How to Become a Witch, Amber K. [new books to read .txt] 📗

an avocation? Find one that especially calls to you, write that title on a name badge, and place it on your car’s dashboard to remind yourself what you are aiming toward. It may sound nuts—but it works!

Practitioners of the Sacred

You might be intrigued by this priest/priestess aspect of the Craft but worry whether you are “holy” or “pure” enough. You do not have to be perfect to have a sacred calling. You do have to be committed, self-aware, and willing to work continuously on yourself—to learn and grow and transform so that you are a credit to the Goddess and the God.

This chapter may be surprising if you have thought of Witches as magick makers and rebels rather than clergy, of all things. And there are Witches who do not want to do the priest or priestess thing, not in any way that remotely relates to mainstream clergy roles.

The point is that we Witches are not mainstream clergy but are deeply involved in the sacred, in our own unique ways. If you feel a special thrill under the full moon or deep in a forest and can only call it spiritual; if you sense a living presence all around you in stars and stones and soil; if you sense mysterious realms beyond the world of material form; if you feel a relationship with the spirits of animals and plants and ancient deities, and they speak to you, then you have what is necessary to be a priestess or priest—to yourself, and perhaps to many others.

Chapter 13

The Witch in the World

and In or Out of the Broom Closet

We may forgive, but we can’t forget,

Touching magick, wielding power,

We’ll claim our place in sunlight yet,

I am a Witch at every hour.

James lives in San Francisco, and he’s a Witch. Not only that, he teaches the Craft—both in his coven and through classes at the Ancient Wisdom bookstore. James has a way about him; he radiates confidence, strength, and good will. On the few occasions when someone has questioned his spiritual path, he responds with such courtesy, respect, and openness that his detractors are disarmed. He’s usually smiling, and his joy in life seems to be contagious. He has friends everywhere, including conservative Christians who wonder how they can like him so much—a Witch, and unrepentant at that!

That’s one story. Here’s a very different one. Sarah lived outside Charleston, South Carolina, for years, and was happily married—for about six months. Gradually it became clear that her husband had some character traits he hadn’t shown during the courtship. He was aggressive but insecure, not very successful in business, and took out his frustrations on Sarah. His anger really exploded when he caught her reading a book about Wicca, because he was sure that “the taint of Witchcraft” would ruin his already shaky business. Sarah tried to accommodate his wishes after their daughter was born, but he grew worse; at wit’s end, she ran away with her young child. There was an ugly divorce, and the ex-husband was awarded full custody of their child. The community chose sides, and Sarah the reputed Witch had to move out of state to escape harassment.

An early witch trial

In 1324, Dame Alice Kyteler of Kilkenny, Ireland, was arrested and charged with Witchcraft, the first major recorded Witch trial in Ireland. Her group of thirteen practiced magick at night, at a crossroads, and were clearly not of the Christian persuasion. (The added accusation of poisoning her husband may have been fabricated to bolster the case against her.) She fled to England with one covener; others also escaped, one recanted, and one woman died at the stake, still refusing to embrace Christianity. The bishop who charged them was persecuted and driven from Ireland—it seems Dame Alice had powerful friends.

All of us face challenges, great times, and heartbreak; some do it with grace and serenity, others trip over their own feet at every turn. However well you dance the dance, becoming a Witch will change your style. You may find that you now have more challenges to face and more resources to face them with. You may find yourself living with a depth and intensity you’ve never experienced before. You will have days when you wish you could just go to work, come home, and kick back with a beer and TV every night. But once you know you’re a Witch, everything changes—including most of your relationships.

This chapter’s subtitle was going to be “Personal and Community Relations.” That’s what it’s really all about—how do you interact with other people differently now that you are a Witch? In your Book of Shadows, start a page entitled “How I Treated People Before Becoming a Witch.” Write down, honestly, how you perceived people and how you treated them. If it’s easier by lumping people in categories, do that: how you saw and related to your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, acquaintances, store clerks, people you disagreed with, etc. Then list what you’ve gotten out of acting that way, both your internal feelings (it felt good to put them down because you felt superior to them) and external reactions (your little brother started crying and Mom lectured you).

Then think about the basic tenets of Witchcraft and how they apply to your interactions with people. For instance, how would you treat each of those people differently if you truly believed:

All people have a spark of the Divine within them.

Thou art Goddess, thou art God—and “thou” includes everyone (including you).

There is no One True Way; Wicca or Witchcraft is only one valid path among many.

Words have power, and your magickal self hears every word you say.

You are how you behave and what you think.

It’s impossible to be a victim and a Witch at the same time.

The Goddess knew what she was doing when she created each and every thing and person.

Witches are responsible for every thought they have and action they take.

Life is a spiral; you may find yourself in