Solitary: A Self-Directed Spiritual Life

Let's talk. Come sit with me under a tree or by a lake while we chat about being alone in our practice and our beliefs. Solitary practitioners choose this path for many reasons and have a unique perspective. As a solitary witch, I want to share how I keep true to my beliefs and practices whether I'm working on my own, in a small group or attending a large group gathering. Author of Moon Affirmations, meditations based on the phase of the moon.

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Wicked Witch

Preconceived ideas, we all have them and rely on them.  Certain words or names evoke a response in everyone.  Generally these are negative emotions. 

Witch is a word that does this for Pagans.  Since I consider myself an eclectic witch who is seeking, it was a title I hesitated taking on as I traveled my path through paganism. 

If you use the title Witch among the highly religious group, it has meanings like consorting with the devil, sacrificing children, and all the other evil things in the world.  If you use it in entertainment circles ideas of Bewitched, Practical Magic, The Craft, Charmed, and a lot of other shows. 

Witch to me in my practice is someone who is seeking balance in her practices.  I tried Wicca and it was too good for me.  It was all about the positive flow of energy and you never do bad spells and so on.  To me it was an over balance of white magic. 

I had the ethical discussions about how some things are just wrong but nothing is absolute and I don’t feel my practices or beliefs are absolute either.  I respect Wicca, follow many of its tenants but found the practices unrealistic. 

Dark magic is also an absolute and not something I feel works.  I explored some of the tenants of this path as well. 

Having rejected the extremes of the spectrum of Paganism, I had to find something in the middle, something that accepted that sometimes negative actions are the only actions open to us.  For me this is being a witch. 

My definition of a witch is one who seeks balance and harmony.  She is someone who attempts to follow the path of light but knows that sometimes the road takes us to dark places.  This sounds like it could be a slippery slope and it could be.  This is why I have to think before I act, think before I react.  The point is to find the balance between the two extremes. 

The problem with being a witch or with calling yourself a witch is as soon as people hear the word, they make assumptions.  It isn’t just those people out in the world, it is the people closest to you who make assumptions.  I have a sister is disparaging about my beliefs.  Mind you, she’s never sat down to discuss my beliefs with me but she makes assumptions about my beliefs. 

To her, I am the wicked witch because she makes assumptions about what the title Witch means.  At first I was hesitant to even tell my husband and daughters.  I should have known better.  Their response was – okay and?  It didn’t really affect them in any way. 

Assumptions are ingrained in us.  Reinforced with our life experiences and those of our family.  The key is recognizing when you are letting an assumption influence you and determine whether the assumption matches the situation.  Am I a wicked witch?  Maybe… is it what others assume that a wicked witch is?  Probably not… 

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As a solitary, I consider myself a pagan witch who is seeking. Residing in rural Wisconsin, by day I work as a clerical worker and at night I spend my spare time writing. Writing is my way of expressing my feelings about my world and life. Raised on a farm, I have a love for nature and am inspired by the beauty and power I find there. I've been married for 33 years and have three adult daughters. Some of my other interests include cooking, genealogy, reading and crocheting.  
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