How can I know my true calling as a witch?

QUESTION - I feel I am struggling because I read and see people say so many things about being a witch. My issue is there truly a difference with being a black witch ,grey witch,white witch. I am being puled in so many directions but feel the strongest pull to the as i guess would be called the dark arts witchcraft in general pagan and Wicca but not sure what groups would be right to learn it all i don't have an outside outlet.A strong pull to divination tarot and talking boards paranormal ,wizardry and so forth. Guess seeking answer's how can I know my true calling if i feel a pull to everything?


ANSWER - The term witch is a descriptor that means different things to those who practise the craft. The old joke goes that if you asked twelve witches to define witchcraft you would get thirteen different answers… Popular culture has further muddied the waters with the insistence that witches be depicted as either love and light “Glinda” types or evil ugly old crones. The truth of course is that witches are not nearly as polarised as Hollywood would like them to be. Witches are as morally diverse as any group of people. 

It is too simplistic and also quite patronising to label witches white, black or grey.  Any witch deserving of respect will employ her own subjective judgement to use her craft for what is appropriate in a given set of circumstances. This will usually involve the full moral spectrum. You do get witches who refuse to use what they term “dark” magic and good luck to them but anybody who intentionally chooses to place a limit on their own abilities is unlikely to be at the top of their game. Being a witch is as much about understanding ourselves as anything else and I’m afraid anybody who looks deep into their own psyche and sees only love and light is either deluded or lying to themselves.

You seem a bit confused about some of the terms you are using. Wicca is about as far from the “Dark” as it is possible to get. Wicca promotes strict moral laws, most popularly the law of harm none which (as it states) is all about using non aggressive magic. If you insist on using the term “white” magic then Wicca is the closest you will come to it.  

Paganism and Witchcraft are also very different paths - Not all witches are pagans and not all pagans are witches. Paganism is an umbrella term encompassing a very wide variety of beliefs, paths and ideologies some of which may practise witchcraft. It is not uncommon to find an inclination toward paganism at the same time as developing an interest in witchcraft but it is important you understand the two need not necessarily be related. 

You say you feel a strong pull toward all aspects of magic and the paranormal and that is not at all surprising. It takes a while to understand where your genuine interests and abilities lie and in the beginning everything does seem new and exciting. I think what you need to do is research a bit more into what witchcraft actually involves. Look beyond the surface of what non witches perceive a witch to be and  do and read about why witches have chosen to follow their path and what they get out of it. Try to forget some of these stereotypes and the pigeon holing of black/white witches… Have a look at the list of witch blogs on this site – there are some very articulate and engaging authors on there who will illuminate this path for you and help you get it into perspective.

Your true calling will come to you but let it evolve naturally through a real understanding rather than throwing together discordant elements and ending up with a path that doesn’t ring true to who you are.  

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Witchcraft-262673323

---