Witchcraft is a Practice

Witchcraft is a Practice December 10, 2018

While there might be a little witch inside everyone, some claim a special inheritance. Flouncing supposed witchblood, either by birth or through various traditions, doesn’t make you a witch. You know what does? Practicing witchcraft.

What Makes You a Witch?

I read hundreds of answers to this question every week. It’s one of the questions asked on the application to join my Facebook group, The Witches’ Realm.

Sometimes people respond to the questions about defining their witchery with something like, “I was born one.” It’s wonderful to have such a lineage, but it doesn’t make you a witch. Some claim to be descendants of a long line of witches, while others were gifted with certain skills with no obvious familial connection. I believe in the power of witchblood. I also believe that having it doesn’t make you a witch. Witchcraft is a practice, not a birthright.

Do those who claim bloodline rights to a certain tradition, deity or practice have some type of exclusive claim to these things? No. As a Hekatean Witch, it’s definitely something I considered years ago when I first began following her torches. I’ve encountered lots of flouncing, hating and witchsplaining along the way, too. This is usually conducted by those who feel they have some special right to the things that I am being called to. Witchblood doesn’t give you proprietary rights to anything, nor does it make you a witch. We need to stop putting up with self-proclaimed hereditary witches who spread toxicity, especially by telling others that they can’t witch the way they feel in their heart.

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About Cyndi
Cyndi Brannen is a witch and spiritual teacher, a trained energetic healer, psychic and herbalist. Merging together her training in shamanism, Tarot, past life work, meditation and psychology, she teaches and writes about better living through witchcraft. Keeping Her Keys: An Introduction to Hekate’s Modern Witchcraft explores Hekate from her ancient origins to modern understanding through magic and personal development is available now for pre-order from Moon Books. True Magic: Unleashing Your Inner Witch uses the magic of the elements and the three realms to activate your true witch powers and will be available later in 2019 from Moon as well. Connect with her on Facebook or at keepingherkeys.com to learn more about her teaching and writing. Cyndi lives in rural coastal Nova Scotia with her two sons where she can often be found wandering the cliffs or wild foraging plants. She lives what she teaches: fierce love, emotional courage and true magic. You can read more about the author here.

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