Yes there are many branches in Wicca just as in other religious sects. Gardnerian follows the practice from the late Gerald Gardner who has been considered the “grandfather” of the rekindled tradition. Gardner set out to find if there really were witches and managed to come across a number of practitioners who have claimed a lineage down through the centuries. After training, Gardner went on to formulate his own branch of the order with some modifications.

Other Wiccan branches include Alexandrian, Egyptian, Minoan, Gaia, Saxon, Celtic, Faery and even Ecclectic which is a broader stroke with a little of everything in it. There are as many branches as there are ancient statues and history related to the Gods and Goddesses throughout time.

It’s a fascinating study to read up on how the many branches evolved and allows the seeker to hone in on the one that fits best with them.

The “traditional” definition is basically one who undergoes training by a coven for a year and a day. In that time, you are taught the legends of a coven’s particular pantheon, the ritual workings of the seasons as well as how to create your own book of shadows.

In today’s day and age, some have basically read beginner books and have done self initiation as well. (Silver Ravenwolf has some rather exhaustive beginner books on the subject that I highly recommend.)

Basically one who is in tune with the forces of nature, the Gods and Goddess and follows the basic tenets of the Esbats and Sabbats is a “true” witch in the sense of the word.

A witch is NOT someone with a power trip for evil spell casting as much of Hollywood would like us to believe. (It’s that old organized religious propaganda surfacing yet again.) Calling someone an evil witch is also a mislabel. It’s like calling someone a Satanic Christian. Witches simply are NOT allowed to do evil. We must understand negative forces in order to combat them, but we certainly cannot and will not contribute to it on the earthly or etheric plane. Anyone who says that they do this, RUN! You simply don’t need to add bad karma to your life with that type of association.

Magic is all around us daily, from the growth of foliage to the bodies ability to sustain life. Witches don’t “do” magic daily but will revere the craft teachings of reverance for all life. Much of what is thought to be “magic” by most societal standards is far more elaborate in hyperbole than what it actually is. There are no flying lasers from one’s fingers nor sparkles that fly out of a wand, I assure you.

Witchcraft has many varied traditions such as Saxon, Celtic, Faery, Gardnerian, Gaia, Minoan and many more. Each tradition holds a particular pantheon in reverence however many of the rites and rituals carry some similarities.

Being a witch is more than just nature and magic. It is an attunement with life following ancient teachings from the matrifocal perspective of early humanity.

People of the heaths were actually farmers in an agrarian culture. Towns were far and wide, so often news and trends were not as readily available to them. During the middle ages, many of the heath dwellers were still very much Pagan who hadn’t yet converted over to the new Patriarchal dominant regime of Christianity. In time, the name Heathen came to represent more than just the country dwellers, but rather a slang terminology of insult towards these non Christian believers.