#twitches (2005)

Day six: "Do you think everyone can practice magic, or is it something that calls to specific people?" @pathandpractice

Anyone can practice it, but some are called to it, and then there are also closed practices that you just can't insert yourself into or take from. It's one thing to take from a closed practice that you didn't know was closed, as long as you apologise and stop because you have a fundamental misunderstanding of it, and another to know it's closed and continue to do it anyway especially when you've been told why. When I say anyone can practice, it isn't something you can pick up and start doing willy nilly. Research, building up your intuition, and understanding the 101 of witchcraft is essential, and that isn't an overnight process. Anyone can however, learn how to practice and will eventually master their craft.

It also isn't an aesthetic. Just because you see something from a closed tradition, for example, that looks "cool" without first understanding why that's a tradition, the history, culture, belief systems, or why that SYSTEM IS CLOSED FOR A REASON before taking that thing is not actual witchcraft imo. Not to mention, even if a tradition isn't closed, simply practicing magic shouldn't be treated as aesthetic or edgy. These are real spirits, energies, and so on that should be respected and taken seriously.

So yes, anyone can practice. I believe magic is innate in everyone. But it's not as simple as picking up something you saw on TV once because you thought it was neat, and it's not as simple as doing a money bowl to get a check. Witchcraft is 99% research and 1% spells. And I can't stress enough that you will learn more from the historical and cultural contexts of magic than you will from a 15-second blurb on TikTok on how to ascend to the 777 dimension. It's also essential to gauge what the author of a blurb, historical document, or similar text is trying to do. Are they simply giving out research? Are they only trying to get you to buy a course? Are they culty? Are they trying to change the context of something to insert their agenda? keeping that in mind is also essential. Not to mention, fucking around and finding out (within discernment) is sometimes the only way to grow your craft. That's also a part of research. In the great words of Adam Savage, "Remember kids, the difference between science and screwing around, is writing it down."