A Witch Needs No Explanation

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White versus Grey versus Black. Last time I looked, a witch needs no explanation. Look, I understand identifying with a title that references your tradition. I identify with Druidry, Hedgewitchery, and the Völur. Typically I call myself a Hedgewitch if I’m pressed to define myself. But I don’t identify with white, black or grey, although the way other witches define grey probably covers Hedgewitchery.

White apparently indicates purity or positive-oriented magick, black the dark arts, and grey a hodgepodge of whatever you want. And it’s not that I necessarily think a color reference is any different than any other title, but that it feels like a judgment is associated with it which leaves me uncomfortable. So I have to ask, why would any of us define ourselves as white, black, grey, or any other color of the rainbow? Is it a statement? If so, to whom?

If we define ourselves as white witches, are we doing so to make others more comfortable with who we are? Or is it to make ourselves more comfortable with who we are? Is it to let others know the type of magick we perform? Because if so, why on earth would we ever tell them that? I seem to remember to keep silence (some say to keep silent) as one of the four powers of the witch and I would think it might apply here. And again, do we want others to know this so that they approve of us somehow?

I realize that it wasn’t so long ago that witches were persecuted and that it still goes on today. So a little discretion might still be in order. But for me, living in truth is more important than creating a moniker that makes others comfortable, so identifying as white, black, or grey wouldn’t work for me. Well, maybe grey. But it would still feel weird to do so.

I don’t mean to pick on white witches here but the dark arts witches seem to deal well with who they are as do the grey witches. And maybe the white witches do as well, but every time I hear someone refer to themselves that way, I immediately wonder why. I can’t help it. Although it’s actually none of my business what other witches call themselves, I typically decide that it’s because it resonates somehow, but I still wonder.

The last thing witches should do is respond or present themselves in a way that gives credence to fear-based viewpoints. I have to wonder if witches unwittingly do this when they self-identify as a white witch.

It would be nice if no one had to send any message that they’re okay to be around, witches in particular. Whether the magick we perform is all love and light, or it embraces the darker aspects of our craft, it’s all just energy that we move or affect with our intention. We might have various purposes that differ and some witches may engage in various levels of control when circumstances warrant, but in my opinion at no time should we make any of it palatable to others.

We’re witches after all. NO explanation necessary.

Blessed Be

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Someday I'll figure out how to put this in a word cloud... Author ~ Empath ~ Solitary Witch ~ BA Psychology ~ Married 43 years ~ Survivor ~ Mom ~ 2 sons ~ Grandmother ~ former Kenpo Black Belt/Instructor ~ Homeschooling ~ Retired Motorcycle Shop co-owner ~ Medical Cannabis Patient/Activist ~ Liberal. That I can still form coherent thought is truly amazing!

2 thoughts on “A Witch Needs No Explanation”

  1. I always liked Z Budapest’s line that “A witch who can’t hex can’t heal.” We need the light and the dark, not wholly one or the other. That’s what paganism is to me, embracing all aspects of ourselves, even the parts that make most people uncomfortable. I’ve never known anyone who identified as a “black witch” or “black magic witch.” Left-hand path, sure, but they’re not out hexing the neighbor’s cow. 😉

    1. With “black” I was referring to dark arts, but doing so tongue-in-cheek from a color perspective only.. I’m not sure about the cow reference..but I reject completely the notion that a witch who can’t hex or curse can’t heal. I’ve always been a healer and I don’t curse or hex. I guess it depends on how you see yourself in this life. I see myself as Source Energy and I don’t see the world in a way that would result in hexing or cursing I guess. So for me it doesn’t resonate. I view the light and dark concept as a reflection of physical form, which is subjective and illusory. It’s not that we don’t experience issues in our lives, but it’s how we see them and what meaning we give them that matters. Do we remain in the present moment, or do we allow issues of the past to break our creative focus? I think the dark aspect of self arises when we focus on the past and let that influence our present. I suppose making peace with all of that could be called balancing the dark and light aspects of self but that just doesn’t resonate with me. Plus I don’t actually call myself pagan although I clearly have pagan ancestry.. Mostly I view myself as an empath and a witch who just tries to stay aligned in Source Presence as much as possible. I find most labels limiting, a trait my boys found annoying, and I prefer to stay away from them as much as possible. I prefer a less structured set of beliefs. Anyway, nice to hear from you.. 😉 ~ J

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