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===The Naturals===
 
===The Naturals===
The term "Natural" is used to define any witch who is born with a predisposition towards practicing magic. Not much is known about these witches apart from the fact that they are known to have been born with a natural affinity to accessing certain supernatural powers of the universe.
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The term "Natural" is used to define any witch who is born with a predisposition towards practicing magic. Not much is known about these witches apart from the fact that they are known to have been born with a natural affinity to accessing certain supernatural powers of the universe. It been implied that being born of a natural witch doesn't necessarily make you one, as [[Max Banes|Max]] was a natural witch but his siter, [[Alicia Banes|Alicia]], was not.<ref>''[[Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes]]''</ref> This is also the case with [[Rowena]] and her son, [[Crowley]].
 
It been implied that being born of a natural witch doesn't necessarily make you one, as [[Max Banes|Max]] was a natural witch but his siter, [[Alicia Banes|Alicia]], was not.<ref>''[[Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes]]''</ref> This is also the case with [[Rowena]] and her son, [[Crowley]].
 
 
 
 
;Known Naturals
 
;Known Naturals
 
*[[Rowena MacLeod]] {{c|deceased}}
 
*[[Rowena MacLeod]] {{c|deceased}}

Revision as of 22:32, 12 November 2019

This page has been a Featured Article.

No, it could be anyone. Neighbor, coworker, man, woman. That's the problem, Dean - they're human, they're like everyone else.

A witch is a person who is learned in witchcraft. A witch can be either female or male, as they commune with the natural forces and channel them in order to practice magic.[2] Witches can be extremely long lived and very powerful.

Description

Humans who practice magical powers are often called "witches." The origin of witchcraft remains unknown; however, it is believed that witches have existed since the beginning of humanity, passing down their knowledge and skills through generations of family lines. Contrary to popular belief, not all witches receive their magic from demons, nor do they worship the devil. Some witches, such as wiccans (e.g. Nora Havelock), receive their power from nature and practice their witchcraft however they saw fit. Depending upon the individual, some witches practice their power by certain belief systems, such as Hoodoo, Voodoo, Wicca, or any number of other magical practices from countries and cultures all around the world.

Some witches also have a companion known as a familiar who can appear in either animal or human form. When a witch dies, willow moss is said to grow on the graves, making them easily identifiable to hunters.

Classifications

According to the Grand Coven, as described by Rowena MacLeod, there are three recognized kinds of witch in the world: the most common are the Borrowers; secondly, and rarest of all, are the Naturals; and the third are the Students.[3]

The Borrowers

The term "Borrower" is used to define those who harnesses the power of a demon in order to practice witchcraft. These witches are known to have summoned demons and made deals with them in exchange for power. While it is common for these witches to have traded their souls for power, it has been implied that not all Borrowers sell their souls, but rather promise the demon something else of value.

Known Borrowers

The Naturals

The term "Natural" is used to define any witch who is born with a predisposition towards practicing magic. Not much is known about these witches apart from the fact that they are known to have been born with a natural affinity to accessing certain supernatural powers of the universe. It been implied that being born of a natural witch doesn't necessarily make you one, as Max was a natural witch but his siter, Alicia, was not.[4] This is also the case with Rowena and her son, Crowley.

Known Naturals

The Students

The term "Student" is used to define those with no natural ability who, with enough practice and training, and a Grand Coven-approved mentor to show them the path, can eke out a modicum of witchly power. While these witches are commonly known to have been taught about witchcraft from other witches, it has been implied that some are self-taught.

Known Students

Unknown Classification

Witches who are in this section are unknown as to where they draw their magic from, and cannot be classified as either a Borrower, a Natural or a Student witch as of now in the series.

Community

The Grand Coven is a council of witches who ruled and controlled the affairs of witches and guarded the lore. However, the Grand Coven and the witch community is now greatly weakened, after many years of attacks and witch hunts coupled with an organised effort by the Men of Letters to plunder them of their spell books and records, which they hid in various spell-guarded bunkers around the world. According to Olivette, witch-on-witch murder is anathema to the community.

Covens

A coven is a community or gathering of witches who commonly gather together for celebrations of holidays, ceremonies of worship, practices of witchcraft, and more. According to Clea, it takes at least three witches working together in close proximity to form a coven; Rowena refered to just herself and Clea as a "witches' den" instead. Covens normally seem to have a high priest or priestess acting as their leader.

According to Rowena, each coven has its own set of laws and punishments created by the leader(s) of that group.

Known Covens

Powers and Abilities

According to Bobby Singer, the power of a witch is not only dependent on the source of their magic, but also on their knowledge and training in witchcraft. For example, whereas novice witches may struggle to defend themselves from human attackers (i.e. the Book Club was easily intimidated by Sam Winchester who threatened to shoot the women if they didn't stop the hex that was placed on his brother), more experienced witches have been known to overpower some of the most powerful creatures in existence (i.e. Don Stark nonchalantly stunned a leviathan).

  • Spell Casting - The power to change and control events through the use of incantations and/or ritualistic gestures. Witches can access various supernatural powers via spells such as:
    • Telekinesis - The power to move objects and persons through mental influence.
    • Elemental Manipulation - The power to control and manipulate the elements of air, earth, fire and water.
    • Mind Control - The power to control and manipulate the behavior and thoughts of others.
    • Memory Manipulation - The power to take away memories from people and/or place false ones.
    • Immobilization - The power to immobilize a person in place through a spell.
    • Illusions - The power to alter the senses of others to perceive a false reality.
    • Astral Projection - The power to separate from one's body and project the spirit to another location.
    • Healing - Rowena was able to heal the Darkness' vessel. She was also able to cure Oskar of a terminal illness and use a healing spell to close the Rupture to Hell by in effect healing the wound.
    • Molecular Combustion - Through a spell, Rowena was able to cause three witches to combust into blood and ash.
    • Resurrection - Rowena resurrected herself with a spell. Agnes was able to create a resurrection spell that she placed in the Book of the Damned that required a lot of power to perform and the dead person's body, but otherwise only required fairly common ingredients.
    • Conjuration - The act of creating various objects, such as maggots, blood, needles, razors, or even hearts, through a hex.
    • Warding - The power to place protection spells and wards on places and people, shielding them from harm.
    • Hexing and Cursing - Witches have the ability to hex and curse others.
    • Scrying - Using crystals, mirrors, or prisms, witches are able to find whoever they want, although the spell is easier to perform if the witch knows the appearance of, or possesses an object belonging to, the person they seek.
    • Necromancy - The act of controlling and manipulating death. This is inclusive of undead creatures such as zombies.
    • Longevity - The power to live hundreds, possibly thousands of years while maintaining a youthful, even beautiful appearance.
    • Invulnerability - Powerful witches have displayed invulnerability to conventional forms of harm, with one scoffing at the idea of a bullet being used against her and the Plum sisters doing the same.
    • Teleportation (limited) - The act of disappearing from one location and instantly reappearing in another location through supernatural means. Witches can gain the power to teleport if they are powerful enough.
    • Portal Creation - Using a ritual from the Demon Tablet, one witch displayed the ability to open a rift to another reality.
    • Power Granting - Rowena was able to grant Oskar immortality. Katja was also able to grant Hansel immortality as well.
    • Chronokinesis - Rowena mentioned going back in time using a spell from the Book of the Damned.
    • Spell Creation - Powerful witches have shown the ability to create their own spells. Agnes created the Necromantiorum, a resurrection spell, in order to bring back her friends who died in prison. Rowena MacLeod was able to created Defigere Et Depurgare, a spell for killing demons and Sanetur Acre Vulnus, a healing spell powerful enough to close the Rupture to Hell created by God himself through in effect healing the wound that the rupture was.
  • Potion Brewing - The act of brewing and concocting magical mixtures to weaken or strengthen one's abilities, magical and otherwise, as well as performing deadly results.

Weaknesses

  • Distraction - Preventing a witch from concentrating or giving full attention to their spells, may render them ineffective.
  • Emotion -  According to Rowena, one of the cardinal rules of magic is that disposition affects execution; this implies that performing spells correctly demands a certain frame of mind.[5]
  • Iron - A hard and strong magnetic metal that is able to repress the supernatural power of a witch, supposdly rendering them powerless. However, some magic can still be practiced while cuffed to iron as Rowena was still able to cast the Mark of Cain Removal Spell while still cuffed.
  • Magic - Despite being noted for their use of magic, witches are still susceptible to the effects of magic. This is inclusive of mystical objects such as the First Blade and Death's Scythe.
  • Mortality - Despite their mystical attributes, witches are still human and share many of the same weaknesses as non-supernatural beings (e.g. age, blood loss, decapitation, disease, heart-failure, incineration, suffocation, snapped neck, etc.). However, it is known that especially skilled witches can overcome these weaknesses through powerful magic.
  • Overexertion - The excessive use of magic could lead to fatigue, unconsciousness, the depletion of one's reserves of power, and if taken to the extreme, death.
  • Witchcatcher - The witchcatcher is a collar-like tool used to catch a witch, and compel them to obey the user's commands.

Tools

SPN 06485
  • Athames - A ceremonial dagger with a double-edged blade that is commonly used to direct energy.
  • Black Grimoire - A spellbook full of powerful druidic magic.
  • Book of Shadows - A tome that is used for witchcraft and related dark arts.
  • Book of the Damned - An extremely powerful spellbook that can allow the user to create or undo any damnation in existence amongst other things.
  • Candles - Block of solid wax with embedded wicks used for spells and rituals.
  • Cauldrons - Large metal pots that are commonly used to hold the ingredients for elixirs and potions.
  • Crystals, prisms or mirrors - They are necessary to perform scrying spells.
  • Herbs - Earthly plants that are commonly used as ingredients for brewing and concocting paranormal potions.
  • Stones - Small stones that are occasionally used as ingredients for brewing and concocting paranormal potions.

Appearances

Trivia

  • There are supernatural beings who are described as witches, but possess characteristics not shared by most other human magic practioners.
    • Shtrigas are described as Albanian witches that often take on the form of an elderly woman or a doctor; however, whether or not they are considered witches isn't confirmed.
    • The Wicked Witch, having come from Oz, was able to demonstrate various abilities that witches from this dimension appear to be incapable of; she may have been a type of fairy.
  • Although witches are not inherently evil, many are often corrupted by their power. Dean Winchester once compared magic with cocaine, stating that once they get a taste of it, it's surprising what they will do.
  • According to Olivette, the practice of witchcraft was once very common among the human population. However, since the brutal witch trials that occurred during the 17th century, the practice of witchcraft has severely declined. Furthermore, because the Men of Letters destroyed most of their grimoires and kept the others locked away from the public, most humans nowadays either disbelieve in magic or they simply choose not to practice.
  • It is notable that hunters like Sam, Dean and Bobby often use the same spells and rituals, but would not consider themselves witches.
    • In The Rupture, Rowena asks for Sam's help with a spell because he's "as close to a seasoned witch as we've got in this lot."
  • Only eight of the witches encountered have been defeated by Sam or Dean.
  • In Season 14, Sam has begun sharing his witch-killing bullets with other hunters as seen in The Scar when a hunter uses a witch-killing bullet Sam gave her to kill an evil witch while on a hunt.
  • Olivette, High Priestess of the Grand Coven, refered to an ordinary human as a non-magic.

References