On Halloween, many of us decorate and dress up to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. On the same night, modern witches gather to celebrate Samhain, the holiday that inspired present-day Halloween. Beyond Samhain, witches practice year-round. Embedding magic and ritual into their spiritual practice, witches have a fascinating history with ancient roots and modern applications.

What is magic? Who is a witch? Do they really brew potions and hex their enemies? Let’s learn from the experts: organizers from some of the largest witch Meetup groups across the country. 

Meet the Witches

What is witchcraft?

Shelley Holloway (SH), organizer of Pagans & Witches in Greater Boston, est. 2015

For me, being a witch is about connection, wisdom, and transformation. It is a sacred path towards trusting yourself, and your connection to divinity within yourself, within the natural world, and within all things. A witch is someone who understands that the laws of magic and the laws of science are one in the same—and through much effort, skill, learning, and deeply transformational work we come to understand how to influence this energy by shifting our own.

Jill Weiss (JW), organizer of Los Angeles Area Pagans & Witches Network, est. 2005

Ask ten witches to define witchcraft and you’ll get about 40 answers. To me, craft is not a religion; it’s a practice. Craft, or magic, is the process of working on your own reality by focused power of will. Witches are heretics—we commune with gods and spirits without a middleman. 

Sorcha MacAonghais (SM), organizer of Witches of Cascadia in Portland, Oregon, est. 2004

To me, witchcraft is a “craft,” not a religion. The craft of witchcraft consists of divination, healing, doing spells, prophecy, and mediumship. Wicca would be the religious permutation of witchcraft, but we are not all Wiccans—witches can be of any religion.  

What do witches do?

JW: The tradition I work doesn’t spend much time “doing spells”—it’s more about an everyday awareness of our own ethics and how we choose to act in any given situation. I know, it doesn’t sound as cool as standing over a bubbling cauldron, but rest assured, we do that from time to time as well.  

Sometimes I describe spells as “prayer with props”—we use tools such as candles and crystals to help us focus, and some tools have specific meanings and properties that assist in the work we want to accomplish. We do not do black magic, or unethical magic, which works on someone else’s free will or gives you power over them.

You can use magic to give a boost to things in your life you are already working on, such as prosperity, love, or spiritual growth. Magic isn’t just spells. Magic is also communing with spirits or talking with nature. Magic is learning and growing.

What are your Meetup events like? 

SM: We have at least one event a month, at restaurants or Pagan bookstores, where we sit, talk, and eat together. We have a lot of regulars, so an event tends to feel like a nice family reunion. There’s no agenda—I encourage members to talk about what they’d like, related to witchcraft or not. We aim to create a community, so we go with the flow. 

SW:  The group was established to offer the Boston Pagan community a place to meet, share fellowship, and not feel so alone in this world where we are often vilified and ostracized by family and other communities. We offer both sabbat (holiday) rituals and full moon rituals, guided visualizations, a Wicca 101 course, and our Pagan Process Group (a discussion group where people can casually talk about their practice, ask questions, and learn from each other). But more importantly, we offer warmth, welcome, and a safe space for people to be open about who they are!

Get to Know the Modern Witch

Throughout the ages, tales of witches have been about women, power, and magic. Witches were women who challenged the status quo and were persecuted for it. They were people who used magic to claim control of their lives. Drawing on this radical tradition, today’s witches are people of all genders who practice witchcraft to discover themselves, deepen their connection to others and to nature, and manifest their dreams into reality. While they’re anything but ordinary, modern-day witches are likely more common than you might think. Some polls estimate that there are nearly 1 million practicing witches in the United States today.  Witchcraft can be as simple as lighting a candle while setting an intention or as complex as a multi-step ritual with many herbs, crystals, and incantations.

Though a witch’s craft is a self-directed journey, it’s not always a solitary practice. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure into a world of mystery, divinity, nature, magic, connection, and more. Whether it’s to learn new spells for healing, share information about the magical properties of different herbs, or understand the cycle of the moon, witches turn to each other to share their knowledge and help one another.

The Enchanting History of Meetup’s Witches

Shortly after Meetup was founded in 2002, witches took to the platform. “Witches” was the most popular type of Meetup group in 2002, and “Pagans” topped the charts as well. With nearly two decades of continued presence on Meetup, there’s a reason witches gather here. 

SM: Most of my best friends have come from Meetup. Meetup makes it easy to get the word out about the existence of regular, friendly, witchy events. I tell people that our group’s purpose is to create community. Since we’ve been together for 18 or so years, I guess that has worked.

Today, there are over 400 witch and pagan groups on Meetup, with nearly 200,000 members.

Becoming a Witch

If these organizers have sparked your interest, here are some tips for beginning your own witchcraft journey:

JW: Use resources like Meetup to find local Witchcraft, Wiccan, and Pagan communities. Community is the most valuable and often underutilized resource new practitioners have. In a community, you can get a diverse array of opinions, perspectives, and experiences. Many organized communities offer rituals and classes open to the public, allowing you to gain your own ritual experiences and learn at your own pace. Read works by Scott Cunningham, Janet and Stewart Farrar, Raymond Buckland, Gerald Gardner, and Doreen Valiente. Then, read more contemporary writers who can help make your practice more inclusive and culturally sensitive.

Let this season of the witch inspire you to explore the craft! After Halloween and Samhain, discover other important dates as the Wheel of the Year keeps turning. There’s no need to learn it all on your own—find a local Pagan or witch Meetup event and build your practice alongside experienced witches. 

Reading list:

• Spiral Dance by Starhawk
• The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell
• Waking the Witch by Pam Grossman
• Witchery by Juliet Diaz

Last modified on October 19, 2021