However, I am not Wiccan, I am an Earth Witch, although I recognized the idea and follow the principle. What that means to me might not match with everybody else’s believes, but the nice thing about this community of like-minded friends is that it does not matter. Many facets of color come together to form a beautiful rainbow, and as we come together to share knowledge and beliefs, we unite to form the biggest rainbow in the universe. In my definition Wicca is a strictly ruled religion, where Witchcraft is not (you know what they say, ask five witches and you get six different explanations). Witchcraft is the working of magick in balance with the world. The simplest, yet most complex way to connect with the ALL. What I am, WHO I am, is not foremost ruled by worshipping Deity or formal rituals, but by Nature, and while I incorporate several aspects and believe structures of a few different paths (for example, depending on what work needs to be done, I often call on Native American spirits). I have been actively studying Witchcraft for over a decade, but have been practicing all my life. When pressed for a label, I chose Earth, or Green Witch. What I am, WHO I am, is not foremost ruled by worshipping Deity or formal rituals, but by Nature, and while I incorporate several aspects and believe structures of a few different paths (for example, depending on what work needs to be done, I often call on Native American spirits) I am, most of all, a KRAEUTERHEXE (that is the German word for herbal witch, but means more than just that. Hexe comes from the saxon 'hagazussa', which means fence-rider, the one who stands with one leg in this world, and one leg in the other world. The history of Hexe is close to that of a village shaman. A healer, often called wise woman. Not set on religion, or books alone. Instead, knowledge. Either learned or inherited). I am a Healer. Not more, not less. Magick comes naturally with each plant I tend and harvest, and ritual is enclosed in each watering and weeding. So much more than I ever realized..... getting my hands dirty is like a major sabbath. I believe in God, only I call Her Nature, which I respectfully, but with a smile, address as ‘Momma’. While I have learned to listen to the Goddess to embrace me, I have not given up my childhood image of the old man with the white beard who never turned away from my prayers. I have turned away from the institution church as I knew it. The world is my church now, and the sky is NOT the limit. It is my believe that all Gods and Goddesses come from the same source, the ONE, as do we and everything around us. Everything that lives and dies goes back to that source. It does not matter what one calls one's deity, or what image one chooses to see it, it's the way that matters, not the means. I see all religions coming from the same source. I am practicing kitchen and green witchery, with main focus on healing and herbalism, not following, nor caring about any specific tradition; Most of my recipes and potions come from herbal study groups and my grandmother. Some come to me by intuition, if you want to call it that. I am also a Taoist, having found peace and balance on the 'Way'. I practice voluntary simplicity, and am currently including Deep Ecology in my studies; Wonderful teachings to bring us even closer to Momma. I used to look with a little envy at those of you I considered the 'real' caboodle. I should have realized a long time ago that since my magick works without elaboration, I should be grateful. I don't need a robe, or a circle. My robe are my gardener's gloves (which I barely wear anyhow), my circle is my whole garden... ever has been since I planted the lilacs in the corners. I love my altar, but realize I don’t need it, it is a beautiful decoration and maybe sometimes focus point, to remember all of you who are so dear to me (as I display all the little gifts from online sisters). I take my craft name, the Sorceress, quite seriously. Especially since the name chose me, not the other way around :) A Sorceress is a 'Zauberin'. She, who works magick using the powers within and around her. While I can, I don't need to draw on the energies of nature. I am in tune with it, part of it, one and the same :) Most of the times my energy, the force, comes from within, not from outside. I don't need to cast a circle, or engulf in ritual. I just verbalize what needs to be done. For me, that is all that's necessary. Backed up by the power of my passionate desire, it is done. I do take comfort from my trees and I give excess energy to our Mother. It is nice to know there is backup when needed. Being a Witch means to me that I am aware of nature, and the balance and power therein. I am allowed to use that power, to tab into the resources, and use it to better what is. But I am also required to keep the balance, to give back what I take in times of need. The earth needs so much, as so many take without giving, that every little bit helps. I might only be able to save one drop of water a day, but imagine millions of people doing it. I might only be able to give excess energy to ONE tree in need, but whatever I can give, it will be enough. The least we can do is thank the Mother for what we take. If that is all one can give, it will be understood. Being a Witch means to me, to remember that nature was here long before us, and that I need to respect it in order to be part of the All. As each animal and each plant recognize that it cannot survive without being a part of it's surrounding, I have learned that I too, am a part of the whole, and while I may survive, I cannot LIVE without being that small, but vital part. Many cultures have known this over the centuries, and only 'modern' man has forgotten. We are taught that we cannot 'feel' those things, that there 'are' no invisible friends, and that our senses are ruled by imagination. I say, forget what we were taught, and remember what we have always known. Trust your instincts, they are much, much older than you. Being a Witch means, to me, to recognize the world around me for what it is, not what it seems. In becoming re-intuned with my world I find that I remember more and more of what I always KNEW I've known. I do not only want to feel this world, I want this world to feel me. Not to leave something behind, but to make a difference. Ever since I dedicated my life to Mother of all, I have found home. In focusing on the simple pleasures of smelling the air, feeling the wind, and tasting the rain on my face, I find that life in the 'real' world is a little easier to handle, and I smile more often for reasons most people cannot even see. How rich I am, and how lucky. While I have learned to listen to the Goddess to teach me, I have not given up my childhood image of the old man with the white beard who never turned away from my prayers. I have turned away from the church as I knew it. The world is my church now, and the sky is NOT the limit. It is my believe that all Gods and Goddesses come from the same source, the ONE, or ALL, as do we and everything around us. Everything that lives and dies goes back to that source. It does not matter what one calls one's deity, or what image one chooses to see it, it's the way that matters, not the means. And then there's magick. Magick does neither know nor care who uses it. It simply operates. For the same reason a log does not care who holds the lighted match to it to make it burn. You may call it prayer. You kneel in a place you feel save You focus your thoughts Back them up with emotions You concentrate on what the problem is What improvement you seek And then you ask for it. You may call it prayer; I call it magick. For what else is magick than focused energy? Energy can not be good or evil, it can only be. Is the fire evil when it destroys a house? It only does what it knows. Evil is the person who holds the match to the house, yet, not many would even consider such a thing. The same goes for witches. Yes, I cannot claim there might not be the one sick in mind and spirit willing to misuse what is given to us freely, but the vast majority recognizes the power for what it is and is humbled and grateful. And since we believe in the balance, we know, whatever we do comes back to us, and three times stronger. No Witch in her/his (yes, a male Witch is called a Witch too, the word warlock is an insult, it means oath-breaker) right mind would dare to defy the laws of nature, after dedicating a lifetime of striving to become one with it. We know the price, and we are usually not willing to pay it. Believing in the balance, and in Karma, is all the knowledge we need to 'get even'. It does not take a curse. Momma will take care of it for us. Just be patient. If not in this life, then in the next. For the same reason we do not wish to influence others with magick. It is not allowed to alter someone’s free will. Besides, I like to believe I don't need a love spell to find a mate, and who would want a puppet anyways? Magick and spells are used for healings and bringing forth positive changes. Changes in ourselves, in our surroundings, in our lives. Makes sense, doesn't it? Don't be afraid, and don't turn away. You may be surprised what you find inside yourself, if you'd only allow yourself to listen. Open your heart, and it will tell you more than all the stories and all the (misguided) movies you may have seen. And if you follow a different religion, respecting all living things and keeping the balance, more power to you :) Live and let live is another concept of keeping perfect balance. Green Blessings, Love and Light © Sorceress SummerWind, 1998. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 
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