[@Pathfinder]
I think that would make everyone's life a bit difficult.

As for energy magick in witches think Vampire Diaries spirit users. They can see and touch magick that is otherwise unavailable to other witches. The premise behind magick is that witches can feel it and how objects and living things interact with one another and manipulate this interaction to create what is called magick. Energy magick revolves around the magick or energy that keeps living things alive. They manipulate this magick and because most of that comes from their own life source it weakens their immune system and their minds. Most of these witches fall ill or lose their mind rather early in life. They rarely live to be 50. 

Other elemental users are what you might consider to be more or less humans with elemental gifts; fire, air, water, and earth. Their magick allows them to touch, create, and manipulate these elements. Solstice and equinox witches are so powerful because they have a culmination of elemental magicks in relation to their solstice/equinox. 
Hopefully this helps. If not I can certainly work up a more detailed explanation given a bit of time.