When you search online for witchcraft or pagan content, you often find a lot of tutorials, educational information, and guides. All of that is great considering how accessible witchcraft and paganism have become in the last 30 years, especially with the rise of the internet. What you don’t see often, though, is a witch’s real life. It’s hard to find blogs and videos from a witch just detailing what they go through, what’s on their mind, and how they live their lives both as a witch and a person.

What is Witchcraft?

Ask ten witches this question and you’ll get ten different answers. Every witch has a different idea of what witchcraft is and how it works. I’ll give you my definition. At its core, witchcraft is the practice of utilizing the natural energies around us to create change on a physical and spiritual level. Witchcraft involves working with the spirits – local spirits, Otherworldly spirits, and Deities – in a mutual exchange relationship (or a worship relationship) for the benefit of the witch, the spirit, or both.

Witchcraft isn’t what you see in the movies. We don’t wave wands around and create instant change, though we do have wands. We don’t say a spell and magically have a different hair color, but we do speak our chants. We aren’t inherently evil, nor do we work with the Christian Devil. Some witches aren’t good people in general, and some witches work with what is called the folkloric Devil.

Witchcraft can be fun, but it can also be serious. Witchcraft can be helpful, but it can also be harmful. Witchcraft itself is neutral – a way of working with the natural energies and beings of the world. How we as witches work with that energy is up to us.

Who can be a witch?

The answer to this is simple: anyone. You don’t have to be a specific sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexuality, or anything else. Though the word may have been associated with women in times long past, the word “witch” in a modern context is gender-neutral.

A witch can be from any faith, as well. Witchcraft itself is a practice, though some also hold witchcraft as their religion. Neither answer is wrong, and the beliefs held by witches around the world will differ drastically.

How can I become a witch?

To be a witch means to practice witchcraft. It’s as simple as that! There are hundreds of books available that teach the basics of witchcraft, hundreds of YouTubers (myself included) that create videos aimed at teaching people witchcraft. There are podcasts, blogs, websites, classes, and covens all over the world that help people just like you embrace their inner witch. You just need to find the person or resource that works best for you and jump right in!

What now?

Keep browsing the website, join the forum for community, and embrace your inner witch! You’re always welcome ’round the cauldron.