I was just talking to a friend about this over the weekend. Just last year I became comfortable with openly calling myself a witch. It is what I have always been and so claiming that word felt like home. My friend informed me that she struggles with that word even though she is just as wonderfully witchy as I am. She explained that all of the negative associations keep her from using the word. While I understand her reasoning, I have found so much power in claiming the word for myself. Thank you for exploring this so eloquently.
Words have all the power. I agree completely with words changing and creating our existence! I use my passwords (I have many passwords at work that need the change regularly) I create statements or words that represent things that I want to focus on. In the past it's been words like Discipline, Clarity or phrases like Choose Peace. I have to type these passwords numerous times a day, so it is like a small reminder to refocus me on my goals. I also use pictures - or words - as a desktop slideshow on my computers, for additional reminders. Pictures as a slideshow on the computer can be like a vision board!
I love and resonate with this post, Maia. I've always felt in my bones that I'm of "witch" vintage or lineage—the kind described in the poem you shared. Maybe it's not the right word—I can't think of any other at the moment that has the same resonance for me. I will have to think on that.
It concerns me, with the times as they are, that history repeats itself snd I think with these extreme political people, robed in religion will go after those calling themselves witches. The extreme right wing community is evil and hateful snd the will at some point go after or make noise about witches. Hopefully not though.
I suspect it will (once again) depend on who is defining the word “witch” and which aspect of the archetype are being pulled to the surface. The Kennedy coalition supports natural healing methods that so that’s a curve ball.
Keen observation! Humans are unique and multifaceted. From your words to the mass media’s ears. Despite best efforts to polarize our global community into two narrow stereotypes, humanity just keeps evolving, finding intersection points that disrupt the narrative. So appreciate all that you are Dearest Maia 💖
May the herbs and the underlying essence of magic that unifies the ALL be restored to its place of honor ~ at the core of all we do once more. 🙏💖✨
A great post Maia. For me witchcraft is all about words, names, yes, but moving words also; in a phrase, a line, a contradiction and sometimes a startling but appropriate typo that speaks louder than the correct one would! The witchcraft of words that lodge between the rocks, like waves that broke and swept into a trapped and salty hollow.
I was just talking to a friend about this over the weekend. Just last year I became comfortable with openly calling myself a witch. It is what I have always been and so claiming that word felt like home. My friend informed me that she struggles with that word even though she is just as wonderfully witchy as I am. She explained that all of the negative associations keep her from using the word. While I understand her reasoning, I have found so much power in claiming the word for myself. Thank you for exploring this so eloquently.
It's one of those words that means different things to different people, for sure, so not surprised you both have different feelings about it.
Words have all the power. I agree completely with words changing and creating our existence! I use my passwords (I have many passwords at work that need the change regularly) I create statements or words that represent things that I want to focus on. In the past it's been words like Discipline, Clarity or phrases like Choose Peace. I have to type these passwords numerous times a day, so it is like a small reminder to refocus me on my goals. I also use pictures - or words - as a desktop slideshow on my computers, for additional reminders. Pictures as a slideshow on the computer can be like a vision board!
I love the idea of using passwords as mantras and reminders— that’s really brilliant!
I love and resonate with this post, Maia. I've always felt in my bones that I'm of "witch" vintage or lineage—the kind described in the poem you shared. Maybe it's not the right word—I can't think of any other at the moment that has the same resonance for me. I will have to think on that.
I love the idea of finding our own true names… just for us. Words that don’t morph through common usage.
It concerns me, with the times as they are, that history repeats itself snd I think with these extreme political people, robed in religion will go after those calling themselves witches. The extreme right wing community is evil and hateful snd the will at some point go after or make noise about witches. Hopefully not though.
I suspect it will (once again) depend on who is defining the word “witch” and which aspect of the archetype are being pulled to the surface. The Kennedy coalition supports natural healing methods that so that’s a curve ball.
Keen observation! Humans are unique and multifaceted. From your words to the mass media’s ears. Despite best efforts to polarize our global community into two narrow stereotypes, humanity just keeps evolving, finding intersection points that disrupt the narrative. So appreciate all that you are Dearest Maia 💖
May the herbs and the underlying essence of magic that unifies the ALL be restored to its place of honor ~ at the core of all we do once more. 🙏💖✨
I've always thought the word witch to be fearful, a label someone used to take away the very power the wielder coveted.
It really is a shapeshifter of a word, meaning slightly different things to different people!
A great post Maia. For me witchcraft is all about words, names, yes, but moving words also; in a phrase, a line, a contradiction and sometimes a startling but appropriate typo that speaks louder than the correct one would! The witchcraft of words that lodge between the rocks, like waves that broke and swept into a trapped and salty hollow.
Lovely, Phillippa. It’s the serendipity the reminds us to see beyond what’s obvious.