Recently, I was asked by someone with whom I work if I had any spell books that she could borrow for a girl’s evening she was attending. I lent her a couple of books, including the Element Encylopaedia, but it did make me wonder about whether spells is all that the general public will associate with the word ‘witch’. I recall that two of the questions posed to me by my son’s (then) Year 5 class, when I gave a talk about Witchcraft were: “Do you really do spells?” and “What are your favourite spells?”. The reason for that invitation from the school was that, as the child of an out-of-the-broom-closet Witch, he was subject to the sort of bullying and name-calling that can result from ignorance. One of the school’s intentions was that, as a result of my talking to the class, we could deal with some of the ignorance. The children were quite surprised when I said that my favourite spells were the ones to change the traffic lights to green, in my favour, and to find a parking space in a hospital car-park. More recently, my thirteen-year old niece asked for my assistance in buying ingredients for spells, to deal with some of the problems that she was having at school. I have suggested various candle magick rituals to her, for boosting her confidence and self-esteem, but also suggested other ways that she might be able to deal with those ‘issues’.

These three incidents highlighted for me how Witches may be perceived by those outside of Witchcraft, and I wondered whether my own practice of Witchcraft was just about casting spells, or was there more to it? For that matter, what is a spell? If I did no spells that could be recognized as such, or performed no magick, was I still a Witch?

When I was asked by that Year 5 class to define a spell, I explained to them that I see a spell as a form of prayer to my Goddess and my God. Having been raised in Roman Catholicism, I was familiar with the idea of lighting a candle for the Virgin Mary, and saying a prayer to her.  Is a candle magick spell any different from that? For me, a spell may involve props, such as candles, a cauldron, incense etc, or it might not. My old favourites of the ‘traffic light spell’ and the ‘parking spell’ do not involve props, but a fervent wish that both items will run in my favour, provided that it is appropriate. I would not wish to change the lights in the face of an oncoming ambulance, after all!. Nonetheless, in the course of my own path, I have performed rituals which have involved ‘props’: a piece of paper with my wish written upon it, burnt in my cauldron on the night of a full moon. By my own definition, this was ‘spellwork’, because alongside the props was my intent, my prayer to my Goddess and my God that my wish should come to pass. When I bake a cake, mentally, as I stir the ingredients together, I am making a wish that the cake will turn out well. It may not a spell by a standard definition, but it is a spell by definition of the intent. However, whilst I see spellcraft as an integral part of my religion, there is much more to the practice of my path that the occasional ritualized spell.

To me, there is more to being a witch than spellcraft. I have read somewhere that spellcraft – the use of one’s will to change an outcome some time in the future – is what makes Witches different from, for example, Druids. On the other hand, using tarot cards could be seen as a means of trying to change the future. The cards give a snapshot of the moment, with some pointers as to how future events may progress. It is a mutable future, and the individual may or may not choose to act upon that information for better or for worse. Their actions may, or may not, change the future as indicated in the cards. Does that mean that the use of the tarot is spellcraft, given that not all people who read tarot cards or have them read for them are witches?

Is there too much emphasis on spellcraft and too much of an impression that spellcraft is the main part of being a Witch? Spellcraft is probably the first word that most ‘muggles’ would associate with the word ‘Witch’, as I have said above. The question surely should be do we, as Witches, put too much emphasis on spells or make an effort to demonstrate that there are other aspects to our craft?

The practice of my religion also involves the development of a sense of tolerance and inner calm, as I continue to grow and to develop. It is that inner calm which enables me to survive my hectic lifestyle. I might ask for the assistance of my Deities in developing that calm, but it is also something that comes from me. I have to assess why it might be problematic for me to develop that calm. Yes, spells are a part of my religious practice, but just as much as reading the cards, observing the Sabbats and Esbats (when I can), and presenting myself in such a way that my actions, whilst not challenging the stereotype outright, give outsiders pause for thought as to what being a Witch might entail, when they realize that this suit-wearing, working mother is a Witch.

If there is an over-emphasis of spell-craft, then it is up to us to ensure that the stereotype is challenged. That does not mean direct action. By being ourselves, by demonstrating all the other qualities and skills that make us Witches, that is the way to challenge the stereotype. That is the way to demonstrate that we are just a normal, just as human as the next person. We just happen to be Witches.

Cendriya

© Cendriya Seven-Trees
All rights reserved