people seek to live more authentically in a quickly modernizing world, the “cottagecore” aesthetic has promoted the popularity of kitchen magic. Today, kitchen magic tends to be simple things you can do at home to connect with nature, such as brewing mystic teas and planting herbs for protection and good fortune.
Ceremonial Magic
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries as interest in the occult was on the rise, many magical societies, secret societies modelled on groups such as the Freemasons, emerged. Probably the most famous of these groups were the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Thelema, created by the wizard Aleister Crowley, known as the “wickedest man alive,” after being kicked out of the Golden Dawn.
Thelema
Thelema is based on revelations reportedly shared with Crowley by a mystical being called Aiwass while in Egypt, but is also clearly based on earlier ceremonial magic practices. Its core principle is that a person should find their true calling, called their “True Will,” and follow it to find fulfillment. It is also about experimenting with different practices to find your own spiritual power and connections.
Thelema has unjustly become associated with demons and devils due to Crowley himself, because of his personal sexual preferences and lifestyle, which he was open about, but is not central to the practice of Thelema. This is not unlike how folk magic practices became associated with Satanic pacts and Devil worship during the witch trials.
Druidry: The Celtic Nature Tradition
Druidry is a pagan path with inspiration from the ancient druids of Celtic cultures. It is both a spiritual and philosophical tradition that focuses on reverence for nature, ancestors, and the wisdom of the earth. Modern Druidry draws from ancient sources but has evolved into a vibrant spiritual movement that addresses contemporary concerns such as environmentalism and personal growth.
Core Beliefs
Nature as Sacred: Druids believe that nature is sacred, and they honour the spirits of the natural world. Every tree, river, mountain, and animal is viewed as imbued with divine presence.
The Awen: A central concept in Druidry is the Awen, often described as the flowing spirit of inspiration and creativity. It represents divine inspiration and is a guiding force for many druids.
Connection to Ancestors: Druids often seek to connect with their ancestors, both spiritual and genetic, and draw upon their wisdom for guidance in the present.
Asatru
Asatru is a Pagan tradition based on old Norse beliefs. Also called Heathenism, Asatruans believe in the Norse pantheon that includes Odin, Loki, Freya and Thor and follow a set of guidelines known as the Nine Noble Virtues. These virtues are courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness, self-reliance and perseverance.
Asatru is unusual among Pagan religions in how much it focuses on history. Druidry and pantheon based Pagan paths have roots in ancient traditions, but most scholars agree that modern Paganism rarely has much in common with its ancient roots. Heathenism, however, works to be as similar to the old Norse religion as possible while adapting the religion to a more civilized age.
Pantheon Based Paganism
Pantheon based Paganism is a catch all term for the various Pagan traditions that are centered around a specific pantheon rather than a set of guidelines. Asatru, given its emphasis on the Norse pantheon, could technically be considered a variant of pantheon based paganism, but the guidelines and organization within Heathenism set it slightly apart from many pantheon based paths.
Pantheon based Paganism is exactly what it sounds like. It is Pagan religions that are centered on a specific ancient pantheon, such as the Greek pantheon or the Celtic pantheon. These religions are generally less well defined than more organized and commonly recognized traditions such as Wicca and Asatru.
Eclectic Paganism
Eclectic Paganism is the epitome of “no dogma.” This Pagan tradition is most commonly practiced by Solitary Pagans or Pagans who do not belong to a coven or grove which are two sorts of Pagan “congregations.”
Eclectic Paganism is exactly what it sounds like. It is a Pagan path that pulls from a variety of traditions. They may worship Odin and Hera but use Celtic rituals. They might also observe a unified pantheon or follow the guidelines of another Pagan tradition but create their own, unique, individual rituals and practices. Eclectic Paganism is difficult to define even by Pagan insiders because there is no official dogma in Paganism. As such, the lines between traditions blur which makes it hard to decide who is pulling from multiple traditions.
Benedicaria
Benedicaria is the name for the light side of Sicilian folk magic, a religio-magic tradition that uses Catholicism as a backbone, but also includes many magical ideas and rituals. Benedicaria translates to “Way of Blessings” and encompasses traditions that have been practiced in Italy for many, many years. The use of novenas and prayer to Catholic saints feature heavily in the rituals. They are often used for protection from the evil eye, but also for a good many other things. Those who perform folk magic of this sort for evil are known as Stregas (witches).
The importance of saints to these traditions cannot be understated. When the statue of a new saint is brought into a home, it is considered a momentous occasion and one that must not pass without proper ceremony. The statue is blessed with holy oil, and then a specific prayer is said based on which saint is depicted. After this, the entire family “welcomes” the saint by lighting candles in its honor—this is meant to imbue the statue with the essence of that particular Catholic saint, making it a powerful magical object for prayer and ritual. There are also detailed guides for Benedicaria practitioners on how to use cards with pictures of the saints to perform acts of divination, which seems to be an alternate form of tarot-card reading.
Feri Tradition
Feri is a tradition based partially on neo-pagan forms of witchcraft. It was created by Victor Anderson and his wife Cora in the mid-1900s. This odd offshoot tradition may borrow from similar belief systems, but it has plenty of unique ideas. To begin with, Victor did not believe that he had created a new magical belief system, only that he had reinvigorated a very old belief, based on an ancient people that had been roaming the Earth before humans. Victor believed that although they were known as many different things around the world, they all originated in Africa and were the fairies that we still sometimes read about in folklore today. He claimed to be related to them.
Those who ascribe to the Feri tradition believe that humans contain three different souls, or selves, all of which have different functions. One takes care of our higher brain functioning, the other our subconscious brain functioning, and the third deals with that on the immaterial realm. The tradition has a strong sexual focus, and psychic abilities and shape-shifting also feature. Feri’s equivalent of nirvana, the perfected state of being, is known as “The Black Heart of Innocence,” but it is a primal state rather than a refined one. One quote states: “How beautiful is the black lascivious purity in the hearts of children and wild animals.”
Quimbanda
Quimbanda is an Afro-Brazilian practice that was once closely associated with black magic. In recent years it has seen a bit of an upsurge in popularity, but many people still associate it with cult practices. The two primary forces in Quimbanda are the legion gods or spirits of the Exu and Pomba gira. They are the spirits of the people of the street—hustlers, prostitutes, and vagrants—and they are symbolized by darkness and fire.
Although believed by some to be evil, practitioners claim that they simply lack a discriminatory conscience, as opposed to being truly malicious. They have more in common with trickster gods than with devils. Exus and Pomba giras guide those who follow the Quimbanda traditions and will aid them in attaining their goals. The catch, of course, is that for any of this to work you must truly connect with the gods—be possessed by them. This element of Quimbanda, along with its embrace of the lower classes, means they will likely have trouble shedding their association with the dark arts.
Nagualism
Nagualism, or the belief in nagual, is a concept or set of ideas popular among Native Americans and most often seen as a part of shamanism. In this belief, the nagual is a spirit that is essentially a part of us, a sort of alter ego. These guardian spirits are based on a specific animal that has significance for the person. A person with one of these spirits can transform into their chosen animal entity for protection or escape and is often described as not being separate from the animal at all.
The two of them are supposed to share the same pain, weakness, and injuries, but also the same strengths. Some traditions hold that transforming into their spirit animal also allows the shaman to travel to places he could not otherwise go, such as the underworld.
Those who believe in these traditions have been known to hunt animals of their foes’ nagual, either in the hopes of actually hurting their enemy, or simply to weaken their power. Many Native Americans would assign a nagual to their child based on the animal first seen after the baby’s birth, figuring that it was the guardian spirit making themselves known.
Pow-wowing
Pow-wowing is a tradition that started with the Pennsylvania Dutch a few hundred years ago and still has practitioners to this day. While the tradition was mainly used for healing people, it could also be used for protection or other basic magical purposes. Many of its critics feel that the use of spells makes it too close to black magic, but its practitioners claim that it is okay because it all comes from the Bible.
In fact, many of the healing spells are basically just verses lifted from the Bible, but that isn’t the only source of a pow-wowers’ magic. Among their grimoires they also consult a book called The Long Lost Friend, a book of recipes, spells, and incantations that were compiled by an early German immigrant. Not only was this book full of magical instructions for the pow-wower, it was also supposed to be a magically protective device in and of itself. (The Sator Square above is taken from it.)
One practitioner claims his powers could only pass from his mother to one of her sons and that he was the lucky recipient. He alleges to have helped heal many, many people and will quickly go to aid others and offer his services for free at the drop of a hat. However, despite his charitable habits, he isn’t entirely kind about his practice. No matter how someone asks, if they have previously mocked his beliefs, he will absolutely refuse to help them at all.
Biodynamic Agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture is a tradition that started in the early 1900s and now has growing adherents all over the world. At first it sounds like a fairly normal set of alternative farming practices. Those into biodynamic agriculture believe in using only absolutely natural soil and fertilizers, and no pesticides. It’s organic farming taken to an extreme level. Of course, there is nothing wrong with wishing to keep the environment in good shape and have a farm that can sustain itself—but those who practice biodynamic agriculture take it several steps farther than just being strictly organic.
The idea was first proposed by a man named Rudolf Steiner, the founder of a well-regarded system of schooling (Waldorf or Steiner education). However, while he might have known something about education, he knew very little about actual farming. Fortunately, knowing about farming wasn’t essential to his system. He felt that the entire farm had its own organic life force and should thus be able to completely take care of itself. Steiner’s influence turned the entire thing into a spiritual quest for farming purity and included some rather strange ideas. Farmers will ritually kill a cow every year and stuff its guts full of flowers as a treatment to improve the compost for the entire farm. They also bury cow horns full of dung and later retrieve the contents for further magical benefits to the soil. Biodynamic agriculture also takes a leaf out of astrology’s book and uses the position of the stars as a guide.
Onmyodo
Onymodo originated in Japan during the first millennium and incorporated the belief systems of several different religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto, but was much more a magical tradition in practice. Despite some historical animosity between the Japanese and the Chinese, Onmyodo was actually greatly influenced by Chinese magical systems. Onymodo practitioners believed in the forces of yin and yang, the five classic Chinese elements, and a tome known as the I Ching or The Book of Changes—essentially a numerology textbook.
The main focus of Onymodo was divination. Complex calculations involving numbers and calendars, as well as the interpretation of symbols on the ground, were considered very important and used in the royal courts to influence decisions. The practitioners were capable of more than just divination though. They were also supposedly able to commune with the dead and could perform exorcisms when necessary. A great practitioner named Seimei claimed that he could command spirits known as Shikigami to do his bidding, and even make objects into spirits if he wished to, for whatever purpose he needed. The legends also say that he had a really good track record for guessing what gender a baby was going to be before it was born. While it is hard to be certain if he actually wielded these powers, he has become a legend in Japan and is honored with his own shrine.
Ku
Wu is the catchall name for Chinese white magic, but Ku isn’t necessarily its polar opposite. “Ku” is the word used for a specific set of black magic principles found in Chinese culture, and some of them are quite disturbing. Ku is often used for evil, but that is not the primary reason one would stoop to such lengths. The main reason most people begin using Ku is because they are trying to obtain more wealth, but it can also be used solely to inflict punishment on another individual. Those who practice this have a very specific and evil method of getting what they want.
In what sounds like a ritual straight out of the depths of hell itself, the sorcerer first acquires a grab bag of various venomous creatures. They then throw them all together in the same container and let them fight it out, demolition-derby style, until only one challenger is remaining. Whether for natural or magical reasons, they figure that the only critter to remain alive would clearly have the most effective toxin, so they use that critter’s venom to poison their victim. This evil ritual would attract a being from across the veil to help the sorcerer rid himself of his enemy and get super rich in the bargain—usually by stealing from the person he had killed.
Reiki
Some who practice reiki might object to referring to the traditions as magical, but as far as mainstream science is concerned, there is nothing in the systems practiced that does anything to benefit health. It is likely no evidence of medical use has been found because reiki is based on the Japanese believe in a life energy that flows through our bodies, called ki. It was founded in the early 1900s by a Buddhist monk—the idea has since taken off and turned into a full-on alternative healing discipline popular in the West as well as the East.
Reiki involves putting your palms near the person you are trying to heal, and then transferring your ki to them in a specific, directed way. There are three levels and apart from training, those who wish to become more advanced in reiki have to receive attunements from their teacher. Once students reach the higher levels they gain powers that put the tradition on a somewhat more magical footing—they are supposed to be capable of something called “distance healing.” Someone skilled in distance healing with reiki could theoretically adjust someone’s ki from a very great distance. However, those who practice the traditions make it clear you should never try to mess with someone’s ki without their permission, especially when distance healing.
Seidhr And Galdr
Among Old Norse traditions there were actually two main branches of magic, one called Seidhr and the other Galdr. The second branch of magic was basically a form of rune or sigil magic. The goal of rune magic was usually to improve your luck. This was accomplished by carving a rune based on what you specifically needed. The piece of rock was then supposed to magically draw it to you.
Seidhr, on the other hand, is concerned more with divination, and those who practice it are known as seers. However, it is far from simply reading stars or omens—it is much more shamanistic in nature. In order to explore the nine worlds and seek out answers to spiritual questions, practitioners first enter a trance-like state. This state was often achieved through the use of drugs, fasting, and even torture. After the practitioner was in a sufficiently altered state, their work could begin.
Among their abilities they were said to be able to transmogrify their bodies into animals, project their consciousness beyond their own bodies, and even fight with a spirit animal while their body lay elsewhere. Magical traditions like this and others are often more focused on understanding the world than actively changing it—an understandable impulse, since so much of our world still remains a mystery.
Appalachian Folklore and Folk Religion
Appalachian folklore and religion are deeply intertwined, blending European settler beliefs, Native American traditions, and unique regional experiences to create a rich spiritual tapestry.
Blending of Traditions
In the Appalachian region, the spiritual landscape is shaped by a combination of Christianity, particularly Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian denominations, and folk beliefs that include elements of mysticism and folk magic. This blending often results in practices such as snake handling, speaking in tongues, and faith healing, which coexist alongside traditional religious observances
Role of Folk Magic and Granny Witches
Folk magic, often referred to as "granny magic", plays a significant role in Appalachian spirituality. This practice involves the use of native plants and traditional remedies, often passed down through generations by granny women—female healers and midwives who serve as custodians of ancestral knowledge. These women are often viewed as witches within their communities, embodying a blend of healing practices and spiritual rituals.
Voodoo (Vodou)
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when we talk about voodoo? I bet that it is either zombies or the dreaded voodoo dolls to which witches prick needles to kill your enemy slowly and painfully. As I said earlier, all magic rituals are not bad. Believe it or not, voodoo uses magic rituals to even remove black magic spells. I am sure that many of you didn’t know that voodoo is not a religious ritual but actually a religion of which, magic is only a small part. When the African slaves were brought to the Caribbean islands and New Orleans, these slaves brought some of their magic ritual practice systems known as hoodoo with them. These practices later mixed with Roman Catholicism and Native American rituals to form voodoo. You can read more about Voodoo here.Q
Santeria
Santeria is another religion brought by the African slaves. It is an Afro-Cuban religion practiced by the African immigrants who were brought from West Africa (today’s Nigeria and Benin). Practitioners of this religion (Yoruba) believe that god Olorun interacts with humans through emissaries called Orishas (similar to Christian angels/saints). These orishas rule over the different forces of nature and various aspects of human life. Magic rituals in Santeria or La Santeria are based on the knowledge of interacting with these orishas. Again, these rituals can be used to invoke the deities either to cause health or harm to someone.
Aghori
Aghori is not a religion in itself, but actually a Hindu cult. People belonging to this cult are called aghoris. Aghori practitioners are as feared in India as voodoo practitioners worldwide. They can instill fear even in the most courageous person you have seen, just by their appearance and practices. Hindu graveyards are their residence, ash from burnt dead bodies are their ornaments. A human skull (kapala) is their cup and saucer, and rotten meat and blood from dead animals/humans are their bread and wine. Aghori rituals and powers are as dreaded as their appearance. They are known to use animal sacrifices in their rituals. They are also known to be masters who know the dark art and the art of enslaving spirits/ghosts to do any bidding you can imagine.
I am currently researching Eastern and Indian systems of beliefs to see which could be counted as magick religions and which cant.
The Eastern religions are the religions which originated in East, South and Southeast Asia and thus have dissimilarities with Western and African religions. Eastern religions include:
Taoic religions or East Asian religions such as Confucianism, Taoism, Tengrism, Korean shamanism, Chinese folk religion, and Shinto
Dharmic religions or Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism
Southeast Asian religions such as Kejawen and Vietnamese folk religion
The East-West religious distinction (just like the East-West culture distinction, and the implications that arise from it) is broad and not precise. Furthermore, geographical distinctions have less meaning in the current context of global transculturation.
While many Western observers attempt to distinguish between Eastern philosophies and religions, this is a distinction that does not exist in some Eastern traditions.
Many religions throughout history and across cultures incorporate magical practices, including spellwork, rituals, shamanic journeys, or invocation of supernatural forces.
Ancient and Historical Religions
Ancient Egyptian Religion (Heka): Magic, known as heka, was considered a fundamental cosmic force used by gods and humans for protection, healing, and altering outcomes. It was morally neutral and integral to temple rituals, funerary rites, and everyday life
Mesopotamian Religions (Šiptu): Rituals, divination, and spells were used to ward off evil spirits, promote fertility, and communicate with deities
Ancient Greek Religion: While closely tied to formal religion, magical practices often occurred alongside worship of gods, particularly involving Hermes, Hecate, and other tutelary deities
Afro-Caribbean & African-Origin Religions
Voodoo (Vodou): Combines West African spiritual traditions with Catholicism, featuring spells for healing, protection, or cursing. Practitioners communicate with spirits called lwa
Santeria / La Regla de Osha: Originating from Yoruba traditions, practitioners invoke Orishas to influence human life and natural forces through rituals and magical offerings
Hoodoo: Syncretic American magical tradition with roots in African spiritual practices, emphasizing talismans, charms, and folk magic
Modern Pagan, Neopagan Traditions and Witchcraft
Wicca: A contemporary nature-based religion using rituals, spellcraft, and seasonal festivals to align with natural and cosmic forces
Witchcraft / Traditional Witchcraft: NOT A RELIGION Often overlaps with pagan religions; focuses on using personal power, spells, and rituals to influence spiritual or physical outcomes
Druidry: Celtic-derived spiritual path emphasizing reverence for nature, spirits, and practitioners’ magical interaction with natural forces
Heathenry / Asatru: Revival of Norse and Germanic traditions; includes offerings and ritual spells interacting with gods, ancestors, and spirits
Shamanic and Animistic Religions
Shamanism: Practiced globally, shamans enter trance or altered states to communicate with spirits, heal, guide souls, or influence events
Indigenous Religions: Many native cultures in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania practice animistic or shamanic magic, often integrating ancestor worship and ritual spells
Magical Elements in Other Major Religions
Hinduism (e.g., Aghori, Tantra): Certain ascetic and mystical sects practice ritual magic, meditation with spiritual intent, and invocation of deities for supernatural purposes
Judaism: Mystical traditions like Kabbalah, and references to the power of divine names, involve forms of ritualized magical practices.
Christianity: Candle rituals, novenas, and invocation of saints for specific effects are sometimes considered magical in practice, though mainstream doctrine does not classify them as magic.
Islam: Practices involving jinn or supplicatory magic exist in folk or esoteric forms, often within cultural or mystical contexts.
Practically every culture has developed some form of magical practice within or alongside its religious framework. These can range from spellcasting, divination, and talisman creation to ritualized interactions with deities, spirits, or natural forces. Modern neopagan and diasporic religions prominently integrate ceremonial magic, while traditional shamanic and animistic religions employ magic as a core element of spiritual life. Even within mainstream religions, ritualized and mystical practices often overlap with magical concepts, illustrating the profound historical connection between religion and magic.