Troubling “Witch”: The Labels We Choose and What They Say About Us

A Livestream Class with Thorn Mooney

Sat at 12:15 pm in The Esoteric Alcove

Is Witchcraft a religion, a practice, or something else? Have you ever described yourself as “spiritual but not religious”? What the heck does it mean for something to be “traditional”? Have you ever stressed over whether you were a “green witch,” a “death witch,” a “cosmic witch,” or any of potentially a million other monikers? And why are we collectively so concerned with all of the words we use to describe our magical practices?

In this class, we take a deep dive into the history—and implications—of some of the words that most plague our communities. We’ll take a look at what both scholars and magical practitioners have said over the years, as well as consider the historical and cultural trends that inadvertently affect our own choices, even where we’re unaware of them. Labels can go a long way to help us locate practitioners of like mind and confidently establish boundaries for our individual practices and traditions, but they can also be limiting, divisive, and culturally specific in unintended and unproductive ways.

In this workshop, you’ll:

• Learn the complicated histories behind categories like “religion,” “secularism,” and “spirituality,” and how these have shifted in Witchcraft spaces
  
• Challenge common assumptions about what our words say about each of us
  
• Approach your own labels with greater confidence… or get comfortable ditching them altogether
  

How we describe ourselves matters, but perhaps not in the ways we always intend. If you’ve ever experienced anxiety over what to call yourself or found yourself irritated or overwhelmed by the labels other witches use for themselves, this class will provide much-needed context and clarity.