What is a witch’s life-style? Damned if I know, except that it’s something we do 24/7 without thinking about it. Something that has become so ingrained in our daily lives that we never consider whether it makes us different from anyone else. And it certainly doesn’t mean that we are necessarily politically or socially correct, or that we subscribe to the pagan ethos (whatever that may be). There’s nothing altruistic about Old Craft although we do have a tribal mentality in that we look after our own and often say sod the rest – especially if we’re being interfered with, criticised by those who do not understand out ways and/or generally commented upon by outsiders. I dare say other Traditions attract their own fair share of assessment and examination but how they deal with it is their own affair.
One thing we can say with certainty is that a witch’s lifestyle is inseparable from the magical and spiritual elements of our beliefs. This doesn’t mean that we’re religious zealots, or that we spend a lot of time flinging ourselves in and out of the Circle. Neither is it separate from household chores, gardening, cooking, me-time or walking the dog!
And what’s all this got to do with witchcraft, I can hear you ask? For traditional British Old Craft witches, much of what we do has been moulded by a certain mind-set of getting the most out of life and learning to see things from a different perspective. Magical applications don’t always require a full ‘bells and smells’ ritual to get things moving, and a simple, silent locking onto our contacts can be equally as powerful – indoors or out.
Another important aspect of a Craft life-style is the reconciliation of the seasonal changes within our day to day living. All calendars were originally agrarian-based and since magical practice is heavily laden with sigil and symbol, allegory, analogy and metaphor, it doesn’t take a giant leap of the imagination to transpose the subtlety of these hidden 9often mystical) meanings into our daily routine. By consciously observing the natural turning of the seasons (rather than the printed calendar), we become more aware of the enchanting voice of Nature – even if its only listened to through an open kitchen window …
Philip Wright
One thing we can say with certainty is that a witch’s lifestyle is inseparable from the magical and spiritual elements of our beliefs. This doesn’t mean that we’re religious zealots, or that we spend a lot of time flinging ourselves in and out of the Circle. Neither is it separate from household chores, gardening, cooking, me-time or walking the dog!
- Home-making: Each person should have a special corner within the home, where they can put their feet up and relax for five minutes – having created an ambiance of colour, and light and space, fragranced with fresh air. If our home has a gloomy, airless stultifying atmosphere it can cause us to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine. Not only will our home-life suffer but so will our magical applications, too.
- Gardening: In much the same way as the home should provide a special corner, so should the garden for when we want to ‘go out and smell the roses’. A seat by a water feature can offer a spot for relaxation, meditation and lucid dreaming – or many of the other 5-minute magical applications that help to solve problems, relieve stress or change perspective.
- Cooking: Isn’t just about food, it’s about the pleasure of eating. Ensure at least one meal a week is eaten en famille and without fuss. And learn how to incorporate those seasonal suppers and impromptu spell-workings into the daily routine – who says a picnic isn’t a magical rite, or can’t be made into one!?
- Me-Time: It is important to have 10-15 minutes Me-Time every day that does not involve someone else – although in our house the dog always gets in on the act! Ideally this will involve sitting outside, barefoot on the grass or gravel to draw upon those earthy magnetic energies to help recharge our batteries. And if we roll up our sleeves to expose our forearms (or our legs) to the sun, this can provide us with a daily intake of Vitamin D. If all this takes place while sipping a cup of luxury tea and nibbling a butter-Madeleine, so much the better.
- Walking the dog: This is a daily opportunity to ‘stand and stare’ and dogs do it all the time in that each sight, sound and smell tells them exactly what’s going on in the world around them. Copy the dog and learn to tune-in to the language of nature.
And what’s all this got to do with witchcraft, I can hear you ask? For traditional British Old Craft witches, much of what we do has been moulded by a certain mind-set of getting the most out of life and learning to see things from a different perspective. Magical applications don’t always require a full ‘bells and smells’ ritual to get things moving, and a simple, silent locking onto our contacts can be equally as powerful – indoors or out.
Another important aspect of a Craft life-style is the reconciliation of the seasonal changes within our day to day living. All calendars were originally agrarian-based and since magical practice is heavily laden with sigil and symbol, allegory, analogy and metaphor, it doesn’t take a giant leap of the imagination to transpose the subtlety of these hidden 9often mystical) meanings into our daily routine. By consciously observing the natural turning of the seasons (rather than the printed calendar), we become more aware of the enchanting voice of Nature – even if its only listened to through an open kitchen window …
Philip Wright
RSS Feed