So maybe I’m not a witch…

I’ve never quite 100% identified with the word witch. I’m not Wiccan. I don’t even cast spells. Maybe pagan would be a better word for me, but the official definition of pagan doesn’t fit me, either, since I am also a follower of Jesus. I usually call myself “witchy”, because witch has seemed like the easiest way to define myself, but it’s not exactly correct… But what is a woman who follows the moon, who talks to plants and animals, who reveres nature, who holds animist beliefs…?

She’s following ancestral spiritual practices, that’s what she is!!! All of those things are ancestral spiritual practices, and they are my birthright. They are your birthright! You don’t have to be a “witch” or “pagan” or any other title to claim them. Every single Indigenous society throughout Earth’s history has done these things in one way or another. They are the natural order, and part of who we are as humans!

Every culture has had some form of cleansing. (here is one for Scottish ancestry)

Every culture has some form of divination (by this I mean a way of allowing the Divine to speak to you, not predicting the future).

Every culture would have known the importance of the moon (think of how obvious it’s effects would be before artificial lights!).

Every culture would have had some animist traditions in the beginning.

Every culture has used herbalism (which, btw, is just science). (also, here’s the herb school I’m learning from. Not an afflilate, just love them.)

And most cultures would have revered a goddess or goddesses at some point in their history.

So does believing in/practicing all these things make me a witch? Maybe you could call me that. Or maybe you could just call me human.

I highly recommend this article on Folk Magic and Witchcraft over at Cailleach’s Herbarium, which started to change my mind on this issue.

I would also recommend the Summer of Support Series on A Wild New Work Podcast to learn about ancestral practices we all have a right to.

Tell me, do you have an “identifier” for your spiritual practice? I’m thinking I’m just going to lean into Wild Woman, but I love hearing other ideas!