Witch Self-Identification

    Thanks to the lovely presentation on modern day witchcraft in the channel of social media, I’ve had a flurry of musings and questions about what it means to be a witch and how this term is so subjectively defined. As with many identities, witches were historically defined as such by others, usually with a negative connotation attached to it; however, in the new age of magic and witchcraft, this concept is being redefined, both by those who practice and those who receive its effects. Such witchcraft has increased exponentially throughout the globe thanks to the innovative sharing and communication techniques recent technology has been able to offer, but how has the original perception of witchcraft changed in today’s society? And, moreover, who even classifies as a witch?

    I had a friend in high school who began to practice Wicca. The majority of what I remember entailed burning sage, wearing crystals, and reading cards; I’m unsure if she ever classified herself as a witch, but overall she didn’t practice it for long. My opinion at the time was that she did so for the exoticism and shock factor of it in a largely Catholic small town. Regardless, does this make her a witch? What defines this term in our day and age? If the answer is yes, she is a witch, is it because she said so? Or because she participated in the culture of witchcraft? Or because she had a particular proficiency in the practice? I would venture to say that any of these reasonings (and more) could be a valid argument for the identification as a witch. 

    It’s intriguing to look at this social situation in light of the logic-based world we live in now; surely the idea of witchcraft having legitimate connections to the supernatural and spiritual world was more than plausible 300 years ago, but nowadays we’re a little more skeptical. In the past, witches were witches mainly because other people recognized them as such, whether through noticing their powerful healing and seeing abilities or through accusing them of fraternizing with and welcoming the Devil into their homelands. Many people in our day and age would write such “abilities” off as lunacy or fraud (though some may still make strong connections with evil), but in all likelihood, the label of a witch would not be the first thing to come to mind. So as we can see, the dynamic has shifted as we’ve coursed and evolved through history; no longer is it in the hands of the majority to identify a witch, rather it has fallen to the responsibility and privilege of those who are witches themselves. 

    I have never participated in any practices that are considered New Age or Wiccan, so I have also never been immersed in the drama that frequently pulses through this community’s masses. The members are not immune to the contention that witch identification has brought into the 21st century, and, arguably, this modern era has brought about more discourse than ever. With the widespread sharing of their practices, insight, and beliefs through social media many argue that immature, inexperienced, and ignorant new members claim to be witches undeservingly. This can also be countered by the argument that intentionally participating in the community validates one as a witch regardless of skill set or tenure. All in all, I think people can go back and forth endlessly on what it means to be a witch because this topic has become so subjective over the years as more people take ownership of the identity with pride. How are we truly able to tell who follows and intensely learns more about the beliefs and practices of New Age or Wicca?These circumstances still beg the question, has witchcraft just become a trend?