I'll keep this real brief:
Not all witches cast spells.
Not everyone who casts spells is a witch.
Witchcraft is a spiritual path.
Spellcraft is a concrete methodology.
Many Christians in any number of cultures (including Appalachia) practice spellcraft, but condemn Wicca as "Satanic".
The traditions of ceremonial magic imply that magic is governed by rules accessible to all.
The late British witch Robert Cochrane (among others) contended that magical ability is bred, not acquired.
Who knows?
I think training is important and discipline of will paramount.
I've also had crappy luck with spellcasting--but the bad effects have convinced me magic works.
For what it's worth, the Celts believed it took 20 years to learn to be a Druid.
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