Not Your Basic Witch When people hear the word "witch," certain images may come to mind: a woman with a pointy hat, a broomstick, and a black cat. However, the reality is that witches come in all shapes and sizes, and are not bound to these outdated stereotypes. A witch is someone who practices witchcraft, which can involve a range of spiritual and magical practices. These practices can vary greatly from person to person, highlighting the diverse nature of modern witchcraft. In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in witchcraft and spirituality. More and more people are embracing their inner witch and exploring various magical traditions.
🌕🌑 Magick Mondays: Join us every other Monday for #MagickMondays, where we gather beneath the moon's radiant light to explore spellcraft, divination, herbalism, and more. These enchanting evenings are brimming with knowledge, practical workshops, and lively discussions. Together, we discover the secrets that enrich our magical journey.
Magick Mondays Join us every other Monday for MagickMondays, where we gather beneath the moon s radiant light to explore spellcraft, divination, herbalism, and more. In Africa to-day, although tribal society predominates, it is not static; on the contrary in many respects it is in a state of constant change and modification, some would even say of a disintegration.
More and more people are embracing their inner witch and exploring various magical traditions. This has led to the rise of a new generation of witches who are redefining what it means to be a witch. This "not your basic witch" movement is about embracing individuality and breaking free from the limitations of traditional witchcraft.
Want to be a full-time witch this spooky season? There’s a growing West Michigan group for that.
Katrina Peshka, pictured here, is one of the founding members of the Witches of West Michigan Facebook group. The group now has nearly 2,500 members.
shares- Audra Gamble | [email protected]
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Move over, Sanderson sisters from the “Hocus Pocus” movies. The Witches of West Michigan are taking over.
Initially created in August 2021 so friends could discuss “witchy things,” the Facebook group called “Witches of West Michigan” now has nearly 2,500 members.
The group was created by Erica Franke after she was talking with friends about the need for a safe space online to talk about witch-related items like crystals, herbs, moon cycles, pagan holidays and spells.
“We were expecting maybe 50-60 people, but we grew really fast,” Katrina Peshka, another of the group’s founding members, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.
Now, the group has expanded to divination festivals, selling witchy clothes and merchandise, supplies swaps, “witches brew” coffee meetups and more.
Though the group is geared toward women, non-binary folks and supportive male partners of witches are welcome on the page. For male-identifying people interested in witchcraft, the Men’s Magical Council of West Michigan exists too.
Members of the Witches of West Michigan group participate in a supplies swap in January 2022. The group swapped items like books, candles, crystals and more. (Photo provided by Katrina Peshka)
Being a member of the Witches of West Michigan group does not necessarily mean someone is Wiccan or pagan.
“It’s a very diverse group,” Franke said. “We have moms, people in college, all walks of life. They’re all just looking for a space online to talk about witchy things. We have Christian, Jewish and atheist witches. Witchcraft is not inherently linked to religion.”
There are different categories of witches, like kitchen witches who enjoy cooking some magic into their baking or tea, cosmic witches who gravitate toward astronomy and astrology and green witches who focus on gardening, herbs and nature. Water witches might be drawn toward taking dips in the lake and crystal witches channel energy through different minerals and gems.
What the Witches of West Michigan are not, though, is evil.
“We don’t worship Satan, this is not a coven,” Peshka said. “We’re not necessarily Wiccan, either.”
In fact, the majority of witches in the group are brand new to witchcraft, called “baby witches.” At each of the festival events hosted by Witches of West Michigan, there is some sort of workshop geared toward those baby witches like broom making, magic 101 and spell making.
“The one major thing is that it’s a nature-based path of living within the cycles of the Earth,” Peshka said of witchcraft. “It doesn’t need to be religious at all. There’s no gatekeeping in our community. We’re not about to tell anybody how to practice witchcraft.”
Witches brew and witches brunch events now happen in Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Lowell, Alma, St. Joseph and Big Rapids.
Many of the witches brew locations are in the heart of the West Michigan Bible Belt, which Peshka said was a surprise to the group’s founding members.
The Witches of West Michigan sell coffee mugs, T-shirts and other items with witchy logos.
“We’ve discovered that strangely enough, there are concentrations of witches in teeny tiny conservative towns,” she said. “It’s interesting going through our Facebook analytics and it’s places they must have burned the witches ages ago.”
Posts in the Witches of West Michigan Facebook group range from funny witchy memes to asking for advice on creating spells to crowdsourcing where to find supplies like herbs or crystals.
“Eighty to 90 percent of folks are really new to all this and having seasoned witches as a resource is really where we shine,” Peshka said.
Members of the Witches of West Michigan group participate in a broom making workshop. (Photo provided by Katrina Peshka)
Anyone interested in the Witches of West Michigan is welcome to attend its upcoming Samhain festival taking place 10 a.m-4 p.m. Oct. 23 at Little Space Studio in Grand Rapids.
The festival will include an eclectic group of vendors, book sellers, tarot card readers, a workshop on communicating with the dead and a two-hour, witch-themed drag show. Tickets are $33 and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com.
Other holidays celebrated by the witches include Yule (winter solstice), Ostara (spring equinox) and Midsummer (summer solstice). For Midsummer celebrations next June, the group is renting out an entire campground for a weekend.
“The fact that it is a place we can have these events, to have that community, it’s overwhelming,” Franke said. “When you give somebody a safe space, even if it’s just online, they can live their true lives.”
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These witches are reclaiming their power and using it to create positive change in their lives and communities. Not your basic witches may not conform to the stereotypical image of a witch, but that does not make their practices any less valid. They may draw inspiration from various traditions, such as Wicca, Hoodoo, or Green Witchcraft, and blend them together to create their unique spiritual path. These witches are also making a conscious effort to be inclusive and welcoming to all. They reject any form of discrimination or exclusion, and actively work towards creating safe spaces for marginalized communities within the witchcraft community. Moreover, not your basic witches are known for their ethical practices. They prioritize the well-being of themselves and others, and use their magic for healing, protection, and personal growth. Their intentions are rooted in love and respect for the natural world and all its inhabitants. In conclusion, the image of a witch is evolving, and the "not your basic witch" movement is at the forefront of this shift. These witches are breaking free from outdated stereotypes and embracing their individuality and power. They are creating a more inclusive and ethical witchcraft community, built on love and respect. So, the next time you think of a witch, remember that they are not your basic witch - they are so much more..
Reviews for "Embracing the Shadows: Unveiling the Dark Side of Witchcraft"
1. Jane - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Not your basic witch' based on the premise, but I was deeply disappointed. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt forced and unnatural. The world-building was insufficient and left many plot holes unanswered. Overall, the story fell flat and failed to engage me emotionally. It's safe to say that this book was not my cup of tea."
2. Mike - 1/5 stars - "I found 'Not your basic witch' to be tedious and predictable. The storyline was incredibly clichéd, with the protagonist following all the typical 'chosen one' tropes. The writing style was also lackluster, lacking in descriptive language and failing to bring the magical elements to life. I struggled to finish this book and would not recommend it to anyone in search of a fresh and original witch fiction."
3. Laura - 2/5 stars - "I was excited to read 'Not your basic witch' as I'm a fan of the genre, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and chaotic action scenes. The main character felt whiny and irritating, and the romance subplot felt forced and unnecessary. Overall, I was disengaged from the story and felt it could have been much better with more careful editing and character development."
4. Tom - 3/5 stars - "While 'Not your basic witch' had some interesting ideas, it ultimately fell short for me. The plot was intriguing, but the execution left me wanting more. The pacing was inconsistent, with moments of intense action followed by long stretches of mundane dialogue. Additionally, the supporting characters were underdeveloped and lacked distinct personalities. Although there were some enjoyable aspects, I was left feeling unsatisfied by the book overall."