Am I a witch?
I guess that depends on what being a “witch” means to you. Pointy black hats and broomsticks? Wicca? Cauldrons and spells? Something else?
A little research will show you that there are a whole lot of people who use that word for vastly different practices and beliefs.
For me, my magic is innate. My philosophy is simple.
Here’s what I can share. Then you can decide for yourself.
For me, my practice is about reverence.
Reverence for nature. Honoring the feminine archetypes in all her forms (protectress, mother, healer, empress, lover, crone…). And embracing the magical essence of life and energy that runs through each of us and around us every day.
I am not Wiccan or any other magickal tradition, and I do not practice witchcraft in the common sense (which is largely misunderstood by the masses anyway, I might add).
Rather, I practice a personal mystical, magical path that is spiritual not religious and focuses on healing, joy, wonder and creativity.
“Harm to none” is a philosophy that I embrace deeply and try to practice to the best of my ability. We even capture bugs in our house whenever possible and release them outside. (Yeah, we’re those kind of people.)
I do have an altar that symbolizes whatever I am working on and the energies I want to bring into my life and my practice. But it is not for worship: that doesn’t feel right to me. Honor, reverence and gratitude are more my style.
If I had to sum up my practice in a soundbite, here is what I would say…
My craft is about compassion, wholeness, embracing your shadow and healing. It’s about fostering self-love and good stewardship of everything in my care. It’s about helping others and living an example of a healthy, balanced life in harmony with nature to the best of my ability.
We all have access to innate power that we wield every day in a variety of shapes and forms—physical and non-physical—from family time to work to spirituality to hobbies.
In every moment, we are choosing how we show up in our world; how we will use our gifts and talents; and how we will address our vices.
I choose Good.