Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Wicca, witchcraft, and The Witch preview

Contrary to popular belief and Hollywood portrayal, it is not all cauldrons, pentagrams and broomsticks. Wicca is a pagan religion, predating Christianity by thousands of years. It is a system of belief, centered on nature, and drawing power from it. What each witch does with it is up to the individual.
I though it better to marry the Wicca with magic, while avoiding the common stereotypes. Witches work thru and affect dead and living things, including plants, animals, and humans. In other words, if it is biological in nature, it is in their power to influence in some way. Not so if it’s inanimate.
This places a clear limit on the extent and scope of the witches’ abilities, while leaving some grey areas (amber, petrified wood). They are experts on herbs and plants, using them to achieve their goal, possibly with a sprinkle of magic to enhance the effect. Anyone can use an object that is already enchanted by a witch but reading and invoking their spells or curses is impossible – same with reversing. Nothing will happen; you need an established connection to nature by being a practitioner of the art and initiated into it.
Out is Giles doing witchcraft, because he is not one. Out are the voodoo dolls and cauldron. Charms, curses, enchantments, potions and familiars are the bread and butter of an average witch and one can get up to plenty of evil or good working with those tools alone.
As in all the stories that the Muse inspires, nothing is intrinsically good or bad. Witchcraft is a tool and responsibility over its application is left to the user. Anything less is a copout and not deserving of your time and interest. We make our own fate.
Ah yes, the preview part. What is not mentioned in the story is the fact the Watchers’ Council was influenced by a prophecy. This does not excuse them and what they did was wrong. The MAN is right but again, he does not give Willow the entire tale. The takeaway message from this episode is: don’t be a hater, hug a witch today. Discuss in FORUMS.