Who Can Do Magick?

In most traditional societies, Witchcraft was the prerogative of a trained professional – Shaman, Medicine Man, Medicine Woman, Witch Doctor, Cunning Man, Wise Woman, Witch. These professional practitioners often inherited their ‘businesses’ from a mother or father. In some societies, they were people who had undergone a special spiritual crisis. They were chosen by the Gods and set apart. Their paths were for the chosen few and were not always thought desirable callings. Most people do not want to be set apart from their fellows by strangeness or by the ability to enter other worlds.

Traditional Witches often hold the view that Witches are born, not made. A contrasting attitude was that of magician Aleister Crowley. ‘Magick is for all,’ he wrote at the beginning of the twentieth century, ‘the Banker, the Pugilist, the Biologist, the Poet, the Navy, the Grocer, the Factory Girl, the Mathematician, the Stenographer, the Golfer, the Wife, the Consul – and all the rest – to fulfil themselves perfectly, each in his or her own proper function.” In modern times, attitudes amongst Witches have changed. This is why old Craft teachers started to bring outsiders into their traditions; not to be ‘professional Witches’ but to learn to integrate the magical arts into their everyday lives.

People often come into Wicca saying, ‘I’d like to be a Witch but I don’t know if I’d be any good at magic.’ Most Witches are better at some aspects of Wicca than others. It may be creating high magic ritual; it may be spellcraft or divination; it may be herb lore; it may be a deep spiritual love of the Gods. However, we can all develop some magical skills.

Many books about magic suggest that you must believe before you practice. This is not my experience. Magic can be approached in the same way as anything from acupuncture to riding a bicycle. Try it and see if it works. What is important is not unshakeable belief, but open-mindedness. If we decide we cannot do something or it will not work, then of course it will not. We will set up a resistance. It is a bit like fire walking. Providing we do it calmly and without fear, we will not burn ourselves. If we panic or do not believe in ourselves, we may fail.

Self-belief is an important aspect of Wicca. This does not mean we have to believe we are the greatest Witches in the universe. It does mean that we must believe it is permissible for nice things to happen to us. In our unstable society, many people have family backgrounds that leave them with feelings of low self-esteem. They feel unloved, unworthy and deserving only the worst. If we have these negative attitudes, then it is difficult to believe that our own magical energy can change our lives. To begin to feel empowered, we must start making small improvements in our lives. Having the will to do even the smallest thing to make our lives better will give us self-confidence and self-belief. Decorate a room that has always been drab. Go through your wardrobe and throwaway all the clothes that you never wear and which you know do not suit you. Wash the car, tidy the house, give yourself a treat – not a chocolate doughnut but something worthwhile – a trip to the countryside, a day off. Plant something beautiful, have a massage, go for a swim; anything that gives you enjoyment and is good for you. This may seem a strange way to begin magic, but these simple actions are ways of sending messages to our unconscious minds that we are worthy people, worthy of love. We can then allow magic to enter our lives.

Our attitude to magic must be similar to that required for spiritual healing. ‘Faith’ healing requires that the patient believes in the healer and his or her world view, religion, system, etc. Spiritual healing needs only that the patient be open to something happening. Interestingly, people often prefer to believe that nothing is happening, even when it is. In my spiritual healing practice, I have treated many a reluctant husband dragged along by his wife who was fed up of his complaints about a chronic illness. Having sat with gritted teeth for half an hour, swearing that nothing was happening, the husband would disappear, only to reappear again the next week for a follow-up session – this time alone. When asked if there had been any improvement, I would get a reluctant, ‘Well, a bit.’ It was always, ‘Well a bit’, until they stopped coming because they were cured.

Gabby Benson, Witchcraft Wicca: A Beginners Guide