What I learnt from speaking to a witch
Words by Kate Streader
“It’s not evil and it’s not the devil’s work. It’s also not Harry Potter or Sabrina.”
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve probably come across a witch or two. While witchcraft is centuries old, these social media platforms have fostered a space for modern witches to share their craft, which has seen somewhat of a witch renaissance – at least, in the mainstream eye.
Witches have historically been portrayed as evil and villainous, from the Salem witch trials and Wicca through to fairytales and more contemporary media. Victoria/Wadawurrung-based witch Sarah Carollo nods to the “hat and broom ‘wicked witch’ stereotype that will probably be around forever”.
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But the reality of being a witch is far from that. Witches don’t have to be born into magick or be part of a coven. In fact, there’s no right or wrong way to practice witchcraft and anyone can do it.
“It’s not a one size fits all kind of deal. There are so many different paths and not everyone is on the same one,” says Sarah. “It’s not evil and it’s not the devil’s work. It’s also not Harry Potter or Sabrina.
“The magick portrayed in the media is always smoke and mirrors type magick,” she explains. “Real witches deal with energy, it’s not all about levitating and making objects appear out of nowhere. Magick also takes a lot of time and patience, it’s not a quick fix like how you see on TV.”
There are various types of witches, with common threads between different kinds of witchcraft including a connection to nature and the earth and ritual work, though it can involve everything from food and the home to sex, moon cycles, potions and spells.
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When I ask Sarah how her witchcraft journey began, she doesn’t have a definitive answer. It was simply something that developed over time. “I have always been a spiritual person but found it hard to find a connection with organised religion,” she says. “I’ve always been in tune with nature and the ebb and flow of the moon cycles and as I grew older I felt drawn to explore these connections.
“Being a witch is empowering. It connects me to the energy of the universe and the elements. I feel honoured that I get to perform magick not only for myself but for others as well. It also means I have a responsibility to give back to community and nature where I can. After all, I am practising my craft on stolen land.”
Sarah’s passion for sharing her magick and giving back to the community saw her launch her own witchcraft business, The Witch Apprentice, in 2019. “I started as an essential oil-based business selling blends with intentions. In early 2020 I introduced potions. This was something I’d been doing for a long time for my personal use, but [I] thought I’d see if the public would be interested in them,” she tells me.
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Sarah underestimated how popular her potions would be and now operates through a pre-order system to keep up with the demand, though they always sell out. “Now the regular products I make are ritual sprays and blends to coincide with moon cycles,” she adds.
“I have a monthly subscription box which is winding up and moving to a quarterly seasonal box and I’m also shifting focus to do more group service spell work as this gets me back to my roots as a witch, doing what I love most.”
Spell work is vital to Sarah’s craft and can involve banishing negativity, bringing in protection, healing, and inviting positive shifts around things like money, love and career.
“I’m a very hands-on, practical person and my strength lies in ‘doing’. I like to create my own rituals and offer my services to others. I also have a talent for making potions, this is a huge passion of mine and I spend months and months perfecting my ritual oils,” she says. “I also follow the moon cycles and the Southern Hemisphere sabbats and perform magick and rituals appropriate to these cycles and seasons.”
So how exactly does one become a witch? Well, according to Sarah, that’s really up to you. “Find out what you’re most drawn to,” she says. “Whether it’s green witchery, moon magick, elemental or seasonal witchery… There are really so many different branches.
“Find some accounts on Instagram and see who you most vibe with. A lot of these witches offer Patreons or subscription services, so you can learn directly from them. Otherwise, there’s a multitude of amazing books out there. A trip to browse your local new age/crystal store is always beneficial if you’re unsure on where to start.”
Find out more about what it means to be a witch here.
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