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Imposter syndrome can be a common struggle among witches, especially those who are new to the craft or self-taught. The feeling that you are not “witchy enough,” that your magic is not as powerful as others’, or that you lack the right knowledge can create self-doubt and hinder your spiritual growth. Overcoming imposter syndrome is crucial to embracing your personal power and deepening your connection to witchcraft. It's something I have pondered on a fair bit, and on a podcast I recently did, I was asked if I identify as a witch. And it genuinely got my wondering, am I a witch? Do I feel like a witch? What is a witch supposed to feel like? What is the 'life of a witch' supposed to look like? I work a somewhat stressful day job, and for eight hours a day I need to be in 'professional' mode, answering emails, convincing people to stick to timelines, editing spreadsheets. I can't say I 'feel' like a witch when I'm in work mode, and as witchcraft is supposed to be such an integral part of ourselves, does this make me less of a witch because I don't feel like one 24/7? I see people posting their elaborate altars on instagram, or meditating at the chalice well in Glastonbury whilst I'm just trying to make sure I can fit a food shop into my evening. Does that make me less of a witch than them? Imposter syndrome is the internal belief that you are not truly skilled or knowledgeable in a practice, even when you have evidence to the contrary. We can experience imposter syndrome in any aspect of our lives, but in witchcraft, this could manifest as:
I have been practicing for nearly 25 years now, I have been a part of several groups, taught courses, and have several books published, but even I have those moments of doubt! Below are some ways which I have found can help overcome the feeling of being an imposter in your own practice.  1. Embrace Your Unique Path
Witchcraft is a personal and ever-evolving journey. No two witches practice the same way, and there is no single “right” path. Honour your intuition and follow the practices that resonate with you. I personally find that it helps me to write about my path as if I were writing about a character in a book. For example, 'Jess is a witch of many years. During the day she occupies the corporate world, for even witches need to pay their mortgage. However, when she is out of work mode, she revels in her spirituality. She is a creature of habit, who loves routine; on a Monday she will awaken and cast stones to predict the week ahead. In the evening she will perform a smoke cleanse before spending the evening playing a RPG online with her friends. On a Tuesday....She is not one for big, elaborate rituals, preferring to recite prayers over a bowl of water or burn a candle whilst she cooks dinner...she spends her commute reading books in witchcraft....etc' This approach can help you view your practice from a third-person perspective and see the scope of your practice. You may find that you engage in more 'witchy' practices than you realise! And if you don't, then this is a great starting point to identify any changes you may wish to make. 2. Focus on Experience Over Perfection or Fear Magic is a practice, meaning it is something you refine over time. Instead of waiting until you feel fully “qualified,” start engaging in spells, rituals, and divination. Similarly, you may be holding back because you fear that your magic won't work, and it will emphasise how much of an imposter you are. The best advice I have found here is just to do it! Sure, it may fail - even now, I have scrying sessions where I don't see anything, or will cast a spell which just doesn't work. It doesn't mean that you have failed - it could simply mean that you are tired. Or, maybe the universe has a different path in mind for you. But with all things, witchcraft takes practice. Failure should be seen as learning, not as something negative. It took me nearly 20 years to get to grips with pendulum divination, for example, but lithomancy I picked up immediately. So try to practice gratitude for every experience, and focus on that experience rather than the outcome. 3. Keep a Record of Your Practice Maintain a journal to track your spells, dreams, and magical insights. This doesn't have to be a full on book of shadows; simply scribbling notes as to what you have done (i.e, 'woke up, meditated for 10 mins', or 'read a chapter of a book'), is worth jotting down. Looking back at your progress can help you see how much of your 'witchy' self you connect with, and again you may find that you engage with witchy practices more than you thought! Over time, it can remind you of how much you’ve grown and learned, and can be great motivation for keeping you on track. 4. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Social media can create unrealistic expectations of what a “real” witch should look like, and I know that this one of the ones that can trigger my own imposter syndrome. I have to remind myself that the person posting pictures of their intricate altar set up probably isn't going to post pictures of them editing word documents for their day job. That person may just post pictures of their altar and never actually use it as much as I use my altar hastily made from a wine rack I impulsively bought from IKEA and then realised I didn't need. I constantly have to remind myself that anyone can post anything on social media - it is not always indicative of their actual practice. Remember that everyone is on their own journey, and what is shared online is often a curated highlight rather than the full picture. 5. Trust Your Intuition, not External Validation Your inner guidance is one of the strongest tools in witchcraft. Instead of seeking external validation, trust your instincts when practicing magic or interpreting signs and omens. In fact, I would go as far as to say not to share them with people. When we share them with others, we are opening ourselves up to being judged. Sometimes, people saying nothing can feel like judgement; if we post a picture of an omen we received and it gets no response, we can wonder if it wasn't a big enough, or impressive enough omen to be worthy of comment. So next time you receive some sort of sign, keep it to yourself. Enjoy that this is your sign, given to you by the universe for you alone. Once we truly start embracing our witchy-ness for ourselves, rather than for how it may make us look in front of others, it becomes much easier to overcome any feelings of imposter syndrome. 6. Educate Yourself Without Pressure Learning about witchcraft is valuable, but you do not need to know everything at once. Take your time exploring different traditions, correspondences, and methods at your own pace. Remember, there is so much to learn, so many different paths and traditions, that most people will become 'experts' in two or three, but may have zero knowledge in a different aspect of witchcraft. Just because someone talks about the 22 chakras but you only know of 7, doesn't make you 'lesser'. Identify those areas of witchcraft that interest you, focus on feeling confident in those, and make peace with the fact that there is too much out there for you to be knowledgeable in all of it straight away (if ever). 7. Connect with a Supportive Community Surround yourself with witches who encourage and uplift you rather than make you feel inadequate. A supportive community can remind you that self-doubt is common but does not define your worth. This is by far the one which has helped me the most. Ironically, most of the communities I am involved in are online ones - and as I have mentioned, one of the biggest elements that has contributed to my own feelings of imposter syndrome in the past is comparing myself to others on social media! I find that going beyond scrolling what others have posted and 'liking' it is the way forward; actually comment on posts, ask questions, say congrats to people when they post something positive, and agree to join that meet up. Connecting with others more closely is not only motivating, but can also help us see that those posting beautiful pictures online are also human too, and experience the same challenges that we do.
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I live in England in the UK, and the stereotype of it always raining and being grey is a stereotype for a reason! Even during the summer I carry an umbrella in my bag, as you can never trust it.
As many of you know, I wrote a book on water witchcraft, and the element of water is one I work with closely throughout my practice. Which is quite convenient when you live in such a wet country! There are many ways you can incorporate the rain into your practice, and so below are some which can help you make the most out of the drizzly weather. So below, I will talk you through some of those I like to indulge in when we have an especially rainy day. 1. Use it as a background for meditating: The sound of rain can be very relaxing, so use this as a good opportunity for getting some meditation or other work in! Alternatively, if you have little background noise, you can always record the sound and use it to create your own meditation background music. An alternative to meditating is simply day-dreaming! I have always been a big day-dreamer (one of the many reasons I didn't do great at school). I personally think it is a very underrated practice. It can help strengthen your visualisation skills, help us relax, and allows us to take some time out to connect with our inner self. We can learn a lot about ourselves through our day-dreams! So take this time to dim the lights, get comfortable, and enjoy a little adventure in your head. 2. Go for a cleansing walk: A walk in the rain is not everyone’s idea of fun, but rain is very cleansing! One of my favourite experiences happened a few years ago; I went for a walk in what I thought would be light rain, which soon turned into a raging thunderstorm. At that point I was too far gone to be able to turn around and head home, so I embraced it! It was truly a magical feeling connecting with nature in those conditions. I did arrive home absolutely drenched through and having to remove most of my clothes on the doorstep (sorry neighbours!). So if it isn’t too cold, and you’ve got something dry and warm to slip into after your walk, then head out and focus on letting the rain wash all of your worries away. 3. Collect it: Rainwater can be used in rituals and the like. The other weather conditions can dictate the best way in which this water can be used in the future. For example, if it is sunny whilst it is raining, then this will be great to use in rituals regarding happiness, joy, and abundance. If it is grey and cloudy then it can be used in rituals on self-reflection, or overcoming grief and loss. If it is collected during a storm, then it can be used in cursing, or to help rid yourself of bad habits, strength, power, or to speed up the results of your working. In Greek mythology, there were a group of rain spirits called the Hyades. These nymphs were the daughters of Atlas, and had a brother named Hyas. When Hyas died, the nymphs were so overcome with grief that they cried, and it was said that it was their tears that caused the rainfall. As such, rain water can also be used in rituals to help you come to terms with loss and manage your own grief. You can float candles or flowers in this water, distil/sterilize it and add a little to your bath (remember that rain water could contain contaminates or bacteria so only do this if you are confident in your ability to sterilize it, and never drink it), or use it to ritually cleanse objects for example. 4. Dance with the rain spirits: There are a couple of different cultures that believe that rain spirits love to dance! So put on some music, and dance with the rain spirits in honour of the water that they pour onto the earth. 5. Cleanse your crystals/tools: Running water is a recommended way to cleanse crystals, so what better way than to leave them out in the rain? Some crystals and tools don’t work well with water, so make sure you do your research first as to which are compatible with water. Also make sure that you leave them somewhere safe; the last thing that you want is for curious animals to run or fly off with them, or risk harming wildlife which may try to eat them! 6. Practice journaling: Rain is also great for reflection, so this is a good time to do some journaling or any other activity which allows you to reflect on yourself and your wants, needs, and ambitions. Taking this time out to check in with yourself to make sure you are on the right track, and understanding what it is you need to do to ensure you are on your true path, is a perfect activity against the backdrop of the falling rains. Yes, the rain can be a pain in the backside. It's wet, it's cold, it can screw up public transport, but it can also be cleansing and rejuvenating. So if like me you live in a country where there is plenty of it, then make the most of the benefits it can bring! Many who practice paganism or witchcraft will work with deities or spirits. These are beings of higher power who can guide us and help us in achieving our goals and ambitions.
There are two ways of finding a deity or spirit to work with. The first is through understanding what your need is, and then doing your research to find one which closely aligns with your need. However, in some instances - our second way - a deity or spirit may choose to work with you. There are many ways in which a spirit or deity might reach out to you. They often communicate in subtle and symbolic ways which we then interpret through our intuition. If you feel a presence or suspect that a higher power is trying to reach you, below are some key signs to watch for. I would like to stress that not everything is a sign. A feather on the path in front of you may simply be a feather. Seeing a fox as you head home from work may simply be a fox. Often, it is our intuition which will tell you whether this is some sort of sign or not. For many, it is a deep sense of 'knowing', or a siren going off in your head that tells you this is something you need to pay attention to. Often it won't just be the one sign or symbol but multiple, or the same one recurring over and over again. So always make sure you listen to your intuition to help you decipher what is a sign and what isn't. 1. Repeating Symbols & Synchronicities As I mentioned, one of the most common ways a deity or spirit may reach out is through repeating signs. This could involve seeing the same animal multiple times, and often in unusual ways or in places you wouldn't expect. It may be repeating numbers (such as 333 or 2222), or specific symbols often linked to a particular deity (like the trident, which is associated with Poseidon). It could even be a word or a name. Pay attention to these synchronicities and use the information give to you to gain a better understanding as to who may be reaching out to you. 2. Vivid Dreams or Visions Dreams can be a powerful way for spirits to communicate with us, especially if it is a recurring dream. Chances are that this dream will just feel different from your other dreams, or they may be more vivid. If you do believe that a deity or spirit is reaching out to through the dream world, then pay attention to your dreams for any symbols, figures, words, or animals that appear to help you understand who this deity or spirit may be. 3. Strong Emotional or Energetic Shifts Sudden waves of emotion, unexplained joy, or a feeling of being watched or guided could be indications of a spirit’s presence. You might feel a particularly comforting or protective energy when thinking on a specific deity, or feel a sudden sense of warmth, or a tingling pressure. Or, you may feel suddenly compelled to research a particular deity, story, or period of time, outside of the usual sense of curiosity you may have for these things. 4. Unusual Animal Encounters Many deities and spirits are associated with specific animals and may use them as messengers. Seeing an animal frequently in nature, on social media, or in dreams could be a sign that one is reaching out to you. That animal may even act 'strangely' around you, such as just standing and staring at you rather than running away. Or, you may find other signs from an animal which could be an indication of a deity or spirit's interest in you, such as feathers, tracks, etc. 5. Messages Through Divination Deities and spirits often communicate through tarot, oracle cards, pendulums, and other divination tools. It may be that you keep pulling a specific card when reading tarot, or perhaps the same symbol keeps coming through when you are scrying. For example, if you keep pulling the sun card when performing tarot readings, then it could be that a sun god or goddess is trying to get your attention. 6. Unusual Sounds, Scents, or Sensations Spirits may use sensory experiences to make their presence known. For example, you may hear whispers, bells, or music when no source is present. Or you may smell flowers, incense, or other scents linked to a particular deity, despite having nothing around you which can cause those scents. Often times these sensations are fleeting and don't linger, so you need to trust your instincts and not second guess anything you may hear, smell, or feel. 7. Messages Through People or Media Sometimes, deities and spirits use external sources to send signs. Considering how much media we consume daily, it is the perfect way for something to get our attention! Maybe a friend mentions a deity randomly, or maybe there are some lyrics or signs and symbols in a book or movie that stand out to you. I will quickly mention here, places such as Instagram and Facebook are full of videos and reels of people saying things such as 'this message will only be up for 1 day, and if you have come across it, it is no coincidence, you are supposed to be hearing this message', and so on. Most of these will just be generated to gain new followers, so always make sure that you exercise your intuition when you come across 'messages' such as these. If you believe a deity or spirit is reaching out to you, it can be difficult to work out exactly who it is. If you cannot work it out through the signs that you have been given, then try meditating and see what comes through. You could even ask 'if this is X deity, then give me a sign' and seeing if anything crops up over the next day or two. Do not get disheartened if you don't understand right away - just keep listening to the messages and trust that this deity or spirit will be revealed to you when you are ready. 5/4/2025 4 Comments The Zodiac Year ExplainedNow we have headed into a new Zodiac year, I thought I would do a post explaining in a bit more detail what that zodiac year is, and how we can incorporate those energies into our lives.  Autumn: The Season of Transformation (Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius)
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The Weekly Witch:Once I week I talk about something 'witchcraft' related I have done with my week. How we incorporate witchcraft into our every day lives is always a topic that has interested me, so I wanted to start this blog to explore it further! Archives
May 2025
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