This is not the kind of post I usually write, but at the moment, I feel there is a bit of an issue.  I have seen a lot recently on social media about witchcraft. Some people are confused about whether they can actually be a witch, and others seem to think that certain things make you a ‘true witch’. It has been a bit of a mess, so I thought I would write about it and try to clear up some of the confusion.

To Be a Witch

Before I even begin, I want to point out that anyone can be a witch. Anyone. You don’t have to come from a long line of witches. It doesn’t matter who you are. Gender certainly does not come into it, and nothing makes you a true witch other than you choosing to be one.  That is all I am going to say on that because I really don’t think we need to go any deeper.

Let’s start with the basics: to be a witch, you do not need to follow a certain path or a set of rules. You don’t need to fit into neat categories or traditions; It’s your path and you make the rules.

I call myself a hedgewitch because I hedge ride, and this is a big part of my practice, but my hedgewitch craft is not the same as another hedgewitch’s. There are many different types of witches, and you may find that you don’t fit into any category at all. That’s fine, you don’t have to; you can simply be a witch.

 I also want to point out that not all witches are Wiccan. I do not follow the Wiccan path myself, but it was how I started. I learnt a lot from Wicca. It was just not the path for me. It seems to be a general misconception that every witch is Wiccan; no, they are not.  

You do not need permission to be a witch or be invited in anyway. If you feel the call, or you just have an interest, then start exploring things, learn all you can about all the different kinds of practices, or just the ones you are interested in. You are not going to learn everything, and it may take a good couple of years to find your path. It did for me. I am still learning, in witchcraft craft you don’t stop learning.

You do not have to join a coven to be a witch; you can be solitary and practice on your own. This is how I choose to practice, and it works for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t reach out to people occasionally and ask for help; similarly, I will help others.

If your practice does not look like anyone else’s, good.

If you do not fit into the neat categories of this kind of witch or that tradition, that is fine too. Every witch is different.

Take aways

• Witchcraft is a practice, not a competition.

• Your path is yours alone.

• Learning never stops.

• Respect others’ ways, but trust your own.

• You do not need to prove you are a witch. Just live it.

For books on witchcraft, I recommend Pagan Portal books. Take a look here