Not only is my spirituality my own, but since most are quick to label, the fear of misconceptions comes to mind. In fact, I rarely address myself as a witch for these reasons, settling for just Eclectic Pagan.

I do not see it as following Wicca, just being Pagan, or anything of that nature. A fairly decent definition for a witch is "practitioner of a nature-based/revering or folk belief system, art or religion" (The Witches' Voice), but even that cannot explain what it means...at least in my eyes. There is much, much more.
There is one thing I feel that I must address before I continue: the origins of the word "witch" (also known as witta, wit, vitki, wicce, etc). The term "witch" technically did not come until the Dark Ages, around the 12th century. Though the religion of Witchcraft was based off a pre-Christian religion (s), the term itself is actually fairly new. So as far as documentation goes, fundamental Wiccans who claim that their religion and/or Witchcraft is "the oldest religion" are confused. The Celtic Pagans, who predate Wicca, never considered their selves witches - nor did any of the other older religions. "Witch" and the other Anglo-Saxon and Germanic terms are translations for "to bend or shape"; they have often been coined for "the craft of the wise" and when the King James' Bible was released, "non-Christian." The common principles in these definitions are wisdom and the will "to shape" one's surroundings through proper action and energy works.

I look at the life of a witch as an individual path; this outlook weakens the quick generalizations and doesn't have the "witchier-than-thou" feeling. One can religiously define their selves as a witch once they embrace a path, work with energy, and acknowledge their individuality, but to live the witch is a different story. It is easy to adopt a few tenets and to pick a set of beliefs, but to actually live the tenets; to build on the set of beliefs, is not something that happens over night. Not only does one have to think about their direction in life on a regular basis, but one must find ways to improve it and aspire. A witch must develop experience, practice its craft, ponder on it, and perfect it. Life does not move when one embraces a religion, it moves when one lives that religion.

Casting spells, reciting chants and prayers do not make a witch - that makes one a magician. Why a person works with magick, why a person feels the need to work with magick, on the other hand, does. Is the witch dedicated to a coven, a tradition, or a solitary path? What makes the energy workings so important? While Witchcraft involves magick, it is not just magick, it is a religo-magick, which means that the witch is dedicated to a path of sort.

No one has to hate Christians to be a witch. Why should they have to? Besides, a wise witch would know better than to judge a population as a whole. It is not wrong to have Christian friends, or any non-witch friends. It is also not necessary to reject Christianity - a wise witch would look at the pros and con of all paths and come with their own conclusions.

Witches do not have to be "goth," a Democrat, or a die-hard environmentalist. While it may be true that many witches follow darker lifestyles and honor nature, there are many witches who can be found in lighter lifestyles, as well. There are many witches that are in the business world, are conservative, work as teachers or doctors, and there are probably some that work with you right now! The life of the witch is not as simple as one would like to think.

Rebelling against parents do not make one a witch. Whining about "how bad" Christianity is does not make a witch. Threatening people witch curses and diabolic ritual does not make a witch. These things make someone irrational and simply immature. However, taking responsibility, finding solutions for the problems in life, enduring fire and brimstone, and learning modesty, does. Yes, there are witches who had rough lives, it's relative, but many non-witches have went through Hells, as well.

A good witch know the need for silence. Good witches know the need for action, reaction, and both positive and negative aspects of life. They do not only point out a problem, but seek solutions to problems. They know that they make mistakes and will continue to in means to learn and grow. Mature witches are above playing victim and know that not all life is about "how they get mistreated and how evil society is." Witches know life is not about just magick and Deity invocation - they know that it involves using common sense, helping their selves, finding their personal balance, understanding the self, and improving the self, as well.

A decent witch knows that being a witch does not make them better than everyone else. The witch knows that their path and magick is not "witchier-than-thou." They have no need calling their selves the "enlightened ones." Smart witches know where to draw the line. They live by example. They let their actions speak better than their words. They acknowledge the need to build background.

Being a witch is being independent; an individual. Living the witch is more than a religo-magick: it is living life to the fullest, tasting every bit of it. It is to ground one's self on a path, but also building on that path to improve the road. A witch acknowledges when to know, dare, will, and be silent.

A true witch is above labeling their self a witch.

*Article originally appeared on Aquilus Dot Net Vampyre and Occult/Pagan Community in 2004*

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