what Does it Take to be a Witch?

[SpiritTalker]

Gawd help us, but I've been doing a lot of thinking and reading lately, seeking a consensus of the basic foundations of being a witch. It's not an extensive, organized study but a personal search of Craft teachings available on the market. These ideas are gleaned from stacks of books consulted & assorted web sites browsed, both traditional and Wiccan. It's not surprising that no one agrees on a core foundation, whether it's Learnable skills, natural abilities or personal character traits.

Learnable skills were seen as things like raising & directing energy, meditation, etc., natural abilities ranged from discerning energies, psychic abilities etc., and personal character traits were like a strong will, self discipline.

The only things that came up frequently (but not consistently) in my search were:
KNOW YOURSELF, and
BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT (energy essence, not ghost) OF WHATEVER YOU USE IN YOUR CRAFT.
And I nod along and agree with that. But, is that all it takes?

I was really surprised that I found only a few references to a having a relationship with the Earth, Nature, and/or Deity, but when these were viewed as foundation essentials it was always with eloquence and deep feeling, which only makes sense to me.

A couple times I came across a list of five skills that are generally accepted, in no particular order of importance: herbalism, divination, mediumship or spirit work, mystic quality to access other worlds, and magic using.

So,what else do you think it takes to be a witch?

[corvidus]

What else?

The Hearth and the Azoth.

These two things are the roots of Power. Not Power owned, but Power given. It's up to you to find them both. There is no teaching them.

However, you can find alot of definitions for them online

[SpiritTalker]

Aren't we already part of the One Thing? (yea, I looked it up) It's like Nature, we don't have to go back to Nature, we are it.

And right, we are conduits and don't own the power.

[SnowCat]

Acceptance of responsibility.

Snow

[TwilightDancer]

My mother would say anyone could be a witch as long as they have respect. Respect for the means by which they achieve their goals. I'm inclined to agree with her.