Witchy Aesthetics has been a hot topic as of late in the YouTube Witchy / Pagan community and I have reserved recording a video regarding the topic, but I do have an opinion on the topic that I would like to share with my readers who are either creators or viewers.
While I am concerned about the basics of making a video such as overall quality from sound to visuals my priority is the information I am sharing whether that is general knowledge of the topic or my personal experiences, insights, and opinions. I don’t generally wear make-up or do my hair for videos … I’m not overly concerned about how pretty I look though if I am feeling ill or have a cold and appear sick I will not
While I am concerned about the basics of making a video such as overall quality from sound to visuals my priority is the information I am sharing whether that is general knowledge of the topic or my personal experiences, insights, and opinions. I don’t generally wear make-up or do my hair for videos … I’m not overly concerned about how pretty I look though if I am feeling ill or have a cold and appear sick I will not
record a video for my channel. And when I watch other channels I’m seeking out knowledge and wisdom and really don’t care whether a video is pretty. Honestly sometimes I find that the beauty of a video can be distracting to me. Does this mean I would never watch a video of a Witch that is aesthetically pleasing? No, it doesn’t, but it means that the aesthetics isn’t a priority for me; the wisdom and knowledge that is being shared with me is what’s important.
I have heard individuals explain that the aesthetic makes them feel “more witchy” or enables them to transition into a witchy mindset. When they apply their make-up or when they do their hair or pick out an outfit and get dressed; it is all part of their ritual and I definitely understand that way of thinking and appreciate it, but my concern is that once that is completed there is nothing beyond it. The process of getting “ready” for ritual is in fact the ritual itself and to me there is much more to Witchcraft than the preparation. It is similar to rituals I’ve attended where it takes nearly thirty minutes to cast the circle while the actual working takes a mere two minutes; something is inherently wrong or unbalanced there. I often wonder if someone has an actual need to surround themselves with witchy items such as statues, tapestries, candles, incense, and other occult home décor in order to make them feel witchy within their practice or to aid them in transitioning into a magickal mindset where they are able to cast spells and do workings are they even Witch or is it an identity that they are putting on and taking off … like the long black cloak hanging on the back of their witchy room door? I ask this because for me Witch is not something I put on and take off. I am Witch twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the month, and every month of the year. I am in a magickal mindset most of the time, which can cause problems for me, yes, but witchy décor isn’t vital for me to shift me into it and I have an issue with understanding how it is for someone who embraces the title Witch for themself. Perhaps it might be time for a self-evaluation in order to determine what it means to identify as Witch and where aesthetics falls as a priority. Does it fall above or below knowledge and wisdom? If something is unappealing to the eye does that mean it holds no value within your practice?
As I consider this I am reminded of baphomet; an image meant to be disturbing to the uninitiated and to scare off those who were unwilling to move beyond the surface and to dig deep into that which lies beneath and to venture beyond the light into the shadows and darkness of the occult. To be Witch means to do just this … to have the courage to face the guardians that stand at the threshold and to fight them in order to attain entry to the hidden realms, to seek that which is not at first seen with the physical eyes, but require us to delve into the wild unknown within ourselves. It means to be unafraid of criticism because we know who we are and what is at stake when we wield our power.
Witchcraft is not always pretty. It can be hideous and it can be painful. So I question whether pure aesthetics can be the foundation for an authentic practice. If the aesthetic aspect was removed from any Witch’s Craft what would be left? Would there be anything? I see nothing innately wrong with enjoying the look of a Witch or the appearance of his or her Craft, but the practice of Witchcraft is not purely about aesthetics; Witchcraft is the manipulation of the energies, emotions, and Will within and surrounding the Witch in order to facilitate a change within reality. It is working with and manipulating the web of energetic interconnections and while this includes the aesthetics of things and people, it is not solely the aesthetics.
I have heard individuals explain that the aesthetic makes them feel “more witchy” or enables them to transition into a witchy mindset. When they apply their make-up or when they do their hair or pick out an outfit and get dressed; it is all part of their ritual and I definitely understand that way of thinking and appreciate it, but my concern is that once that is completed there is nothing beyond it. The process of getting “ready” for ritual is in fact the ritual itself and to me there is much more to Witchcraft than the preparation. It is similar to rituals I’ve attended where it takes nearly thirty minutes to cast the circle while the actual working takes a mere two minutes; something is inherently wrong or unbalanced there. I often wonder if someone has an actual need to surround themselves with witchy items such as statues, tapestries, candles, incense, and other occult home décor in order to make them feel witchy within their practice or to aid them in transitioning into a magickal mindset where they are able to cast spells and do workings are they even Witch or is it an identity that they are putting on and taking off … like the long black cloak hanging on the back of their witchy room door? I ask this because for me Witch is not something I put on and take off. I am Witch twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the month, and every month of the year. I am in a magickal mindset most of the time, which can cause problems for me, yes, but witchy décor isn’t vital for me to shift me into it and I have an issue with understanding how it is for someone who embraces the title Witch for themself. Perhaps it might be time for a self-evaluation in order to determine what it means to identify as Witch and where aesthetics falls as a priority. Does it fall above or below knowledge and wisdom? If something is unappealing to the eye does that mean it holds no value within your practice?
As I consider this I am reminded of baphomet; an image meant to be disturbing to the uninitiated and to scare off those who were unwilling to move beyond the surface and to dig deep into that which lies beneath and to venture beyond the light into the shadows and darkness of the occult. To be Witch means to do just this … to have the courage to face the guardians that stand at the threshold and to fight them in order to attain entry to the hidden realms, to seek that which is not at first seen with the physical eyes, but require us to delve into the wild unknown within ourselves. It means to be unafraid of criticism because we know who we are and what is at stake when we wield our power.
Witchcraft is not always pretty. It can be hideous and it can be painful. So I question whether pure aesthetics can be the foundation for an authentic practice. If the aesthetic aspect was removed from any Witch’s Craft what would be left? Would there be anything? I see nothing innately wrong with enjoying the look of a Witch or the appearance of his or her Craft, but the practice of Witchcraft is not purely about aesthetics; Witchcraft is the manipulation of the energies, emotions, and Will within and surrounding the Witch in order to facilitate a change within reality. It is working with and manipulating the web of energetic interconnections and while this includes the aesthetics of things and people, it is not solely the aesthetics.
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