This post that I read, really struck a chord.
I've been asked before, what it's like being an experienced or "advanced level" witch. And honestly, I never quite know how to answer this. Every now and then, I get a specific question of how do I do this or where did I learn that, and I have to really think about it. It's like driving a car. Some of it becomes automatic after a while. I don't even remember exactly how I learned to read tarot cards. It's just something that I've been doing since forever ago. A lot of the stuff, I've been doing for long enough, that I don't even think about anymore. Stuff that I just do. Stuff that's just there, in my head, in my system, a part of me. I never had a grimoire or a spell book. If it weren't for my blog, I probably still wouldn't be writing things down.
I started tarot reading 13 years ago, and decided I wanted to be a witch 10 years ago. To be perfectly honest, I feel like I'm just now starting to "get it". Sometimes, it feels like a lifetime has passed, and I don't remember when being a witch became as natural as breathing.
Yes, I was a beginner once. We all were. Everybody has to start somehow, from somewhere. Without beginners, there are no experts. But when I first started walking this path, the world was a different place. Social media wasn't a thing. Life felt a lot simpler back then. Let me just say, with all sincerity, that I applaud the new/beginner witches of today. You are braver than I was back in my days.
With all my heart, I love having this blog, and I have no intention of departing Tumblr anytime soon. But I will go ahead and admit, what you see on Tumblr is only a glimpse of the witch that I am. That's not to say I have no intention of sharing more. But it does mean that every bit of what I do share is carefully considered.
I have walked away from many debates and arguments, as well as blogs I thought were worth following. Not saying I have a thin skin. I'm in my mid 30s now. I've kind of been there and seen that. I'm a big girl. I've been through a lot and I can handle a lot more. But let's face it, I'm getting old here, and I'm a spoonie. I just don't have the mental and physical energy for internet drama. The truth is, I also don't want to share something that's personal, that's important to me, that's been cultivated by many years of practice, faith, and spirituality, only to be pounced head on by someone who's jumped on the latest cultural appropriation bandwagon or who's picked up on the most recent WitchTok fad.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm far from thinking that all or even most baby witches are trend followers or bandwagon jumpers. I have learned quite a bit from the younger folks who are newer to this whole thing, believe it or not. But the one advantage that we old farts who've been around and at this for a while do have, is life experiences. You pick up so many things along the way as you go through life, and that's something that only time will give you. I've traveled to and lived in many places. I've spent a lot of time with a wide array of people, who know a wider array of people. I've learned from them what can't be found in books or on websites. I've built many connections across the globe that have withstood time and distance. I can just talk with those people, who know more of what they're talking about than the majority of the internet, than the bloggers and influencers who might have a bit more time on their hands, than the keyboard warriors who can't seem to distinguish between popularity and authenticity.
I will say though: much of being a witch is learned and done by doing, by experimenting, by exploring. A little bit of luck, and a lot of perseverance. It wasn't easy for me in the beginning. I had no one to guide me, and resources available to me were few and far in between. So much of the knowledge I have gathered throughout the years, I did by trial and error, as well as a good deal of guess work, and then revising and tweaking back and forth along the way. This journey is deeply personal and very individualistic. Along with studying the craft, you're studying yourself. You're figuring out who you are and how your craft fits into your being. You're discovering what works for you and what doesn't. You're deciding what to keep and what to discard. This is hard to be taught. It's why if someone who's brand new to witchcraft were to approach me and ask me to teach them everything I know, I'd have to sit down and have a chat with them about why I can't simply do that. There are some things that I can walk you through, some things that I can go over with you, and some things that I can show you. But it's true that you can lead a horse to water and not make it drink. Am I willing to impart my wisdom and experience? To a degree, yes. But all the instruction and training in the world won't do much, if you don't use it, develop it, and expand it, along with stretching your potential, on your own. And it's not the same for everyone, when they're ready to make the next leap, or answer the next calling.
(Art by minland4099 on DevianArt.)
