are there such thingblood witches?

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Permalink Reply by Megan L Herrod on July 17, 2010 at 2:05pm

There are family traditions, which are passed down several generations, sure. A lot of traditions claim to have been passed down from generation to generation in one bloodline for centuries, but there is no tradition that I know of that can "prove it".

I think that all people can have various "special" gifts passed down from their families, but they would be latent abilities "talents" that only can be harnessed with use. For example... my grandmother has extraordinary intuition, and I feel she *could* be somewhat psychic- however she is not wiccan- she is devout catholic, and she doesn't work towards "honing" her skills- they just weird her out and she tries to suppress them. Could she, we, I have "witch blood". Maybe. Many many ancient cultures practiced magic or witchcraft of various types. I am sure that "magical talent" and propensity can be inherited, but it isn't BECAUSE mom or dad was a witch, instead it is because you "got lucky" in the genes. I personally think that we all are born with talents in many things, but it is what we USE that counts.

For a more mundane example... My mother can draw and paint wonderfully. She doesn't consider herself 'artistic' though. I have inherited her skill... but I went to college for art and have worked to improve at it. So I am and artist and she is not.

Back to magical stuff though- My daughter I feel will be a very talented witch if she chooses to... (could be mother's bias but hey!) She has this inconceivable connection and ability to interact with animals. She has pet a bee, walked up to birds, and can practically "talk" to cats and dogs. I don't- I am definitely not an "animal person". Rhiannon can sense energy, like the border of my circle, and can sense people (she wont talk or look at people who are drunk or seem to be "bad" people, but she is usually very sociable).

Even with all of this, I don't think that her talents are due to me practicing wicca. She just was lucky enough to get some of the gifts I possess and also get some from her father's side as well.

One other thing, i think that kids have an easier access to energy and to the "other side" of the veil. If you are young, take advantage of keeping the veil open by exercising your energy direction and manipulation. As we get older, without use the veil "thickens" and closes... Once that connection is lost, it can be very difficult or impossible to recapture it. I began practicing wicca at 11- and by recognizing my energy and making use of it I have been lucky enough to retain fairly "free flowing" energy. People who neglect it till they are in their 20's,30's, or 40's (or more) often have a much harder time reconnecting. I think that is why in ancient times a lot of children entered the priest and priestess-hood before or just after puberty- before their veil had begun to close. (think of the "vestal virgins" - tenders of the sacred flame of Vesta)

If you feel you have inherited gifts... use them or lose them! lol!

-Blessed Be!
Megan

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Permalink Reply by Lark on July 17, 2010 at 4:49pm

Another thing to consider is that Wicca is a modern religion which was first synthesized by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's and became public knowledge in the 1950's. So one wouldn't be descended from a very long line of Wiccans.

Now, if one is talking about traditional Witches that is a very different thing and there are some who have a family history of witchcraft practices..but they aren't Wiccans. And frankly there aren't that many genuine hereditary Witches.

In either case, one would not be a Witch or a Wiccan unless you decide to practice that specific path and do the work to learn about it. You aren't born a Witch, nor a Wiccan, anymore than you are born a mathematician or a pianist.

-Lark-

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Permalink Reply by Megan L Herrod on July 17, 2010 at 6:06pm

That is true... you aren't "born a witch"- at least there is no specific bloodline required to be a witch. It is a religion (in the case of wicca or religious witchcraft), a path, and a craft. When I say "talents" i simply mean a propensity, or easier ability to learn the craft, and all people CAN do it, just some seem to have a "knack" for it.

It is like anything else, art, music, sports, mathematics... anyone can learn to be great at them, but some people seem to be "made" for their calling. You can call them "genuises", "masters" or more.... and I feel that they exist in paganism, witchcraft and wicca as well.

I think the idea of "witch-blood" is more about ego and one-up-man-ship than it is about actuality. If you have parents who are witches, or come from a family tradition... you may have more "knowlege" of the craft at first, but that doesn't NECESSARILY mean you are "better" or "more entitled" than any other person.

The son or daughter of an NBA star may have the genes that make them naturally a little "better" at basketball... but that doesn't mean they HAVE to, or are a "born basketball player"... And it also doesnt mean that the child of a non-athletic person *couldn't* be an NBA star.

You made a great point about lineage too... there is no proof of "ancient wiccans"- claims yes, but no proof. There IS proof of witchcraft (whether they called themselves witches or a "similar term" is unknown)... but no family tradition has proven an unbroken lineage to any ancient origins.
There is a good chance many of us descent from believers in magic from ancient cultures... so if you feel like it is "in your blood" you could be right... or you could just be human... lol. Either is perfectly wonderful!

Blessed Be Lark and Zenua!
-Megan

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Permalink Reply by Muirin on July 17, 2010 at 6:11pm

As far as I'm concerned I believe in the fact that many people are born in pagan families that have been so for some time, maybe even a long line.
If they hold more power.. Or are they stronger? Mindset they maybe stronger, their veil is more transparent than most people who stumble upon the path, given that there family practices often.

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Permalink Reply by Tville_mage on August 10, 2010 at 3:31pm

I think everyone has magickal kinds of abilities, they have to realise they have those abilities and embrase those abilities to improve them.
My theroy about the pagan family bloodline is that those ppl who have pagan origins in there family will probley feel closer to the term magic than most ppl who never had any form of witchcraft in their blood...

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Permalink Reply by Kali Saliah on August 10, 2010 at 3:03pm

Wiccans are new paganism so you would n't find very old Wiccans, unless they converted from voudou, stregha, druids, asatru are much older.The oldest goddess i believe is the Goddess Amara from Lemuria. so anyone who is a descendant from her are probaly the oldest known witches.

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