I was driving home from my tribal bellydance class tonight when I was struck by the thought that witchcraft is essentially tribal in nature. Each group has its own way of connecting with deity, whether its the Roma Gypsies, the clans/families of the Irish and Scottish peoples, Native American tribes, "kinfolk" of the Southern Appalachains, or the nomadic groups of the Middle East and Africa, these are practices that are passed down from parents to children, each with their own meanings. Tribes can intermingle and learn from each other, and the practices will be changed or expanded upon. The idea is, I believe, to be very respectful of the culture/group/tribe you're borrowing from....I'm not into this mixing deities business, or calling on as many names of the Goddess/God as you can. Witchcraft practices were passed down from parent to child, and are steeped in the culture from which they came.
I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.