I
don't look like a Witch.
Unless,
without me realising it, the stereotypical view of Witches has switched to
a 30-something year old man wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and ridiculously
heavy hiking boots.
And yet still, whenever I tell anyone that I'm a Witch, I get the same
questions.
‘Where's
your cloak, then?'
(reply, ‘At home’)
‘Where's
your cauldron?'
(reply, ‘At home’)
Some
of them, if they're particularly well-informed, might even (gasp) ask if I
have a Book of Shadows, then proceed to get very excited when I answer
yes, and then raise an eyebrow when I say that I also keep a Grimoire.
They
get less excited when I have to explain that although I have three sisters
(really!), none of them are called Pru, Piper, Phoebe or Paige, and that
my Book of Shadows doesn't tell me how to kill demons.
I’ve never had a broom closet; and my besom is in its rightful
place behind the front door. I
don’t try to explain the difference a besom and a broom.
However, I don't go leaping in with the oh-so-melodramatic phrase ‘I'm a Witch', unless I’m asked, and just when you think people are getting the idea of it, they ruin it all again by asking if I’m Wiccan.
As
the looks become more and more blank and people start backing away, I'm
forced to either tell them that I practice Witchcraft or leave everyone
with the strong impression that I'm a lunatic.
Which in some ways I am, but not when it comes to my Craft
upbringing, and you certainly don't tell people these things!
Of course, the first mention of the word ‘Witchcraft' and they're very
interested.
It doesn't matter how much I try and explain that Witchcraft is a lot more than the opening scenes from Macbeth and every episode of Charmed, they're gone. I've lost them.
Some
people will stare at me, terrified, and never speak to me again. More
often than not, they're Christians. I have nothing against Christians.
What I don't like are Christians who think that because they're Christians
they're morally superior to everyone else, and that the Bible must always
be right, even if you don't believe in their faith. The occasional
reminder of their own Christian heritage often silences them.
Some people will look round very sneakily, wave their arms in a kind of
Joan Collins-style manic way and whisper melodramatically, ‘I'm one,
too.'
When I ask what tradition they follow, they stare at me blankly and say something along the lines of ‘Huh?' before getting onto the really good spells and how they have an uncle locked up in the cupboard as a small amphibian. These are the people I nod and smile politely at, and then back away from.
No
matter how many times I try and explain my Craft to people, everyone
expects me to wear a crushed velvet cloak (or else be naked(!)), a black
pointy hat, stir a cauldron while laughing manically and twitching my
fingers/nose/eyes at anyone who annoys me.
Personally I’m more likely to smile politely and/or hit them than
wiggle any of my body parts at them.
I'm not saying at all that all people are like this. The majority of my
friends are very open to the idea of my being a Witch – and the fun
thing is, most of them who were very worried about it at first have since
come to accept it wholeheartedly.
Despite
their preconceived notions, they had the strength and the open-mindedness
to realise what and who I am. I am a Witch.
I have lived, and am living, as a Witch.
I will die a Witch.
For those just starting with witchcraft, I offer this advice; by all means read books and surf the web, but don't become bogged-down with the mountains of conflicting lists and charts. Your craft should have a firm basis, but make it personal to you.
‘Do you have
a black pointy hat, then?'
(sigh) ’No; although I am working on genetically engineering a whole
squadron of flying monkeys.’
