TEMPLE

What’s a Witch?
September 29th, 2002

Ask 10 witches to define the word ‘witch’ and you are bound to get 100 different answers.  There is no one simple or neat label.  Why?  Witches by nature are individuals, headstrong, notoriously independent and usually very vocal on opinions.  The term ‘witch’ is a title.  Some use this title and some don’t.  Some witches consider the ‘Craft’ (witchcraft) as a form of religion and some don’t.  Since this is my article, I will give you my personal explanations.  When I am asked this question, I say I am a pagan by religious affiliation, Wiccan politically, Witch by choice and Priestess of Hekate by calling.  For me and mine, I am a witch as part of my religious beliefs as well as my lifestyle.  Is it easy being a witch?  Is it ever easy being your own individual?  Do I have warts on my nose?  No.  Do I gut little, furry critters and eat children?  No, actually I am ‘owned’ by several 4-legged pets and my children pretty well run my life.  These questions are terribly misconceptions.  It is time to dispel (pun intended) the falsehoods much of which were based on the book ‘The Malleus Maleficarum’ (The Witches Hammer) originally written by Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger in 1484.

The European root of the word ‘witch’ refers to someone who uses magick (not to be confused with the word ‘magic’ with regards to slight of hand tricks and such) and practices some form of paganism.  The modern interpretation of ‘Pagan’ refers to anyone who is not a member of the 3 other major religious traditions being Judeo/Christian/Islamic.  Within the all-encompassing umbrella of paganism (or neo-paganism), there are numerous formal  ‘traditions’ or methods of practice such as Wicca, Strega, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Reconstructionists, etc.  The different types of paganism can be equated to the different practices of other religions such as Christianity having various sects and churches with their own brand of methodologies.

Witchcraft is considered the ‘old religion’ meaning it has pre-Judeo/Christian roots.  In essence, it is a religion that is nature-based and acknowledges the duality or plurality of the divine (Gods and Goddesses).  Witchcraft is not about honoring an adversary of another religion such as Satan.  Witchcraft is all about personal responsibility, connection with nature and the elements (the building blocks of life) and divine interaction that does not need a ministerial intermediary.  It is an active religion and lifestyle.  One need not belong to a group, coven, grove or temple to practice the beliefs.  It is all about personal interaction in the world and with the divine images.  ‘God’ and ‘Goddess’ are titles, not names nor owned by any one religion.  There is no one name of God or Goddess.  There are also many versions of creation.  Many myths pertain to a ‘source’ that we are not able to fully understand or comprehend.  Hence, Gods and Goddesses are interactive parties in our learning and lives.  Witches, as a general rule, do believe in reincarnation.  Witches are not atheists.  Most witches, myself included, are deeply religious and spiritual.  Most also have an excellent understanding of other religious beliefs; especially the big 3.  It used to be true that most modern witches were converts from other religions.  That is changing as we oldsters are raising our children in our beliefs and ways.

Wicca is a more recent religion.  It gained in popularity in the 1950s.  Wicca is an acknowledged religion in the United States and has the same status as other legally recognized religions.  Again, not all Witches are Wiccans, but Wiccans are Witches.  The eclectic version of Wicca or witchcraft is usually a combination of various mythologies, practices, religions and cultures that are personalized by an individual’s preference.  Most will have a male and female representation of some pantheon as their focal point.  Some borrow deity images from more than one culture for instance Hern as the God image and Astarte as the Goddess image.

For purposes of explanation, I will use the ‘Craft’ rather than call out a particular tradition such as Wicca in the article.  I will also use ‘Gods’ to represent both the male and female deities.  ‘Magick’ is focused will to bring about a change.  Prayer is a form of meditation.  I do make a personal distinction between ‘magick’ and ‘prayer’.  For me, prayer is communication with Gods, magick is, “By my will, this will be!”

When first exploring the Craft as your religion and/or path in life, study the different myths, cultures and religious deities.  I was surprised to find how similar different Gods images to one another between cultures and religions.  How the common teachings of paganism were found in other religions.  I personally believe the common threads found in all religions such as: be nice to one another, help each other, try to do your best for the good of the all…are divinely inspired.  Learn the aspects of the Gods you are drawn to and their nature.  If you do not feel a strong attraction to any in particular, there are always the Parents - divine Mother and Father.  My own images are Dionysus and Hekate.   These were not my first Gods images.  In my teens, I was drawn to Artemis/Diana and didn’t really have any one male God image.  Later in the corporate world of management, I would call on Athene for inspiration and guidance.  So don’t be hard, fast and permanent on which Gods interest you.  In their time, they will call out to you in very personal and beyond coincidental ways.

Perform daily prayer and meditation.  This is not something you should have to think of as ‘making time’ for in your busy, daily schedule.  As soon as you start thinking of making time, you’ve lost the battle.  Prayer can simply be quiet time alone, giving thanks or asking for assistance.  I personally find the ‘between times’ if sunrise and sunset excellent times of communication with the Gods.  Meditation is time for uninterrupted and focused exercise for the beginner.  Breathing techniques, mental concentration and working with the Elements.  It is the best form of preparation for magick/spell work.

I consider the Elements of Earth (North), Air (East), Fire (South) and Water (West) as cousins.  Each had a hand in our physical makeup and we share a relationship with them as a result.  They are invited to rituals and spellwork as guardians and message bearers.  Study their respective natures, properties, worlds and characteristics.  This is a preamble to any serious magick worker.  There are many exercises that are done to establish a closer connection with the Elements: listen to the voice of Air; play in Earth; raise the Fire of a candle’s flame; soak in Water (our birth mother) to remove stress.  Create your own exercises with the Elements.  Develop a close interaction with them.  Note the exercises and your experiences in a private journal, Book of Shadows or Grimorie.  Over time, your Book(s) will also contain rituals, recipes, spells, poems, insights, etc…

As a generality, there are 8 Sabbats or ‘Holy Days’ most witches acknowledge and keep.  Many traditions can have other names the Sabbats are known by and/or add a few more depending on the pantheon they are using as a guide.  I use the more commonly known names for the Sabbats.  These represent the turning of the solar seasonal wheel of the year.  The Sabbats are: Samhain (pronounced sow’en or sow’ween)/Shadow Fest/Witches New Year held around 10/31 and usually celebrated as a time of ancestral remembrance; Yule/Winter Solstice, around 12/21, is the longest night of the year and celebrated with the burning of the Yule log, presents and to welcome back the longer growing hours of the day; Imbolc/Quickening/Candlemas/First Planting, 2/1, (also known as Ground Hog Day) when the first stirring of Spring are felt and a time of purification; Ostara/Spring or Vernal Equinox, around 3/20, fertility is celebrated with colored eggs, candy, etc; Beltane/May Eve, 4/30 or 5/1 a fire celebration marking the first harvest and promise of growth, Maypoles; Midsummer/Summer Solstice/Litha around 6/21, marks the longest day of the year, renewal of service, harvest; Lammas/Lughnadadh (pronounced ‘loog-na-sod’) marks the first beginnings of the Fall, it is the last great harvest time especially in your personal life; Fall or Autumnal Equinox/Mabon, around 9/20, marks the beginning of the Fall season with the mystery of death and the promise of rebirth.

There are 13 Esbats or lunar calendar times also celebrated by witches.  Many prefer to mark these times by the full moon.  Each full moon has it’s own name and representation.  A second moon in the same moon is called the ‘Blue Moon’.  Magick is usually done during specific moon phases.  New Moon for instance is an excellent time for divination work.  The period between New and Full moon is known as ‘waxing’.  The moon is getting larger and as such a good time to ‘bring’ or increase into your life.  The period from Full moon to New moon is known as ‘waning’.  This time is used for banishing or sending ‘from’ you.

Keep the Sabbats and Esbats.  In this way you become attuned to the changes of the seasons and connect closer with nature’s clock.  This can be done through meditation or by formal ritual.  There are many ways to conduct rituals and there are hundreds of websites and books available to use as guides.  In essence, create a working space for yourself with energy, consecrate the space and yourself, invite the Elements and Gods to join you, perform prayers or magick as needed, offering of cakes and wine/juice (pagan communion), close circle by thanking the Elements and Gods for attending, and grounding energy.