Season of the Witch: The Rebirth of a Name

Happy Season of the Witch! 🖤 Let’s talk about this word.

Words like “witch” have historically been used to disempower, abuse, and even justify the killing of women and non-binary people. Often, these people were opting out of participation in patriarchal systems, such as marriage, religion, and conventional medicine, which centers the male body as “normal” and all other bodies as “abnormal.”

People of many cultures have been persecuted for practicing their traditional customs, connecting with the earth and its healing power, and refusing to submit to systems which marginalize, demean, harm, and exploit for the benefit of few.

A witch is someone who knows and believes in their own nature and value outside the context of societal conventions.

A witch is someone who trusts their wisdom not in spite of but because of their deep connection to other realms.

A witch is someone who deeply understands the value of our planet and its generosity, the wisdom of its seasons, and the potency of its medicine.

A witch is anyone who has been called a w*tch, b*tch, wh*re, sl*t, f*g, qu*er, p*ssy, simply for daring to be who they are without apology. People have been abused, attacked, and murdered in connection to these words and these words persist today as justifications for injustice and unimaginable harm.

Witches didn’t name themselves. Rather, they reclaim these words as an affirmation of their choosing to live outside of systems which refuse to treat them with humanity and respect. They repurpose these names as proof of their natural power.

A witch is anyone who speaks Truth to power, not for her own benefit, but because Truth is Truth, and because more beings will always benefit from the Truth than the few who benefit from lies and manipulation.

Witches will always fight for the underdog as long as those in power are those who seek to control women’s bodies, persecute non-conforming genders and sexualities and people of diverse faiths, and continue to destroy the planet for profit and greed.

Patriarchal societies have always sought to destroy witches. Today’s witches and witch-allies are more outspoken than ever and the false notion that these people are somehow aligned with darkness is beginning to crack. People see the Truth. Those who cry “w*tch” are full of fear and misunderstanding of others. Many would rather visit harm upon someone who is different or a perceived “rule-breaker” than to question a system built to benefit only a few while harming many.

Witches continue to lead by example, rooted in practice, inquiry, evidence, experience, and wisdom. Witches continue to advocate for the many, rather than the few, emphasizing the value of those among us who are most marginalized– a “lift as we climb” approach, rather than a “trickle down” aka “crumbs for the rats” approach.

So, during this season of the witch, be aware of your own history and lineage. Be aware of whose work you are carrying forward and whose actions you have the opportunity to make reparations for. Do work that is good, pure, and true. Work from Love. Seek justice. Expand your capacity for compassion and generosity. See, hear, and validate the experiences of others. Be yourself, gloriously. Shine light on others who are doing the same. Lift and support each other. And for fuck’s sake: Smash the Patriarchy.

Love,
Rachael