{"id":1484,"date":"2018-05-17T12:10:38","date_gmt":"2018-05-17T20:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/?p=1484"},"modified":"2018-05-17T12:30:29","modified_gmt":"2018-05-17T20:30:29","slug":"the-power-of-the-quiet-witch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/tempest\/2018\/05\/the-power-of-the-quiet-witch.html","title":{"rendered":"The Power of the Quiet Witch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

What is it that they say? It\u2019s the quiet ones you have to watch out for.<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to Witchcraft, I think that\u2019s especially true. The sentiment is mirrored in the Latin-originating proverb\u00a0 \u201cStill waters run deep.\u201d According to Wikipedia<\/a> this saying is \u201c\u201dnow commonly taken to mean that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature. Formerly it also carried the warning that silent people are dangerous.\u201d\u00a0 Both sayings essentially say: appearances can be deceiving \u2013 just because someone isn\u2019t making a lot of noise on the surface doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re not full of activity. Also: don\u2019t be so quick dismiss what you cannot see.<\/p>\n

The other evening I posted to my personal page and Twitter, \u201cOften true in both art & the Craft, the quieter the work\/worker, the deeper & stronger it goes. Thought can be far more powerful than words.\u201d<\/em> What does that mean?<\/p>\n

Now of course, the four powers of the Sphinx first spring to mind \u2013 to know, to will, to dare, and to keep silent<\/strong>. I also talked about the power of observation, listening, and resting in the post\u00a0Secrets of the Uncommon Witch<\/a>. But that\u2019s not quite what I\u2019m talking about here.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Zbysiu Rodak on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A common trend in today\u2019s society is that assuming if someone isn\u2019t saying or doing something that you can clearly and openly see, nothing is happening. That they\u2019re inactive, not caring, or participating \u2013 which may be completely untrue.\u00a0 I think we all know subconsciously that what we see of others online and in person isn\u2019t the full picture \u2013 because it\u2019s true of ourselves. No one else can be on our heads, and not everything is put on display (or should be).\u00a0 But media often has a habit of translating the real world into a simplified, 2D format that declares something or someone must be either THIS or THAT. But I digress, because I want to tackle media, personality, and Witchcraft in a future post.\u00a0<\/em> For now, I\u2019m bringing up the fact that we need to consciously realize that the unspoken and unseen actions do exist, even if they aren\u2019t witnessed.\u00a0 And there is much<\/strong> power to be found in that.<\/p>\n

More so, I\u2019m getting at understanding two sides of the same coin for your personal practice.\u00a0 One side is: just because you might not see someone being vocal or active about something, doesn\u2019t mean they are.\u00a0 The other side is: you don\u2019t have to make a show of everything \u2013 sometimes that energy is best conserved by directing it internally and dispersing it quietly.<\/p>\n

This approach can work especially well for some conflicts \u2013 especially disagreements in groups, dealing with misinformation or miscommunication, etc. It\u2019s very easy to get swept up in arguing points with opposing sides, which often leaves a person feeling emotionally, mentally, and\/or spiritually wiped. Imagine how much time and energy can be lost like that.\u00a0 It\u2019s like turning on a top 40 station in an echo chamber \u2013 the noise just doesn\u2019t stop.\u00a0 Nothing gets accomplished or heard.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Wilson Ye on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you approach a problem more metaphysically-minded, you can focus in the situation more deeply and begin thinking towards a solution.\u00a0 If a situation doesn\u2019t involve you directly, but it does circle around people you care about, you can direct your attention to aiding them \u2013 sending healing, emotional support, lending strength and illumination.\u00a0 All from just within yourself, and perhaps some workings at your altar if you prefer to do something physical as well.\u00a0 This type of magick helps direct the current underneath the surface, versus lending to the wave action on top.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019m a writer and I spill out a couple thousand words a week onto the Internet through this blog and other places, I\u2019m actually a very quiet person.\u00a0 I\u2019m not much for talking (unless there\u2019s booze and the topic is art or Witchcraft \u2013 then just try shutting me up.\u00a0 Really, it\u2019s best you don\u2019t try.\u00a0 It\u2019s generally pretty amusing anyway\u2026.)<\/em> and I\u2019m really uncomfortable with chit-chat.\u00a0 So when I do decide to say something, there\u2019s a fair amount of intent behind it.\u00a0 I believe words have power\u00a0<\/a>so I don\u2019t relish wasting them.\u00a0 There\u2019s definitely a time and place for using your words \u2013 so I\u2019m not saying to be silent when words are what\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead, I\u2019m suggesting to explore the deep and quiet end of the pool.\u00a0 Look at it this way: what\u2019s easier to maneuver in?\u00a0 The ocean on a windy day when the waves are rough, the current is strong, and you can\u2019t see the bottom from all of the churning? Or a calm bay with almost no waves at all? Sure the ocean can be fun, but it\u2019s going to exhaust you quicker. So using that same understanding, when you\u2019re looking at a turbulent situation, stepping back to observe may behoove you (and it).\u00a0 Instead of increasing the activity on the surface, you can work quietly below it.<\/p>\n

Magick starts with thought \u2013 giving form to ideas.\u00a0 The most powerful magick often is rooted in careful, in-depth thinking. That level of examination requires ceasing unnecessary action, closing the lips\/stilling the fingers, and getting down to focusing. You become an envelope of quietude, and the work gets delivered through it.\u00a0 Under the surface in the deep dark depths is where there is room to move giants and experience the mysteries.<\/p>\n

So don\u2019t underestimate the power of the quiet ones, the holders of space. There are worlds shifting below those surfaces, if you pay attention and listen to the silence.\u00a0 Find the magick of the quiet Witch.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Often true in both art & the Craft, the quieter the work\/worker, the deeper & stronger it goes. Thought can be far more powerful than words.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2676,"featured_media":1490,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,12,13],"tags":[170,52,264,536,30,533,7,4],"class_list":["post-1484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metaphysics","category-modernpractice","category-myth-and-folklore","tag-drama","tag-magick","tag-metaphysics","tag-quiet","tag-silence","tag-to-be-silent","tag-witch","tag-witchcraft"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Power of the Quiet Witch<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Often true in both art & the Craft, the quieter the work\/worker, the deeper & stronger it goes. 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