A short while ago I had a conversation with a friend of mine who identifies as Witch, but who feels as if they may have lost their Craft and asked me if I thought that was possible. He brought up the point that he wasn’t casting spells or actively practicing magick nor had he felt the motivation to do anything “magickal” and questioned if he was even still a Witch or if he ever really was Witch. I was intrigued.
I think the answer to his questions really comes down to how someone defines Witch and that definition would then lead to the answer to his questions. I would surmise that there is no one true answer and ask ten Witches you may get ten different answers. For me, I do not believe that I could ever “lose” my Craft. I also do not believe that I
I think the answer to his questions really comes down to how someone defines Witch and that definition would then lead to the answer to his questions. I would surmise that there is no one true answer and ask ten Witches you may get ten different answers. For me, I do not believe that I could ever “lose” my Craft. I also do not believe that I
could ever stop being Witch, but I can definitely see how someone might believe otherwise. As I said, it all is rooted in the individual’s definition of Witch.
Personally I believe a Witch is an individual who practices witchcraft, which is as unique a practice as the Witch and can be practiced in many different ways, but above all it is a practice, an action, an act of Will. Witchcraft requires knowledge and understanding of magick; the art and science of manipulating Will, emotions, and energy in order to bring about a change within reality. It is a skill that requires dexterity and aptitude, and while it can be taught, not everyone is capable of practicing witchcraft because not everyone is meant to be Witch. Once an individual accepts that they are Witch, it is something they are every day of their lives, it isn’t something that can be separated from him or her because it is him or her.
My response to my friend is that a Witch doesn’t lose his or her Craft as it is something that the Witch purposefully chooses to do or not do. I do believe that as Witches we can shift the focus of our practice depending on what it is we are experiencing in our lives. Let me present an imaginary example of what I mean: August of last year I was dealing with drama from my neighbors so the focus of my Craft was protection. I crafted talismans for my family, I constructed servitors, and warded my home; I crafted a Witch’s Bottle and buried it along with setting up a crystal grid in my backyard. My focus for the entire month was protection. In September my Dad was ill and since I am a Reiki Master my focus shifted from protection to healing. I spent time sending him distance Reiki as well as in person Reiki session when we visited. I would find easy herbal remedies to offer him as well as healing bath salts that I crafted for him. October was a month of communing with my Beloved Dead and preparation for Samahin. During that month I didn’t do a lot of spell casting, but spent time practicing divination of all sorts. November I spent working on my own Shadows as I experienced some conflict with a friend, which brought up some of my personal challenges and issues. Instead of doing a lot of spell crafting or casting I spent plenty of time journaling and contemplation. December I spent on self-care and celebrating the Winter Solstice. January I found that I wanted to spend more time meditating and energy working so I restarted my Yoga and Tai Chi practice, but again didn’t spent a lot of time spell casting. February I found that I would benefit from an influx of cash so I began crafting and casting money spells. The above example is one of a varied Witchcraft practice, but in my opinion it is still the practice of a Witch. Even the months that the individual did not cast spells or craft incense or commune with the Spirits, I still was practicing my Craft. I think as Witch everything we do is magickal at its core because it is our perception that makes even mundane tasks magickal in nature. My morning shower isn’t just a morning shower; it is an act of purification of body, mind, and spirit because it is accompanied by a specific visualization. Getting dressed in the morning is also accompanied by the visualization of shielding myself in reflective armor. I am Witch so every mundane act is an act of magick.
I do think it is possible that sometimes individuals do adopt the identity of Witch before they truly understand what it means and if they are questioning whether they lost their Craft, it could be that they weren’t really Witch in the first place, but I don’t think anyone other than that individual can determine whether this is the case as no one else can truly possess the required knowledge to make such a decision.
Personally I believe a Witch is an individual who practices witchcraft, which is as unique a practice as the Witch and can be practiced in many different ways, but above all it is a practice, an action, an act of Will. Witchcraft requires knowledge and understanding of magick; the art and science of manipulating Will, emotions, and energy in order to bring about a change within reality. It is a skill that requires dexterity and aptitude, and while it can be taught, not everyone is capable of practicing witchcraft because not everyone is meant to be Witch. Once an individual accepts that they are Witch, it is something they are every day of their lives, it isn’t something that can be separated from him or her because it is him or her.
My response to my friend is that a Witch doesn’t lose his or her Craft as it is something that the Witch purposefully chooses to do or not do. I do believe that as Witches we can shift the focus of our practice depending on what it is we are experiencing in our lives. Let me present an imaginary example of what I mean: August of last year I was dealing with drama from my neighbors so the focus of my Craft was protection. I crafted talismans for my family, I constructed servitors, and warded my home; I crafted a Witch’s Bottle and buried it along with setting up a crystal grid in my backyard. My focus for the entire month was protection. In September my Dad was ill and since I am a Reiki Master my focus shifted from protection to healing. I spent time sending him distance Reiki as well as in person Reiki session when we visited. I would find easy herbal remedies to offer him as well as healing bath salts that I crafted for him. October was a month of communing with my Beloved Dead and preparation for Samahin. During that month I didn’t do a lot of spell casting, but spent time practicing divination of all sorts. November I spent working on my own Shadows as I experienced some conflict with a friend, which brought up some of my personal challenges and issues. Instead of doing a lot of spell crafting or casting I spent plenty of time journaling and contemplation. December I spent on self-care and celebrating the Winter Solstice. January I found that I wanted to spend more time meditating and energy working so I restarted my Yoga and Tai Chi practice, but again didn’t spent a lot of time spell casting. February I found that I would benefit from an influx of cash so I began crafting and casting money spells. The above example is one of a varied Witchcraft practice, but in my opinion it is still the practice of a Witch. Even the months that the individual did not cast spells or craft incense or commune with the Spirits, I still was practicing my Craft. I think as Witch everything we do is magickal at its core because it is our perception that makes even mundane tasks magickal in nature. My morning shower isn’t just a morning shower; it is an act of purification of body, mind, and spirit because it is accompanied by a specific visualization. Getting dressed in the morning is also accompanied by the visualization of shielding myself in reflective armor. I am Witch so every mundane act is an act of magick.
I do think it is possible that sometimes individuals do adopt the identity of Witch before they truly understand what it means and if they are questioning whether they lost their Craft, it could be that they weren’t really Witch in the first place, but I don’t think anyone other than that individual can determine whether this is the case as no one else can truly possess the required knowledge to make such a decision.
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