Christian Witches:

In recent years, a new spiritual identity has emerged that challenges conventional religious assumptions: the Christian witch.

For many, the phrase itself may seem like an oxymoron — after all, isn’t witchcraft condemned in the Bible?

The oft-cited verse from Exodus 22:18, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,” is used by some to categorically reject any overlap between Christianity and witchcraft.

But a closer examination of scripture, language, and history reveals a much more nuanced reality — one that invites a rethinking of what witch really meant and what spiritual practices it truly condemns.

The Magi: The Original “Wise Men”

Take, for instance, the story of the three wise men, or Magi, who journeyed to find the infant Jesus.

These men were astrologers, studying the stars and signs in the heavens, and it was by following a celestial sign, a star, that they found the prophesied Messiah.

Matthew 2:1–2 says,

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea… wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.’”

Far from being condemned as witches or sorcerers, the Magi’s wisdom and interpretation of heavenly signs are not only accepted but revered within Christian tradition.

This connection to the heavens is significant. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 16:2–3,

“When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”

This indicates the importance of understanding celestial signs as part of God’s order.

“Witch” in the Bible: A Word Rooted in Wisdom, Not Evil

The English word witch derives from the Old English “wicce,” meaning “wise woman.” Early references to witches were not inherently pejorative or about dark magic. The persecution of so-called witches began later, with the term evolving in popular use and conflating many different practices — some benign, some sinister.

The biblical passage most commonly quoted to condemn witches was aimed at sorcerers practicing harmful magic tied to power, control, and violence.

These “sorcerers” engaged in rites involving blood, sex, and sacrifice, including horrific acts such as child sacrifice, rape, murder, and bestiality.

It was these abuses — coercive, nonconsensual, and tyrannical magics — that scripture condemned, not the use of herbal remedies, prayer, or spiritual practices aligned with God’s will.

Galatians 5:19–21 lists “sorcery” translated from the Greek pharmakeia, meaning the use of drugs or potions for magical purposes connected with idolatry and control among the works of the flesh to avoid, emphasizing the intent behind actions rather than the tools themselves.

The Witch of Endor: A Complex Biblical Figure

Consider the Witch of Endor, mentioned in 1 Samuel 28. She was a woman who used spiritual communication, and while King Saul sought her out illicitly, the narrative itself complicates the idea of a witch as purely evil or demonic. Her role as a spiritual mediator highlights the fact that communication with unseen realms was known and sometimes even sought after in ancient times, whether condemned or tolerated.

Herbs, Incense, and Sacred Rituals in Christianity

Many of the practices often associated with witchcraft, using herbs, incense, crystals, anointing oils, and blessed water, are deeply embedded in Christian liturgy and tradition.

For example, incense is used in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant services as a symbol of prayer rising to heaven, echoing Psalm 141:2

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you.”

Anointing oils and holy water are sacramental tools, seen as channels of God’s grace James 5:14:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”

The Bible even instructs the use of certain herbs for medicinal purposes.

Ezekiel 47:12 describes “fruit trees of all kinds… whose leaves do not wither and whose fruit does not fail.”

In Proverbs 17:22, it says,

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

These references recognize natural healing’s importance and align with spiritual wellness.

Magick vs. Magic: Serving God or Serving Power?

It’s crucial to distinguish between magick — spiritual work intended to serve the higher good and connection with the divine — and magic as sorcery or dark manipulation. The latter, involving coercion, harm, and forbidden rites, is what the Bible and historical religious authorities condemned. The former is about prayer, meditation, healing, and connection with God through natural and sacred means.

Christian witches embrace the idea that spiritual wisdom and power can coexist with faith in Jesus Christ. They use spiritual tools and practices not to manipulate others or wield selfish power, but to deepen their relationship with God, honor creation, and serve their communities. Colossians 2:8 warns believers,

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

This reminds us to root our practices in Christ’s teachings, not in forbidden occultism.

Modern Voices and Reclamation

Authors Sara Raztresen and Emyle D. Prata, in their book Discovering Christian Witchcraft: A Beginner’s Guide for Everyday Practice, together explore how Christian faith and folk magic coexist in ways that enrich spiritual practice rather than contradict it.

Raztresen highlights the ancestral and folk wisdom embodied by Christian witches who embrace both their faith and their spiritual heritage, reclaiming the term witch to mean wise, holy, and connected to God’s creation.

Sara’s work invites Christians to reconsider rigid condemnations and to honor the sacred traditions that have been unjustly maligned, recognizing that spiritual healing, connection to nature, and ritual can be powerful ways to serve God and community.

Reclaiming the Identity

I, myself, do not exactly identify as a Christian witch, but I am a Yahuwan Gnostic and I do believe in the power of manifestation, and validate the many passages that are highlighted for how one can use wisdom, and knowledge for health and healing, as well as noting the signs in the skies to help them understand the wheel of the year, and various stages through life.

The label witch has been weaponized throughout history to persecute wise women, healers, and marginalized spiritual practitioners. Many of these women were accused unjustly, suffering brutal consequences for knowledge and practices that were often aligned with helping and healing.

Today, some Christians are reclaiming the term witch in its original sense, wise women, connected to the divine, and respectful of creation. They honor the Magi’s legacy of following the stars and acknowledge the biblical wisdom of herbs, prayer, and sacred ritual.

The notion that Christian and witch cannot coexist rests on a misunderstanding of scripture, language, and history. Christianity has always been rich with symbolism, ritual, and respect for the natural and spiritual worlds. To conflate witchcraft solely with evil sorcery ignores the diverse practices of faith that honor God through wisdom, healing, and reverence.

Christian witches embody a tradition of spiritual wisdom that looks to the heavens for guidance, uses the gifts of the earth for healing, and embraces ritual as a sacred dialogue with God. Far from contradicting Christianity, this identity can deepen and enrich one’s faith, reminding us that the line between light and darkness is often drawn not by the tools we use but by the intentions behind them.

Interestingly, the Book of Psalms itself has often been described as a collection of ancient prayers, incantations, or even spells due to its poetic invocations meant to invoke protection, healing, guidance, and divine favor. These sacred songs and prayers harness the power of spoken word and faith, much like ritual magick practiced by many spiritual traditions. Psalm 91, for example, is frequently cited as a powerful prayer for protection.

Furthermore, mystical traditions linked to early Christianity and Gnosticism — as preserved in the Nag Hammadi library — offer deeper perspectives on spiritual knowledge and the divine feminine. In these texts, Sophia, who is also known as Chokmah in Hebrew, represents Divine Wisdom and is often identified with the Holy Spirit.

Sophia embodies the nurturing, creative, and intuitive aspects of God, the Divine Feminine principle. This sacred feminine presence is integral to a fuller understanding of spirituality and echoes the reverence for wisdom, healing, and nature found in the identity of Christian witches.

In embracing these layered traditions, biblical, mystical, and ancestral, Christian witches reclaim a path of faith that honors both the masculine and feminine divine, celebrates sacred ritual, and fosters a deeper connection to God’s creation.