Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Beneath the Moon

Home
Pagan
Why Am I a Witch? And Not Something Else?

Why Am I a Witch? And Not Something Else?

Last updated on: July 19, 2017 at 5:00 pm by Rachel Patterson

Why Am I a Witch? And Not Something Else? 2017-07-19T17:00:49+01:00 Rachel Patterson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why am I a witch?

My journey (see previous blog post) led me straight to Witchcraft, Wicca at first but then off on a tangent to Kitchen/Hedge Witchery. But why?

I guess when I first started I wasn’t aware of just how wide or varied the pagan pool was. I knew the word witch from fairy stories, films and books. But I had only really seen the description of a druid in the Asterix books. Although the term pagan was known to me, I didn’t really understand what it meant properly.

why i am a witch rachel patterson

The history of witchcraft book I found that started it all was obviously based on witchcraft! It was from there that I found Wicca because at the time it was the only source of learning available that I could find.

Finding Witchcraft found like coming home.

As a teenager, I spent several years following the Baptist religion. I knew I was looking for something but I wasn’t sure what, Christianity filled a gap for a while but I knew it wasn’t quite right for me.

The gods

Working with the ancient gods of the land and finding my faith. Something/someone I can rely on for support and encouragement and the occasional telling off, sheesh some of those deities are so bossy! was literally a god send (pun intended).

Control

Being in control of my own life and being able to help shape my own destiny were definitely attractive features of being a Witch. Learning and finding my way through the Craft has helped me to find myself. I have made mistakes along the way but each one has helped me to learn and grow.

Rules

Whilst I don’t like being told what to do, I do like structure when I am learning. Wicca provided me with the structure to learn the base and foundations of the Craft. But I did find it a bit restrictive because I do like to ‘do my own thing’. It was at that point when I discovered Hedge Witchcraft and then developed my own journey more into Kitchen Witchcraft. My love of cooking sorted that out!

Dipping in and out

Druidry drew me in for a while, belonging to a Grove and completing the first Ovate grade with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. It seems to me to be very similar to hedge witchcraft but from a slightly different perspective. I learnt from that part of my journey but it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

I have dipped into all sorts of different areas. Studying the magical art of hoodoo was one of my favourite adventures and something that I still use now, adapting it slightly to fit in with my Craft. Fitting it into my own way of working magic was easy, it does have similarities to European folk magic.

The pagan umbrella

Paganism is such a huge umbrella with so many offshoots too. It has allowed me to learn a variety of different skills from meditation to spell work, Akashic Records, divination and healing to name but a few. The Craft also helped me make sense of nature. I knew it was something very special but had no idea of the magical properties and power that each natural living thing holds. I love that Mother Nature is also willing to share this energy with us. If I had not found the pathway of a witch I doubt I would have discovered these other wonderful things.

I love being a witch

I love being a witch because it allows me to have a faith, to believe in a higher power and to be in control (I am a total control freak). But also to have my pathway be a flexible one. Witchcraft allows me to take bits and pieces from other pagan pathways and add them to my own, making my journey a very personal and unique one. I don’t have to follow strict rules. I don’t have to do what a book says and I don’t have to do things in a set way. It is my journey, my rules and my very own pathway.

And now?

Much as I don’t like labels or fitting people into boxes I know I am a Witch, not Wiccan, not a Druid, not a Heathen but a Witch. I love to work with the old ways, to follow Mother Nature on her cycle and to attempt to make the world a better place for myself and others and ultimately to make myself a better person. I am most definitely not the same person now that I was a gazillion years ago before I found my way.

Witchcraft has helped me learn, grown and evolve.

Previous Post

July 10, 2017

Finding a Higher Power: My Story

Next Post

July 24, 2017 What if My God Doesn’t Look Like Your God?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Animal Magic Crystal Magic Curative Magic Deity Garden Magic Kitchen Witchcraft Magic Meditation moon magic Recipes Ritual sabbats spells Sun magic Uncategorized Wild Witchcraft

Select a Month January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first disciple to be martyred?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Thomas James Peter Andrew