Signs you are a witch - Feeling a strong connection with nature and the elements - Having a deep intuition and being in tune with your instincts - Being attracted to crystals, herbs, and other natural remedies - Having a thirst for knowledge and a love for learning about different spiritual practices - Feeling a strong energy or power within yourself - Being able to manifest your desires and intentions - Having an interest in divination, such as tarot card reading or astrology - Having a fascination with mythology and folklore - Feeling a strong connection to the moon and its phases - Having dreams or visions that feel prophetic or spiritually significant - Feeling a calling to help and heal others - Being able to sense or communicate with spirits or entities - Having a strong affinity for rituals and ceremonies - Feeling a sense of empowerment and ownership over your own life and destiny - Having a love for all things mystical and magical - Feeling a deep connection to your ancestors and their wisdom - Having a natural talent for spellwork or witchcraft - Feeling drawn to certain symbols or sigils - Having a strong belief in the power of intention and the law of attraction - Feeling a sense of responsibility towards the Earth and its preservation.
Do you ever feel that you experience the same world a little differently than those around you? For instance, you can immediately sense the energy flowing in people around you and your gut instinct hardly ever lets you down. You believe that you have strange healing abilities and an initiative power. It is said that our intuitive sense developed around the same time when the man used to wander in the forests. This innate sense of detecting hidden danger which is faster than rational thought is said to be crucial in human's survival back then.
But a common charge against 17th-century English witches , though much less often raised against their Continental counterparts, was that they kept familiars imps or demons in the form usually of small animals such as dogs, cats and toads Geoffrey Scarre. Communicating and listening to other realms and beings from and not from Earth, whether it be star beings, animals, elementals fairies or elves or angels.
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Pay Attention to the Omens: 10 Signs you might Be a Witch.
This past month marks 323 years since the first witch hanging as a part of the infamous Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. Back then people (mostly women, though some men too) were accused of being a witch based on their behaviors or interests, but now being a witch is proudly self-proclaimed.
The word witch is often associated with images of an old woman with warts and a large nose who’s into evil or scaring children. In the Wizard of Oz or other mythology the witch was either good or bad but never both but these images and stereotypes are outdated and already in the midst of a makeover.
The way I see it, the new version of the witch is much different. She (though could be a he, for the purpose of this article I use feminine pronouns) works for the light and the dark and oscillates between being a loving mother and a wild lover. She has the beauty/power of the seductress and the brains/wisdom of the crone and knows when to use which. She is both the Earthy warrior goddess and the mysterious cosmic communicator.
I want to be this woman. And, as my latest issue of the magazine The Cauldron: Witchcraft, Paganism, & Folklore arrived in the mail, I wondered if I was, in fact, a witch. Sure, I have a cat, celebrate the cycles of the moon, wear lots of black, love magic and study astrology—but was I really a witch or just a wannabe one?
After careful reflection and a lot of tarot, I decided that yes, I am in fact part witch (though not as much as I’d like). However, as an etymology detective (it was my entire thesis topic) it was important for me to first understand where the word itself came from since the original meanings of words are often more powerful than the modern adaptations. It is of mysterious, uncertain origin, though the best guess is that it came from Proto-Indo-European meaning “to be strong, lively.” It shares the same roots as the word wake, though I have come to understand the word means an awake woman/man.
A witch is a woman who is awake and aware of her soul, body and darkness. She knows the deepest parts of herself and knows her strength comes from this depth of knowing. Transformation is her playground as she loves her ever-changing, wild and chaotic nature. Throughout different cultures she has many names as the dark goddess: Kali, Lilith, Ceridwen or Psyche. However, witch seems to sum her up best.
As witches are bridges of duality, the signs of witchhood require an “as above, so below” approach. So, here are the internal and external omens that have revealed to me my own witchiness:
1. Interest in healing and esoterism including, but not limited to: astrology, herbalism, energy work, crystals, sacred geometry, tarot, alchemy or other divination.
2. Following and communing with the cycles of the moon and seasons. Bonus points for rituals with the moon cycles magic/manifestation.
3. Wearing lots of black and grey. Black is the ancient symbol of the mysterious feminine and grey in esoteric traditions is linked to wisdom.
4. Believing in magic. Whether its synchronicities or manifestation, respecting and honoring the deep relationship between the inner and outer worlds.
5. Gathering in community. Witches (of male and female gender) gathered together to create and cast spells (I like it nude, but find sometimes that makes people uncomfortable…you know who you are…sorry).
Oh and it certainly doesn’t hurt if you own a cat or two. Cats were believed to be protectors from evil spirits, so witches needed them nearby. However, perhaps more importantly than the visible signs is your internal process.
1. Being nourished and comfortable with the darkness and your own shadow. Knowing this darkness is the key to owning your light and power. Bonus points if you actually let your darkness out.
2. Courage to follow your desire. This is how the witch finds her freedom—getting rid of suppression and niceties to allow herself to want what she wants. Hopefully no more fears of witch hunts!
3. In touch with your volcanic, powerful sexual energy. Owning the creative energies of our first and second chakras as the root of our power. Gulp, I’m certainly still a bit afraid of it.
4. Owning and listening to your authority, wisdom, and intuition—the gifts of the divine feminine. Witches listen to others but ultimately follow their own instincts.
5. Communicating and listening to other realms and beings from (and not from) Earth, whether it be star beings, animals, elementals (fairies or elves) or angels.
Most importantly, the witch understands the importance of tending to her cauldron of desire. She understands that this transformational energy of desire feeds her soul and moves her toward becoming more herself. While she may not always be “pretty” or “nice,” she is powerful and a virgin in the purest sense of the word.
While the witch hunts were hundreds of years ago, this archetype is more alive now than ever. As the next wave of feminism attempts to integrate more and more feminine values into society, the witch as the wild feminine has never been more necessary. She might have been hunted and quieted before but now she no longer hides in the shadows and is rather mainstream.
It is up to us to help the witch enjoy her freedoms by owning up to our own witchiness and paying attention to the omens.
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Reviews for "The Witch Within: Recognizing the Signs of Your Magical Nature"
1. Sally - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Signs You Are a Witch." I was hoping for an insightful and informative read about witchcraft, but instead, I found it to be incredibly basic and unoriginal. The author merely listed well-known stereotypes and clichés without delving deeper into the complexities and nuances of witchcraft. It felt like a missed opportunity to educate and enlighten readers about an often misunderstood topic. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a genuine understanding of witchcraft.
2. Mark - 1/5 - This book was a waste of time. The author seemed more interested in creating a sensationalized portrayal of witches rather than providing any substantial information. The "signs" listed were so vague and generic that they could apply to practically anyone. There was no depth or critical analysis, just a regurgitation of common misconceptions. If you are genuinely interested in learning about witchcraft, look for a more reputable and well-researched book.
3. Julia - 2/5 - I found "Signs You Are a Witch" to be overly simplistic and lacking in substance. The author seemed to rely heavily on stereotypes and popular culture references without offering any real insight or depth. As someone who has studied and practiced witchcraft for years, I was disappointed by the lack of originality and the misleading information presented in this book. It's clear that the author only scratched the surface of what witchcraft truly entails. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an accurate understanding of the witchcraft community.