What is a Traditional Witch?
I’m a witch first and foremost. If, for any reason, I need to define the type of witch I am, then I would call myself a Traditional Witch. I dislike being asked which path I follow. Being a witch is fundamental to my life and, as such, I don’t follow one path or another, I just live my life as a witch.
As a Traditional Witch, I believe in using my own power and energies to influence my life and the world around me. This isn’t as daft as it might sound! Most people understand that if you send negative energy out into the world, or if you dwell on negative thoughts, then you invite negativity into your life. Well, it’s the same with magic. If I desire something - maybe my car needs to be fixed, I’m sick or I might need to get rid of a bad influence in my life, then magic focuses my energies on achieving those goals. While focusing my own energies on achieving my goals, I also use magical correspondences to harness the energies of the universe. In doing this, I’m not only trusting in the bounty and magic of the universe, I’m also focusing all of my energies on achieving my goals.
Although I cast spells whenever the need arises, I also look to nature for help on my path through life. Knowing which remedy to use for a cough or a cold is just as much part of the Traditional Witch’s repertoire as the spells in her Grimoire. Combined with a spell these remedies can be even more powerful. As a Traditional Witch I don’t worry about distinctions between Hedge Witch, Kitchen Witch etc. I simply work with the nature that surrounds me, the knowledge that has been passed down through generations and the energies of the universe.
I do not treat my witchcraft as a religion. I utilize tools and energies, but I do not worship them. I have great respect for Witches, in particular Wiccans, who participate in initiations, dedications, religious rites and worship of a god and goddess, but these exercises have no part in my life as a witch. Although I am not Wiccan, I am guided by my intuition and my internal moral code and so I rather like their rule, or rede, ‘an it harm none, do what you will’. I do not however believe in the Wiccan Rule of Three, which states that whatever energy you send out into the world will come back to you threefold. As I understand it, there is some dispute among Wiccans as to the validity and authenticity of this rule, with many Wiccans choosing simply to live by their rede and not by the Rule of Three.
Finally, I’d like to explain my name – Bronze Hazel. This, of course, isn’t my real name. It is simply a name that was auto-generated for me on a fun app I was using some time ago. There is no significance in it and I only use it to maintain my anonymity :)