There are so many types of witches out there that it can be really confusing to figure out what type of witchcraft you feel drawn to.
I get questions daily about how to figure out what type of witch you are, so I wanted to put it all into one post. Today, I’ll be going over the 22 different types of witches and the sorts of spells that they usually cast.
Can You Be More Than One Type Of Witch?
The simple answer is yes! Most people don’t fit neatly into a category and it’s rare to encounter a witch that only practices one of the types of witchcraft.
I personally incorporate elements of many types of witches and witchcraft, although I find that some types work better for me than others.
But you might think, if you won’t fit into any of these categories, then what’s the point of learning about the different kinds of magical powers?
Well for starters, reading about the different types of witchcraft out there can help you figure out what kind of magic calls to you; it can give you a specific area to begin practicing magic.
This knowledge can also help you to define what elements you wish to use in the craft when you start designing your own spells. You probably won’t be drawn to every kind of witchcraft so hopefully this post will help you narrow down how you want to practice magic.
Most witches (nowadays, at least) identify as eclectic. That means that they practice at least a few different kinds of magic.
It’s likely that at least a few different types of witchcraft will call to you. However, remember that your power will be the strongest when you’re using the elements that you’re most drawn to, which is why it’s helpful to do a bit of research before you dive right in.
Are There More Types Than Just These 23?
There are so many types of witches that I couldn’t possibly include them all here! These are the 23 types of witchcraft that I’m very familiar with; they’re generally the most common types as well.
I’ll do my best to update this post as I learn about new, slightly more obscure kinds of magic and labels. If you come across specific sorts of witches that aren’t included, feel free to shoot me an email and I’ll add a section!
23 Types Of Witches:
Here are the 23 different types of witchcraft that pagans practice, complete with descriptions about their magical preferences and how they raise energy.
Keep in mind that these distinctions aren’t absolute: there’s clearly some overlap between these different witches. That’s because the types of witchcraft have never been formally categorized, so all of these different types developed separately in completely different areas of the world.
For that reason alone, you can identify with as many types as you’d like! Follow your intuition here.
23. Green Witch
The green witch is very similar to the cottage witch and the kitchen witch, but the green witch focuses mainly on the earth.
Green witches are also called garden witches or forest witches. They are very connected to the earth and draw their magic from the natural world and specifically from earthly elements.
If you’re a green witch, you probably incorporate many earthly elements (such as herbs, plants, etc.) into your practice and enjoy studying these areas. If you’re ever feeling drained, step into nature and absorb power from the earth. You may perform some of your most powerful spells surrounded by nature.
Some green witches connect with earth spirits or the Fae and enjoy incorporating this spirit work into their practice.
A common symbol associated with green witches is a pentagram surrounded by five leaves rather than five points, representing the elements more closely related to nature’s balance.
Every element in green witchcraft has a reciprocal relationship; for example; air feeds fire: it gives it fuel but also takes away ash and smoke, water quenches fire but also washes the embers away lowering its temperature
I think that green witchcraft is one of the most common types of witchcraft because it’s so accessible! Many of us feel strong connections to our plants, and you can be a green witch (with lots of flora and fauna) even if you live in an apartment.
There is also a strong focus on practical magic with green witchcraft, making it really useful in everyday life.
22. Hedge Witch
A hedge witch almost always practices alone, or is at least not a part of a group or coven in regular routine. I see hedge witches as the traditional “medicine men/women” of past centuries, whether they were a part of a tribe or lived in a small cottage in the European countryside.
The hallmark of the hedge witch is that they perform small, day-to-day domestic actions that make life easier for both them and others. They often focus quite a bit on the hearth and home and tend to partner with animals.
The hedge witch will focus mainly on interactions with nature. The word “hedge” means the boundary between this world and the spirit realm; hedge witches are known for “flying” into the spiritual world when they practice magic.
The veil is extremely thin for hedge witches and it’s important to them that the other side is incorporated in their practice alongside nature and earth magic.
In centuries past, the various spells of hedge witches included healing plants, determining what action it needed to take for certain ailments, divination, scrying, weather forecasting and cursing your neighbors crops at harvest times!
Hedge witches didn’t worship pagan gods as part of their magical beliefs (though they might have had their own Deities), but still practiced their craft within an animistic world view; everything had a spirit and/or soul. Many hedge witches adopt similar magical practices today.
I talk a lot about hedge witchcraft on the Patreon, including methods for jumping the hedge and exploring the landscape of the soul.
Related: How To Be A Hedge Witch: Solitary Practice, Hedge Jumping, & More
21. Kitchen Witch
The kitchen witch, also known as the hearth witch, mainly practices magic in the (you guessed it!) kitchen. This witch uses herbs, cooking, potions, and any other type of recipe to concoct spells.
If you practice kitchen or hearth witchcraft, you probably love smells, baking/cooking, or learning about herbs and spices. Your power stems from the actual process of cooking or baking and the emotions you put into it.
When these witches grows their own herbs, a spell will be extra strong.
These witches are often drawn towards plants and enjoy the process of creating a dish from beginning to end. They also tend to have healing energy when family or friends are sick and can quite literally heal through food, tea, etc.
You can work as a solitary witch or as part of a group, though any coven related to the hearth usually isn’t very large.
20. Cottage Witch
The cottage witch is super trendy right now due to the Cottage Core aesthetic, but the cottage witch also has a really prominent place in history. These were the underground witches who practiced magic quietly in their homes while the rest of the world practiced religion.
The cottage witch is also known as the home witch, and despite the well-known aesthetic, you can be a cottage witch in any kind of home (not just an idyllic English countryside cottage). The foundation of the cottage witch is that magic is practiced in the home and about the home.
There can be some overlap with the kitchen/hearth witch and the green witch, but the cottage witch primarily feels that their home must be sacred. If you’re a cottage witch, you probably take steps to create a home that feels cozy and spiritual. Both the design and the energy of the home are important to you.
You may include different elements in your home (such as a fountain for water or plants for earth). Routine clearings with sage or other cleansing agents will be important to keep your space sacred and your most powerful magic will be performed in a room that feels energetically balanced.
Often, cottage witches or home witches have some Taurus placements in the natal chart that speak to their affinity for the home.
19. Faery Witch
Also known as a Fae witch or Fairy witch, the Faery witch connects with faeries at the most basic level. Faery witches love nature spirits, woodland creatures, trees, and the Fae, and they invite all of these elements into their practice.
If you’re a Faery witch, you’re probably pretty eclectic (meaning you combine many different types of practices to create your own). For example, many Faery witches are also Hedge witches, Green witches, etc. The main distinguisher is that a Faery witch works specifically with the Fae during at least some of their spells.
As a Faery witch, you might practice alone as a solitary witch. You probably love the magic of fairies (and may have as a child too) and feel right at home in the woods.
For extremely powerful magical spots, look for areas where mushrooms have sprouted (in a circle) or places that just feel magical. Faeries love nature, so you may want to incorporate woodland elements into your craft.
For more info on connecting with Faeries safely and effectively, check out this absolutely wonderful Fairy Bible.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About The Fae Folk
18. Fire Witch
A fire witch essentially draws power from fire. If you’re a fire witch, you may love the element, or you may have more success with fire spells such as candle spells, potions over an open flame, etc.
As a fire witch, you may be hot and fiery in nature, even if others don’t necessarily see this. You probably like quick results which is exactly what a fire spell will bring you.
Focus on candle spells, fire deities, red and orange crystals, and hot/spicy herbs to gain more power. I recommend practicing drawing your power from the flame of a candle when casting a spell, instead of from the earth or another source.
An experienced fire witch almost always carries a lighter or matches on him/her in case they need to cast a spell in a pinch!
17. Divination Witch
A divination witch essentially focuses, at least quite a bit, on divination practices. This can mean literally any type of divination practice such as Tarot, astrology, scrying, pendulum, meditation, etc.
Most divination witches practice some of the types of witchcraft as well, but they enjoy incorporating divination practices into the craft. For example, a divination witch may use Tarot in spells, scry before performing a spell, or draw power from swinging the pendulum.
If you’re a divination witch, you probably feel the need to know things or check in with your spirit guides before performing a spell. You might draw power from feeling as though the veil is low, and you need a connection to the other side in order to perform a strong spell.
16. Sun Witch/Solar Witch
A sun witch or solar witch will derive power from the sun. If you identify as a sun witch or solar witch (although you may identify with other types of witches as well), then you’ll cast extra powerful spells during the daytime or in the direct sunlight.
You would benefit from charging your tools in the sunlight (instead of the moon) and performing magic at sunrise or sunset, when the power of the sun is transformative. Spells that deal with new beginnings will be better to cast at sunrise, while banishing spells will have more power during sunset.
You might enjoy sunbathing because of the power you gain from the sun. Make sure to get a few minutes of sun in every day, even if it’s just through a window in the winter. The energetic energy is the same for a sun witch/solar witch.
Sun witches often dress in warm colors; the colors of the sun fuel their energy. If you’re feeling down, brighten up your life in some way, either by getting some actual sun, bringing in yellow and orange color elements, or meditating and drawing power from the sun energetically.
15. Storm Witch
If you’re a storm witch, you draw energy from crazy weather. You might have a preference for a specific type of storm or enjoy chaotic weather energy in general, but you will definitely feel more powerful and excited when the weather is tumultuous.
A storm witch generally casts spells based on the weather rather than based on the moon and needs a whole lot of chaotic energy to pour into a spell. This is a pretty strong type of witchcraft!
As a storm witch, it’s a good idea to charge your tools in a storm and/or to collect storm water, snow, etc. for use in spells. It also helps to use your emotions as well as the elements of a storm to fuel your magic, as many witches say that a storm is the earth’s way of expressing itself.
14. Swamp Witch
If you’ve ever seen the American Horror Story season Coven, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say swamp witch.
Swamp witches generally feel out of place in society. They traditionally lived in the swamps (although you can be a swamp witch without literally living in the middle of the Louisiana Bayou) because they didn’t fit in with city-folk and needed to practice magic in solace.
If you’re a swamp witch, you might not only feel like an outcast but also feel a personal distain for social norms. You might not get the idea of society or care about culture.
Even though it’s pretty specific, the swamp witch is one of my favorite types of witches because she is so unique and natural. She lives in the elements and doesn’t care if she gets sticks in her hair or mud on her feet.
The swamp witch uses the healing elements of nature around them (especially mud) and develops their own strong magic through the intense emotions they feel surrounding society and expectations.
You can be a swamp witch and work well in marshy areas, too, not only the swamps of the mid-southern US. Here in New England, we definitely have a swampy vibe in the marsh.
13. Lunar/Moon Witch
The moon witch is one of the types of witches that represents emotions, water, and the subconscious, as well as powerful, deep magic.
If you’re a moon witch, you may be very in-tune with lunar cycles and draw power from the moon. It’s important to routinely notice not only what phase the moon is in (waxing, full moon, waning, new moon, etc.) but also what astrology sign the moon is in. Both of these elements will impact a moon witch more than others.
As a lunar witch, your strongest spells are best performed when you take the moon phase into consideration and when you specifically draw power from the moon. Charging your tools in the moon or making moon water will also assist you in performing large spells as well.
One of the biggest challenges for a moon witch, more than other types of witches, is embracing the ebbs and flows of life. The moon witch’s emotions may shift with the lunar phases and it can feel like a difficult rollercoaster, but the moon witch’s power stems from these very emotions.
Generally, a moon witch has at least a few strong water placements in the astrological chart to enhance this lunar power.
Check out the full guide to being a lunar witch here.
12. Elemental Witch
Elemental witchcraft can be involved in almost any other type of witchcraft and used by any type of witch. The hallmark of an element witch is incorporating the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) into their practice.
Elemental witches use the elements when casting spells; they may only use one element at a time or may try to incorporate all 4 elements in any spell.
If you’re a beginner witch, researching the elements is a great place to start, but almost all advanced witches use and honor the elements as well.
Related: 3 Types Of Energy Vampires & How To Handle Them
11. Sea Witch
A sea witch has a strong connection to water and to the ocean. Some sea witches are particular to the ocean and to salt water, while others feel a connection to all bodies of water.
Just being around the ocean gives the sea witch a boost of power. If you’re a sea witch, you may want to collect sand, shells, driftwood, or even sea water to use in your magic.
You may also perform strong spells on the beach and change the type of spell you cast depending on the weather and the mood of the ocean.
Sea witches also tend to connect with ocean spirits (consciously or unconsciously) and have an almost psychic connection with the sea. They may research sea folklore or incorporate sirens in their magic in some way as well.
10. Crystal Witch
If you’re a crystal witch, then you are deeply connected to the vibration and energetic power of crystals, gems, and stones.
You may also be really connected to energy in general. You could see auras and feel energy from rocks and from nature.
Crystal witches draw upon the power of crystals to cast spells. They know how to intuitively communicate with crystals and can tell what kind of magical work each crystal wants to do.
If you want to practice crystal magic, then you should get used to experiencing each crystal as a unique being. Work on developing a relationship with your crystals and stones so that you can practice magic together effectively.
9. Ancestral/Hereditary Witch
A hereditary witch, also known as an ancestral witch, believes that witchcraft is a gift passed down from ancestors.
To be a hereditary witch, you of course need to have ancestors who were witches. Most of us don’t know definitely if we do have witches in our ancestral lines since witchcraft has been a well-kept secret during history and is 99% undocumented, but we can do a bit of research (depending on the region of our ancestors, lifestyle, etc.) as well as divination (with the pendulum, tarot, etc.) to figure out if it’s possible to be a hereditary witch.
Hereditary witches harness power from the spirits of their ancestors to perform magic. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a hereditary witch, even if you come from a long line of witches: there is always a choice.
If you’re interested in hereditary magic, you may choose to work as a solitary witch, though you will also work with the spirits of your ancestors.
Keep in mind that the folk witch also uses magic that is passed down. However, instead of channeling the power of the ancestors, this witch will actually have a set of spells that their predecessors tried and tested.
Folk magic isn’t very common because most of us don’t have ancestors who engaged in witchcraft directly. However, keep in mind that you can practice folk magic with your younger relatives!
8. Cosmic Witch
A cosmic witch is all about the sky. They will look to astrology, astronomy, and the stars and moon in general. They tend to incorporate energy from the stars in their practice and may especially like to study past life astrology.
Some cosmic witches are starseeds and integrate practices from their home planet into the craft. They might connect with deities associated with the stars or formulate spells based on planets, the alignment of the stars, etc.
Many cosmic witches practice magic based on astrology and consult the day’s natal chart before performing a specific spell. They may harness the energy of specific planets to strengthen their spell and generally draw energy from the stars and the sky.
If you feel a strong calling to the stars, then you may be a cosmic witch.
7. Chaos Witch
A chaos witch quite literally draws power from chaos. These are the types of witches to perform emotional, tumultuous magic. Their spells are fueled by energy that clashes.
Chaos witches often perform magic with intense music, during storms, after a fight with a friend or significant other, or even when they’re feeling a bit crazy emotionally. These witches can also perform powerful spells after a chaotic event in the world occurs. They probably don’t mind using energy to cast hexes and jinxes.
These witches are very powerful as long as they’re performing spells that feel right intuitively and don’t get in over their heads. Chaotic energy is simply strong energy, but chaos witchcraft needs to be performed and harnessed in a specific manner.
Related: 2 Easy Money Spells That Work + Money Spell Troubleshooting
6. Ceremonial Witch
More traditional witchcraft was all about ceremony, and ceremonial witches go back to the basics. These witches are focused on the ritual of the craft and draw power from performing a ceremony that is meaningful.
There are usually specific rituals and invocations that call upon the spirit world when this witch is forming magic. There are many old occult teachings that are based around ceremonial magic; those witch may adhere to one of these practices or combine old occult teachings to create their own.
Sometimes, the ceremonial witch is part of a coven and will treat their ceremonial magic more as a religion.
Most witchcraft traditions stem from these sorts of magical ceremonies. However, that’s also where a lot of our information about witchcraft from pop culture comes from.
If you’re really interested in performing rituals and using magical tools on a regular basis, then you may want to consider learning more about pagan ceremonies. You will want to stick to a set belief system, find a sacred space, and learn more about the history of witchcraft, such as the Salem witch trials (which were founded due to a fear of ceremonial spells).
When you practice ceremonial magic (also known as traditional wicca), there isn’t always a clear distinction between “good spells” and “black magic” so your morals and knowledge will depend on the types of traditional ceremonies you follow.
Related: Types Of Ghosts, Spirits, and Entities
5. Urban/City Witch
It isn’t typical to practice witchcraft in the city, at least historically, but the city witch/urban witch actually draws power from the city. Modern witchcraft has made a lot of things possible!
The city witch thrives on chaotic city energy, on being around groups of people, and even on the individual energy of the city itself.
The urban witch/city witch finds ways to perform spells in small spaces and uses energy more so than herbs or a huge amount of tools.
Often, the city witch will perform different types of magic depending on the energy they feels from a city. To them, the city is a living, breathing entity with a personality of its own. They are deeply connected to the world around them, even if it feels chaotic or unstable.
City witchcraft is the ultimate way to create your own version of rituals! You may also be a tech witch because you’ll intuitively know how to work with technology in a magical way.
4. Dianic Witch
Dianic witches focus on the feminine. They usually worship the Roman goddess Diana, but they can sometimes focus on all goddesses as the divine feminine is the most important aspect of Dianic witchcraft.
Dianic witches will practice a lot of meditation and visualization in addition to their magic. The focus of the practice is to heal inner wounds that these witches have received from the patriarchy.
Dianic witches are generally quite feminist and enjoy congregating in a feminine group; it is the power of the woman that fuels their magic.
3. Secular Witch
A secular witch can incorporate almost any practice into their craft, but the main idea is that secular witches don’t worship any higher beings or deity. Essentially, they are non-religious.
Typically, this witch does believe in energy and works with energetic forces in witchcraft, however you can’t be a secular witch if you pray to any kinds of gods or deities, or if you’re heavily involved in a religion.
A secular witch can certainly be spiritual in his/her own time, but their witchcraft specifically works with energy that is unnamed and that doesn’t have a personality. Other than this one distinction, secular witches can and do incorporate almost every other element of witchcraft into the practice.
You probably won’t practice Wicca if you identify as this type of witch, though it never hurts to learn more about various rituals.
2. Traditional Witch
The traditional witch has a base in very old magic, often known as the “Old Religion,” especially in Italy. These witches do a lot of research and take a historical approach to their magical practice.
Folklore is very important to traditional witches, and they will usually incorporate some sort of ritual or ceremony into their practice, depending on what they feel called to during research. They want to honor the “old” ways of performing the craft.
Traditional witches may incorporate many forms of witchcraft into their practice, but it always has a base in history and tradition. It’s quite common to research and focus on Wicca as a traditional witch.
1. Eclectic Witch
The eclectic witch encompasses all different types of witches and types of witchcraft. It is basically a little of everything!
If you’re an eclectic witch, you don’t have any one set religion or tradition that you must adhere to. Instead, you pull from many different practices.
You might enjoy traditional Wiccan ceremonies, worship Greek gods and goddesses, work with the forest, the sea, and the sun, and use divination or your psychic abilities in your spells. You may have a totally different mixture than this.
Your practice can be secular or you can worship a higher being, but the hallmark of the elcectic witch is mixing at least two different practices together. Eclectic witches makes their own rules; they can practice cast folk spells, jump the hedge, and get invested in Wicca. It’s kind of an umbrella term.
These witches can also believe in just about any deities (you can even be a Christian witch) or they can believe in nothing at all. Everything works here! You can really develop your own kind of witchcraft if you work in an eclectic fashion.
Nowadays, most of us are eclectic witches. We aren’t always clear types of witches and most modern witches mix and match, but it’s still helpful to know about the different types of witchcraft so that you can effectively combine techniques in your practice.
