What is a Witch?
To become a Witch is to become more aware of yourself and your relationship to the physical, social and spiritual world around you. This process of self-transformation is mainly achieved through rituals. Initiation rituals, for example, may take a long time to prepare for, and can profoundly change a person. A self-confidence spell may take less preparation, but may be no less serious, or significant in its effects. Many Witches find their lives transformed by their spiritual practice. These transformations are not always easy, but they are rewarding as part of a process of personal growth. To become a Witch is a deeply personal choice—a choice to face yourself, and the universe, with open eyes. Witchcraft is a mystery religion. This means that central aspects of Witchcraft are mysterious, or hard to understand and explain. It also means that it is impossible to learn how to be a Witch without experiencing being a Witch. Rituals and magical experiences are central to Witchcraft practice. Witchcraft challenges us to discover the Goddess and the God within ourselves. In one sense, one of the mysteries of Witchcraft is to realise that we are part of nature. Witches celebrate nature. The ritual calendar of the Witches follows the seasons of the earth (see Chapter 11, ‘The sabbats’). Witches draw a lot of symbolism and imagery from nature, using animals, trees, flowers and landscape features in our rituals. Some Witches have become environmentalists as a result of this focus on nature, though many Witches are not actively involved in the environmental movement. A common Witch’s chant goes: ‘Earth my body, Water my blood, Air my breath, and Fire my spirit.’ Witches understand humans to be part of nature. We are part of the earth, not separate from it. The God and Goddess are found in people, in the earth and nature around us, not in some distant heaven in the sky. Witchcraft taught me not to feel guilty. Sure, I have made mistakes in the past. But, rather than feeling guilty about these 3