Notes: This is just a general guide to help you understand a little more about Sweep. It's not total, but it's enough to get you started on your own research.

1. Sweep's magic is for entertainment purposes only. All that fantastic magic can't be done. Do not get confused between Sweep magic and Wicca magic. Some basic concepts in Sweep are based on real Wiccan practices, but all what I call fantasy magic (like shape shifting, electrical witch fire, dark waves, opening portals to the dead) is fantasy.

2. Technically, blood witches don't exist. The only thing close is a hereditary witch. This means he or she is born and raised into a family that practices Wiccan. Same thing as somebody born and raised into a Catholic or Jewish family. One of the Sweep editors came up with the idea of a blood witch. Note: People can be more sensitive and/or more gifted in the areas of "magic" than others. But this does not mean they are from a long line of witches and such.

3. Seven Clans of Wiccan are totally made up. Again, for entertainment purposes only.

4. The dark wave doesn't exist.

5. There is no such thing as a International Council of Witches.

6. Some things such as runes, witch tools, and stones are not made up, but some of their "properties" have been totally exaggerated to the fantastic in the series, which is not true.

7. Wicca is not as old as Sweep claims, and not within a nice fitted package with a pretty little bow. Why it's there? Entertainment. Because the interest in Wicca and magic is high (in all of its accurate and inaccurate glory), the publication companies said, "Hey, why not do a witch series. Money!" Business is business.

The Wicca religion, on the other hand, is real. A real religion with real followers. It should be treated as a religion. It is not something "cool", something for "shock value", something to see if "those cool spells work". Reading a few books won't make you a witch and/or Wiccan, nor is playing around with it irrelevantly. You can't become a witch over night. Spirituality is a journey, and that's a lifetime's work. Research, dedication, guidance, seriousness, and, of course, faith are some of the key elements to success for any belief system. Good luck!

Last Modified: Monday, 05/24/10