“To me the word Witch is a delicious word, filled with the most ancient memories that go back to our earliest ancestors, who lived close to natural cycles and understood and appreciated the power and energy that we share with the cosmos. The word Witch can stir these memories and feelings in even the most skeptical mind…”
Laurie Cabot, Power of the Witch (1989)

I agree with the Official Witch of Salem. Witch is an absolutely delicious word. It tastes differently to all who claim it upon their tongue: to some it is bitter, to others outright poison; to some it is a sweet, honeyed nectar, born of the cathedral of trees they breathe deeply beneath; to others, it is blood and smoke and wine, salt and stone and earth, indulged and celebrated in the deep, deep woods. However it tastes, whoever you are, it is my opinion that should you choose to take that word in your mouth, to claim that mark upon your brow, that title upon your being…that you understand, clearly, the very real weight of it.

Witchcraft is a Practice

Witch has become a title claimed by any who believe it will enrich their presentation to the world. Perhaps they find it makes them seem edgy, intimidating, or “otherworldly”. Such claims on the name don’t deserve the energy that would label them exhausting. The fact is, this name means something. It isn’t an aesthetic, or a trait, or a hobby. It is a very real and sacred practice, as old as our relationship to the earth.

There are many who “dabble” in the Craft. They poke around new age shops, try a spell candle or two, toss some spilled salt over their left shoulder, excitedly glance around to see if they’ve stirred anything. There is no harm in this. Dabble away. But be clear that that’s what you’re doing. Lighting one black candle does not a witch make. Claiming the title of Witch without the context, time and weight of what it means should be considered with the same seriousness as claiming any title you may not deserve. I understand, it’s “fun” and “exciting” to step into that cloak; to don that pointed hat. And if you’ve decided to make witchcraft a hobby, even one you love, that’s fine. Live and let live. But be honest if that is all it is to you. The Craft demands authenticity, whether you practice truly or not.

“Witches” Who Don’t Witch

A Witch is someone who practices Witchcraft. The Craft of the Witch. The Craft of the Wise. To craft is a verb, an action. To claim the title of Witch without engaging in the practice of witchcraft is a lie. Plain and simple. I’m sorry, but you are not a witch just because you say you are.

We all have days where we don’t practice. We all have days where the energy to exist may be too heavy (and this is common for those in the Craft, sensitive as we are to energies), and we don’t go to our altar, we don’t cast, we don’t even study. I’ve gone entire weeks without sitting before my sacred space, when life was just too much. In every instance I found that had I been practicing, the time would’ve passed easier, the situations handled better, but we often don’t see that truth when we’re in the thick of things. My point is, there’s a significant difference between “stepping away” from your practice, and not having a practice at all.

Putting crystals in your bra doesn’t make you a witch. Lighting incense doesn’t make you a witch. And reading tarot cards doesn’t make you a witch. I love my crystals, my trusty box of Nag Champa, and of course, my ever-evolving collection of tarot cards. But none of these things make me a witch. I incorporate them into my practice; but none of them is needed to make true magick.

Witchcraft is a Relationship

It is of significant importance to point out that at its core, Witchcraft is truly a relationship of many levels and great depths. It is a relationship with the earth, with the essences and spirits of nature and the wild world. It is a relationship with Divine, with the Unseen, with that which connects all things to us and us to all things. It is a relationship to the Otherworld, to those who came before, those who shared our blood, those who teach us and guide us and protect us. And, terribly important but perhaps often overlooked, it is a relationship with yourself, and all that you truly are and can be.

Witchcraft is the art of manipulating energy to our will. All the levels of this relationship are reflected in our ability to do this authentically and effectively. You cannot simply demand things of the Divine and the Unseen without building a relationship with them. Without respecting, honouring and acknowledging them. No matter what branch of the Craft calls to you, which form of Divinity you work with, or what you use to cast your will into being, a witch will always understand the significance of their connection to that which aids them from the Unseen. Whether Goddess or Devil, there is a reverence and a respect there that cannot be faked.

In Defence of Gatekeeping

The rise of the digital world has somehow convinced everyone that they deserve to know everything, all at once, whenever they demand it, simply because they demand it. Access to endless information at our fingertips has shredded the integrity of personal exploration, research and study. Laziness, to put it plainly. Perhaps it is because we pagans have always existed lower on the religious ladder than our Abrahamic counterparts, that our faith is not afforded the respect of personal pursuit. Abrahamic religions offer information freely and in great abundance because they believe there is power in numbers. They want all to join their flock and so offer whatever is asked of them. Witches, on the other hand, are more like goats than sheep. While sheep are highly flock-oriented and stay together in groups for community as well as security, goats are much more independent, and far more likely to roam and explore on their own.

Witches understand that practices take practice, and relationships take work. Both take time. Witchcraft is not about numbers or conversions. It is about cosmos, and deep roots, and dancing shadows, and whispered soul-shattering truths. It is a path that can be walked by anyone, anywhere, as long as they are brave enough to step into the dark alone (for it is truly our own dark, our own shadows, extensions of all that is us, as I’ve assured many times). It takes time to learn which elements of the Craft call to us, which practices resonate, which forms of Divine whisper inside us, as we slowly build a Craft of our own. We read, practice, fail, try again, understand, dive deeper. We come to know ourselves, because to know thyself is to know thy world; to accept oneself is to unlock all possibility. We brave the path, whether it is crooked or starlit, whether it leads to a Sacred Circle, or a graveyard at midnight. We put in the work, and we earn our mantle of Witch.

You don’t get to sit at your computer (or more likely, glaring into your cellphone) and demand answers just because you want them. If this is a hobby to you, stop making it so deep. If it’s meant to be more than that, stop whining and open a bloody book. Put in the work. We don’t owe you a single page of our practice that we have lived, simply because you feel it is your right to know. Go learn. If you want this title, if you want this lifestyle, go create it. You’ll learn very quickly if this is a path that calls to you, or simply your latest aesthetic obsession.

Witchcraft is Love, Light, Magick and Darkness

The conversation about what is “real” witchcraft has always been tiresome, but the addition of aesthetic presentation as the root of all identity has just thrown gasoline on the flames of what could’ve been harmless embers.

“There’s no Devil in the Craft.” Well, actually there is, just perhaps not yours. And that’s okay.
“There’s no love and light in this house.” Oh, you baddie, you. Make sure everyone knows you’re not one of those love and light witches. I’m sure your followers will appreciate the distinction.
“Blowing out birthday candles is witchcraft.” *sigh*
“Wicca isn’t real witchcraft.” Yes, it is.
“Working with the Devil isn’t real witchcraft.” Yes, it is.
“You’re born a witch.” No, you aren’t. You may be born from witches, and you may be born with a pre-existing tendency towards the Craft, but you still have to put in the work to claim the crown.
“To be a real witch you have to be able to curse.” Wildly out of context. Being a witch means understanding that the same powers you invoke to heal can also be used to harm. It doesn’t mean that by never cursing someone you aren’t really practicing witchcraft. We all have the possibility of both sides of anything within us; we don’t have to feed both to find wholeness in our path.

These are a tiny sample of the “hot takes” circulating the Craft circles that show just how much the community has changed (if it even still exists at all). A decade ago, you could practice in whatever way fed your soul and those who practiced differently were more likely to say, “Interesting. I practice differently, but thanks for sharing yours.” As opposed to, “That’s not real witchcraft.” We’ve become, like much of society, divisive, combative and dramatic. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I truly miss the days when witchcraft was underground. There were always those who criticized others’ practices, but not to the extent and reach that they do now. Little keyboard warriors abound, even though their digital social media trail betrays the true youth of their own practice.

Love and Light

Goddess, love and protect Wiccans. You don’t have to be Wiccan to follow the path of love and light, but the history of Wicca is what paved the golden way for this sense of practice (whether some witches care to admit it or not).

You may not agree with Gerald Gardner’s practices, but to deny his impact on the world of witchcraft is rewriting history. People criticize his brand of witchcraft, pointing out that he collected pieces from various practices and gave it a name, trying to present it as something new with old roots. As if this were somehow bad. Out of curiosity, what in the seven hells do you think Christianity is? Most religions today are pieced together from centuries of varying cultural influence. What Gardner did was hardly unique, or even appropriating. It was clear where his influences came from. But of course, you’d have to do some research to understand that.

It’s important to note that Wicca is a religion, not a practice. It contains practices, as all religions do, but you can be a witch and not be Wiccan, and it may surprise you to know that there are Wiccans who don’t consider themselves witches. At its heart, Wicca is about celebration, honouring the natural world and its cycles. It amazes me that people have begun openly rejecting the Wheel of the Year because it isn’t “inclusive”. Did you know you can choose not to practice something without publicly condemning it? It’s a wild and cosmic notion, I know, but try it. You won’t die, and your follower count shan’t suffer.

In that same vein, if I see one more twenty-something witch-fluencer dismiss the work of Scott Cunningham as “not real witchcraft”, I will accidentally start a fire with my mind. The lack of respect is flooring. You don’t have to be Wiccan to acknowledge that its early practitioners were the ones who pushed wide the broom closet door for us to practice as openly as we do now, regardless of our path. You can respect those who put in the work for us to learn without swearing fealty to them.

I digress. You don’t have to be Wiccan to practice love and light. And practicing from this place doesn’t make you any less of a witch if it authentically feeds and enriches your practice.

Magick and Darkness

As we all come to know in the Craft, nature and magick are beautiful balances of duality. I love the witches who practice from a place of love and light; there is far too much hate in the world to ever reject such practitioners. But true Craft understanding includes acknowledging that there is a place for both light and darkness within this world.

It is true that even not all Wicca is love and light. Enter Alex Sanders, self-proclaimed King of the Witches. While Gardnerian Wicca invoked celebration, Alexandrian Wicca was more ceremonial, and was more about casting thy will into the world, be it to heal or to harm. This duality existed long before someone decided it had to be one or the other. There is no one way to practice the Craft. That is part of its inherent beauty. There is space for all. You can practice witchcraft entirely differently from another Witch while still respecting that all can practice as they choose. Ask thirteen witches a question, get thirteen different answers. At least, that’s how it used to be. Now they may try to recite what’s currently popular, to ensure they remain firmly “accepted” within the “community”, instead of having an honest conversation with themselves about what they’re really practicing (if they’re practicing at all).

Wicca, love and light, and the Wheel of the Year are not the only paths. The Occult has existed for as long as humans have had relationship with the Divine, and much of the Occult would turn a Wiccan ritual on its head. But Wicca never denied the existence of darker branches of the Occult; they simply settled into their corner of it and moved on. There are real witches who walk a darker path, who curse more than they charm, hex more than they heal, and if that works for them, that works for them. We are all drawn to the Craft for different reasons. Some come seeking peace, some come seeking power. Many find home.

The Devil

This subject is an entire post in and of itself, so I’ll keep this as brief as I can.

In his book The Crooked Path, Kelden points out that many books on the subject of Traditional Witchcraft simply try to differentiate it from Wicca, creating division instead of education on what Trad Craft actually is. The Craft as a whole is about discovery, not division. Understanding, not rejection. As with all other areas of witchcraft these days, it’s become popular to claim to practice Traditional Witchcraft, simply to separate oneself from those of the dreaded love and light persuasion. It sounds awfully badass to claim you work with the Devil instead of the Goddess, cast bones instead of runes, and decorate your altar with skulls instead of crystals. Hurray aesthetic. As a visual artist, I understand the impact aesthetic can have on the efficacy of one’s practice. Truly, I do. But as I stated earlier in this post, respect for the powers with which you claim to work is of inarguable importance.

The Devil has a very real role in traditional witchcraft practices, particularly those found in old Britain and Europe, that eventually made their way to North American shores. Nearly all witchcraft-related folklore makes mention of Him, and His names are invoked in the same woods that have echoed them for centuries. To deny His place in the Craft, simply because you choose not to include Him in yours, is as inauthentic to Craft lore as denying Wicca its place.

You do not have to work with the Devil to practice witchcraft. But if you do, understand the importance of that relationship, build it, know it, explore it. Know the history of His place in this work. He doesn’t care how you think His presence makes you sound. And as you’ll come to know, the only witchcraft that truly works, is the kind practiced authentically.

Witchcraft is Not Political

I will state this as clearly as is humanly possible for all who are somehow still horribly confused about it: Witchcraft is not, and has never been, inherently political.

It is not a political statement. It is not a political movement. It is not, in any way shape or form, inherently political.

If the “witches” claiming it is actually cracked open a book on witchcraft that’s existed long enough to hold weight, they would find, time after time, page after page, tome after tome, there is no declaration of witchcraft as a political anything. The idea of witchcraft being political is a new one, and it has proven itself very quickly to be the most divisive take thus far.

“If you’re Republican/Conservative, you aren’t a real witch.” Lie.
“If you voted for Trump, you’re not a real witch.” Lie. Who you vote for literally has nothing at all to do with your identity as a witch, and everything to do with your identity as a citizen of your country. Full stop.
“Witchcraft is political.” No, it is not. And it never has been.

I am aware that many will argue that witchcraft symbolizes the oppressed, and is associated with those considered “less” within societal structure, and therefore it is a practice of rebellion and anti-patriarchy, etc. Communing with the spirits of Divine and nature have nothing to do with rebellion; they have to do with connection and returning to our roots as beings of this Earth. They have nothing to do with the patriarchy, monarchies, or any other political power structure. Witchcraft is a practice of manipulating energy, building a relationship with oneself and the Divine and Unseen, and honouring both that practice and those relationships. Was witchcraft historically common amongst those who felt rejected, oppressed or punished by society? Very likely. That which veers from the norm that doesn’t serve is always appealing to the unserved. But finding the path through means that may be traced back to political influences doesn’t make the Craft itself political.

“OoF, yOu’Re GoNnA bE rEaLly SuRpRiSeD wHeN yOu HeAr AbOuT tHe WiTcH tRiAlS.”

Someone has actually written this to me (and then deleted it, so very bravely), and I will say again what I said then: the witch trials were absolutely political. Condemning one’s neighbours for personal gain, be it power or land or otherwise, is absolutely political. But the witch trials are not witchcraft itself. Wondrous that I must point that out, but this is where we are. You can absolutely bring politics into your personal practice and cast spells for political reasons. Politics may very well drive you to take action of the witchcraft variety. That is entirely your prerogative. But you don’t get to state that all witchcraft is political, then turn around and state that all those whose politics don’t align with yours aren’t real witches. The hypocrisy of it is truly something to behold. “Witches” referencing the witch trials to support their war against other witches is peak irony and they’re too blind by their social rage to even see it. Those who shout “inclusivity” often prove to be the most divisive of all.

Practice for whatever reasons resonate with you, but have accountability and understand that your path is your path, and your beliefs do not dictate what others should believe. You cannot condemn Abrahamic religions for doing exactly this while doing it yourselves. You simply prove that you yourself are not a true witch in the end; you’re just in it for the empty title.

Witchcraft is Real

The long survival of witchcraft is a testament to its truth and its power. It has endured throughout centuries, in many forms, evolving and metamorphosing along with the world in which it exists. It remains through its enduring authenticity, and its presence is a constant flickering light at the edge of the dark woods, for those who feel lost, out of place, or simply as though there is more for them. It is not the answer for everyone, nor is it meant to be. But if you do find it calling to you, pulling your hand towards the shadows (or the light), whether your path presents as a clear line, a spiral, or a crooked winding twixt the roots, as long as it feels like home, you’re going the right way.

Witchcraft works. Casting spells manipulates energies to bring about your will, should things so align for you. There is always a balance, and sometimes there are consequences. “All magic comes with a price,” a wise crocodile once said. Respect the balance, and understanding will come to you (as will greater success in your workings). For those who truly practice the Craft of the Wise understand that it is as varied and expressive as its practitioners.

Witchcraft is an old and sacred tradition (whether you practice Traditional Witchcraft or not). It is not the “right” of anyone to practice it. Choosing to pursue this path should be undertaken with the respect it deserves. Learn the history. Explore its branches. Put in the effort that shows you wish to learn. I’ve turned down requests to teach individuals witchcraft, because I knew they weren’t serious about it as a practice. I love and respect this Craft far too much to be a catalyst to further inauthentic pursuit of its ways.

Witch

“The traditional Craft, with its many and various branches, is a Craft born largely from the very landscape in which it is practiced. There exist common threads that run throughout the various recensions of the ‘Elder Faith’, but the precise traditions, ways and practices of the ‘Old Craft’ will always differ and be flavoured by the preserved folk beliefs, traditions, customs, lore, historical magical rites, charms and impedimenta of the region in which its practice is rooted. Traditional witchcraft is in many ways regional witchcraft, it is not and never has been a standardised practice and long may this continue to be the case. The day witchcraft loses regional variation is the day traditional witchcraft ceases to exist.”
Gemma Gary, Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways (2008)

There is great reason that Gemma Gary is hailed as such a respected voice within the Craft. While the quote above may be associated directly with Traditional Witchcraft, I feel it resonates deeply throughout the Craft as a whole.

Witchcraft is a practice of connection to the land and spirits within which the witch dwells. It is meant to vary with practice and practitioner. It was never meant to present as “one way”.

Throughout this post, I have not declared witchcraft as singularly one thing or another. If you look closely, you’ll see that what I’ve actually done is attempt to paint the Craft as the broad, uncontainable expression of chiaroscuro beauty that it truly is. I have shown the inclusivity of its world while respecting its exclusivity and pointing out the harm lacking this respect can create.

I have been practicing witchcraft for over twenty years. I have studied, and studied, and studied. I had books on the Craft before I ever had internet. I have practiced, and failed, and learned, and succeeded. I have tried this and that, tasted a bit of this magick, danced with a bit of that magick. And I have slowly, in perfect time, found my own way. There are elements of all I’ve learned scattered throughout my practice, like stars across a velvet sky. I have woven a story of my love with the Unseen that is mine alone, and I hope you do the same.

To call oneself Witch is to bear a heavy crown. To understand that there is blood on that word, both innocent and not. Whether you choose to follow a specific tradition, be it Alexandrian, Gardnerian, Traditional, Slavic, Nordic, or whatever else, respect it and its history, and understand its significance to its followers. This is not about adding to one’s personal presentation of identity to the world; it’s about finding oneself amidst a power that calls from one’s soul.

If you like “witchy” things, then like “witchy” things. But don’t call yourself a witch.
If you find resonance with the old world of witchcraft, and lose yourself in its study, and feel at home upon its path, then welcome. I hope claiming this name tastes like magick on your tongue, however magick tastes to you.

Perfect Love and Perfect Trust

If this post triggered you, good. Explore those triggers. Find truth hiding within them. Be honest with yourself. Where is there truth in your path and where is there presentation? Where are there masks and where are there mirrors?

Authenticity is key to powerful witchcraft. And the Craft knows what you bring to its table, whether you wish to admit it or not.

Until next time.

Blessed be. Hail and farewell.

Aye, while we come home again.