Warlock: A Cauldron of Controversy

WARNING!!!! Because of the Sources I have quoted and linked to, this post may seem rather long. However, I thought it important to list other resources other than myself.

Someone who posted on my blog today reminded me of a word, a title that I personally adore but still has clichés holding a death grip to it. I use the word in my books, Warlock that is, and it isn’t used to describe the villain. However, in the world of paganism, neo-paganism, etc, etc, etc…there are still people hung up on the word Warlock, absolutely convinced that it is a bad term meaning oath breaker.

I am astounded people…simply astounded lol.

Usually when I watch these debates arise, people are pulling their facts which support their argument that Warlocks’ are naughty from the very same dictionaries which claim a witch is:

(Come on!!! We’re gonna take a field trip! We’re gonna take a field trip! Into the Magical Language & Land of Dic!)

And in the Magical Language and land of Dic, we have the meaning of a Witch to be (insert drum roll)

Witch

Witch\, n. [OE. wicche, AS. wicce, fem., wicca, masc.; perhaps the same word as AS. w[=i]tiga, w[=i]tga, a soothsayer (cf. Wiseacre); cf. Fries. wikke, a witch, LG. wikken to predict, Icel. vitki a wizard, vitka to bewitch.]

1. One who practices the black art, or magic; one regarded as possessing supernatural or magical power by compact with an evil spirit, esp. with the Devil; a sorcerer or sorceress; — now applied chiefly or only to women, but formerly used of men as well.

Tada! Oh, that definition is brought to you by Dictionary.com

Now, you say, you argue, you fuss, “Hark C.H. Scarlett! What sort of gibberish is this! There are far better definitions than that! After all, thou Land of Dic-tation has been modernly modernized, hath it not?”

Um yep…but I have a point Sherlock so slow your roll…

Now the definition for Warlock is………

–noun

1.

a man who practices the black arts; a male witch; sorcerer.

2.

a fortuneteller or conjurer.

Origin:

bef. 900; ME warloghe, -lach, OE wǣrloga oathbreaker, devil, equiv. to wǣr covenant + -loga betrayer (deriv. of lēogan to lie)

Ok, so…if we are to use the meaning for Warlock then we must use the meaning for witch, correct?

WRONG.

We all know that a witch does not mean a worshipper of the devil OR a Hag OR whatever other junk is pasted up there. These are old terms…OLD-Middle English terms and here’s the shocker—Warlock did not mean Oath breaker or someone of Evil Magical meddling in all origins of the world. Yet, we…especially those claiming to hold tight to the ‘old ways’ seem fixated on clinging to these raunchy definitions….when it suits us that is.

So the Magical Language and Land of Dic is slowly evolving and correcting it’s information—the definitions I listed above, were done so because at one time, this is basically what you got, period. However, listed under those definitions are other ones, more updated ones, more true to the world and beliefs around us.

The same can be said for Warlock—which is used by other countries and means nothing more than a male witch.

In traditional Scottish witchcraft, “warlock” was and is simply the term used for a wizard, or male witch.^[1] A synonym is sorcerer.^[2]—Wikipedia

In addition, there are several excellent arguments currently at large on the Internet regarding possible alternate etymologies of the word that trace it back to an Old Norse term for enchanter or sorcerer, “vard-lokkur.” This alternate origin for the word “Warlock,” and hence the rightful priority of its positive meaning, is becoming more accepted – or at least more publicized – within our Internet community, to judge from even a cursory Google search. Source Here from a man who calls himself a WARLOCK (GASP)

There is another, folk-etymology version for the origin of the word warlock, coming from Old English ‘wær-loga’, the man of the logs, alluding to the small pieces of wood the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavia is the cultural and historic region of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Scandinavian countries are Norway, Sweden and Denmark, which mutually recognize each other as parts of Scandinavia. The collective label “Scandinavia” reflects the culturaln priests and wise men used to divine by means of the Runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes that were formerly used to write Germanic languages, mainly in Scandinavia, and the British Isles. In all its varieties, they may be considered to be an ancient writing system in. This seems to have been a Slang is the non-standard use of words in a language of a particular social group, and sometimes the creation of new words or importation of words from another language. Slang is a type of sociolect aimed at excluding certain people from the conversation. word of Christian is: a follower of the faith of Christianity a popular first name and surname, especially in Northern Europe According to the New Testament, those who followed Jesus as his disciples were first called Christians by those who did not share their f coinage pejoratively used on those who remained PaganPaganism (or Heathenism ) is a catch-all term which has come to bundle together (by extension from its original classical meaning of a non- Christian religion) a very broad set of not necessarily compatible religious beliefs and practices that are usually and practising the art of the runes. By extension, it became a synonym of  sorcerer (from Old French ’sorcier’; fem. sorceress is person believed to be able to cast spells, see wizard. Sorcerer is also an interactive fiction game from Infocom, part of the Enchanter trilogy. The Sorcerer is an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan S and wizardA wizard (from ‘wise’) is a practitioner of magic, especially in folklore, fantasy fiction, and fantasy role-playing games. In popular use in sixteenth century England it was used to denonate a helpful male folk magican, a cunning man as they were usually, and also of a typical medieval diabolical male witch (in this sense either able to fly in several ways, see Sabbath, witchcraft). The use of the word witch to name both witch and warlock is turning the word into an archaic one. SOURCE HERE

Warlock

Despite modern neo-Pagan offense taken by some at the word, “warlock” has for centuries simply meant “male witch” in common English usage. Claims that the word originates solely from an old word for “traitor” are erroneus. In extant Medieval records, male witches are often called “warlock” by Christian persecutors and judges. If one of its’ meanings is indeed “traitor”, then it is reasonable to assume that oaths broken were Christian oaths, and that “warlocks” were perceived as being “traitors” to Christian values and society.

Many modern day male witches are reclaiming “warlock” as a positive word of power and ancient imagery, even as the word “witch” was reclaimed in years past and recast in a rightfully positive light. These men know that many who make sweeping statements about witchcraft speak only for their particular coven or tradition and not for all, despite assertions to the contrary.

Several ancient words from Scandinavia and the British Isles are very plausible as being origins for the word “warlock”. The Norse “Vargrliker” (one who takes on or assumes a wolf’s body) and “vardlokker” (an enchanter, singer of spells or caller of spirits) are two such examples. The Old English word “waerloga” does mean “oath-breaker”, but ironically, the Scottish version of the word (which anti-warlock neo-Pagans like to tout as their reason for disliking the word in the first place) does NOT. It means “cunning man” or male witch.  Source

So the thing is this…we really need evolve unless people are just stuck to the wall concerning Warlock and thinking it means an Evil, Evil Man. Personally, I have met many a wonderful and colorful Warlocks in my day and as far as my writing goes, I will continue to use the word as I see it…a Male Witch—Warlock. Wooo hooo! So if your a Warlock, feel free to chat it up with me. I just adore ya!

See you in the Grave! All hail the Warlocks!

C.H. Scarlett