I'm a witch. AMA

[Fireproof]

Practising witch here, happy to do some mythbusting.

@TallyWest we celebrate Christmas (secular, with Santa and presents) for the kids and we also do the Winter Solstice- there’s a big solstice event in my home town so we go to that to celebrate it.

I have done some curses in the past- they made me feel better about the situation but haven’t harmed the person they were against as far as I can tell- they didn’t spontaneously combust or have a load of spiders come out of their nose or anything, at least.

I’d say I look and dress quite goth/ grungey/ hippyish at the moment but it varies depending on my mood! I used to go for a very glamorous 1940s look but then I had kids and who the fuck can be arsed to pin curl their hair with that?

@tenbob lol! I’m not that big on either to be honest! I make soap so I use patchouli as an ingredient in that. I’ve got a velvet blazer I wear to work but that’s it- don’t think I can pull it off in large amounts and it can be a bit sweaty.

@Stripybeachbag The short and sassy answer is to do whatever feels good, right and “witchy” to you. I’ve found books can spark ideas and give a bit of guidance but the best way I’ve found to practise witchcraft is to get outside to somewhere quiet and secluded in the wilderness and meditate on your surroundings- the sounds of the wind blowing through grass, bird song, the smell of wildflowers and earth, the feel of rain on your skin. Spells can be as simple or elaborate as you want them to be, and you can really play to your strengths and get creative. For example, if you’re good at painting, one way to perform a spell would be to paint something that symbolises your intent (you can be as literal or as symbolic as you want, it just needs to be meaningful to you). You need to take your time doing it, focusing on the creation and what that symbolises. Then you can either keep it or put it somewhere meaningful. I’ve had the most satisfaction and success with spells that have felt “right” rather than adhering to ones I’ve read in a book.

There’s other spells that use similar ideas- like making an effigy of the person you want gone and then throwing it into a river so it’s carried away. You can get really creative with it

I know, that's why I was curious. Many thanks I like the idea of chucking an effigy in the river. You could release mega negative energy that way and that's always good.

@gorgeoushazydaysofsummer As a matter of fact, I can make fire! I do it by using a very, very tiny, single use magick wand called a “match”. As for calling up the wind, it really depends on what I’ve had to eat. I once called up a mighty wind so fierce I cleared a room of 12 rugby players and a dog. They were all in awe of my ferocious powers. ;)

But seriously, your powers come from within. You don’t have to use witchcraft to unlock them, it’s just how I do it.

@Stripybeachbag On an annual basis, I celebrate the 8 Sabbats- they’re the pagan holidays of Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon and Samhain. What I do on those days depend on which Sabbat is is- like other religious holidays they all have their own traditions which are tied to the seasons. I have an altar which I dress according to the Sabbat.

On a monthly basis I generally use the night of the full moon to do any ritual magick or spells I feel the need to perform, or I might just go out and meditate in my garden if the weather’s nice.

Daily it can be simple little things that honour nature or widen my appreciation of it- feeding dopey bumblebees is my current favourite activity. Tending to my garden is another. I do a lot of cooking and baking- kitchen witchcraft (where your spellcasting is based around the creation of food) is very popular and accessible.

@ChardonnaysPrettySister believe me if I could I would! I’m melting here and no one’s even chucked a bucket of water over me.

Very funny, but a bit disappointing... so what magic can you do? Give me a concrete example...

Another witch here, Hi!!

@gorgeoushazydaysofsummer At the risk of outing myself- my family suffered a tragedy three years ago, completely out of the blue- the death of a child. His parents were devastated, and needed me to be there for them at a crucial time to perform certain duties. I said I’d do it out of family loyalty because they had no one else but I was a wreck- the death happened at a time when there were a lot of other stressful personal things going on. I did not have the emotional strength to do what needed to be done.
So, the morning that I had to be there for them at the hospital I took myself to a lonely place out in the woods, and I did a ritual to call upon the forces of nature to give me the resolve I needed- a carapace of strength to be there for his parents.

It was January, very cold, with frost on the ground. And so quiet- there was a hush to the woods that felt like an intake of breath before you take a step into the unknown. I drew a circle around myself and concentrated on feeling the elements around me- my breath hanging in the air, the hard ground under my feet, the cold tears on my face and the light of the moon. It was almost like listening to an orchestra and picking out the individual instruments one by one, appreciating each element. I could sense life all around me, and I asked for it’s help to unlock strength within me. I felt a great surge. Every breath of cold air filled me with power. I felt the blood thundering in my ears as I called out for strength. I could feel it from within and without, a great vault unlocking. I felt energised and strong and no longer stricken with paralysing grief and depression and fear. I walked out of those woods full of power. I was a different woman.

That power carried me through probably the hardest 24 hours of my life. It was a power that helped me, my family, the parents of that poor little boy, who were grateful that I was there to help them deal with their worst nightmare. I didn’t tell them anything about what I did before because they are not religious and it wouldn’t have helped them. But it helped me help them. That is magick, to me. That is power.

Thank you for sharing. Not easy to open oneself up to potential ridicule.

I have two friends who describe themselves as witches and I recognise some of their traits in what you have discussed tonight.

So, no answer as to why you started a thread called "I'm a witch". Not "I'm a pagan" then.

Unless it's because you think witch sounds more interesting.

When in reality witch means nothing Nbg more interesting than "I like nature and I'm superstitious"

This is like the ultimate spin / pr job

@BitOutOfPractice it’s what I’ve always called myself. I’ve been a witch since I was a kid. I didn’t know the word pagan then.

What do you think “witch” means?

Crikey op. Do you really believe that lots of people don't take a moment to centre themselves before a major event. They breath deeply and draw upon all sorts of strengths from within and around themselves. They do that all the time to fave adversity for themselves and their loved ones. What you did is no different at all.

BitOutOfPractice do you have a go at religious people int eh same way?

You're coming across as a bit of a prat tbh.

The word witch means nothing whatsoever to me. Just like ghost or wizard or devil or demon or angel or fairy. Itvmeans nothing to me. It's something from a fairytale.

The word pagan would at least indicate to me a real living being with definite beliefs.

Sorry if that upsets you. That's how I view the word "witch"

@BitOutOfPractice do you always pick fault with peoples religious choices? Surely you've got something better to do.
We call ourselves witches because its what we are, Pagan is a narrower term some prefer the branch of Wicca, Dianic magick or Gardenerism.
I'm not sure what's making you so hostile towards Fireproof and her choice of words to describe her religious choices but I find that quite often this lashing out against Pagans/Witches is caused by superstitious fear perhaps some research would help you with that fear? You could try the National Pagan federation to help you although Fireproof has been amazingly patient.

@yearofthewoman just saying what I believe. And yes I have said on this very thread that blind religious faith makes me ge exactly the same.

The op said "ask me anything". She didn't say "believe everything I say"

Bit Heres an article for you about Neo-Paganism the author rejects the term witch. Another here on the difference between Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism.

@LadyDeadpool the op started the tread to open discussion. Not for everyone to agree.

No, I don't spend my life doing anything. I'm just joining in the debate in a thread on MN. I would've thought that your beliefs could take a bit of disbelief? No?

@BitOutOfPractice yes, I am aware of that The way I choose to do that is through my spiritual practise.

Sorry you don’t like the word witch 🤷🏻‍♀️

Do you need something that belongs to someone to do magic on them? Do you mostly do magic at night time ?

If you hate someone, would u do a spell to harm them?

Fireproof how does your belief system describe luck?

Does your belief system describe luck just random chance or are some people lucky - as in more likely to have the cards or dice favour them? (I'm not a gambler! Just an illustration).

Do you wish good things for loved ones when they need it and find it comes right for them. Is that being a witch or perhaps you have a guardian angel or chance?

Op "witch" isn't just a word to you though is it? I'm interested genuinely to know why you chose that word (especially as it's so gendered) as opposed to pagan. Whether I. "Like" it or not is not the issue surely. I'm interested in why you chose that word as opposed to pagan.

"Witch" is do culturally nuanced and so gender specific. It must be chosen for a reason, surely?

If you chose my asking that question on a thread that specifically says "ask me anything" then I'm not sure where else to go

Sorry. I meant to say:

"If you chose my asking that question (about why you say "witch" not "pagan" on a thread that specifically says "ask me anything" as a criticism then I'm not sure where else to go"

Because that must mean "ask me anything except that"

Another Pagan here saying Hi!

Do you speak to the supernatural beings ?