Editing Magic (supernatural) (section)

===White, gray and black===
{{Main|White magic|Gray magic|Black magic}}
Historian [[Owen Davies (historian)|Owen Davies]] says the term "white witch" was rarely used before the 20th century.{{sfn|Davies|2007|p=xiii}} [[White magic]] is understood as the use of magic for selfless or helpful purposes, while [[black magic]] was used for selfish, harmful or evil purposes.{{sfn|Miller|2010}} Black magic is the malicious counterpart of the benevolent white magic. There is no consensus  as to what constitutes white, gray or black magic, as [[Phil Hine]] says, "like many other aspects of occultism, what is termed to be 'black magic' depends very much on who is doing the defining."{{sfn|Petersen|2009|p=220}} [[Gray magic]], also called "neutral magic", is magic that is not performed for specifically benevolent reasons, but is also not focused towards completely hostile practices.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

====Witchcraft====
{{Main|Witchcraft}}
The historian [[Ronald Hutton]] notes the presence of four distinct meanings of the term witchcraft in the English language. Historically, the term primarily referred to the practice of causing harm to others through supernatural or magical means. This remains, according to Hutton, "the most widespread and frequent" understanding of the term.{{sfn|Hutton|2017|p=ix}} Moreover, Hutton also notes three other definitions in current usage; to refer to anyone who conducts magical acts, for benevolent or malevolent intent; for practitioners of the modern Pagan religion of [[Wicca]]; or as a symbol of women resisting male authority and asserting an independent female authority.{{sfn|Hutton|2017|pp=ix–x}} Belief in witchcraft is often present within societies and groups whose [[cultural framework]] includes a magical [[world view]].{{sfn|Russell|1972|pp=4–10}}

Those regarded as being magicians have often faced suspicion from other members of their society.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=68}} This is particularly the case if these perceived magicians have been associated with social groups already considered morally suspect in a particular society, such as foreigners, women, or the lower classes.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=71}} In contrast to these negative associations, many practitioners of activities that have been labelled magical have emphasised that their actions are benevolent and beneficial.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|pp=71–72}} This conflicted with the common Christian view that all activities categorised as being forms of magic were intrinsically bad regardless of the intent of the magician, because all magical actions relied on the aid of demons.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=72}} There could be conflicting attitudes regarding the practices of a magician; in European history, authorities often believed that cunning folk and traditional healers were harmful because their practices were regarded as magical and thus stemming from contact with demons, whereas a local community might value and respect these individuals because their skills and services were deemed beneficial.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=90}}

In Western societies, the practice of magic, especially when harmful, was usually associated with women.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=92}} For instance, during the witch trials of the early modern period, around three quarters of those executed as witches were female, to only a quarter who were men.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=93}} That women were more likely to be accused and convicted of witchcraft in this period might have been because their position was more legally vulnerable, with women having little or no legal standing that was independent of their male relatives.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=93}} The conceptual link between women and magic in Western culture may be because many of the activities regarded as magical—from rites to encourage fertility to potions to induce [[abortion]]s—were associated with the female sphere.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=94}} It might also be connected to the fact that many cultures portrayed women as being inferior to men on an intellectual, moral, spiritual, and physical level.{{sfn|Bailey|2018|p=96}}