Closed Practices

Witchcraft, while itself is a practice, is technically an umbrella term, linking multiple different types of spirituality. Some of these spiritualities are what is known as 'Closed', meaning that only people of that race, people who live in a certain region, have done extensive research, or have been 'inducted' are allowed to perform those practices.

 This page is a document showing as many different closed practices as I have been able to find, or have been told about, to help beginner practitioners know what to avoid (or go for if you're in that demographic!)

As always, I STRONGLY recommend research on all of these topics, as I, A: Do not know everything and will never know everything, and B: Will only be adding these practices based on the fact that they are CLOSED, not on my own personal or political beliefs.

Closed Practices

(Only people of this demographic/ religion may perform these practices)

'Native American'

'Native American' is an overarching term relating to the demographic of peoples who were indigenous to the American Continent prior to the colonization of European peoples.  However, 'Native Americans' themselves are divided into many different tribal governments, which all have different views on Spirituality. All Native American practices are closed, due to the severe colonization and abuse of Native Americans over centuries.

'The United States Census Bureau defines Native American as "all people indigenous to the United States and its territories, including Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders, whose data are published separately from American Indians and Alaska Natives". ' - Wikipedia

Common closed components:

• White Sage

• Smudging or 'Smudge-Sticks'

• 'Palo Santo' - Native Latin American (Though it is the subject of much contention, however, one of the two trees Palo Santo comes from is endangered due to overuse, so I would recommend not using this incense if you are not from the demographic, anyways).

• 'Palo Mayombre' - Afro-Cuban Practice

• 'The Grandmother Spider' (Hopi, Zuni, Navajo diety)

'Ásatrúarfélagið' (Icelandic religious form of Heathenry)

AKA 'Ásatrú' is an Icelandic belief system. They have their own website here: Ásatrú website!

Common closed components:

• 'Blót' - A sacrificial blood ritual that is intrinsic to the Ásatrú religion.

'Voodoo'/ 'Voodou'

'Voodoo' is a monotheistic religious practice that is common in Haiti and New Orleans, as well as other places in the Caribbean, merging Catholic and African practices (Specifically practices from the Dahomey region of West Africa, now known as Benin). There is an excellent article about the basics of Voodoo here: An Introduction to the Basic Beliefs of the Vodou (Voodoo) Religion, as well as an article expanding on the specifics of different types of Voodoo in the 'References sorted by practice' section of this page.

Common closed components:

• Voodoo dolls

• Hot Foot Powder

• Goofer Dust

• Veves

Other Practices (Awaiting research)

• Polynesian Religions (Polynesian/ Hawaiian)

• Santeria (Hispanic)

• Nahua (Nahua & Mestizo)

• African Tribe Religions

• Saami

• Romani Practices

Initiation Only

(You must be inducted into these practices by someone in the practice)

• Judaism/ Jewish Practices

• Sikhism

• Zoroastrianism

• Gardinarian Wiccan

• Alexandrian Wiccan

• 'True Wicca'

• Shamanism

• Rastafarianism

• Hinduism

Restricted Practices

(PARTS of this practice are open or allowed for general usage)

• Hoodoo

• SOME Romani (???)

• Appalaichan Folk Magic (90% open, but Familial practices closed unless told otherwise)

Open Practices

(Practices that are completely fine with wider usage, however please research the practice too!)

• Shintoism

• Some Eastern European Practices (Further Research Needed)

• Any Ancient or Resurrected Practice

  • Ancient Egypt, Celtic, Hellenic, Roman, Ancient Greek, Hellismos, Mithraism, Elusian Mysteries, Myceneaen, Ancient Nordic, etc.

• Some Afro-Brazilian Practices (Further research needed)

Referances sorted by practice:

(For basic research I also speak to the communities of Tumblr's witchcraft community, Discord's 'Witches' Garden' server, as well as as many different practitioners as I can access. I also pull from books, and will link those as needed.

Native American:

Ásatrúarfélagið:

Hoodoo:

'Introduction to the basic beliefs of the Voodou (Voodoo) religion'

'Voodoo Around The World: Where it's practiced and how it differs'