06/27/2025
I remember, maybe 6 or 7 years ago, when this discussion came up in Red Tent. What words and strength did we feel called to but not ready to claim? Technically I am trained as a Priestess, but that felt too much. ‘Witch,’ though? That felt like home.
It also brought up some interesting feelings from the past. I was raised Pagan, by my mother. I also cringed when she called herself ‘witch.’ There was too much ego in it. I saw others call themselves ‘natural witches’ and recoiled from the redundancy of it. My spirituality didn’t feel like a show of power; it felt like connection through a deep breath, walks through the moonlight with my sisters, the ocean cleansing my heartache, plants offering healing, and a Dark Goddess answering my pleas. It felt like infusing intention into my morning coffee, singing to my unborn children, and greeting dragonflies as messenger. It felt natural, yes, but in the way breathing feels natural. Calming yourself a natural breather sounds absurd.
Slowly some of us started. We said Witch softly and in safe places. We still remembered judgement from loved ones or losing friends. We leaned into the community created under years of full moons and tried on this new and familiar title. Fast forward a few years and it’s hard to remember how that felt. I am now fully out of the broom closet as a professional herbalist, reader, and witch. Many of my friends have embraced their various gifts, offerings, and chosen words. There is power in that. There is freedom. Every time we say it safely, every time someone whispers it for the first time, or their eyes light up with recognition, we all heal together. ✨🔮🌙.
