By Elena Patrick
I recently got the book "Rebel Witch" by Kelly-Ann Maddox, which provides resources to develop a magical practice that's unique to you. Throughout this book, there are journaling exercises that it asks the reader to do to develop their understanding of their experience of witchcraft and magic. I've decided to answer those prompts here on this site. Here is the first set of questions from that.
What are the various reasons that someone might be fearful or uncertain about claiming the word "witch" for themselves?
Witches have long been demonized by mainstream society, especially by mainstream religion, and in our modern world, as conservative religious groups gain more political power, anything that separates you from their in group is dangerous, especially something that they have been so antagonistic towards historically.
However, in some ways, this is also probably the safest time in at least US history to call yourself a witch. While religious group are gaining power now, they are still far less powerful than religious institutions have been for much of this country's history, and overall, society is far more accepting of differences than in the past.
How are you feeling about the word "witch" at this point in your life and why?
When I first began exploring magic, I was a bit put off by the term "witch", because I strongly associated it with Wicca and Paganism, whereas my interests were more in line with ceremonial and occult magics - I tended to prefer the term "magician", which also felt less gendered than I thought "witch" to be. As I learned more about magic, my understanding of witches grew to encompass a wider range of practitioners, and I both grew more into my femininity, as well as the term feeling less gendered. My interests also spread into more folk magic. Now I gladly claim the label, and have been getting more open about using it, though I still keep it fairly quiet.
In your opinion, what does it mean to be an authentic witch?
To me, a witch is a magical practitioner, who uses magic as a tool to enact change on themself, others, and the world around them. This is contrasted to magicians, with study magic primarily as an academic pursuit, rather than to achieve an end. To a witch, magic is a practical extension of themselves, whereas to a magician, magic is an detached academic interest. In other words, if a magician is a chemist, a witch is a baker.