Finding The Evidence

Looking at the trail of breadcrumbs that seems to indicate Witchcraft was once, and still is, a religion and not just a practice

Work as of 7/18/22 and will be added to as I find things. If you are a historian or a scholar and can add to this work of uncovering the truth about the history of the Craft, with good sources, by all means go for it, I hope this at least points you to some areas of research. I would like to mention that nowhere in my research does the practice or core meanings of the good side of Paganism (and yes, there is a bad side, there's a bad side in every religion) conflict with the core meanings of the good side of all modern popular religions. And I think that superficial differences can be talked out so long as there's respect and compassion from both sides of the discussion. New edits added 2/11/25 and 3/17/25.

Books for reference

Embracing The Moon by Yasmine Galenorn
Dancing With The Sun by Yasmine Galenorn
Enchanted: Titania's Book of White Magic by Titania Hardie, and her other books. She does mention offhand that her grandmother practiced Druidry and so I consider this a possible primary source of someone from a family Tradition.
The Pooka Pages series of books on Amazon by Lora Craig-Gaddis; these books were published by the author of Pooka Pages, which is now no longer online. Sad face. She is the only true Family Tradition Witch that I know was public about her religion and sharing some of it on the Internet. Therefore, this is a good resource for historians.
Books by Patricia Telesco, which tend to be very heavily researched in terms of historic content
Reference books by Scott Cunningham, such as his herbalism, crystal, and foodstuff ones, because there might be a good resource or two in the bibliographies. Might be. Not certain, though.

Websites for reference

Owl's Rest A cyber-cottage for the solitary practitioner, begun by Freya Owlsdottir many years ago (RIP). She was a Family Tradition hearth witch and her site is definitely worth reading.
Lady Bridget There are interesting historic ideas to ponder here. Whether or not they are accurate is not something I can discern for sure. It is however a good place to look for further clues to research.

Items of note

Decorations in old churches: Green Man, Sheila-na-Gig
Venus of Willendorf
Stone circles
Newgrange and other megaliths in Ireland and Great Britain
Hunter deity depicted on multiple items, known by many names: Atho, Hu Gadarn, Cernunnos, Herne
Cave paintings. What can they tell us? I don't know.
If you're talking Celtic traditions, spirals and triple spirals and triskelions and triskeles are on a variety of old large stones in the UK. Hmm. Celtic knotwork and the aforementioned spirals also adorn a bunch of other historic artifacts there that pre-date Christianity, if I am not mistaken. I suspect a great deal of meaning for each but do not know what it means.
The Solar Cross, in many, many, many cultures and traditions. It always means "protection from evil" and symbolism of the Sun and the four cardinal directions among other things.

Historic stuff too convenient to be coincidental

The similarities between Isis and the current version of the Virgin Mary in pictures (if not in reality; I am well aware these are two different beings; one a Deity, the other just really nice)
Catholic Saint Days and Holidays overlaid over older Pagan holidays, such as February 1, the celebration of Brigid the Goddess, now the celebration of St. Brigid the Saint, and many things about Easter which came from older Pagan rites dedicated to Eostara, the Goddess of Fertility, with the hare as Her sacred symbol
Most major religions' festivals are based on the timing of the Moon. Witchcraft is - obviously - very involved with the Moon
We know that the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Malleus Maleficarum and the Witch Burnings all did happen. What we don't know is the extent of the damage
Hecate, commonly known as the Goddess of Witchcraft, is "known" in pop culture as a patron of evil, black magic, demons, and poisoning. In older Witch lore, She is known as a patron of herbalism, midwifery, and protection of the innocent, the young, and the victimized. Also a Patroness of the homeless and the traveler, known to have three faces and linked to the Moon. Also called "Hecate of the Angels." Hmmmm.
All of the large religions that exist now have calendars fundamentally built around the Moon and the changing seasons. This includes Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.

Modern practices that trace roots back to Paganism, which itself may be tied to some Witchcraft traditions in some cases

Well-dressing in the UK
Everything to do with the non-Christian trappings of both Yuletide and Easter. Oddly, the Christian stuff can absolutely stand on its own and it doesn't need the Pagan additions. The Pagan additions (tree, Yule log, gift giving, rabbits, etc.) take up the lion's share of the modern versions of these holidays.
Most superstitions and folklore, and some legends and fairy tales, can also trace their roots back to Pagan beliefs. However, since Paganism was so thoroughly wiped out in many places the actual meaning and cultural context of most of these practices, which were likely once religious at some point, have been lost to time. Now people just do them because they want some extra luck or whatever.
Traditional recipes for food, and the folklore and superstitions of each, and the cultural meaning and context of these things may in some cases directly link us to Paganism. The number one food I can think of in this context is honey. Beekeeping and medicinal beekeeping may be tied to this as well, as the kind of honey made from certain herbs is important. In fact, the word "medicine" may trace back to "metheglin," honey wine with herbs. If the legends are correct (and bear in mind this is not historically well researched at all so consider it hearsay) the name of a priestess of Diana was once "Melissa," or "honeybee." The second food I can think of in this context is wine made from grapes, which as we now know, really does have health benefits.
This tracing back of words from modern day words to older ones may also be helpful.
Traditional recipes for nonfood items, in other words traditional arts, crafts, and artisan work that dates back for hundreds or thousands of years almost certainly has ties to Paganism in each and every culture. This is also, Paganism aside, a really good way to truly learn history because frankly books can only teach you so much. This is hands-on and involves your total attention, so you are guaranteed to learn more. Find a historic craft of some sort? A historic art? Consider learning it the right way and see how much more you learn than simply rote memorizing what you find in a textbook.
Herbs and herbalism still have direct ties to many Pagan faiths. However, given the modern day greedy consumption of herbs for profit and selfish antivaxxers exploiting the Earth and Her herbs and putting children in harm's way, I won't get into this too much. I'll just say if you know, you know.
Eco-friendliness was once the law of the land in many, many, many Pagan and tribal cultures, as the land was seen as sacred and keeping us alive. Turns out we now know thanks to science the old Pagans and spirituality of the tribal people were correct (and still are), and it is keeping us alive, and we need to learn how to treat the land with respect. Modern Druidry in some places believes in three realms as well: earth, water, and sky. All three of these need to be protected and respected.
Since I am not a midwife I wouldn't know about this, but this is one tradition that I find tied to Witchcraft like I find dried red raspberry leaf tea recommended for the last couple months to weeks of pregnancy to ease labor (note: ask a doctor, an herbalist, and a qualified midwife about this one! Also, I'm not a doctor, this is not medical advice, if you hurt yourself it's your own damn fault): it keeps getting mentioned in many of the books I read about it. Over and over. I think there may be some history here and I also think midwifing may be the oldest profession - not prostitution. It may once have been a profession to be midwife, priestess, and healer all in one. It may be that many of the roots of Witchcraft as religion and practice are there.
Housekeeping itself may be tied to old traditions of Witchcraft. Why else would the biggest symbols be the cauldron (cookpot) and broom?

Places that were and are still very important to Pagans

Please note that each kind of Paganism will have its own sacred areas and places of historic significance. Since I'm in Goddess worship and a fairly Celtic flavor of Paganism that's what I am most familiar with. YMMV
The shrine of the Goddess Brighid, aka St. Brigit of Kildare. Still exists, and the sacred flame was re-lit in the 90s.
Stonehenge, which is a giant clock of sorts. Other such places exist and interact with the Sunlight at certain specific times of year, such as Newgrange in Ireland
Natural water sources. For a variety of reasons, and usually were propitiated with offerings of coins (still seen in the toss a coin in a fountain and make a wish superstition), flowers, leaves, or prayers for that water source's well-being. Springs, clean sources of drinking water, and wells (modern style and old fashioned style) are all still of extreme importance to Pagans, and I know I'm not the only one who cringes at having to actually buy spring water, and seeing water resources like that exploited by anyone, rich or poor. Las Vegas water fountains are - to someone in an Earth based religion - sheer disrespect if not worse.
Forests, wilderness, and wild places, which are fundamental to many Pagan paths. Ironically this may be why evidence is so hard to find, because preserving a forest or a wilderness means leaving almost nothing of yourself there to mark what you did. It is not the same as building a big stone structure like a cathedral, or writing a book.
Salem, Massachusetts, because of course
The Isle of Man, for reasons of being possibly close to - if legends are true - the location of Avalon
Glastonbury, England, UK, for reason of being historically notable for various kinds of Paganism
Organic apple orchards, because Avalon translates as "Island of Apples" or "Land of Apples"
Earth ;)

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