At first glance, those three identities—Catholic, Witch, and Woman of Science—might seem contradictory, even irreconcilable. According to the formal institutions that govern each of these spheres, they shouldn’t coexist. Yet, here I stand, embodying all three. And the more I’ve reflected, the more I’ve realized: the apparent contradictions aren’t inherent. They’re imposed.
Institutions and Demonization
Much of the supposed “conflict” between Catholicism, witchcraft, and science isn’t rooted in the essence of any of them, but in how institutions have twisted them for power.
Witchcraft: Historically, spells and practices have roots in paganism, folk traditions, African diasporic religions like Vodou, and other belief systems oppressed by colonialism. These traditions were demonized not because they were inherently evil, but because powerful institutions feared the autonomy they offered ordinary people. A person who could bless, heal, or protect their community without the Church or State was dangerous to the established order.
Science: Once supported by the Church, science too fell victim to institutional paranoia. Early Catholic leaders commissioned scientists like Copernicus, who even dedicated some of his writings to Pope Clement VII. The real demonization of science came later, spurred first by Martin Luther and Protestant reformers, and then escalated by Catholic authorities trying to “out-do” their rivals in zeal. What had once been embraced became condemned, not because of science itself, but because of politics.
The pattern is clear: institutions demonize what they cannot control.
My Catholic Faith
I was raised Catholic, and I still consider myself Catholic today. I believe in Jesus Christ as my savior, and I see his teachings as rooted in compassion, mercy, and understanding. But I don’t take my faith blindly. I lean toward Omnism, the belief that all religions hold at least some truth.
When I look at the long history of Christianity being weaponized—Bible verses cherry-picked to justify war, conquest, slavery, or genocide—I cannot accept that as true Christianity. Fear tactics, peer pressure, and abuse of authority have kept countless people from seeking truth for themselves.
If anything, I think Jesus would be furious at the atrocities committed “in his name.” His Sermon on the Mount was about love and humility, not oppression. He flipped the tables of greedy merchants who corrupted the temple; how much more anger would he feel toward institutions that massacred, enslaved, or brutalized entire peoples under the banner of the cross?
I’ve even met Witches, Pagans, and Satanists who embody Christ’s values of compassion and humanitarianism far more consistently than some “Bible-thumping” Christians who weaponize scripture to belittle others. That hypocrisy speaks volumes.
Witchcraft as a Path of Knowledge
For me, witchcraft isn’t about rebellion against Christianity—it’s about curiosity and care. I see witches as the pioneer scientists of the abnormal, exploring what couldn’t be explained in their time.
Herbalism: Early witches experimented with plants, documented their effects, and passed on remedies that remain the foundation of modern medicine.
Spells and charms: These often arose from observation and experimentation, not unlike the scientific method. If one ritual for protection worked, it was refined and recommended with cautionary notes for others.
The unknown: Even now, there are aspects of life science cannot fully explain—intuition, luck, synchronicity, consciousness itself. Witches explore these liminal spaces.
In that sense, witchcraft is not opposed to science but complementary. Both are about testing, observing, and understanding the world—just from different angles.
Science and Spirituality
Despite stereotypes, many modern scientists still believe in God or a higher intelligence. The intricacy of the universe, the fine-tuning of physical laws, and the mysteries of existence often inspire awe rather than disbelief. Faith and science don’t have to cancel each other out. They can inform and deepen one another.
My own practice of witchcraft began with research. One book, one article, one ritual led to another, until I found myself immersed in both study and practice. What I’ve found is that the more I learn, the more I see overlap between spirituality and science—different languages describing similar truths.
Practicing with Morality
As both a Catholic and a Witch, I ground my magic in ethics. I use spells and charms for healing, protection, and blessing. Occasionally, I will cast a curse—but only against those who intentionally and repeatedly harm others for selfish or cruel reasons. That, to me, isn’t vengeance. It’s justice, a way of tipping the scales when institutions fail.
After all, Jesus himself turned righteous anger into action. He didn’t passively accept corruption in the temple; he overturned tables and drove out greed. If he could act decisively against injustice, why shouldn’t I?
Conclusion
So yes—I am a Catholic, a Witch, and a Woman of Science. To some, that will always sound contradictory. But to me, it’s the most natural alignment of faith, curiosity, and practice.
Catholicism gives me a foundation of compassion and moral grounding.
Witchcraft offers tools for healing, protection, and empowerment.
Science keeps me questioning, testing, and seeking truth.
And woven together, these three paths allow me to live with open eyes, open hands, and an open heart.
The Big Five personality traits are a well-known and research-backed set of distinct dimensions of personality. This is a personality test based on the Big Five.
My Personality: The Big Five
Open to Experience: 16th percentile
Conscientious: 3rd percentile
Extraverted: 0th percentile
Agreeable: 14th percentile
Emotionally Stable: 31st percentile
I’ll be spending time reviewing Aesop’s Fabels for the foreseeable future using Aesop: The Complete Fables published by Penguins Classics (cover pictured here for those who would like to do the same).
I am not planning to publicly document all of my thoughts on all of the fables, but I may choose to share some of my thoughts here during this exploration. If you are interested, please keep an eye out for the tag Aesop2020.
So, looks like I’ll be exploring the Delphic Maxims using Longing For Wisdom by Allyson Szabo and other supplemental resources.
I’m not planning on posting all of my musings or discoveries or what-have-you online, but I may choose to share some thoughts. If this interests you, keep an eye out. I’ll try to use the tag DelphicMaxims2020.
23 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME: Learning what’s important in life
23 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME: Learning what’s important in life
Barely a month ago, we boarded a flight on a trip into the unknown, on a journey to the other side of the world. We plucked ourselves from the comforts of familiarity and submerged ourselves in unfamiliar territory.
We wanted to know what’s out there, and answer, “What could be out there for us?” We didn’t want to live our lives thinking that life is just this, just the way we are used to. We…
The next step was to see how my images could fit. I had pictures of my fiance and me, including when he proposed. I had pictures of cats and the cheerful red panda that used to be my computer wallpaper. And I had a photo of a sculpture of Medusa holding Perseus’ head, a flip on the traditional myth. How could I fit those into the narrative of bringing courage? Read more about my experience with expressive art therapy on my blog! https://allykatscorner.wordpress.com/2019/01/19/expressive-art-therapy/
