Witch as Reality, Not as Religion

For some witches, the practice of witchcraft is as much a religious practice as a personal reality. Others take issue with the word religious and would say it’s a spiritual practice. For witches such as myself, it’s simply a reality. But it’s interesting that some traditions in witchcraft or magick seem to center around a type of religious structure or hierarchy. Although I don’t know about other countries, regarding witchcraft as a religion, at least in this country, gives witches certain legal protections. But before all that happened, witches were defined by various clergy and royalty as not just someone to be feared, but someone to torture and kill. Not even remotely true, but amazing things happen when fear runs amok. From there, witches and those persons conveniently condemned as witches, were tortured and executed using all sorts of religiously-sanctioned methods.

As a solitary witch, I’ve never belonged to a coven or followed a specific tradition. I’m not comfortable with hierarchy or with someone else conferring this or that grade or position on me. I was born a witch and I’ve always viewed it as a personal experience. Having said that, many witches love their coven experience and the traditions they follow and wouldn’t trade it for anything. And it’s nice that we all have so many options. But for myself, it would feel weird learning someone else’s tradition. And I don’t do weird well. I know I would act out, become unruly, probably be kicked to the curb, smiling all the way. Crones are like that. And given I’ve always been this way, apparently I was born a Crone.

The structure of the physical world has nothing to do with who we are. Yes, we create that structure with our focus into form, but it can look any way we choose.  We need to feel attached to something, to give it definition. The introduction of linear time into physical form contributes to this definition of everything in its place. We wake up at a certain time and go to sleep at a certain time. We work, play, attend school all at predetermined times. Everything about our lives is placed in a neat little box. I think it may be a grounding thing with most of us. But it’s perception of who we are and the world at large that makes all of it seem necessary. It’s the way things are done in physical form.

Why on earth would a witch cooperate with that?

Too much is conferred upon us as it is. There’s always someone else who decides this or that for us, be it an employer, or a parent, or a judge, or the government. A witch stands apart from daily life, understanding the world around her like no other, and is more than capable of knowing her way forward.

I’ve always believed that religion manifests as patriarchy. To pattern something that is for many a Goddess-centered experience after patriarchy seems odd. And since religion threads throughout everything in life in one fashion or another, I would think it logical that witches steer clear of such notions. But then I’m obstinate like that. Witches stand apart, in observation of the world. We’re here to support, to heal, to bless and maybe the less definition we give ourselves the better.

It’s the story we tell, really, about who we are and what our purpose is that matters in the long run. I used to say that we make the world too real, but in actuality, it’s that we make it too relevant. We need to regard it more as filler than anything we need to give attention to. And in terms of the story we tell, I think that’s what creating our own path or our own vision is all about. A witch intrinsically knows this and that awareness and presence is felt by all.

Much love and blessings on this Full Strawberry Moon and the Summer Solstice!

~ Jan