5 Witchy Myths We’re Calling B.S. On
You can incorporate witchcraft into just about any belief path, and it’s a beautiful practice. However, plenty of myths spread around the internet cause confusion and leave a lot of new witches feeling alienated and confused. So, let’s bust some witchy myths, shall we?
Myth 1: You Have to Be Gifted Your First Tarot Deck or Rune Set
If I had waited to receive my first Tarot deck or set of runes as a gift, I wouldn’t be the divination witch I am today. There’s a lot of mystery around Tarot decks, and I get the fascination with making them seem unique and mystical. However, I challenge you to visit your favorite witchy shop and allow a deck to call out to you. Then tell me that’s not special.
Unless you are part of a formal coven with rules around these things, you don’t have to wait for someone to gift you any witchy supplies. This includes a Tarot deck, rune set, pendulum, scrying mirror, athame, cauldron, or anything else. YOU bring the magickal energy to the tools, not the other way around. No matter what WitchTok says.
Myth 2: You Need a Year and a Day of Training
Again, unless you’re a part of a formal coven… This requirement is very Wiccan-based and doesn’t apply to all witches. So, if you’re not Wiccan, you don’t have to adhere to this rule. Many of us realize that we’re witches before we begin intentionally practicing. That’s evidence that the magick is already there. Now, I’m not advocating for huge spells right off the bat, or diving into a ritual without researching it first, but trust your instincts. They’ll guide you where you need to go. And, of course, reach out to us here at IGC if you have questions!
Myth 3: You Have to be an Ancestral Witch
Okay, first of all, none of us are the granddaughters of the witches they couldn’t burn. My grandmother was a young woman in the 1940s. As much as I love the sentiment, it’s just not true. Second of all, witchcraft has been taboo for far longer than it’s been cool.
Who knows what our ancestors practiced? Plenty of folk traditions from the U.S. alone are part of modern eclectic witchcraft: herbal remedies, tinctures, divination work, and beyond. When I was expecting my kiddo, both my grandmothers had wild theories about the baby’s sex based on things like the veins in my eyes, how high I was carrying, whether I was craving meat or sweets, etc. Don’t tell me that’s not folk witchcraft!
Plus, you don’t have to have a tradition passed down from your grandmothers to be considered a witch. It’s cool if you do! And if you don’t, you’re no less of a witch than those “ancestral” witches.
Myth 4: All Witches are Women
For the last time, men can be witches. Women can be witches. Nonbinary folks can be witches. No matter what pop culture wants to tell us, non-female witches are not warlocks. Anyone who practices witchcraft is a witch, no matter their gender. So let’s put this one to bed once and for all, why don’t we?
Myth 5: Magick Can Be Good or Bad
Look, magick is neutral. There’s no good or bad magick. What you choose to do with it makes it “good” or “bad.” Yes, there’s such a thing as white magick, black magick, gray magick, and so forth, but magick itself just is. You can choose to practice only positive magick; you can delve into darker magick or stick somewhere in between. Think of magick like fire: it can be productive, destructive, or it can just keep your house warm.
When it comes down to it, trust the witches that have been practicing for years, not the trendy WitchTok creators who like to gatekeep. And be sure to check out Morgan’s podcast – she always has a ton of well-researched, trustworthy info there.