Aurelia’s Rants: Magical ‘Experience’
This will likely give me some shit, but we need to STOP and educate people on ‘experience’ in magic. So often I see people online claiming they are ‘experts’ and offer their services saying that they know the ‘key’ to magic and the ‘old ways’. Here’s a news flash to my dear new practitioners who think this is true: ‘Experienced users’ who claim to be ‘experts’ are never experts--sorry, but I don’t think I’ve ever met a practitioner who knew their shit who boasted about how fantastic their newest spell jar was (which the practice itself has complex issues surrounding it) or posted cute, aesthetic pictures of their altar, as much as I like seeing the aesthetic on my feed. Most witches don’t talk about their practice openly. It’s not a matter of it being spooky or secretive: You just don’t talk about it. The same as when you don’t tell your friends all the intimate details of your romantic/sexual endeavours--you just don’t. And claims about ‘expertise’? Magical practitioners are students. Period. Witchcraft is a process of experimentation and constant learning--it’s called a magical practice for a reason. I am ALWAYS fucking up, and growing, and learning, and I’ve been a practitioner since I was a child. I know I will never know everything. I know I am not an expert. And I will never claim to be one. That would require decades of dedicated practice which I know is not my path. My point is: we desperately need to reconsider how we perceive magical experience and understand how detrimental it is as a means of controlling and gatekeeping practitioners. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.
