Walking the Hedge

Q:
I need to ask what I hope you won’t think of as a stupid question. I have been practising magic, well not practising working with lol for many years. Recently I was introduced to the church and started to question my belief in gods et al…now I believe in magic as I have seen it work and I honour my ancestors and nature, I work alone and up until very recently with little more than a candle and good intent…a friend who is Wiccan thinks I am one to, but reading this I wonder if I am not a witch? I am the person everyone comes to for advise about everything! thank you
- Samantha

A:
Hi Samantha, this is a good question, because it is one any person who has been interested in paganism, witchcraft, the occult etc has probably asked themselves.
Am I a witch? What makes a witch?
So lets look at this.

First of all, there are no stupid questions (that’s an actual rule here at the Hedge). I’d be more concerned about a person who doesn’t question things and/or who is afraid to ask and suffers confused silence instead Better to make a fool of yourself and be enlightened than live life in dark ignorance.

I’m not sure which church you are speaking of? But people generally mean Christianity when they use the word “church” in that manner.
If you are looking for a similar word for witchcraft, the Craft, the Cunning Arts, the Old Ways, are a couple of phrases/words you could use.
If you are referring to Christianity and that you are now doubting your beliefs because of them, allow me to point something out. Christianity, and its jealous god, is bent on world domination. They honestly think that everyone should believe EXACTLY what they do. Part of their whole mode of operation is to make you doubt yourself, to confuse, and shame you and then fill your head with their garbage. Sounds a lot like how cults work doesn’t? Think about it. Really, the Christian god is just a spoiled brat who needs to learn how to play nice and share with other gods.

Anyways…

It is okay to question your beliefs, while there are some faiths that encourage ignorance, witches are supposed to questions things, seek truth, and challenge themselves and their beliefs. You are supposed to find your own personal truths, and this is supposed to be an ever evolving life-long process. You are not supposed to find the answers easily or right away.
It is okay to ask the gods if they are really there or not, its okay to ask them to become more involved in your life. So long as you are willing to do the work to make them involved in your life too. And some witches do not believe in gods at all.
Faith is belief without proof, and even witches must practice faith. Though we may be better able to connect with spirits, energies and gods, we still need to exorcise a little faith once in a while. So long as it is not blind faith.

Part of the definition of a witch is someone who honours ancestors, nature, and works with energies. But it is also a state of mind, a state of being, and to truly be a witch, you have to choose to claim that title for your own. We will get back to this in a moment.

Wicca is a religion. To be a member of a religion, you have to practise that religion. Here are a couple of good links with info on just what Wicca is.

http://wicca.timerift.net/
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccaandpaganismbasics/u/WPBasics.htm
Wicca is but one of many witchcraft paths available to you. While many people nowadays start with Wicca (it is a good starting point) there is a lot more out there. Some are full-on religions like Wicca, while others are more like spiritual paths, and others are more purely magickal – a craft. How deep, how spiritual, you practise is up to you.

I am going to direct you to an article I wrote a while aback that has a series of questions you are to ask yourself and write out, so that you have a list of things to compare the different paths and crafts out there against. This will help you to find the label for your path. Yes, the label. You see, you are already on your path, your life path, your spiritual path. You were born on it, and you are always walking it, even when you are not aware of it. You just simply have not defined that path, you do not have a name for it yet. But at least you acknowledge that your feet are on a path. That’s more than a lot of people do.

http://walkingthehedge.net/blog/2008/07/finding-your-path/

No one has the right to tell you whether or not you are a witch. If they do, ignore them, its not their place or right.
Here is the general criteria for what makes a witch a witch. It is up to you to decide for yourself if you fit this or not.

Witchcraft is more than spells, though magick is an important part of it.
Witchcraft is the practice of folk magick.
Witchcraft is the practice of directing Will, manipulating forces, using magick.
Witchcraft is searching for your own magical path, connecting to and working with the powers in the land, the world and within yourself.
Witchcraft is connecting with the Otherworld.
Witchcraft is making changes by affecting the worlds with your energies, and by working with the energies in the worlds.
Witchcraft is connecting with the ancestors and seeking the knowledge they have to share with you.
Witchcraft is honouring and working with, and for, the energies and spirits of nature.
Witchcraft is connecting with your own spirits and guides and learning from them.
Witchcraft is the continuation of the practice of European native religions and cultural beliefs.
Witchcraft is what comes after being initiated, either by ancestors, spirits, or another witch.
Witchcraft will often accompany arts such as shapeshifting, hexing, conjuring, healing, blessings, charms, herbalism (wortcunning), and soul flight.
Witchcraft is based on nature and all that is within nature.
Witchcraft is walking the Hedge.
Witchcraft is a magickal craft and a spiritual practice that is also a way of life, it is a mindset that incorporates all one does, that permeates all the decisions one makes.

If you do not meet this criteria, or any found in info about witchcraft or Wicca, you need to ask yourself “Do I want to?” I suppose the next question is: Do you want to be a witch?

It is wonderful that people come to you for advise and help. We need more people like that in the world. This does not a witch make. Witches do not have to be nice, friendly, or helpful (though service to the community is a part of witchcraft). Nor even wise (especially young ones).
But it does mean you could have potential as a priestess, teacher, healer or counsellor if you chose to do the work to make that happen.

I hope this helps.

Keep asking questions.

- Juniper

Related posts:

1. Hedgewitch & Witchcraft Ethics??
2. Three Differences Between Contemporary Witchcraft and Traditional Witchcraft
3. Mastery