How to Become a Witch (34 page)

Deathwalker: These priestesses and priests serve as hospice chaplains, grief counselors, or psychopomps (who communicate with the departed and help them on their way to the next life). This requires specialized training, such as that available in the School of Shamanic Studies at Ardantane. This calling is not to be entered into lightly.

Diviner: These specialists use divination tools such as tarot cards, astrology, rune stones, palmistry, casting the bones, or other methods to help people find clarity when they are confused, learn more about themselves and their paths, see trends into the future, and explore their potential choices.

Earthwalker: These Witches live in a way that embodies the key values of the Craft in their family relationships, career, and community service. In a sense, they are working to live as Goddess and/or God incarnate on earth. Their skills in “the art of living on the material plane” provide inspiring role models to others.

Event Organizer: This is a specialization within the vocation of community leadership; organizers plan and operate local, regional, and national Pagan festivals, Pagan Pride Day celebrations, open sabbat celebrations, and more. Their efforts bring us together to build community, learn from one another, celebrate our heritage, and revitalize the Craft.

Guardian: This is a broad term for those who protect the community from harm. They are also called watchers, sentinels, safety personnel, security teams, Amazons, or peaceful warriors. Many train in the martial arts and serve at Pagan gatherings. Some are professional law enforcement officers. The Order of Scáthach is an international organization for those called to this role. Though parts of the world may be safer than they were, Witches (and those accused of Witchcraft) are oppressed and even in danger of their lives at certain times and places.

Healer: A high proportion of Witches are healers: either doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, or others in allopathic medicine; or doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopaths, chiropractors, herbalists, reiki practitioners, massage therapists, and so on. Since healing is viewed holistically by most Witches, we include spiritual and emotional healers, such as counselors.

Herbalist: Though herbalists are often healers, they also include makers of essential oils, incenses, herbal gifts, etc., and anyone whose life revolves around the magick of herbs.

Host/ess: They are essential to the Craft community, though often not recognized and honored as they should be. Some open their homes as covensteads, providing hospitality for coven meetings and a second home for coveners. They may also host local events like business meetings, drum circles, or small concerts. They often provide lodging for traveling Craft folk. Some go professional and become Pagan-friendly innkeepers or create and manage retreat centers. Though we all love the outdoors, most of us really appreciate a cozy shelter from time to time.

Interfaith Representative: These Witches interact with clergy and laity of other religions, to educate them about Witchcraft and work for the common good. They often design interfaith gatherings or rituals, celebrating the commonalities we all share. Most interfaith work is done locally, but some organizations, like the Covenant of the Goddess, have members who work on the international stage, attending the Parliament of the World’s Religions and other gatherings of world religious leaders. Go to www.cog.org to learn more.

Magician: All Witches practice magick, but some make the Arts Magickal the focus of their lives. They become proficient in thaumaturgy and theurgy, ritual of all kinds, and spellcrafting, and teach others how to perform magick ethically and effectively.

Merchant: This is a very earthy way of serving the Craft community. The staff of metaphysical shops provide useful and inspirational goods for Witches, as well as community centers where people can make contacts or take classes. Others create or distribute goods that Pagans want or need, and are generous in sharing the wealth with the community. Online merchants provide a service for those who cannot shop in person.

Oracle or Channel: Some Witches develop skill in the high art of aspecting, also known as “Drawing Down the Moon” or “assuming the God-form.” They can establish a direct connection with Deity and embody that divine personality. The incarnate god or goddess may speak through their lips. This is traditionally done by a priestess who aspects the lunar goddess—hence “Drawing Down the Moon”—but in recent years, many have practiced “Drawing Down the Sun.” It is best to have training and support from an experienced Witch before you attempt this.

Ritualist/Ritual Leader: Any Witch is a ritualist, since even solitaries perform personal rituals, but this vocation particularly refers to those who lead community rituals. Ritual leaders must be comfortable with large groups, adept at guiding participants to a common purpose, and skilled at sensing and manipulating energy. They should have a touch of the entertainer but also be able to involve participants emotionally and spiritually. They must also be able to mobilize and coordinate the talents of others, so the ritual never becomes an exercise in personal ego.

Sacred Architect or Landscaper: Anyone who creates ritual circles, labyrinths, sacred gardens, stone circles, shrines, temples, or medicine wheels is included. In ancient times, such people designed projects that involved moving hundreds of tons of earth and stone over several years—such as Silbury Hill or Stonehenge in Britain, or the temples of Malta. Such projects required a deep knowledge of astronomy and sacred geometry. Though few of us build modern Stonehenges today, many create shrines, gardens, and outdoor ritual circles.

Sacred Fool: This calling, also called “sacred clown,” is honored in many Native American religions and has become important in Pagan circles. These Witches embody the divine Trickster at rituals and festivals by clowning, telling stories, or mimicking those who deserve a little mockery. This is not an excuse to be naughty, nor is it simple entertainment. The Fool, or Trickster, is a teacher and a guardian of the community’s spirit. By acting out behavior that disrupts the values of the community and showing us the results, the Clown teaches us what to avoid. He or she may also teach through storytelling and circus-style clowning, or through pranks that make us look at ourselves with new eyes.

Scholar: Every religion has researchers, scholars, historians, and archivists. The Craft presents an unusual challenge for such folks. The prehistoric roots of our spiritual path were never recorded in writing, and much of our early history was destroyed by missionaries eager to burn manuscripts, deface statues, and tear down ritual sites. We have few material resources to work with, yet many of us hunger to know more about our spiritual heritage and life when the whole world was Pagan. Scholars who can illumine any part of this provide a gift to us all.

Teacher: Obviously, anyone who teaches Witchcraft or its associated skills is a teacher. This includes teaching within the Craft community or to youth only, or public education about the Craft. Closely aligned are those who create and administer schools and seminaries. By tradition, teaching that leads to initiation as a Witch is free. Craft teachers of collateral subjects, those not directly aimed toward initiation, may charge reasonable fees.

One or more of these may call to you—there is no rule that you must only do or be one thing. Because everything is connected, all of these overlap. In your Book of Shadows, write about the one or more vocations that call to you. What will you need to learn in order to do this? Could you make a career of it, or would it have to remain 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

W
e 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 a similar situation, but you are not the same person now.
  
• We are all connected, and what you do to or for someone else will come back to you threefold.
  

Now write down how you
want
to behave toward each of those people you listed before. Will you start thanking the cashier at the supermarket? Will you listen to your little brother instead of shrugging him off? Will you respect your parents’ religious views and not flaunt your Witchcraft in their faces? What will you gain by changing your behavior, and what will it cost you? Is it worth it?

Let’s turn to how you feel about yourself. If you are comfortable in your own skin, you will be confident and centered with other people. This applies not only to your feelings about being a Witch but to how you feel about being (choose any that apply): female, male; tall, short, or medium; straight, gay, bisexual, or transgendered; skinny, average, or chubby; white, black, Asian, mixed race, or other; very educated or not much; a dog person or a cat person; a sci-fi or romance fan—in short, how do you feel about who you are?

The Goddess and the Old Gods like you just fine—and expect you to be constantly improving yourself. If you want to change, you have found the right path, because the Goddess changes everything she touches, just like the chant says. If you have achieved perfection and don’t want to change or grow in any way, you may need to find another path.

Get out your Book of Shadows again, and write about how you feel inside your own skin, then what you would like to change. Then ask yourself, and write down, “What would that do for me?” and answer it. This will help you get to the roots of what motivates you toward change. Now for the tricky part. Do it six more times, up to a total of seven (magick number there)—answer “What would that do for me?” Each time you answer, you come to a deeper level of what is important to you. When you can go no deeper, you have found your true motivation, what’s really at the core of why you want to change. It may be as simple and profound as “Then I would like myself” or “Then I would be okay.” So, to bring this around full circle, if you
did
make that change, and you
are
okay, how would you be in the world differently than you are now? Write it down.

Example: What you would like to change.
I want to get more exercise.

And what would that do for me?

• I wouldn’t huff and puff up the stairs.
  
• I wouldn’t be embarrassed when walking in a group.
  
• I would be able to hold my head up high.
  
• I would feel proud of myself.
  
• I would be self-confident.
  
• I would be self-confident. (Same answer twice in a row, end exercise)
  

So what I really want is to be self-confident, and exercise is one way I can improve my self-confidence. What are other ways?

Then start acting as if you have made that change. Your actions define you. Some people call this strategy “fake it ’til you make it,” but if you are changing, it’s not fake—it’s as real as it gets. Once you start acting and speaking from the new you, the real you, taking responsibility and speaking with honesty, the world will begin to treat you differently. Of course, you can’t expect everyone to come along for the ride without questions—most people don’t like change; it upsets them when people change too fast. Be gentle with them.

One of the biggest changes you are making is that you are becoming a Witch. Depending on where you live and with whom, and your job and social circle, you may not want to leap out of the broom closet (come out as a Witch) right away. Let’s look at that decision.

The Broom Closet
In or Out

Once you have become a Witch, you may feel like spreading the word about this cool path you’ve found! We would urge caution and careful thought. The average person still thinks green skin, warty noses, and evil spells when they hear the word
Witch
. Even the word
Wiccan
is misunderstood—not everyone has read the chapter on ethics, and some even equate Wicca with devil worship. Seriously. Life can get very complicated if you are not careful, so consider carefully before telling the world that you are a Witch. Here’s our first piece of advice: choose whether to be in the broom closet or out of it—you can’t easily straddle the threshold. To rephrase: halfway out rarely works.

You can be in the broom closet (except with immediate family and covenmates) or completely out. Being in the broom closet is a lot of hard work, and you need to come up with creative answers to some inevitable questions. Let’s take a look at some of those questions.

If you practice at home and maybe travel to Pagan festivals, and someone asks what you’re planning to do for the weekend, you can always say you’re going “camping with friends.” True as far as it goes, and avoids the whole clichéd “Pagans dancing naked around the bonfire” image.

Likewise, when someone asks, “What church do you go to?” you can’t tell an outright lie—bad for your karma and your magick (words have power, and your magickal self hears every word you say). You need a response ready that’s true as far as it goes but won’t get you in trouble. For example, “My spirituality has always been a very personal and private thing.”

If the question is broader, your answer can be as well. To “What is your religion?” you can say: “I’ve found that most religions have something valuable to teach, so I study several different ones.” Which is probably true, since much of Wicca is based on so very many sources. If they really get in your face, answer: “I’ve found that discussing religion or politics can lead to arguments, so I avoid those topics of conversation.” And then you change the subject: “So how are your kids doing?” or “Some weather for August, isn’t it?”

An even broader question is “What do you believe?” And a great answer that is absolutely true and rarely offends is “I believe that all people have a spark of the Divine in them, and I try to honor that in my daily life.”

What is being halfway out of the broom closet, and why doesn’t it work? Halfway out means your family knows (or sometimes not, and that gets really sticky); some of your more liberal friends know, but other friends are seriously into their own religions and wouldn’t understand; your neighbors don’t know, and your grandmother can’t know, but your cousin is also a Witch...are you confused about who you can talk to? And it never gets easier, especially when a close friends asks, “How was the ritual Friday night?” while your grandmother is standing next to you. Halfway doesn’t work, no matter how many answers you have prepared—sooner or later, the word gets to the wrong ears, and they wonder why you didn’t share the truth with them.

Even if you are out of the broom closet, having answers at the tip of your tongue is a good idea, for those situations in which it’s really none of their business and you don’t have time to educate them on the finer points of Wiccan theology and ethics.

So, what’s it like being out of the broom closet? It doesn’t mean you introduce yourself as a Witch to everyone you meet (any more than most people mention their religion up front), but you don’t hide it from anyone either. If people ask, you answer honestly, no matter who they are or what reason they may have for asking. This is the “we are everywhere” campaign in action. The more of us who are open and educating those we meet, the safer all of us are. If you decide to be totally out, have some short, quick answers ready for the inevitable questions that are sure to follow your declaration that “I’m a Witch” or “I’m Wiccan.” Later in this chapter we will share some of those sound bites. But first, let’s discuss whether and how to tell family and friends.