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Being A Witch
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Witches are born, not made.
We know a lot of people who would disagree with this statement, but We stand by it.
Witches are born, even if they don't realise it for 10, 20 or even 30 years.
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If you are a Witch, you will probably have felt different from everyone else whilst
growing up. While some witches get to grow up as witches (lucky them), a lot of us don't
realise it until much later in life.
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Many TV shows today, ie: Charmed, show Witches in a trendy new light, and many teenagers
today feel very drawn to it. Whilst We don't come down on these youngsters, it is easy to
forget that Witchcraft is a lifestyle, not something to try just because nothing else
worked, not something to try because everyone else is doing it, not something to try just
for fun, and certainly not something to try because you want to do a spell.
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Being a witch is a lot of work. It is a way of life, we live it, we breathe it. We look
deep within ourselves and see both light and dark, we take everything thrown at us and
break it down until we understand it. We respect the world around us and all who live
within, from the humblest of ants to the brightest of flowers.
It is important for you to realize that there are many paths that you can follow. By
learning about different paths, it can not only enrich your knowledge but also guide you
towards a path that will best suits you. You may follow a traditional Celtic path, or
walk in the path of the Shaman. You might discover the beauty of Faery Magick or find
youself discovering the mysteries of Gypsy magick. Whichever you decide, here within this
website We can show you where to start, whichever path you finally decide to go.
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This is NOT about the common Wicca that many young ones fall into. This
tradition is different to those or us who call ourselves Witches. Wiccans generally call
themselves Witches and will never see the difference. Witches know the difference and We
will attempt to convey this to you within this Website. Wiccans feel the need to be quite
ritualistic, even in simple rituals, following people like Gerald Gardiner, who is
considered the father of modern day Wicca. Witchcraft has been around for centuries, and
back when our ancestors walked, these people felt no need of fancy tools, garb, and their
rituals were to celebrate the turning wheel of life.
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Witches celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats. Sabbats being the 4 greater Fire Festivals and
the 2 Equinoxes and 2 Solstices, while Esbats are the time we celebrate the full
moon.
We do on occasion cast the circle, dress up and have full force ritual, but you will find
on a smaller scale, we may just create sacred space, with no tools at all, just our
intent.
We can't speak for all witches as We follow a very Shamanic/Witch path, incorporating
into my rituals tools like rattles and drums. We are just as likely to honour
Grandmother/Grandfather (spirits of my ancestors), as We are to honour the God/ess. We
never invoke deity, tho We have 2 Goddesses that walk with us in everyday life.
We never invoke the Guardians of the Watchtowers, but We do always try to acknowledge the
elements and incorporate them into my rituals. We don't have to have the cakes and ales
rite within my ritual, but a sacred drink with friends is nice to share, one We can
return to the Earth in thanks.
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We myself, work mostly with herbs, the moon (that's us the little Moon baby), and like
nothing more than to take a journey to the spirit world. We also deal a lot with birth
charts, having only in the last few years finding myself enjoying doing them.
But That's me, that's my path, It is not yours. Each person has their own path to follow,
and while We can impress upon you the knowledge We have, you, and only you can walk your
path, taking what you have learnt with you. Do not be in a hurry to find your path, it
may not be very clear to you at this stage, but it will come, when you are ready, and
once found, remember that most paths will have forks in them and will lead you in
different directions.
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Your interests will vary, you may find yourself attracted to Egyptian Culture, while at
the same time wanting to learn the medicinal qualities of herbs or learning Tarot -
combine and utilise all of them. Learn the basics, then follow in depth those things that
interest you. Remember, that the learning process will never end.
It is a life-long Journey
You cannot learn Witchcraft, just from reading books. Sure it is OK to read them, they
contain a lot of useful, valuable information, but don't fall into the trap (as We have
seen many do), of taking a book so seriously, that you end up thinking you know it all,
and that's the way it will be, just because a book told you.
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Books are just another tool for you to use, they are handy for getting ideas and cross
referencing, but reading alone will not make you a witch. It will just make you
knowledgeable. An example We once gave a young lass to get to this point through was: We
could go and read every book We could lay my hands on about dogs, what they ate, how they
played, their likes, dislikes, but no matter how much We knew about dogs, it would never
make us one. (This is rather dramatic We know, but it did get my point across).
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Books are a good starting point, We don't know any witches who don't have a well stocked
library. Websites, today, are another good way to get info, lots of great sites out
there, but the best experience you will ever get, is finding a teacher or mentor to sit
down and go through it all with you. The best teachers to find are the ones who will let
you question, discuss and challenge them. A good teacher can always learn from her
students.
But remember, not one person will have all the answers, so it is also a good idea to try
and get into some sort of a group, whether it be a study group, or on the web in a
chatroom. The one good thing about interacting with other people is that you may just see
a different point of view, even if you don't agree with it.
So enjoy your stay with us, learn with us, grow with us.
Your Journey Has Just Begun
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