To Be A Witch  
 

How many people come into the craft because of the portrayal of the witch, both in movies and on television, as a beautiful young woman filled with power?  How many seek us out because they want to put a love spell on someone or to cast hexes and to curse?  How many come because they’re seeking only the sexual allure of being a witch, and think practicing skyclad rituals would be cool?

I don’t know the answer to those questions, but I do know that some people do come into the craft because of these issues.  Usually they don’t stay with us once they realize their preconceived notions to be false or how much work is involved.

So, what does it mean to be a witch?  The first thing is to become accepting and tolerant of anyone else’s belief system.  Just as all Christian faiths are not the same, not all pagan traditions are the same.  However, regardless of the name used, all of us are seeking to grow spiritually so that we may connect with the creator.  And just as there is diversity among humanity, there is also a diversity about the appearance of God/dess.  To be a witch requires that we be respectful of other religions as well for we acknowledge the fact that there is no one true path.

Secondly, we seek to harm none.  That means no one, including ourselves and the world around us.  So we don’t cast spells that take away the freedom of another or interfere with their right of choice.  We don’t hex or curse someone but take steps to recognize our responsibility for the difficulties between us.  And then we seek to change our behavior because we know that we are responsible for our own actions and not those of another.

Sure, sometimes a witch may cast a spell for personal gain or to help someone at their request.  But more often, witches raise energy to be used to heal.  Because magick requires that we take energy from one place and direct it to another, we use magick sparingly so as to not cause harm.  You may think one part of the country needs rain, but are you willing to risk torrential downpours that could lead to flooding or for drought conditions to occur elsewhere?  As witches, we strive to maintain balance in all things.

So, is being a witch a lot of hard work?  Yes. It is difficult to be a witch because it begins with changing your mindset from focusing on the physical to moving into the ethereal.  It requires belief when the mind screams that what is occurring is beyond the realm of possibility.  It requires daily dedication to master techniques of meditation, divination, and control.  There is a lot of reading and writing involved.  And it takes practice, practice, practice.

But there is a payoff in the end.  Being a witch means that you can walk outdoors and feel the divine all about you.  It’s connecting with elemental forces that inhabit the earth with us.  It’s being aware of the ethereal as well as the physical.  It is the ability to be indoors and still feel the brush of the wind on your cheek, the warmth of the sun on your face, the sensation of rushing water cascading your body, and the scent of the earth in the air.

The charge of the Goddess commands us to "let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence" within each of us.  Ours is a celebration of life and love, as seen in our rituals.  We celebrate the continued turning of the wheel with each Sabbat.  We celebrate the transitions in our lives and the lives of those we love.  Our public rituals allow us to join together in celebration whether we are solitary practitioners or members of covens.  All come together to celebrate and feast, to catch up on what’s new, and to meet new friends.

Being a witch means that even death is a cause for celebration.  As we mourn our personal loss, we also celebrate the life that was shared with us.  We rejoice knowing that our companion has crossed over and will be reborn again.  And so their wheel of life continues.  And in time, we know that our wheel will also continue.  For we are witches.
 

© 2000 Mother