Witchcraft as a Spectrum

#witchcraft #wicca

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[echozines]

I really like your comparison with being/becoming a musician! As a self-taught DIY punk/rock guitarist & songwriter in a (witchy!) band, that's also how I approach my witchcraft: from a very DIY and explorative perspective, not needing to be perfect, and not needing to follow a specific tradition, even though like I find different kinds of music styles super interesting, I'm also interested in and open to different approaches, practices, and traditions in witchcraft.

[leigh]

I really enjoyed this conversation. I discovered witchcraft during the pandemic; I’ll be 100% honest—I was depressed and bored, and binge watching the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and thought, “you know what? That looks cool.” And then I went down the rabbit hole of researching witchcraft and magic and reading books and watching videos, and all that fun stuff. I first started identifying as a Wiccan because I read a lot of outdated books and I really resonated with the values they presented in their texts (Cunningham, Buckland, Valiente, etc.) But, it also didn’t quite sit right with me either. In 2022, I took the level one course with the Temple of Witchcraft and that really helped me contextualize a lot of my own beliefs and values, but it also helped me actually dip my toes in the water and practice witchcraft. I experimented, and I journaled. My BOS turned from me just copying down things from books to a magical journal with reflections on my beliefs, values, experiments, and results from the practices I was doing. I just identify as a witch now, but I never really felt like I “left Wicca” in the way a lot of YouTubers make videos about. I just was trying out labels, and I’m still exploring. For me, witchcraft is about bringing joy into my life and connecting with the divine and other spirits. I’m autistic and the ritual aspect of witchcraft has helped me a lot each day. I don’t really talk with others about my beliefs because they’re very personal to me. I also think it can be unhelpful to think of an imagined audience when you practice. I definitely think of witchcraft as a spectrum, and I think people should just let people be and also not do so much fear mongering either! I swear a lot of the people that are like “YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH…” x, y, z, remind me of my evangelical mother saying a Ouija board will sell your soul to the devil. I’m not saying bad things don’t happen, they can, but I also think people play things up for “Woo-credibility.” Like, come on, just let people experiment, and let people practice. I think witchcraft is a lot more fluid and open than some people would like it to be, but that’s also sort of the beauty of it too.

[solavie]

Don’t care about hair and makeup. Spectrum… everyone’s human experience creates an individual experience. I feel my 35ish years of practice (starting in middle school) is a constant journey. Being open to new ideas/perspectives invites others voices into sacred space for me. I used to be a teacher of young children and raised two children who are now adults. I notice that I learn a lot “from the mouths of babes”. Trying to understand how the energy can be shifting according to Mama Earth or Goddess/God evolution… Sacredness of Creation… I believe human spirituality with a relationship to the elements is constantly changing. Thank you with much appreciation!!! 💜💜💜

[evelynrenee]

I really like music analogy. There are different types and different ways to engage.

[shannm]

Wow, this is a really great conversation. I, myself, have been struggling with my idea of witchcraft...because I associate witchcraft with spells and to execute a spell, I need to have a desire to manifest...but I don't, or my brain doesnt want to work that way. I like to think that life brings me what I desire just by being attuned to the idea of magick, which has been the case all of my life. So to ''force it'' by executing a spell is contrary to my general perspective. But if I don't work spells, I don't feel witchy enough. See how it circles back. But after hearing you talk about spectrum, it makes me realise that I should reevaluate what witchcraft is to me. I think it has more to do with ritual and connection, with covenmates and nature spirits or deity or the great unknown, than it does using spells to elevate my circumstances. I never thought of holding ritual as being a magical act though, just a sacred one...but maybe it's both. Practical magick is trending, so maybe that's why I thought that it's the only way to be. Thank you for your insight.

[kvnxojv]

As a classically trained musician, I appreciate your music analogy! I’m currently on the “witchcraft appreciation class” part of the spectrum, with a little bit of whatever is analogous to “bought a concertina during the pandemic” and “thinking about picking up the ukulele.” (And now that I’m seeing all the parallels flashing before my eyes… I can see all the tarot decks and auxiliary percussion instruments I’ve bought that I “definitely have a use for!”) p.s. Yes, it’s a very excellent cat mug! 😻

[markusironwood]

Love your music practice metaphor. To extend on it, there space for listening and learning about others music without wanting to play it myself. IE Im interested in reading about ATR and voodoo and want to listen to practitioners and read books by initiates, but I have no desire to train in or join a house. Same with Taoism. I could listen to Benebell Wen speak about the Tao and it's cosmology and history for hours (and I do) but I don't think I want to pick up my own yarrow sticks. It's a big world full of musicians and music and I love to learn and listen. 😊

[gloriastroedecke]

I loved this topic and the extended music metaphor. I think it encourages research and discussion if the participants in the discussion are mature and open to learning. I do think there is room for secular and religious
Witchcraft. And it really doesn't need my belief or approval. It already exists side by side anyway. The variety is
exciting to me. I makes me glad that it isn't stagnant.

[KikiAelita]

I think it's so varied that I'd have a hard time identifying one spectrum for all of witchcraft, although certainly on any given trait you could put things on a spectrum (such as "is it religious or secular?", "the importance of particular tools", "the level of active involvement of the witch", etc). I've found that over the years I've strayed from being focused on magic (and wishing all the religious stuff would get out of the way) to becoming perhaps far more interested in the religion and lifestyle perspective I feel is related (and less so active in any attempt at magic). The way I use the words for myself, I'd say I've become more focused on "being Pagan" than "being a witch", though the interest in (and belief in the prevalence/possibility of) magic(k) is still there.

[hollandmin]

Thank you, Thorn, for your insightful comments!

[aliceandthewitches]

Witchcraft as a spectrum, is a great metaphor. I think I struggle less with where I sit on this spectrum compared to other practitioners, and struggle more with where I sit compared to my own expectation of what my practice should look like or be (although, I likely have some comparison trap to shadow work, in there). Thank you for bringing this up, its helping me reflect on my practice and revisit my own expectations on myself.

[whangbar]

It may be time to do a "get unready" / "be completely unprepared for everything."

[MiclnOKC]

This was such a great topic. There are so many different beliefs and magical modalities. I love hearing from people of various traditions, just to learn what others are doing and thinking. For me personally, witchcraft is a way to connect with nature and the elements while co-creating my life. Though I am on the spectrum of viewing witchcraft as more of a practice than religion, it is still related. Everything is connected to everything. Thank you for this thought provoking video. I always enjoy hearing your viewpoint. And by the way, I love the cat mug. I am a kitty mama of 6.

[samkraft]

Loved this conversation and the music analogy!! 💗

[franzwohlgemuth]

There's the Garden/Kitchen witch all the way to Völva (practicing seiðr with also involves cannabis, henbane, and other mind altering substances). There are levels that people aren't built for. And that's perfectly fine.

[jenfries]

First, I highly approve of the cat mug. Love a good cat mug.

Second, spectrum might be an imperfect analogy for the vast variety of witchcraft, but it’s as good as any.

Myself, personally, when I want to understand my own witchhood, I first define the word “witchcraft” itself. Like “witch” and “craft” - what do those words mean? Put them together - what does that word mean? How deep do I need to dig into word origins to get a sense of the term’s meaning? So after a bunch of years thinking about it, I decided that, to me, “witchcraft, ” based on the concepts of “witch” and “craft, ” is the practice of applied wisdom (“wisdom” being a deeper level of understanding than “knowledge.”)

To me, a witch is someone who seeks to understand how life and the universe work, and then does stuff with what they learn. What they do with it is entirely up to them, whether it’s religious, secular, practical, therapeutic, whatever.

If a person does the stuff without working on cultivating wisdom, then I’d say they’re doing what most of us do every day - practicing music, art, cooking, sports, whatever, without it being a career or vocation. On that end of the spectrum, magic is something that improves a person’s quality of life but is not foundational to their life. Some people might call that “casual, ” but I don’t go for that much cubbyholing. Obviously, this means that, for me personally, practicing magic or spell work, by itself, doesn’t make a person a witch, just like being able to play 10 different pieces on the piano doesn’t make a person a pianist. So for me, all the millions of people who keep books of shadows or put protective charms on their homes or cast spells for career success are all valid and fine, but they’re not necessarily witches. They can be, but they don't necessarily have to be. Just doing that stuff doesn't automatically call for the title of "witch."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if a person cultivates the wisdom but not the craft, then they’re a mystic, not a witch.

Between the poles of a person who uses magic but isn’t a witch and a person who pursues wisdom but isn’t a witch, you have the whole variety of everything that is and can be witchcraft, all of which depends entirely on the intention and life path of the person doing the stuff. In other words, it is the person who determines if a practice is or is not witchcraft. Witchcraft is magic done by a witch. Again, this is just my personal viewpoint.

And in terms of how we should relate to each other on this vast, wide-ranging, branching and meandering spectrum - I dunno, maybe we could mind our own business? Spend more time being witches and less time comparing and criticizing each other? Just a thought.

Full disclosure: I’m a solitary, eclectic, animist witch. I've been on a witch path for about 40 years. My practice is about my relationships with spirits, not other witches, so I really don’t care how anyone else does their things. It’s not my place to either judge or approve of anyone else’s way of being in life. If I get into a conflict with anyone, it’s not going to be about whether they’re witching right.

[bjcwoneumann]

With the discussions on "what is witchcraft ", "is it a practice or a religion"....

I'm seeing the same dispersion in witchcraft that i remember seeing happen in big tent paganism 30 years ago. The various traditions of witchcraft are starting to look so dissimilar from each other as to no longer fit under the same umbrella.

[teevell]

I have found myself often using the music metaphor (or drawing/painting) as well, but it's often been used as 'If you want professional level guitar skills, you have to put in the work to get them.' I also think it's okay to learn some cowboy chords to play along at get-togethers, and never progress beyond that, if it's what you're satisfied with. But I have met a lot of people who want the professional-level rewards and praise without having to put in the work to get there. I know that some of us live in cultures that promote turning every hobby into a side-hustle, but maybe we should also promote learning to be satisfied with the results of the work you're willing to put into something. Anyway, really excellent video and good food for thought.

[WormwoodCrow]

The concept of a spectrum always seems so limiting for anything to do with the human experience. I prefer the idea of a constellation; you are a structure stars that make up your preferences, and you orient that structure in time and place to create an image for a particular audience. Using your music metaphor to illustrate: your family background could have you playing Polish polka on the accordion at every family gathering much to the delight of your babushka, while you may be a trained pianist playing Chopin in concert halls, but when hanging out smoking weed with your friends you jam Jimi Hendrix on your guitar. You do not tell your babushka about Jimi Hendrix, and co-workers give you the side eye about polka, but you find joy in multiple genres with different settings. Witchcraft could be the same way for a lot of people. A video you did some years back talked about the importance of having your own practice separate from your group's work. What you do privately can include different worship, actions, and goals. Even a different cosmology than shared with a group. If it works, rock on!

[williamcooper]

Cat mug A+ Perspective A+ As a self taught (I read a bunch of religious and esoteric texts, poetry, DnD, White wolf games...) until I had a pretty significant, really life altering breakthrough... Which is when I made contact with (various deities) and became suddenly are, also kinda remembered that there are spirit, like, everywhere. i could even kinda suss out like, intentions? I think thats accurate enough, anyway, that was a little over a year ago, I've learned a lot from the spirit and (deities) and Youtube videos, my life has changed in a number of amazing ways and goals I thought impossible have become events I anticipate in the future. Im not a super witch/wizard/magus or anything, I can still barely if at all understand or talk to most of the unseen forces but I have some stalwart companions on the other side who grant me peace and strength and I love them I could write a million words, anyway~
I dont consider myself self taught anymore, there are so many amazing teachers relevant to my practice on Youtube (of all things) and I dont social media so I never even perceive these conflicts even though I follow and appreciate people with wildly different perspectives at times.
I acknowledge Im likely pretty mentally i but I live in California so Im more likely to be murdered in the street by the local sheriff than receive mental help, so why not try magic?