How to Become a Witch (7 page)

honesty
is treasured by Witches. To lie is to weaken our power; our deep minds must know that every word from our mouths is always true, so that when we say “So mote it be!” (“So it must be”), there will be no doubt.

self-responsibility
is vital to Witches. You can’t be a victim and a magician, or in charge of your own life while you blame others for what you bring on yourself. You are responsible for every thought, word, and action that you send out into the world.

Though we don’t talk about it much, we value
silence
. This can mean being discreet, or meditating quietly, or seeking that still place at your center.

We open ourselves to
joy
, celebrate life, and share pleasure with others. The Goddess says, “Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices: sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in my presence, for all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals and my gift of joy on earth.”

What Witches Do
Common Practices

Witches could probably argue endlessly about theology and values, but mostly we don’t bother. In many ways, we are united by what we do—our practices—rather than by our beliefs.

For instance, we celebrate the changing of the seasons in the holy days we call sabbats, and the cycles of the moon in celebrations called esbats. These are covered in more depth in chapter 2, so we will give just a brief overview here.

There are eight sabbats, not counting any we might invent for fun. Collectively, they are known as the Wheel of the Year. Witches think in circles and spirals whenever possible, rather than straight lines. For instance, we see time as both circular and a spiral, rather than as linear. The Wheel of the Year is a circle because it keeps turning, coming back to the same point each year, and yet it’s also a spiral, because we are not the same people we were last year, and the world is not the same place. Autumn is always autumn, yet no two autumns are the same.

Some Witches begin their year at Samhain (pronounced either
sow’-wen
or
sov
-
veen
’), others see Yule as the beginning of the year. It’s rather like starting the day at midnight or at dawn—there are good arguments to be made for both. The eight sabbats occur approximately every six and a half weeks around the Wheel.

Witches also celebrate the phases of the moon; almost all do ritual at the full moon, and many celebrate other lunar phases too. We will talk more about ritual in chapter 8.

We also do divination and spellwork frequently, and keep animal friends close by, and talk to plants, and much more that will be covered in later chapters.

Witches by the Numbers

So, how many Witches are there? No one can do a complete census, because many Witches are deep in the broom closet and will never reveal their path to any pollster.

Even the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), done in 2008 by Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, lumps Pagans of all stripes (Witches, Generic Pagans, Druids, whatever) with Unitarian-Universalists, New Agers, Scientologists, Santerians, and others in a category called “New Religious Movements and Other Religions.” Even with all that company, we “New Religious” types only make up about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population, or fewer than 3 million folks—if the survey is accurate.

Granted, Witchcraft/Wicca seems to be growing rapidly. But at some fraction of 1.2 percent, we’re not exactly taking over the world—which is all right, because that’s never been our goal, anyway. We have no desire to convert the world to our path, because we believe that Witchcraft is not for everyone.

We have mentioned the American Witch population but should make it clear that Wiccans/Witches live in many countries. Great Britain is the birthplace of modern Witchcraft, but our Craft brethren also can be found throughout Western Europe and in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Smaller numbers are scattered around the world, including those serving in the military who are stationed overseas.

So what are Witches? We are people who follow a spiritual path and way of living that is inspired by the practices and worldview of our ancient ancestors. We keep close to nature. We celebrate the cycles of life and the seasons. We connect with Spirit in many forms. We perform divination and magick. And we learn, grow, and heal ourselves and others. This is the heart of Witchcraft.

The female factor

Roughly two out of three Witches are female. Perhaps women are drawn to the Craft because, hey, the Goddess is here, and it’s great to have a divine female role model—or, actually, many of them! Perhaps we like the idea that we can be priestesses, with as much respect as the men get in the male-dominated religions. On the other side, maybe some guys aren’t sure what to do with the male deities in the Craft: all that Hornéd-God, Sun-God, Warrior-God energy. It’s quite a change from Jesus. Nobody knows why there are more female Witches, but the male Witches are happy, and we women are glad that we have as many really great Craft brothers as we do.

Chapter 2

Seasons of the Sun,
Cycles of the Moon
The Wheel of the Year

C
elebrate as the Wheel turns,

Touching magick, wielding power,

Dance and leap as the balefire burns,

I am a Witch at every hour.

Nature moves in cycles, in circles and spirals. Earth orbits the sun, and the seasons flow from one to the next and repeat the cycle through the millennia. We call it the Wheel of the Year, and for modern Witches, it governs the rhythm of our lives. The Wheel is a circle, coming back to the same seasons and sabbats again and again, but it is also a spiral, because it moves through time. At each year’s spring, we are in an equivalent place—but not the same place. Also, when we reincarnate, we come back to Earth, but it is not the same world we left the time before.

Likewise, the moon orbits, waxes, and wanes in her changing phases, and the tides rise and ebb. The lunar cycle is also part of our lives and our magick. And when we celebrate, we do it in circles, not lined up in rows, watching someone else have all the fun. Everyone in the circle participates. We live and plan and think in circles and cycles rather than lines.

The Wheel of the Year

Most Witches celebrate eight major holy days, or sabbats, through the year, spaced roughly six and a half weeks apart. Four are called the lesser sabbats, one every three months at the solstices and equinoxes. The other four are the greater sabbats, and they are in between the lesser sabbats. See how they are placed on the illustration.

These are very ancient holy days; not everyone in those days celebrated all eight, but most modern Pagans do. The names are taken from the Irish language, but most have been around so long that they have more than one name. The dates of the greater sabbats (Beltane, Lughnassad, Samhain, and Imbolc) are approximate; they vary a little in different traditions. The lesser sabbats are determined by the astronomical calculations of the solstices and equinoxes, and these vary from year to year. Here’s the list, with approximate dates:

Yule (or Midwinter, Winter Solstice):
December 20–23

Imbolc (or Oimelc, Brigit’s Eve, Candlemas): February 2

Ostara (or Eostre, Spring Equinox): March 20–23

Beltane (or May Eve, Mayday, Walpurgis): April 30

Litha (or Midsummer, Summer Solstice): June 20–23

Lughnassad (or Lunasa, Lughnasadh, or Lammas, August Eve): August 1

Mabon (or Harvest Home, Fall Equinox): September 20–23

Samhain (or Hallows Eve, November Eve): October 31

In practice, many covens hold their celebrations on the weekend nearest the traditional date so that members with weekday work schedules can attend. Samhain poses an interesting challenge, because most modern Witches celebrate it on the same date as Halloween, no matter what day of the week it falls on. Many non-Pagans confuse the two, but Halloween has evolved into a modern, secular children’s holiday and is very different from the Witches’ sabbat.

The Mythologies Behind the Wheel Of the Year

Witches and other Pagans have various mythological cycles that follow the Wheel of the Year; no single one is the “official” mythology, and often they intertwine in happy confusion. It’s not logical or consistent, but few Witches care.

Myth Cycle #1:
The Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King rules half of the year, from the Winter Solstice (Yule) to the Summer Solstice (Litha). Then he is challenged by the Holly King; they battle fiercely, the Oak King is overthrown, and the Holly King rules until Yule. The resurrected Oak King battles him in turn, and takes the crown until Litha…and so on.

Myth Cycle #2:
Birth, life, and death of the Sun God. The Sun God is born of the Mother Goddess at Yule, grows to young manhood and takes the Maiden Goddess as his lover at Beltane, reaches his greatest strength at Litha, and becomes the Grain God and sacrifices himself to the harvest at Lughnassad. Then he is reborn at Yule.

Myth Cycle #3: Maiden, Mother, and Crone phases of the Goddess. The Goddess is the Mother at Yule, transforms to the Maiden in the spring, grows into her power as the Mother once more by Litha, and ages to become the Crone in the autumn, and then the Mother again at Yule.

Scottish Variant: The Winter Hag pursues the Spring Maiden, but the Hag’s power dwindles as the spring advances. The Spring Maiden matures into the Mother through the summer, and then gradually transforms to the Hag again through autumn, and the Hag chases the Maiden again as spring begins.

Myth Cycle #4: The Hornéd God and the Goddess divide the year. The Hornéd God rules during the fall and winter, the cold season of hunting, darkness, and death. The Goddess reigns during the spring and summer, the warm season of fertility, growth, and life.

All these are mythological models for the reality of the changing seasons. As with all myths, there are perspectives on truth within each—even though no one of them is literally true. Because Witches don’t need to believe literally in our myths and legends, we can embrace the discoveries of science without worrying whether some ancient tale “given by God” is contradicted. Myths are insights into the human condition, and you are free to explore the ones that seem meaningful to you and use them in your rituals.

Getting back to the sabbats, they are a celebration of life and nature and change. Our ancestors worked hard between the holidays and then played hard when it was time for a break. Let’s look at how they understood each sabbat and what the sabbats might mean for us today.

Eight Sabbats Around The Wheel

We’ll start our discussion with Yule, looking at the significance of each from both an external and an internal viewpoint.

Yule

Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year. It happens around December 21, at the end of what some Witches call “the dark time”—that six-week period beginning at Samhain, moving into the darkest time of the year. At the solstice, we celebrate the rebirth of the sun, which will grow in strength until Litha. In British mythology, the Oak King and the Holly King battle it out, and the Oak King wins.

What It Means to You: In the old days, winter evenings might be spent mending a harness or fixing farm tools. Now, you can work on your own indoor projects—making herbal oils, researching a school paper, or learning new software for your computer.

Giving and receiving are issues at Yule. What can you give to your family, friends, and community? What do they need (never mind the glut of gadgets that the corporations want you to buy)? Also, what is being offered to you that might enrich your life and that you could graciously receive?

Rebirth is a primary theme at this time. Every year offers a fresh beginning. What kind of person will you be “reborn” as? Meditate on your lifestyle, habits, character, and persona, and decide what the “new you” will be like.

As the days lengthen, begin your year with mindfulness and intention. As life and light increase, how will you use their energy? Look ahead and make plans for the new year—even a formal list of New Year’s resolutions. Begin to gather resources.

Activities for Yule: Bring in and decorate a Yule log. Decorate a living Yule tree, and plant it later. Sing Yule carols. Enjoy a visit from Mother Berchta (a Pagan winter deity). Exchange gifts. Tell stories about the exploits of sun gods and goddesses (look them up in books of mythology or online).

Deities for the Season

Mother Goddesses:
Gaia, Demeter, Inanna, Ishtar, Pachamama, Aditi

Sun Gods:
Ra, Horus, Helios, Apollo, Bel, Shamash, Oak King, Sol Invictus

Imbolc

Imbolc (or Oimelc or Candlemas) is celebrated on or about February 2 and is a festival of the returning light; we really can tell that the sun is getting stronger, and the days are getting noticeably longer. Spring is just around the corner, and signs of new plant life begin to emerge.

The Celtic names Imbolc and Oimelc mean, respectively, “in the belly” and “ewe’s milk,” for this is the time that the sheep are giving birth.

It is a time sacred to Brigit, the triple Irish goddess of healing, inspiration, and smithcraft. She is a fire goddess and has aspects that embody sovereignty and the skills of warriors. Sacred springs and wells all over the Emerald Isle are dedicated to her.

What It Means to You: Traditionally, Imbolc is a time of cleansing and purification—perhaps the origin of spring cleaning. It’s a good time to clean out your house and your life—to refresh, renew, and rededicate yourself.

Many Pagans take this opportunity to clean and reconsecrate their ritual tools (that is, rededicate them to the gods and their special purposes; see chapter 3 for details). Include the candles you use for magickal work. And why not rededicate yourself to the great purposes that lie before you: your important projects, your life’s work, your dreams, the legacy you will leave to the world?

Also, if you want a garden, now is the time to plan your garden, order seeds, and plant them in flats.

Activities for Imbolc: Make and decorate candles. Decorate a little indoor fountain with red ribbons and red flowers as Brigit’s holy well. Tell “wonder tales” about Brigit. Consecrate or reconsecrate your tools. Take a luxurious ritual bath. (Brigit’s bathwater turned to beer—will yours?)

Deities for the Season: Here are some goddesses and gods you may want to research—in addition to Brigit, of course. They are related to her three major aspects.

Smiths
: Hephaestus, Vulcan, Wayland

Healers
: Isis, Hygeia, Aesclepius, Apollo, Bai Zu Zhen, Unkatahe, Diancecht

Inspiration
: Sarasvati, Gwydion

Ostara

Ostara, named for the Norse goddess Eostre, celebrates the Spring Equinox, usually around March 21. Spring has sprung, and the days are getting warmer—rejoice! Fertility, birth, and new beginnings are the themes, with eggs and bunnies representing the tremendous fecundity of the earth at this time. This is a time for planting not only physical seeds, but also seeds of those projects you want to accomplish during the year.

One symbol of spring is the hare, alert and quick. The hare is connected with the moon goddess as well, and this is the sabbat most closely connected with moon energy.

What It Means to You: Action has replaced planning and the gathering of energy. Your projects now begin to manifest in a tangible, physical way. It’s a long way to the harvest, but you are in motion.