Prompts from Write Your Witchcraft:

What kind of witch do I feel I am?

This is a tricky one for me to answer, because I’m interested in so much that I can’t pick any specific label to cover it all. I suppose that would make me fall into the category of “eclectic” witchery, because currently, my craft doesn’t lean heavily in one direction or another. I’m drawn mostly to dream work, divination, cosmic/lunar witchcraft, and art, but there are other things I’m interested in or incorporate, as well: elements, deities, crystals, weather, seasons, and everyday activities such as cleaning, cooking, etc.

I think, though, that I could call myself a dream witch, not only because of my interest in dreams and dream work, but because a significant part of my craft revolves around manifestation and taking the steps to fulfilling dreams and goals.

Which texts/quotes best describe my current path?

I don’t have any texts at present. This, however, has been my mantra lately:

Moonlight as my aura,

Sunlight as my crown.

Starlight as my soul,

And Earth as my ground.

I adapted this from an affirmation going around on Tumblr: “Moonlight as my aura, starlight as my soul, sunlight as my friend.” For someone as prone to wandering off into daydreams and fantasies as I am, this is a gentle reminder to me that, even though I may resonate most strongly with the heavenly bodies above, and carry that stardust in my bones, I am still alive and present on Earth. Earth has to be my focus, my ground, but I can still carry the cosmos with me as I go about this lifetime.

Do I like research and gathering info, or do I like things handed to me?

I definitely like research, investigation, and experimentation. That, to me, is part of what makes witchcraft an engaging path of evolution. I feel you can grow yourself better when you go out of your way to gather information.

Which things about witchcraft worry or scare me?

The only thing that I’m often concerned about are spirits, really — particularly, the spirits of the deceased. Having never felt the urge to work with them, or communicate with them, I occasionally worry that they might pop up one day uninvited. It’s only a concern because working with a lingering spirit of the deceased is a lot different from working with a benevolent being of the light, like a spirit guide or deity.

However, this is an extremely minor concern because I haven’t ever personally experienced any spirit phenomenon involving the deceased (that I was aware of), and I consider myself fairly practiced with shielding and clearing my home. I haven’t had any issues and I don’t expect I will.

I can’t exactly pinpoint why I hold such low interest in spirits of the deceased. I’m sure I’ve painted at least one or two for clients/sitters without knowing it, but it’s never been something I felt the urge or calling to work toward. And the spirit world must be able to sense the same, because spirits of the deceased don’t seem to consider me a beacon of any kind. If they’ve tried poking me, I remained completely oblivious.

As long as such spirits remain respectful of my space, this isn’t a concern at all. But it’s the only thing I can think of that gives me a sense of discomfort.

What is my favorite element?

This is a tough one, but I’d probably have to give the obvious Piscean answer: water. However, this is very closely followed by air (as a Gemini moon, I can’t say I’m surprised…) Lakes, streams, oceans, rain, snow… Water is such a relaxing and nourishing element for me. Thankfully, I live in the Pacific Northwest, where it rains for three-fourths of the year. I also like water’s associations with emotions, reflections, and inspiration (those creative showers, man).

As for air, I admire the energy behind it. It’s revitalizing and purifying in a way that water isn’t. Growing up, I was always awestruck by the power of the wind (I’m quite interested in tornadoes and hurricanes), and since I spent most of my growing years in the southeast U.S., I was no stranger to storms. Our summer evening storms were always a treat to watch (assuming they didn’t knock the power out, or something).

How do I see gender (roles) in witchcraft?

Gender hasn’t really been a big theme in my craft. I recognize the values of divine masculine and feminine and try my best to balance those values in both myself and my work. It’s an ongoing study, I suppose, but I think I’m most comfortable with allowing my craft to be fairly gender-neutral unless otherwise necessary.

Am I interested more in magic, or spirituality?

Probably spirituality more so than magic, and that’s mostly because I see magic more as a tool than a lifestyle. I don’t necessarily place more value on one over the other, but since my life goals are based on self-development and self-growth, I’d definitely say I’m more interested in spirituality than magic. Then again, I consider magic to be an aspect of spirituality. It’s a tool in the toolbox.

Prompts from Write Your Witchcraft:

Which aspects of witchcraft appeal to me most, which the least?

In general, my favorite aspects of witchcraft are those that build upon self-growth and development, and those that allow me to feel more connected with nature. Deity work is still something “new” for me, but I’m enjoying that immensely, as well as dream work, meditation, mindfulness, and divination.

As for what doesn’t appeal to me, I can say I’m not all that interested in anything pertaining to spirits who have passed on. I still respect these spirits, and this area of work, but it doesn’t seem to be something I’m meant to work with right now. Complicated or time-consuming witchcraft also doesn’t appeal to me.

What do I believe happens to us when we die?

Honestly, I haven’t really fleshed out a full impression of our post-life existence. Part of me feels as though we move on to whatever realm of existence matched our belief system in life. Another part of me feels that what comes next is too vast to be easily grasped by limited human senses. Maybe it’s both of these things, or neither. I can say with certainty that I believe there’s no end, but unless I’m smacked upside the head by certain experiences or feelings, I doubt I’ll ever reflect much on our lives after death because I honestly don’t think it’s simple enough to put into words.

How do I see mythological creatures?

In the decade I’ve been exploring spirituality and magick, I’ve only had one experience with a mythological creature — a dragon — and I honestly couldn’t say whether this was an actual dragon or an entity that resonated with draconic energy. I imagine these creatures exist on some level, perhaps in a realm of spirit that your average person has difficulty accessing, but since I don’t work with them (or feel the pull to work with them), my understanding of them is rather basic. I love the concept of them, though — especially dragons and mermaids. I just don’t see myself connecting with them in the way other witches do.

When do I feel most magical?

I tend to feel magical quite often, so it’s hard to determine when I feel the most magical. Usually it’s during simple moments of my day, when I’m walking to work with my chin up and my shoulders back, with the breeze on my skin and the crows calling above. When I’m sitting on the floor of my room at night with a candle flickering silently on my nightstand and the effervescent tingle of Morpheus’s presence creeping over my arm and scalp. When I shut my eyes and let ambient music carry my awareness to countless other worlds. When I sit before my computer giving shape to entities with a drawing tablet and pen. These things, and much more, make me feel magical.

How much is witchcraft woven into my daily life; is this too much, too little or just enough?

Most of my current witchcraft is woven into small moments of my day, because this, I feel, is what I can accommodate at present. And I like that. I think the witchy “ideal” is to spend hours in a sacred space, whether it’s an altar, a bedroom, a garden, or a kitchen, and work witchcraft until our world feels warm and energized and complete.

I, however, am a creative and restless being with big goals that require a lot of work, scheduling, and dedication. I honestly cannot see how or when I would incorporate more witchcraft into my life. I need to make money to survive, so I need my day job and my business. On top of that, I have other things I’d like to do with my day, including making progress with my goals (because as painful as it is, my ambitious self decided it would be smart to try and be a writer in this lifetime, among other things).

Something I’ve realized since dropping down to part time hours at my day job is that time really flies. I spend three days of my week at home, trying to work on writing or my business, and the hours slip out of my grasp.

Within a few years, I’ll be thirty. Thirty. Everything I told myself I’d do in my twenties hasn’t happened yet. I haven’t published books, or stuck to my intuitive art and readings long enough to really develop my skills. I haven’t read enough books or learned a new language. I haven’t developed technical drawing skills or gone on dozens of adventures to interesting places.

Where would more witchcraft fit if I wanted to work toward all these goals? That’s why what I have is just enough. For now, it’s just enough. My magic lies in the smaller moments, when I wash away the stress of a long day, or steep myself a cup of relaxation at night. Perhaps in the future, I can incorporate a little more, but what I have now is perfect.

Prompts from Write Your Witchcraft:

What are the basic morals and ethics I feel I should live by?

Simply put, I have no interest in harming others. I don’t know if I’ll ever reach a point where I feel I absolutely must harm someone in some way (and when I say “harm”, I mean take negative action against them, like cursing or hexing), but at the present moment, I’m more interested in uplifting others and working on my sense of compassion and acceptance.

What in nature am I drawn to; the ocean, animals, the trees, etc?

Space, the night sky, stars, the moon. Outer space just pulls at me in a way I can’t fully articulate. I feel a deep sense of longing when I gaze up at the night sky; I can spend hours just staring up at the moon. The size of the universe doesn’t scare me. It thrills me to my core.

Here on solid ground, however, I’m drawn to big, rugged mountains and evergreen forests, wild woods and curious rivers. The bigger the mountains, the better. I love cleansing rains and tranquil snows, crisp air and the smell of earth. Lakes, streams, and the ocean herself, although I prefer wilder, more rugged coastlines like those of Washington and Oregon.

Which (witchy) holidays, if any, would I like to celebrate and how?

Interestingly enough, I haven’t felt a strong desire to celebrate any witchy holidays. I think more than anything, I want to honor and celebrate the passing of seasons. I am perfectly content focusing on the four major changes of the year; I’ve never felt a desire to celebrate anything more than that.

In the future, when I have more freedom and privacy, I’d like to do more to honor the solstices and equinoxes. It’s such a significant shift of energy, and I’d like to align myself with that shift in energy by dedicating time or rituals to each season. I haven’t been good about that in the past, but it’s mostly because I felt limited by my living situation or lack of personal transportation. At the very least, I try to do something for each season, even if it’s just a tarot session or meditation.

How do I believe divination works?

I believe that the power of divination rests with my own intuition, regardless of the entity I’m working with. I work almost exclusively with tarot and oracle cards, and when I sit down to perform a session, I always call upon the entity associated with the deck I choose. I feel that intuition is a form of spiritual communication, so when I ask my questions of this entity, I believe they are speaking to me through my intuition to guide me to the proper card.

I haven’t spent enough time working with other divination methods to discern whether the same applies to those methods. I may have more information on that in the future.

Would I like to work with a group some of the time, all of the time or not at all?

I’ve thought about this often, and I think the answer is “not at all,” because I’m such a solitary person, such an extreme introvert, that anybody I worked with would have to match my energy almost perfectly, lest I become restless and agitated. This isn’t really by choice; it’s simply my brain and my nature. I can’t stand having “strangers” in my house (and by “strangers” I mean anyone who isn’t my immediate family) because it disrupts my mental energy and makes me feel tense and restless. My flow in all areas of my life is vastly improved when I’m alone, and I imagine the same would apply to working magick with others.

Even if I wasn’t in my home/my sanctuary, I don’t think I could fully unwind to properly perform magick with a group. Leaving the house and facing the public means I’m expending energy, and the longer I stay with others, the less energized I would feel. This may be different with an online community, however.

It’s a bit of an unfortunate reality, but it’s true to who I am.

Prompts from Write Your Witchcraft:

How do I believe magic works?

At its core, I believe magic is the union between thought/intention, emotion, and universal/spiritual energy. It’s clearly not enough to simply want something; we have to put in the energy to receive it, body, mind, heart, and soul. That magic is magnified by emotion, the feeling of manifesting the magic, and the energy put into it. Our little rituals can hold so much power as a result. Energy for energy.

I  could go into a lot more detail with this belief, but I don’t think I need to. This is a simple enough explanation for me.

Simple or elaborate spells/rituals? Why?

Presently, simple spells are my favorite, and that’s mostly because I don’t have the time or resources to perform more elaborate spells. I work part time, 25-27 hours a week; I’m trying to start an intuitive art/reading business; I’m trying to write books; and between all that, I’m learning, blogging, researching, crafting, and indulging in self-care to ensure I don’t run myself ragged. Time really flies when you start juggling so much.

I honestly can’t figure out when I would ever have the time to perform spells more elaborate than clearing the energy in my room or programming my crystals. There would have to be sacrifices elsewhere in my life, and I don’t feel like that’s necessary at all. I don’t want to spend more than half an hour on my magic — not when I have so many things to accomplish in a day.

The other obstacles are resources and living space. I have no personal transportation and I live in a small apartment with a roomie and her two dogs. There is no space for big, elaborate spells. No room for storing dozens of witchy items. I can’t afford to accumulate these things when I live in a shoebox.

What are my views on cursing/hexing?

I have never been in a situation where I felt it was absolutely necessary to curse or hex someone. I’m basically of the belief that you attract what you put out, and that you’ll get what’s coming to you eventually if you’ve done something worthy of cursing/hexing. I try to approach other people with a back-burner sense of compassion. I may not like someone or their attitude, but more often than not, there’s a reason for someone’s behavior. That reason doesn’t excuse their behavior, but I try to remember that everyone is fighting their own battle, perhaps their own war, and quite honestly, I just prefer focusing my energy on the positive.

With that said, I don’t have anything against cursing or hexing, so long as it’s not abused. I just don’t ever see myself wasting energy on someone who treats me horribly.

Do I want to practice something similar to my ancestors?

I don’t know enough about my ancestors to know what they practiced. The last few generations of my family (on both sides) were Christian, atheist, or something in-between. I’m not sure what came before the Christianity. Heck, my mom’s family grew up believing they were almost entirely Native (as part of the Houma people in the south), when in reality, they were more Mediterranean than Native.

I am more than okay with practicing my own path, especially since I’m a bit of anomaly with my beliefs, anyway. Christianity is and was so prevalent on both sides of my family, and if they aren’t Christian, they don’t really believe in anything. Any concept pertaining to divination, spirits, witchcraft, and so on was labeled evil, demonic, or just plain silly.

I’ve always been a fan of working with what I’m drawn to, or what I resonate with.

Prompts 3 through 7 from Write Your Witchcraft:

What in witchcraft makes me happy?

As someone who spent much of her young adulthood feeling lost, ashamed, and powerless, it was empowering to discover what witchcraft truly was: a way to regain my personal power and apply it to manifest good things in my life. That feeling of empowerment is at the core of why witchcraft makes me happy. I like the notion of using my own power to create a better life for myself. I love connecting with the deeper layers of myself and the universe, utilizing mindfulness, creativity, and intuition to improve my day-to-day living. Witchcraft has given me an appreciation for the smaller, quieter moments of my day — the little rituals in which I can weave my own magick.

Do I want to follow a path that has to do with a little nature, or a lot of nature?

While I can’t really enjoy it in my current situation, I’d love to eventually reach a point where I can incorporate more nature into my path and practice. I live in the Pacific Northwest, a region that is so beautiful and soulful, it’s almost a crime to not spend time outdoors. When I first moved here, I fell in love with the evergreen forests, the purifying rains, the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood and his kin, the crisp, cool breezes, the rugged coastline, and so much more. Money is tight and I lack personal transportation, so I don’t get to experience raw, wild nature as often as I would like. One day, I hope to live in a place that gives me the solitude and nature therapy I crave.

What areas of witchcraft would I like to learn more about?

There are so many, but I would like to delve more into dream magic, art magic, lucid dreaming, cosmic witchcraft, astrology, crystals, divination, intuitive development… Those are probably my main areas of focus, as this is what I embody as a witch. I’m a bit of a sponge when it comes to information, though: I like to absorb knowledge from other paths and practices.

Where do my witchy talents lie?

Intuition and divination are probably my top talents, along with artistic ability, which I like applying to witchcraft. My dream interpretation/recall abilities are steadily improving, most likely with the aid of Morpheus and my own intention. These skills are at the core of my witchy foundation, and I’m basically building it up from there.

What kind of deities, if any, do I want to honor?

Honoring deities is something fairly new to me, and I’m not entirely sure what the future holds in regard to honoring more. For now, I work with Morpheus, because his spheres of influence closely align with my interests (dreams in all varieties). I’ve been feeling a bit of interest toward a few others, like Apollo and Nyx, but I don’t feel the call or urge to work with them like I do with Morpheus. Not yet, anyway. I’m the sort of person who follows her gut with things like this.

I think one of the things that “worries” me a little about honoring/working with more than one or two deities is the lack of time in my day to properly devote to them. I have so many little habits and rituals and activities that I spread out over the course of the day: meals, work, writing, art, relaxation, reading, studying… And at the end of the day, right before bed, I devote 10-30 minutes to Morpheus and Spike, as part of a nightly ritual to realign my energies and prepare my mind and body for sleep. I would want to give the same amount of attention to any other deity I honor… but when would I do it?

I suppose I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, but for now, I’m more than content working with Morpheus alone… as far as deities go.