Secrecy in the Craft

There can be a lot of perceived mystery and secrecy in the world of witchcraft and Wicca. Today, I would like to share a few thoughts on this topic and why I think a level of secrecy is needed at times.

            First, let’s consider the Witches’ Pyramid, which consists of actions related to the four elements that inform magical workings or ritual. Air influences us “to know.” We have to know what we want and have a clear intention or goal. Fire urges us “to will.” We must muster up the energy, passion, confidence behind the intention or goal we have. Water then pushes us “to dare.” We have to actually do the magic or ritual working based on out intentions and energy. Earth reminds us “to keep silent.” Why would we keep silent?

            I have been told that if you are working magic spells and such, that “keeping silent” can mean that you are not perseverating on the spell itself. Make the intention, build energy behind the intention, do the magic, and then LET IT BE! If you are adding any nervous or anxious energy to the working afterwards, it might not work. Just let the magic do what it needs to do.

            Others have suggested that “keeping silent” means not talking about your magical working with others because they might intentionally or unintentionally interfere with your magic. Maybe someone doesn’t want you to get something you want from magic spell because they secretly want it to! Their energy can obstruct what you were working towards. I have never been aware of this happening to me, but you should be mindful of this. Of course, you can share information about your magic with close friends if you feel you need to, especially if you are collaborating on something.

            There are many public rituals that occur for the general public to witness. Sometimes you need the energy of many witches to do the same working to make an impact on a societal level. Some witches will share spells in books and on social media for others to try. I shared a spell on this blog recently. I had already done the working, and it wasn’t ongoing, so there was less chance of anything or anyone else influencing it at the moment.  I have other magical workings that I would not share as openly.

            Now, I would like to return to Yvonne Aburrow’s “Dark Mirror: The Inner Work of Witchcraft” and the question: Is secrecy necessary to protect the mysteries? If so why? Can you access the mysteries without being initiated into a tradition?

            What are the mysteries? I believe there are many, but I am not sure I am aware of them all yet. I think some secrecy is necessary to protect others from being exposed to them before they are ready. I am part of an initiatory tradition, and there are levels of personal and magical development that need to occur before one is ready to meet and experience certain mysteries. Some people feel this might be gatekeeping, but it is not. You have access to the mysteries of initiatory traditions if you show up, do the work, become initiated, and continue to do the work!

Everyone has a different experience with the mysteries and sharing them might influence someone else’s perception. I would hate to have the experience of discovering certain mysteries spoiled by someone else. Keeping the mysteries secret helps keep the experience pure for those experiencing them for the first time.

            Experiencing the mysteries is such a personal experience and sometimes we don’t even have the words to describe it if we wanted to! I think people can access the mysteries without being initiated into a tradition, but it might come over a longer period of time. Being initiated into certain Wiccan traditions provides specific structures to become prepared in order to know the mysteries and experience them. The mysteries have to be universal, I assume, but everyone finds their own unique paths to getting to them. One has to be perceptive to the transformative points in their lives and acknowledge them as pivotal.

            I also think it can be important to keep some of your craft completely to yourself. Something that is yours and yours alone. It doesn't need the approval of others and it doesn't need to have any rules. No one else is going to quite understand your experiences like you, so you will always have that secret part within you even if you are more open to sharing.

I was very much in the "broom closet," keeping my craft secret for several years because that is how I preferred it. It was a special part of my life just for me. In the past, witches had to keep their identities and work secret as a form of protection! I feel it is good to remember that our magic doesn't need to be flashy. Witches are working powerful magic while they work their day to day jobs, they are experiencing transformative meditations while receiving acupuncture for non magical purposes (it's me, I did that), and we can do sacred rituals almost anywhere and anytime without anyone else really even knowing!

What are your thoughts about secrecy in witchcraft?