Many of those who are 'drawn' toward the Craft, are drawn so because of the mysterious and glittery images attached to it. -The 'hocus-pocus' factor, if you will. -The wearing of amulets, crystals, and gems; the quirky little thrill one can experience by acting and dressing 'mysteriously; the slap in societies face one can deliver just by stating "I am different"; or the reaction one gets when they exclaim they can make magick powders and cast spells...
The truth is, there was nothing at all 'fanciful' about the Witches of Old - or their lifestyles. And, if more people new the truth - they would most likely be quite quick to lose interest, or, better yet - disassociate themselves all together.
The facts are... The original peoples of the Craft were very poor folk - the peasants of Kingdoms. Most of them dressed in what we would consider to be rags. They had nothing of value, as anything on the land of slightest value was taken awyay by the land owners. This included the bulk of any crops which were grown, and certainly most livestock. They lived in run down little cottages, and their lives were that of great hardship and struggle. -No sparkling faerie dust here.
Yet, the Witches did possess one thing of great value; their magickal crafts.
The knowledge of these 'crafts' dated back to ancient times and were passed on through the generations, and, the knowledge of such workings increased and expanded all the while.
It should be noted that during this earlier era these magickal skills were not called Witchcraft, but rather they were simply referred to as 'folk-magick'. The naming of 'Witchcraft' did not come along until the rising of Christianity.
"'Folk-magick"' was called so because it was so vastly common among the peoples. It was a basic way of life, as it was a sole means of survival during these times. And, it was considered the 'norm'. If someone needed food - they worked magick. If someone were to become ill - magick was called upon. If the peoples needed rain for crops, again, it called for magick. It was a common practice for entire villages to gather together for these workings, as the power of numbers were believed to increase the potency of their many rituals - thus insuring success.
