QUOTE(SororZSD23 @ Jun 26 2011, 07:11 PM)
The overwhelming amount of info that you will find online and in bookstores on witchcraft is revisionist crap and fluff--but witchcraft is basically folk magic and modern witchcraft and Wicca are new interpretations of it so , it is was it is and it is appealing to "the masses"--that is, to "folks." People like Scott Cunningham provide some background on herbal lore and how to put spells together, but you can't read this stuff as dogma. It is meant to give a little inspiration and a starting point. I would suggest that you define was kind of folk magic is of greatest interest (ie, from what country, part of the world--Celtic, Italian, Slavic, Mexican, Chinese?) and look into it in a scholarly way. You may be able to find chat boards or blogs where authentic, trad practitioners are presenting info. I myself ultimately took interest in reading stuff by Ronald Hutton--professor and researcher of the history of Wicca and witchcraft or, say Prof Michael Bailey (but Ronald is a much more readable as a writer) . I think Hutton has blog. YOu may have come across this site, but it is probably as good as it gets on the Web: http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/redirect.shtml
So witchcraft, although there are "systems" out there and nowadays (well, since early mid 1900s) systemsTM, witchcraft is personal folk magic. In earlier times, people supposedly didn't meet in covens and all that nice crap. Beyond folk magic and superstition that was just part of rural culture, certain practiioners (who usually labeled themselves as healers or curse breakers, not "witches") learned some techniques from a relative or mentor and practiced as solitaries and then passed their knowlege onto one or two other relatives or apprentices. They were, in effect, shamans. So, unless you can find an authenitc mentor, you have to create your own personal system and not worry about the new paradigm about witchcraft in popular culture.
Thanks ! Your suggestions are really reasonable. Actually, my approach towards to witchcraft is mostly from the scholary point of view. I myself is from India, therefor have no brief idea about the European folk magick, when ever i try to find out anything in this regards, i just end up in Greek or Norse Mythology. Most of the time the Anglo-Saxon, Irish or Scottish along with the Druidic Systems are Till a Big Mystery for me ! Any way, Thanks again i will try to check out the references you mentioned.