Hi there, friends! This post is based on a question I get asked a lot – “how do you become a witch?” There’s a really simple answer to that question, but I think the underlying question within it is really, “where do I start if I want to become a witch?” So today I’m going to be sharing with you some advice to those who may just be starting down this path.
Shameless plug, but if you REALLY want to know how to incorporate witchcraft into your daily life, The Witch of Lupine Hollow and I made a whole school of courses about it ;D But it’s also cool if you just want to read this post instead. Affiliate links are marked with a *, because your girl’s gotta pay the bills somehow.
This is a bit of a long one, so strap in, folks!
1. you don’t need someone else to make you a witch
How do you become a witch? The simple answer is really that you decide to become a witch, and bam! There you are. Although some covens or paths of witchcraft or Wicca might require formal initiation or have specific rules about who can or can’t join, in general anyone can be a Wiccan or a witch. There’s a tradition of studying for a year and a day before dedicating yourself to the Craft, but it’s really not necessary. I initially decided I would do this, but found myself identifying as a witch long before the year and the day were over. Still, once the time was up, I just did a little self-dedication ritual more for myself than anything else and that was it! No one else’s approval required.
2. read selectively at first
Usually I would say “read ALL the things!” but unfortunately there’s a lot of cultural appropriation and just plain misinformation out there about witchcraft, Wicca, and their history. I do think there can be a lot of good things in a problematic text, but when you’re first starting out it can be hard to tell what’s truth and what’s not. One of the best resources I’ve found is Drawing Down the Moon* by Margot Adler. Adler was Wiccan herself, and she manages to debunk some of the main myths about Wicca and witchcraft without putting down the craft itself. It’s also a fascinating look at the way witchcraft and Wicca have been practiced in the United States over the years. It was written a while ago so it’s a bit dated, but not OUTdated, if you know what I mean.
Another great intro to witchcraft is The Inner Temple of Witchcraft* by Chris Penczak. My memory of reading this is that he does cross into some iffy cultural territory and sort of perpetuates some witch myths, but overall I thought his approach was a great way for someone to learn the basics of witchcraft, especially if they’re kind of skeptical (like I tend to be!)
Also, take all books with a grain of salt. If one talks about a practice you don’t like, need, or feel comfortable with, leave it. Not every witch astral travels or does blood magick, and not all witches think curses are bad. It’s okay to make your own rules.
3. start small
There’s so much information out there and it’s seriously overwhelming to start with, but you don’t need to be a big bad experienced witch in order to work an effective spell. Start small with materials you already have on hand, or learn the meaning of one new herb at a time and use that. Some of the most effective spells and rituals I’ve done have just been me, a candle, and the moon. Don’t let a lack of experience or things stop you from working your magic(k).
4. find your community
I don’t necessarily mean finding a coven – in fact, I would suggest not looking for a coven until you’ve been practicing long enough to be sure of your path. I thought at first that I would LOVE to be in a coven, but now I realize that while it would be nice to have an IRL community to chat with, I do my best practicing on my own. Also, you run the risk of pledging yourself to a coven dedicated to a certain deity only to find out later on that you don’t want to work with that deity after all. Awkward.
But I do think it’s important to have other witches you can learn from and ask questions of while you’re learning. I haven’t found any good forums (if you know of one, PLEASE tell me) but Tumblr has proved to be an amazing resource for all things witchery. Browse the “witchcraft” and “witches of Tumblr” tags for blogs to follow. Most people I’ve met there have been super nice! (I’m a-lavender-moon if you’d like to follow!)
5. you don’t need a lot of stuff
I know that Tumblr and Instagram make it seem like you need a huge crystal collection and an entire pantry full of herbs, but really, REALLY all you need to do magick is yourself. That’s it. You don’t need anything else but you and your intentions. It’s fun to collect witchy bits and bobs and I’m the last person to talk about minimalism because I buy everything, but you don’t need those things. You can make spell jars from recycled bottles or decorate your altar with rocks from your garden. Don’t give in to the pressure to LOOK witchy. It’s more important that you ARE witchy.
(Side note, I wrote an entire post about spiritual sh*t I wasted money on here, so you don’t have to.)
6. write it down
You’re probably going to want to keep either a grimoire or a Book of Shadows, but I think it’s important that you keep a spiritual journal, as well. This can be something you carry around with you everywhere and that no one will ever see but you. Put in all your messy, disorganized thoughts, write down any time your intuition is spot on, scribble about your struggles with meditation, whatever. It’s really great to have a record of where you’re at and what you’re doing with your spiritual practice. For one, it’s therapeutic, but for another, it helps you figure out the way forward!
7. it’s okay if your beliefs change
In fact, they absolutely will. My views about working with deities change all the time. My thoughts on reincarnation have evolved the more I’ve thought about it. My personal set of rules has shifted as I’ve grown more comfortable in my craft. Changing your views on one thing or another doesn’t necessarily mean you were wrong before, it just means you’ve got more information now and can make a better decision for the current you. It doesn’t invalidate your past.
8. your book of shadows doesn’t have to be perfect
I need someone to wake me up every morning by yelling this at me through a megaphone. I think we all fall into perfectionism when it comes to our grimoire or Book of Shadows because we want them to be the cool witch books we see on TV. Honestly, though, a grimoire is just for you, no one else, and since all of us are imperfect it’s totally okay for your book to be imperfect too. The most gorgeous grimoire in the world is totally pointless if you never actually use it for fear of screwing it up! If you’re really concerned, though, do what I do and have a million different grimoires that you use for different things and one big main one that you only put the pretty stuff in.
9. don’t appropriate closed cultures
Seriously, y’all. This is a HUGE problem in the witch community, partially because as I mentioned above, cultural appropriation is passed off as a normal part of witchcraft by some of the major authors in the community.
It can be really, really hard to tell at first what’s cultural appropriation and what’s not, but use your common sense and if it’s taken from a culture that’s been systematically victimized over the years, it’s probably not okay to use. I think that Native American spiritualities in particular tend to be appropriated, but you can find a way to incorporate basic beliefs into your practice without outright taking from a closed culture – for example, you can say “smoke cleansing” instead of “smudging” or “animal guides” instead of “spirit animals.”
Like I said, it can be hard to know what you can and can’t use because so much of witchcraft is a blend of things taken from historical cultures. If you don’t know if something is cultural appropriation or not, look it up. Especially if you’re a white person. We’ve stolen enough from other cultures already.
10. you don’t need to know everything
If I could tell you one thing, it’s this. No one knows anything. If they say they do (or make you feel bad for asking questions) they’re probably a jerk. There’s no bonus points for being able to recite every poisonous plant by heart when pretty much anyone can do a Google search to find the same information. I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly you DO learn, and in no time you’ll be able to rattle off all the things rose quartz is good for or what herbs can help an upset stomach. But there’s no pressure to memorize this stuff. In fact, some of the best knowledge comes from DOING the thing. That’s the stuff you end up remembering. You never stop learning in witchcraft, and that’s the beauty of it. The trick is to be comfortable with not knowing, so you can invite more knowledge in.
So those are my 10 tips for the beginner witch! I might end up doing a part two of this post in the future because I could talk about this for days probably.
Do you have any tips or resources you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to check them out!
These are awesome tips! I especially appreciate you putting in something about cultural appropriation and race. I recently saw a popular white witch (as in race) comment one someone’s YouTube video, “Haven’t we talked enough about appropriation?” and it just turned me off so much I immediately unsubscribed to her work. I mean, if your spirituality doesn’t have room for real world problems and pain, what good is it?
I totally agree, Trish. We obviously haven’t talked enough about appropriation since so many people still do it! I feel that one of the main tenets of my path and many others’ is that we’re all connected in some way, so the pain of others is absolutely my problem too. I think that anyone who subscribes to that “ONLY love and light ALL the time” mentality is missing out on real opportunities to grow and help heal the world!
SO well written Dana…ESPECIALLY re. Cultural appropriation and supporting those with limited resources.
This post could be a lesson for all!
Sharon
Hi Sharon! Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it! <3
As a little girl my brother called me a witch…. no not being nasty lol. He just looked at me and said ‘you are a witch’. and he meant it. I knew ‘things’, I learned from my Mum who knew ‘things’… so be it. Culture took me down the path of Christianity but I have gone full circle and now I am back to my herbs and crystals, to seeing deeper meanings in the world around me. I live in BC Canada – coming from the UK. My son in law is Cree and I have somehow been drawn towards the First Nations spirituality but I respectfully stand off from it. If I am invited that is different but to appropriate is wrong. I am also a Paranormal Investigator and my team has been invited by FN to discreetly help in certain cases. We are privileged. It was after an experience at a location owned by FN that left me drained that I was ‘gifted’ a beautiful and very large Owl feather… it was there at my feet… for days after an Owl would visit our home.. It was then that my path changed. It was the death of my old culture and the birth of my new path. I felt blessed.
Kay, your journey sounds amazing! I’m so happy you found a path that works for you <3 (also, your job sounds like the coolest thing ever!)
Thank you so much for talking about the cultural appropriation in witchcraft. I have just recently been looking into witchcraft and wicca and found that allot of things that are commonly used made me feel uncomfortable to practice. I study history, so seeing bits and pieces of other peoples culture thrown all about as a means for other people to use for their own purposes, without any credit or understanding of the origin true purpose by the user really just gets under my skin. Glad to see there are people who are speaking out about it.
Thank YOU, Ruby! It really is pretty strange how blatant cultural appropriation is so often passed off as fact in the witchcraft and Wiccan communities. As long as you stay vigilant, though, you should be just fine! <3
I would also like to thank you about the appropriation point. I have been on this path for many years, but it has been rocky and bumpy and on-and-off. I have to admit that I have never encountered this idea before, but I am so glad I stumbled upon your post (thank you Pinterest!). I would love to see you write a whole post about appropriation in Wicca/Witchcraft, for ignorant people like me, so that we might have a better idea of what to look for. Thanks again!
Hi Sarah! Oh, that’s a great idea! I will definitely consider writing a post like that with some of the most common instances. It can really be tricky to identify at first, especially since it’s all presented as normal in many mainstream books. Thank you so much for reading! <3
I’ve always cringed at using the term Spirit Animal, so thank you for adding the phrase for animal guides.
Definitely a great list that seems a good jumping off for me! Thanks!
Of course, Stephanie! Thank you so much for reading! <3
As someone who subscribes to no single religion or practicing of my spirituality, I find myself drawn time and time again to pagan practices. I am forst and foremost a researcher. I am constantly looking into new ideas and different ways people practice. Because I choose not to limit myself to any one way of believing, I take from Celtic, Scandanavian, South American, and various sects of Wicca. To say that because I happen to be white, I am appropriating someone else’s culture and offending anyone by being me was shocking. Your post was very informative and made me feel good about how I am until it became about worrying about other people’s perception of me. Up until that moment, you talked about finding your own path and just being you. I feel sorry that you are so limited by perceived barriers in your practice/religion.
Hi V.H.! I’m sorry if I came off as trying to shame you for your practices, but cultural appropriation is a real issue in the community that needs to be addressed. I think there are ways to incorporate different aspects of various cultures into your spirituality without taking from people who have asked time and time again for their faith to be respected. As far as I know, Celtic, Scandinavian, and Wiccan practices are all open for anyone to use, so there’s no need to worry about that! I’m not sure about South American practices – I think it depends on the individual culture and whether those people have made it clear that their faith is not for outsiders to borrow from. There’s absolutely no problem with using ideas from many different paths, but we need to be mindful of the cultures we borrow from and be sure we do so with respect – and that means respecting the wishes of those who don’t want outsiders practicing their spirituality. I hope that makes a little more sense!
Hey! I wanna ask something. I can’t buy any books or stuff because one buck makes 4 turkish liras and that is just too expensive, I honestly can not afford that. And I can’t find a website that gives all the information about wicca and witchcraft. So, could you at least write an article about some simple rituals and etc.?
Hi Delfin! That’s a great idea! I’ll plan a post soon about simple rituals, and household items you can use for magickal purposes <3 Thank you for reading!
Try Amazon several books are free to download on your computer or phone. I have some.
I struggle between my beliefs…. I feel my supernatural side pulling me one way and my Christianity side pulling me another… It’s a constant struggle… So I just do me… Whatever that is lol
Hi Dana! I totally understand that struggle. There are actually a lot of witches out there who identify as Christian witches, in case you’re interested in learning more about that – the two don’t necessarily have to be mutually exclusive! I hope you find a practice that works for you <3
Hi Serena, I always been curious about this subject and i never started because I’m an atheist but it´s impossible to me to ignore how fascinating I’m about this, I think since I was 10 years old and currently I’m 19.
I feel I never start or take it to serious because of my atheism and when you say in the blog: it’s okay if your beliefs change, a light turns on in my head.
But my atheist is too strong for even think about to change my beliefs.
Obviously you have WAY MORE EXPERIENCE so can you please give me any advice I would appreciate it.
Hi Win! I think the best thing you can do is to not cling too strongly to labels. I was an athiest when I first discovered tarot, as well, and I approached it with a completely scientific view (that it was a psychological tool and nothing magic about it!) The more I learned about tarot and witchcraft, though, the easier it became for me to wrap my head around the things that made me uncomfortable at first. I think you could take the same approach to witchcraft, too. You don’t have to believe in any deities in order to explore witchcraft, and if you’re skeptical you can put things in more scientific terms if that helps you out (that everything is made of energy at an atomic level, and casting a spell is really just an exchange of energy, things like that!) But you can also incorporate aspects of witchcraft into your life without completely calling yourself a witch. You can meditate, spend time in nature, respect the Earth, and learn more about witchcraft and paganism (if that part appeals to you) and see what calls out to you. You don’t have to completely reinvent yourself overnight, it’s okay if it takes time <3 I hope that helps a little! Thank you so much for reading my post 🙂
I found this very interesting and thought provoking. I like many was brought up on a Christian path, which as a child I loved, my love for nature would see me move from that path and drift as I have for many years. Being a child of Albion, our shores have been invaded and changed so many times, with it new belief and cultures yet it still evolves. I love and respect all belief systems and am proud to come from Celtic path. Brightest blessings xxx
Hi Eve! Thank you so much for reading my post! I’m so glad you finally found a path that lights you up <3 Have a magical day!!
Hey, can anyone help me in starting out with witchcraft? I’m really struggling to find a beginning to it and would like to find someone who can help me.
Check out a group on facebook called old soul Vvitch. Lots of advice and lovely people xx
Hi!! Still in the broom closet in this life but I’ve been drawn to witchcraft my entire life. I believe I was a witch in a past life as many things seem to come naturally to me. This post was amazing and so informative. Thank you so kindly.
Thank YOU, Erica! I’m so glad you liked it! <3
Hello,
Thank you for this article. I’ve recently decided to tune in on my witch side (somehow lost it after my grandmother – Yes, she was a witch…of sorts- died) again and needed a bit of guidance.
And also someone to tell me my book shadows doesn’t need to be perfect…
Thank you!!
Thank YOU for the comment! I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother, but I’m glad to see that you’re pursuing your path and I hope it brings you healing <3
Hi Michael! Your grandmother sounds like an amazing lady. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve found a lifestyle that works for you and have stuck with it all these years <3
A really encouraging post — thank you!
Of course, Stef! Thank you for reading! 🙂
This witch school gets a thumbs up from me: https://www.meetup.com/OrderoftheBlackHat/. It is Gddess centered and teaches about chakras, dreaming, tarot,and other things. It is internet based so anyone can join it.
Hi! I am just beginning my journey into witchcraft after always being drawn to it, and somewhat adrift in terms of my spirituality.
The academic in me is a “read all the things” type and I definitely want to check out the books you recommended. In doing some research I came across a book called buckland’s complete book of Witchcraft. Is this a good source in your experience or does it have some of the problems you discussed above (ie perpetuating myths, culturally appropriating) either way I am so grateful to have found your post as it is extremely approachable and not judgemental at all!
Xx
Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for this comment! <3 Buckland is a classic, and in general I have heard good things about his work. However, keep in mind that this book was first published in the 1980s, so there might be some concepts in it that are a little dated and/or some things that are no longer politically correct given our modern climate! I definitely recommend giving it a read - Buckland is one of the big names in witchcraft and his work has inspired a lot of contemporary authors 🙂
Wonderful post, thank you! Side, note, what deck are the cards from in the picture just before you start tip #7? They are beautiful and they really speak to me.
Hi Kimmie! It’s the Green Witch Tarot! 🙂 A really gorgeous deck!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/opinion/cultural-appropriation.html
My favorite quote from the article above: “None of this means that all cultural appropriation should be cheered . . . But so long as the impulse is one of homage and not derision, we should encourage borrowing. Culture should be shared, not hoarded.”
Just a different way to look at cultural appropriation with words more eloquent and to the point than my own would be. The author comes across as judgemental, but I wanted to share another way to look at what you seem to think is so awful, yet I believe to be the most beautiful thing of all.
There is no such thing as a unique idea. We all take from this world, but it is what we can give back to it that truly sets the moral scales in balance. Please don’t mistake my comment as a judgement on your way of thinking, but I just wanted to put this thought out there so maybe we can all broaden our horizons a little bit more, as I have kept an open mind regarding your comment that “we have stolen enough from other cultures already”. Also, tarot cards can be traced back to 15th century Italy. Is that not cultural appropriation that we read them now for guidance? Just changing the name from smudging to smoke cleansing does not erase the fact that we as a culture did not come up with the practice itself. Yes, names are powerful, but intentions are more powerful. People from the past, present, and the future have and will always make bad choices, like steal or abuse cultures, but if I may speak for the people that visit your site, we want to celebrate the light that life has to offer, not steal from it.
I hope that I have come across as a peaceful presenter of a point of view that is different than your own, and I will continue to accept and contemplate other point of views that are different than mine.
Hi Jordan! Thank you for your comment! I agree that there is no such thing as a unique idea, and especially in the United States so many of the things we love and appreciate were borrowed from other cultures. However, I think this is different than cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is when we take something sacred from a culture that has already suffered oppression, without understanding the true context of the thing we’re taking, and then not listening to the people of that culture when they say “this is not for you to take.” It is, in fact, a form of abuse. Taking tarot cards from ancient Italians is not the same as using the word “smudging” to refer to the spiritual work we’re doing, when in fact smudging refers to a specific cultural practice that is closed to outsiders. It’s okay to see people smoke cleansing and want to do that in your own practice, but we need to recognize that our form of smoke cleansing is different than the original practice of smudging, and it’s not okay for us to water down that original practice by using their word to refer to our version. Other cultures have so much to teach us and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to incorporate aspects of this into our daily lives, but we need to be respectful of those cultures and that means acknowledging that there is a history of blatantly taking and stealing. In some cases, true respect of a culture means observing without taking, and acknowledging that it’s more important others feel their culture is safe from attack than it is for us to use the word “smudging” when we burn some sage. That’s where I’m coming from – does that make sense?
Hey, so I was wondering if anyone would be okay with answering some questions I may have…?
Hi Evarette! I’d be happy to <3 You can email me at if you’d like, or just leave them here! 🙂
Thank you so much this really help me out a lot! Great Article!
This is great information, thank you. I have been interested in learning Wicca and witchcraft for many years. I am finally living alone and free to learn the craft. Again thank you.
Hi Penny! Thank you so much for reading! I’m so glad you’re able to pursue your craft on your own terms now <3 I hope this was a good starting point and that you find fulfillment on your journey!
This is really helpful.
As I live in the midst of Europe , it actually has never occurred to me that appropriation might be an issue. But I definitely will have further look into this, just love me a good research!
Greetings from a german newbie <3
Hi Tessa! I can definitely understand that different countries and cultures would have different attitudes about things like that. Thank you so much for reading! <3
Hi Serena i see you are replying to the messages i love your take on the subject ive read alot and yours speak to me more than some of the other material ive read before just want to know what you think about initiation ritual and deciding which God/Godess to choose as a patron some say its helpful some say its not necessary im a little naive and not sure how i feel
Hi Louisa! I think if it feels right to you, you should absolutely do an initiation ritual. I’m a solo practitioner so I made up my own and performed it myself, and it was a very quiet, meaningful way to commit myself to my path. If you have a coven, they might have their own initiation rituals that they perform. But it’s also totally not necessary to have a ritual like that if it doesn’t feel right for you and your path! As for choosing a patron God/Goddess, I think it really depends on what you’re looking for. You don’t need to have a patron in order to work with the deities, so I think I would explore working with a few that interest you and going from there. Sometimes people feel that a deity chooses them by leading them to symbols or other representations of that deity in the practitioner’s life, and other people seek out their deities through research or what personally interests them. You can work with a deity without making any sort of binding commitment to them, so I would say start by figuring out which deity you’d like to work with and testing the waters with that relationship. If everything works out and you’d like to deepen your relationship with that deity, you can decide to make them your patron. I hope that helps! <3
There’s cultural appropriation and cultural assimilation. Cultural appropriation is not always bad – it is not something inherently damaging to the culture being appropriated. American men wearing kilts is not damaging to Scottish culture. American women wearing Bindi (aside from the single red dot which has religious purposes) is not damaging to the many Middle Eastern and Asian cultures where Bindi originated. Major fashion houses using images of African slaves on their clothing because they think it looks glamorous is damaging appropriation. Cultural ASSIMILATION is likewise not inherently evil. When we ASSIMILATE something from another religion or culture into our own cultural or spiritual practices, and use them in the same way as the culture/religion in which those practices originated, we are not doing damage. For example, Christianity assimilating Buddhist prayer beads into their own religion (the Rosary), or neopagans having spirit animals or spirit guides. While it is important to acknowledge the differences between a Rosary or Buddhist prayer beads, and a Native American spirit animal or a Wiccan one, using those practices is not harmful to the originating faith. Problems only arise when there is DISRESPECT involved. Don’t be afraid to incorporate practices that resonate with you, whether they be cultural or spiritual. Often such incorporation can be what saves the practice and learning to respect the practice can save the originating culture/religion.
Hi S! I’m afraid I don’t agree with your perspective. Many well-meaning Wiccans and witches can cause very real harm to a culture by taking symbols and practices of a closed spirituality out of context. If you truly appreciate and respect a culture, you must also respect the wishes of that culture when they tell you that something is not for you. There are certainly many examples of sharing across cultures, which is part of living in a globalized world, and that’s great! You can learn from and take whatever you’d like from an open culture. But it’s harmful to suggest that we should be trying to “save” any culture or religion that is not open to us. Appropriation can be damaging even if the harm is not obvious to the person doing it, simply because the cultures we’re taking from have been oppressed and stripped of their practices for hundreds of years. It’s time for us to step back and recognize that some things are not for us to steal.
i just found this website and i looks like a pretty cool
i know some stuff about magic and witchcraft and my mum is a witch and
she is pressuring me to be just like her what should i do?
p.s. sorry for my crap spelling.
-ZEAK SUKIO
Hi Zeak! I don’t think it’s ever right to pressure someone into a spirituality – it will never feel right if it’s not something you choose for yourself. That said, if witchcraft is something you’re interested in, I would recommend reading some books about it and seeing how you feel! There are so many different paths when it comes to witchcraft, so if your mother’s practice doesn’t appeal to you, there might be another path out there that’s a better fit. A good place to start is The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Chris Penczak, as I think it does a great job of introducing a beginner to magick, and I also really love Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner (even though I’m not Wiccan.) Finally, To Walk a Pagan Path is a great book about paganism in general and not just witchcraft. In the end, though, remember that it’s your choice and you should follow whatever spiritual path makes you feel fulfilled <3 I hope that helps!
Hi ..I would just like to thank you ..I recently started on my journey in this amazing world and I was a little unsure of myself. I’m from the Caribbean an I have never come across another witch in this region. I’m not saying there isn’t . I just love that you put it in such a simple way
Hi Tracey! Thank you so much for this lovely message! It can be hard to find other local witches – I don’t know any in my area, either, which is what makes the online community so special to me <3 I hope that you can find all the resources you need to have a thriving practice, even without other local witches! 🙂
The pigment of my skin is white. My ancestry is 45% U.K. and Irish. However, I also have North African, Italian, and Jewish ancestry. So, how does an outsider who doesn’t know your ancestry have the right to claim culture appropriation based on the pigment of your skin? I understand that it is your own conscience that has to live with the decision you made; but as long as you are not harming anyone, whose business is it what you do? I don’t care what a gay couple does in the privacy of their home, so why should they care if I wear a turban to call upon Goddess Isis?
Hi Tonya! The thing is, you ARE harming people when you appropriate a closed culture, even if you don’t think you are. You can’t know the real practices of a culture that’s not open to you because… it’s not openly shared information. By that fact alone, the practice you’re using is a diluted and bastardized version of the originally intended process. Now, this goes for CLOSED cultures. If you’ve been raised within a culture and have learned its practices from the people themselves, or if the practice or custom is not closed to outsiders, of course you can use it in your spiritual journey. Certain types of turbans have specific religious significance, but head coverings themselves are not isolated to any culture so that specifically isn’t an example of cultural appropriation. But many people take from other cultures without properly understanding the context of the practices and symbols they’re taking. It’s true that at the end of the day, no one is looking in your windows to see how you practice your spirituality, but how can you honestly say you respect a culture when you actively talk over and ignore the wishes of the people who belong to it? That’s where the conscience issue comes in. There aren’t any culture police to make sure you’re not taking anything that doesn’t belong to you, but even if you claim a varied ancestry, white people have still traditionally been the oppressors. We have to listen when other cultures say their practices aren’t open for taking. (Also, white people aren’t the only ones who are capable of cultural appropriation, but we DO have to be especially careful because it’s the nature of white privilege for us to assume everything is open to us, and we’re the people who have done the most harm throughout history.)
I have a question about cultural appropriation. I study belief systems as a hobby and appreciate different aspects of a wide variety of them from around the world. Is incorporating them into my practice considered cultural appropriation? Does that include deities? Thanks so much for this post. I was raised Christian, even to the point of becoming a zealot, and I am new to this path.
Hi Amber! The key thing to keep in mind about cultural appropriation is whether the culture or spirituality is “open” or “closed.” The Norse and Egyptian pantheons, for example, are open to anyone to appreciate, so there would be no problem at all with working with those deities. Other practices, like Santeria, are closed to outsiders. As far as I know, you need to be initiated into that faith in order to properly practice it, so it wouldn’t be right to take aspects from that religion to use in your own spirituality. There are often not hard and fast rules about which cultures are open or closed, but it’s a good idea to use caution if you’re looking into any practices in which white colonizers invaded and tried to stamp out the local religion to establish Christianity instead. (For example, Native American spiritualities.) But you can find a lot of great discussions about specific deities and spiritual traditions if you look them up on Tumblr or Google, so hopefully you’ll be able to make a decision after reading what others have to say about practicing the path you’re considering. Thank you so much for asking, that was a really great question! <3
Thank you, this has been really helpful. I have felt myself being pulled in this direction for years but only now trying to learn more about it. Your post has been a lot of help.
Hi Pam! I’m so happy to hear that! <3 Best of luck on your path!
I am so sorry you feel that way about being a white person. And I also do not agree with your cultural approporation. I believe in reincarnation and living many lifetimes, which will influence your choices in your current life. As on soul level we are getting guidance to follow your blueprint. Saying this, many of us have been in these closed cultural practices before (previous lives) and ‘taking from’ in this life and practising it is not stealing, as on a subconcious level you sometimes just ‘know’ how to use it. I am sorry to see that some are still so close minded in their believes and agree with others here to follow your own inner path and practice with what resonates with you. As for being a lighter color skin in this life, I again do not see why we should be seen as oppressors given my belief in reincarnation, as some of todays darker skinned people might well have been white in previous lives and been oppressors themselves. Therefor in this life they might have chosen to feel what it is like to be oppressed. Also, it is not only white people that oppress. Be careful in what you are saying. I live in a country where whites are currently being oppressed. The universe is there for all of us to learn from, nothing is exclusive. Especially with saying we are all one and then differentiating about color. Ideas and practices are there for all, if you don’t want others using it, do not make it public. Otherwise it is up for sharing.
Hi Patrys! I feel just fine about being a white person, especially because it gives me the unique opportunity to do this work and help educate other white people about how to partake in witchcraft in a conscientious fashion. Your comment makes me think that you haven’t come here with an open mind, so I’m not going to bother re-hashing the points I’ve already made clear in this blog post and in the comments. If you still don’t understand why it’s wrong to steal from cultures that do not belong to you, it’s because you don’t want to accept it. I hope one day you’ll realize that there’s more to life than just yourself and your own desires, and that respecting other cultures only happens when we listen to them. When you’re ready to learn, I’d recommend checking out the following resources, especially the first one:
https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qkg93m/black-magic-talking-with-hoodoo-witches
https://godsandradicals.org/2016/03/17/we-need-to-talk/
http://www.cwsworkshop.org/PARC_site_B/dr-culture.html
http://www.wildmysticwoman.com/poetry-prose/white-women-white-supremacy-1
Hi serena. I want to talk with you many somethings abaut that topic. How can send a massage you? How can reach you?
Hi Åževval! I’d be happy to chat with you! You can send me an email at 🙂
My name is Valerie I feel drawn to this practice for many years. I have feelings about certain things I see on a day to day experience I have started to pay more attention to them. Some times things grab my attention and I have found that there are reasons that they came into my path. I would like to explore this through witch craft. You artical is great. But Need to know more. I feel that if I move in the wrong path I may retreat the result
Hi Valerie! I wouldn’t worry too much about going down the wrong path. It sounds like your intuition is guiding you towards these things, so it’s a good idea to listen. The worst thing that could happen is that you end up changing your mind later about what you believe, which is something that happens to all of us at some point about one thing or another! It’s a better idea to try something out and discover it’s not for you than to not try at all. I hope that helps! <3
This was unbelievably helpful for me in the beginning stages of this journey. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Kali! I’m so glad it helped! <3
This post has been so helpful to me. I have been called to this path for quite some time, but I didn’t know how to get started. This has been a great resource. I was also wondering if you could recommend a couple more modern references (or @least those that are mindful regarding cultural appropriation). Thanks for all the great info.
Hi Lisa! Yes, that’s a great idea! Here are some great references on witchcraft and cultural appropriation:
https://theanchorandthestar.wordpress.com/witches-pagans-and-cultural-appropriation/
http://racebending.tumblr.com/post/58269580238/cultural-appropriation-can-you-explain-this-to
https://bluefireblackheart.wordpress.com/2015/12/02/on-cultural-appropriation-in-witchcraft/
I hope this helps! Thank you so much for reading! 🙂
I recently had a bit of an argument with my son’s girlfriend. She was making jewelry and asked if I would like a pair of feather earrings. I told her they were very nice but I wouldn’t feel right in wearing them knowing that feathers have special meaning to the native American people. She thought I was over reacting and it’s just a pair of earrings. I told her I would not want to offend anyone by wearing them when I am not Native American (to my knowledge-I have not had my DNA tested). She kind of upset with me but I just felt it wasn’t right. Now I do have some Native American jewelry – I live in the Southwest – Kokopeli and the Bear. So now I’m wondering what your thoughts are on wearing jewelery which could be associated with a cultural religion? I have always been drawn to the bear image and wear the necklace when traveling as he is a protector, just as I have worn a St Christopher medal growing up. Suddenly I’m feeling a little confused.
This is a great question, Robbie! I think there are a few things to consider here. Was the Native American jewelry actually made by a Native American, or was it made by someone else imitating that style? If you’re supporting Native artists who have made their jewelry to be sold, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing it. The tricky part comes in when people of other races try to mimic Native American culture in various ways, such as making “Native-inspired” jewelry or clothing – especially if they then make a profit off of selling it. I suspect the jewelry your son’s girlfriend was making looked similar to Native American jewelry, which is why it made you feel uncomfortable and that’s okay! Trust your gut. If you wouldn’t feel right wearing it, there’s likely a reason why. But if you’re supporting Native artists who are making their jewelry to share with the world, there’s nothing wrong with that at all 🙂 I hope that helps!
I would love to look into your actually classes new baby witch here trying to learn
Hi Heather! Welcome to the path! <3
Hi Serena. This was a really helpful article. Like many others I was raised christian, but I have always felt the pull to study wicca and witchcraft. I am thinking of being a solitary witch and I was wondering if it’s ok to find your own path by reading books on the subject. Is there a certain path to follow being a solitary witch or can you take advice from different aspects of witchcraft. I want to be a white witch. Do you have any advice to get started?
Hi Sky! I’m so glad this was helpful to you! <3 You can absolutely create your own path. That's what I did! I consider myself an "eclectic witch" because my practice has a little bit of everything. You can absolutely find things that resonate with you from different types of witchcraft and assemble them to make your own practice. I recommend reading a lot of books, and also browing Tumblr's witchcraft community if you can! The books are great for learning how things used to be and where modern witchcraft comes from (I specifically would recommend Drawing Down the Moon and also The Inner Temple of Witchcraft as good starting books) but Tumblr is really great for calling out the points where modern witchcraft has sort of failed, specifically regarding cultural appropriation and gender dynamics. Between those resources you should get a good idea of how other witches practice magick today, and you can build your own practice from there! I hope that helps! <3