#notwiccan

So thought I'd make a little (more like long) rambl-y post telling you about myself and also talk about how I came to the realization that I was born a witch.

First off my name is Anna. Im 28. Bi-racial she/her. And as you can see in my bio I'm a solitary eclectic witch. I Live in the middle of nowhere and am a broke ass bitch lol. So a lot of my craft is DIY and finding cheap solutions for things.

I'm still a bit of a babywitch as I haven't been studying witchcraft that long. Witchcraft and the occult is something I feel I have always been a little drawn to even as young as my childhood I was always drawn to different aspects of witchcraft. I remember being a kid and always being drawn to crystals and precious stones. I would collect them when my family and I would travel. I also have always been drawn to water. I've loved the water since I was a small child and I grew up on the coast of California. I used to also collect shells and swear they held some sort of magical energy in them when I was younger.

My family used to tease me when I was younger always calling me a witch because I was born on Halloween or Samhain. Not only was I born on Samhain but so was my Grandmother and so was her Grandmother. This goes back 5 generations. Always skipping a generation. Always the firstborn Granddaughter. I dont know if my grandmother was a witch or if any of my ancestors were but it is still very interesting to me and something I want to research and look further into.

Moving past my childhood, as a teenager I dabbled in witchcraft for a bit. I was very interested in it. I would play around with spells and rituals and even tried to perform a few full moon rituals. I had looked up some spells on the internet and was really interested in it however decided to give it up. I was already extremely shy and people thought I was weird enough as it was, that I thought if I didnt give it up, I'd be considered an even bigger freak or be made fun of. So I gave it up.

Until last year. When my mom got so extremely sick, she almost died. My mother is from the phillippines and our family doesnt practice witchcraft but they believe in it. Good witches and bad witches. Last year my mom was given a "love potion" by a new "friend". Another filipina lady who is a Bruha. A witch. Shortly after given this "potion" to "help find love" my mother got extremely sick. She almost died. She is still recovering to this day. During the time my mother was sick her family in the Philippines visited a witch doctor or a voodoo man of sorts who, through rituals and divination, told my mom that someone had cursed her. And to think about anything odd someone had given her. Until this moment she hadn't thought anything about the "love potion". She then told the man about it. He said with 100% certainty that it was this woman. She cursed my mom. He gave us a set of rituals to perform and told her to get rid of the "love potion" and destroy it. We did everything he told us to and through these rituals and some modern medicine as well my mother finally went into recovery. I should mention before consulting the voodoo doctor, my mother was sick for months. We visited so many doctors and hospitals and doctors either didnt know what was wrong with her or they completely misdiagnosed her and gave her treatments that didnt work. It wasnt until after doing all this and destroying the "love potion" that we were able to finally find a doctor who knew what was wrong with her. From there I decided to fully study witchcraft and came to the full realization that I've always been a witch.

I love these pics....

So many people associate Witches with evil, colluding with the Devil, Black Magic, and somehow, eating children ( probably because of the story of Hansel & Gretel)...but these pics (of course exaggerating capabilities of a witch)allow me to discuss a few things...

Let’s start with riding brooms....It’s kind of an adult explanation, but I will try to make it G-rated. 

Long ago, people had not idea about fungi or mold, and many people ate Rye bread, as they do now...but long ago, rye bread could get a fungus called Ergot...Those who practiced the Craft, found out that Ergot was a hallucinogen (LSD is derived from it) after the 17th Century affliction of the “dancing mania” in Europe, and that it also helped with headaches (who knew?) Anyhow, they wanted to use this Ergot, and also distribute it to others...Kind of like an olden day drug dealer! LOL... 

There was a big problem though. They knew that they couldn’t consume (eat or drink) it, because it was so unpleasant and would cause nausea, vomiting, etc...so they made these drug laden salves and balms, “Witch’s Brews”, to be absorbed through the skin...They realized that through the skin, they would get the desired hallucinogens, without the bad side effects, and the fastest, most effective and receptive areas of the body for absorption were through the sweat glands in the armpits, and the mucous membranes of the genitals.....

Ok...now the kicker...to distribute these salves or balms with maximum effectiveness...the used the handle of a broom....hence the term “witches riding broomsticks”....and because they were high...they were “flying”...I know..shield any child’s eyes from this note!! 

On to the next images....

Cats, bats, owls, ravens, crows, goats, and almost every other animal, arachnid, reptile, amphibian, fish or aves on the planet, have been written, sung, or spoken about being a witch’s “familiar”. I’m sure I don’t have to explain what a familiar is, but in actuality...we’re just like any other person, and love animals...Ours just happens to be very special to us, and we respect them, as part of nature...Familiars’ and their energies are believed to help with spell casting, protection, warding off evil entities,etc...In my family, we grew up surrounded by many different kinds of animals, and not all were familiars (we each had our own...an animal that picked us, and not the other way around)...and I continue to have many animals in my home...Again, we each have our own, that picked us..* Just a quick note here...A familiar, is one energy, that can live as a cat in one life, and then perhaps as a dog (as an example), throughout a Witch’s life...My first Familiar animal, didn’t actually find me, until I was 12,...until then, I was watched over, by my mother’s...I’ve had a couple of other’s since then...and currently have one, that likes to sleep in my large cauldron (it’s a family heirloom..about the size of a large pumpkin)...

Ok now, the “Witch Aesthetic”...

Yeah, you’re going to see a lot of black...not because we feel dark and mysterious in it, or that it looks good on everyone and with everything (that’s just the bonuses)..but it’s because black “absorbs all colours of our visible spectrum” and enhances the strength of our powers and energy. Colours are important to us. Colours represent different things, such as green for money, red or pink for love, etc., and so some will wear a colour, to draw or repel, whatever they want. It wasn’t always the clothing that would be coloured and worn. Sometimes flowers, herbs, or feathers would represent the colour wanted, pinned inside or on clothing, in the hair, on the shoe, or in the hat or bonnet. Sometimes even carried in a sachet, worn against the skin.

Crystals, a pentagram, which is a 5 pointed star - upright (not angled or it would be a Devil’s pentagram), talismans, sachets with herbs, oils, powders, or what have you, a spell book or two (otherwise can be known as a Grimoire or Book of Shadows), an unusual hat ( perhaps wide brimmed or a little pointed), are all things that can be seen on a witch...but not all witches. Some witches do not dress, at all what you would think a witch would dress like. In fact, you probably wouldn’t know that you were around a witch, unless they wanted you to know. Most wear just regular clothing, and may not have anything “witchy” showing..

By the way...

The whole thing about people sensing a witch around...that’s not entirely true. In my experience, only a handful of people have ever come up to me, and told me that they knew what I was (not including other witches)...but I am a people person, too, so people gravitate towards me anyhow...and then there’s children and animals..They can sense who is good and who is bad. Most witches have balance in their Craft, often tipping towards positivity, and kids will pick up on it, and are often drawn to us, because for the most part, we are good. The same goes for animals...If you find that your child or pet, steers clear of someone...listen to them. there IS a reason...

As well....none of the “witch tests” actually work, our wands don’t actually shoot lightning or energy of any kind, out of the tips, not all of us can predict the future or see the past, we can’t turn you into a frog, and we don’t eat babies! Not all of us live in haunted houses, with cobwebs and weird friends, either. I have some weird friends, but that’s besides the point! Ha! 

We can attend church, live within a religion, have families, swim in water, go in the Sun,...any and everything else, anyone else can do....We are as different to each other, as any other person is, to us...and we all follow different paths, in the Craft. We are from all walk of life, all ages, genders, etc...but we are ALL HUMAN. We laugh. We cry. We get angry. We bleed. We all have feelings....

Ok...I could go on...literally for hours, but I think this is long enough...If you have questions, message me...If you’d like me to write about anything witchy, let me know,...I think this blog will be about real life, as a witch, without the fluff. Maybe even a little about history, or where stigmas and assumptions come from. 

I won’t be sending spells, in any private message, or posting spells. That would be irresponsible, and I don’t want to be responsible for what someone else does. I won’t be posting the typical pics or memes, that others have, either...because that’s not what I’m about. I may post pics or memes, in order to discuss fantasy vs. reality, though, or how magic is already in your life and you may not have even known it! I never really know what I’m going to write about, until I start writing, unless there’s something that I just need to get out! 

This is new to me, blogging..but I came here, because being who I am, I can’t really be me, anywhere else, online. 

There is a stigma, when someone hears the words “witch” or “witchcraft”...It is sometimes laughed off, or ignorant and hurtful comments can be made. Some even think that you have mental health issues, if you tell them that you’re a Witch. I wish it was different...I wish people didn’t assume the worst about people like me. I am not evil, or wicked...but I am different, and perhaps a little strange. I’m also caring, loving, kind, generous, compassionate, funny, helpful, intelligent, and some say, wise. 

I grew up in a large family, who believed that we should not expose ourselves, publicly, for fear of ridicule, condemnation, or even persecution and only a chosen few would be told. Some of my family actually chose not to practice, because they didn’t want to be associated with the stigmas, but the rest of us didn’t really want to lose our history, so we continued on our family path. 

To be clear, we do not follow, and have never followed the religion, Wicca. We have nothing against the religion, or the people that practice Wicca...it’s just not our way of life. Our traditions are much older, passed down from generation, to generation (usually from mother to daughter), on my mother’s maternal side...However, sons were taught as well, if interested. My brothers were never interested, really, other than in gardening and knowing nature, and I think that if one of my brothers, actually had decided to practice...it wouldn’t be good...for anyone.

Daughters would start learning very young, with the teachings of herbs, flowers, gardening, etc...and at the age of 13, in my family lineage, there would be a Celebration of Maturity - the beginning of womanhood. For me...I loved that day..it was special, and brought me closer to the feminine side of my family! My mother was very skilled, in many different ways, and an excellent teacher...I learned so much from her! She was a healer, clairvoyant, and excellent in almost every form of casting, but her preferences were tea reading, facial reading (after she became blind), and herbal magic...She passed away in 2006, and I inherited all of her “Craft” belongings, because I was the only one in my family, that chose to pay close attention to her teachings,...even though I am not the only one to follow the family path, or to practice.

. My Great-Grandmother was called a “Wise Woman”, and in her time, she had to hide her tools of the “Craft” because of persecution, and to this day, Witch Hunts have never truly ended...It is still illegal to be a Witch, in many countries...and in some, the sentence is death. My Great-Grandmother was afraid of being arrested, but she still practiced, until her dying day, in solitude, and secrecy...in the kitchen. 

It was the worst kept secret, in her little town, that she was a witch. Quite a few people actually knew who she was, and would come to her, for help of all sorts; to heal a broken heart, to end a cold, bring prosperity to a farm, etc..to even revenge against someone. She never charged for anything, but in thanks, people would bring her food, things they had made for her, flowers, or “sweet treats”, which I always assumed were baked goods, or chocolates, but I never asked. I guess it doesn’t really matter, anymore, but that work ethic, of never charging anyone anything, and always being there for someone in need, certainly didn’t start with her, but it definitely won’t end with me, or my generation.

 A couple of my siblings, had been teaching their children, our ways, and I’m currently teaching my children, so they can carry on our family legacy. In this day and age though, it’s a little more difficult to teach. Kids these days, want to fit in and be accepted, but don’t want to be ostracized from their peers, and they don’t see it as “cool” to practice the Old ways..They’re more interested in technology...

In my little family, only my youngest is actually interested in really learning. They are wise beyond their years, and very intuitive! Always seems to know what people will say or do, before those people do or say, what they want. It’s amazing to see that they are like a Chess Master..steps ahead of others! So eager to master “Kitchen Witchery’, too, through cooking and baking! I’ve a very proud Mama Witch!

 I knew my youngest would be interested in the “Craft”, but I actually expected my oldest child to be more interested, than they are, since they are a Sensitive, like me. When my oldest was little, and I’m sure still today, they used to see and be able to communicate with the dead...The famous words, “I see dead people!”, wasn’t just in the movie “The Sixth Sense”, but came out of my child’s mouth, when they were 7 years old. We would go places, and they could tell me who died where, how they died, and would walk up to people and tell them that someone they knew (who had passed away) wanted to let them know...well, whatever it was, that they wanted to say! My oldest child is a quiet person, who really doesn’t like crowds, or public speaking, and they wouldn’t go in to different places, if they didn’t “feel good” about it..For now, my oldest can be who they are, and it’s ok with me...and if they choose to learn in the future,...I’ll be here for them.

 I wasn’t really sure about my middle child, whether they would want to learn or not, and right now, they’ve shown no interest, whatsoever, other than in herbs. When my older children were little, my middle child instinctively knew what herbs went with what spell,or what they were meant for, but wouldn’t want to participate in learning how to pick, dry or prepare any herb, or how to actually do any spells. They knew how to find different stones, flowers, etc..and why they were important, and always has been environmentally sensitive...but again...any mention of trying to teach anything on usage or about Spell Casting, and they would tune me out...Currently they have a significant other, that actually practices Wicca (which is fine),..but even then, my child tunes their partner out, if they start talking about Witchcraft, or Spell Work....Uggh...I wish they would open up, but until then, I accept and will respect their wishes...and it’s ok if they choose to never practice...It’s their life, not mine...I just hope that they let me teach any Grandchildren! 

In any case, I love my family, and my children, and magic is in our blood...and  has been for a very, very long time. I’m no expert on Witchcraft, but I have been living it, my whole life, continuously learning each day, because knowledge is power, and there is no end to knowledge! With me, you get what you see, and you can take me as I am, or not, and that’s ok too!

Wow, is this ever a long note!..Sorry to whomever is reading this! I’m sure it’s full of grammatical errors, run on sentences, etc...I just thought I’d write whatever was on my mind. My family make me who I am, and now you know a little about them, to get to know me! I’m sure in time, you’ll get to know me better, and let me possibly help to break down the assumptions and stigmas that people have, about witches, and Witchcraft!

We should go shopping.

I can!

I dunno. I guess we’re done here?