Good morning witches
We are taught, both within the witch world and in the mundane that to keep silent is the best policy. In the Witch’s Pyramid / ladder (to know, to dare, to will, to keep silent) we are told that the most important is to keep silent. Although there are many traditional reason for keeping mum, most of them date back to the dark ages and witch trials of years past. We are no longer hunted. Yes of course you should not discuss the spells you’ve cast and you must keep your covens secrets. Sharing of your knowledge is a judgment that not all of us get right so some times it’s best to keep silent on such things.
What worries me about keeping silent is that you get in to a mindset and the things your should be telling, get kept hidden. In recent times, after decades of keeping my mouth closed to appease someone else I stopped doing it and made my feelings and frustration known. And as you would have guessed I was asked to sit down and shut up and to keep the peace. Whilst my own situation is in no way related to the horrendous crimes that have come to light in living memory, Jimmy Savile, the Me to Movement, and the abuse in public schools and private nursing homes etc. If people hadn’t have spoken up and talked openly about what happened to them, nothing would have changed, no one would have been held accountable and it would have carried on so that other people suffered life changing trauma. In my case I’m still waiting for the source of the problem to acknowledge and reach out in person, rather than sending emissaries
Looking at the wonderful work done by the LGBTA+ originations, and by the example of our leading lights speaking out about our past traumas has been a wonderful thing for us. Queer visibility on the TV and movies has made such a difference in out collective lives. I’m of the generation that went to school under the dreaded section 28 and I had a dreadful time at school because of it. I knew there was no point in speaking up back then, as nothing would have changed and the bullying would have only have gotten worse if one of the teachers had broken ranks and had words with the other kids (I know believe that had I done so at least one of the teachers at my school would have done something about it. Not that he agreed or disagreed with Section 28 but he hated bully’s no mater what the source was). But I didn’t speak out then and I paid for it ever since. I believe that it’s added to my lack of self worth.
For myself it’s only been in recent years that I have started to find my voice and felt confident enough in my self to start to talk about these things and for my mind it’s no coincidence that it all happened around about the same time as I fully acknowledged the inner witch and started on my path. This journey of discovery hasn’t only happened to me. Just about ever author I’ve read on the subject of The Craft have all reported similar things happening to them. I’ve noticed it in friends who also came out of the broom closet at about the same time as I did, we’ve all changed and become stronger for it. For me the first few years have been about finding my voice and learning to use it. For others it’s about throwing off the Catholic upbringing and the mindset of guilt that comes with it. For others it’s about acknowledging and embracing their sexuality. But ultimately it’s about freedom to be your true self. It’s been a ride that’s for sure and lucky I was forewarned that you lose people along the way, usually those that find trying to control you is no longer easy for them.
Shhh! The biggest secret of finding and embracing your inner witch is the liberation you can find. “To be true, strong and fierce” to misquote Brooklyn Heights, blessed be the drag queens.
As the wheel turns and we look forward towards Yule and start to plan for next year as well as reflect on this past year, how can you tune in to your true self and put you front and centre in your life