A Year of Witchcraft

September 23, 2025

Mabon 2024 was the first sabbath I ever celebrated after discovering I am a Witch. I’ve loved learning about the craft, the history, the traditions and all the different types of Witchcraft. I’ve listened to Mat Auryn’s Psychic Witch, I’ve read Kelden’s Crooked Path, big blue also known as Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft. I’ve spoken to the trees, I’ve made offerings and even done a spell or two.

As we’ve just celebrated Mabon in the Northern hemisphere (aka the Autumn equinox, which happened on September 22nd 2025), I thought it would be a splendid idea to reflect on a year of practicing.

All the gear and some idea

I’ll start with the light and fun things, then we can get into the deeper spiritual stuff. First of all, I absolutely love incense. I’ve tried burning real herbs and it’s pretty intense, but lighting an incense stick just immediately grounds me and lifts my spirit. I’ve always loved candles but now I’m a tealight scavenger and I use them to make wishes or ask them to protect me if I’m feeling a little blue. It feels much more intentional and purposeful now every time I light an incense stick or a candle. I think about the spectacle of the flame and that tiny act of making your reality what you want it to be. In my case, smokey and scented.

I started meditating more and again, this small act of self love and peace has made a profound difference to me. The elements of being a Witch that appeal to me are trusting yourself and tuning in to your intuition so I’ve really enjoyed making time for myself and getting to know me a little better. I’ve also recently started to dabble in Tarot but we’ll talk on that more deeply when we get to the juicy stuff.

Crafty little witch

Having got to know myself over the last year and a bit, I realised I’m a very creative person, thus my first idea to celebrate Mabon was to create a wreath! I listened to podcasts and researched the associations of the celebration and gleefully discovered they’re all Autumn themed. Rich oranges, browns and yellows; pumpkins, apples and cinnamon. I was very excited to discover the first sabbath I decided to celebrate was one full of things I love. Sounds almost cosmically divined…

This initial foray into wreath making and crafts set the tone for how I would celebrate following sabbaths. I made a wreath for Yule using the associated colours and items I got at a local church fair. I change my altar with the seasons and enjoy getting scented candles that relate to the time of year, too. It’s a small but lovely way to acknowledge the turning of the wheel. There’s something very satisfying to me about making my own decorations and offering my energy to share with the celebration.

Honouring the Wheel

Now for some spiritual blessings I’ve experienced. My favourite thing I’ve learnt about witchcraft and its traditions is the association with nature and connecting with the passage of life. I started my path in September so I’ve seen a whole cycle: I saw nature draw down, watched the leaves turn to orange and drop to the ground, the birds quieten and the weather slowly become rainier and colder. I’ve seen the long, quiet sleep of Winter followed by the tiny miracles of Spring and the first sprouts of new life. Followed by the blazing Summer where my local woods have regrown into a natural wonderland. I’ve enjoyed eating with the seasons and eating UK produce to appreciate the literal fruits the land bears. It’s made me feel more connected to the Earth and the history of it too. I often think about how the apples I eat have been enjoyed by millions before me and the herbs I use have been in kitchens for centuries. By observing time and tuning in, I’ve felt more present and even ever present, in all that I do. I feel much more connected to the Earth and the universe and my ancestors, much more like I’m supposed to be here and enjoy this experience.
It’s really been wonderful.

The second Sabbath I observed was Samhain, you may know it as Halloween. I might prefer Halloween to Christmas but it is a very close call. So, you can imagine my excitement for digging deep into the origins and traditions of Samhain. And I was not disappointed. I have a fascination for the supernatural, I believe in ghosts and spirits and other undefined phenomena. Samhain is fun because it’s a little spooky and creepy but it’s also really beautiful in that it celebrates the dead. It’s time to remember your ancestors, offer them gifts and let them know you remember them. I made an altar and placed items of passed relatives on it and lit some candles and turned off the lights. It was powerful and emotional and made me face my fear of death and loss. I truly didn’t expect my craft to take me to such emotional levels. I look forward to doing it all again soon.

Aside from our own ancestors, there’s a lovely tradition of leaving candles lit overnight, so any lost souls can safely make their passage. I used LED candles because, safety first, and placed them on my windowsills for any souls who needed their path lit. Kinship and kindness goes beyond this physical plane.

The past year, I’ve really been investing in myself and finding things that make me happy and make me feel like I’m living more authentically. I started painting and sharing it online. I started blogging and writing fiction stories. I’ve started exercising, doing yoga and stretching and honouring my body as well as my mind. And a few months ago, I finally took the plunge into Tarot.

Playing The Fool

I’ve heard a lot about Tarot and know friends who pull a card a day, and loved how it was woven into the story of Agatha All Along. But goodness me, I did not expect to have such a deep bond with it so soon. I bought Callie Moon and Moorea Seal’s Every Little Thing You do is Magic (FYI, that’s an affiliate link so I earn money if you decide to purchase it), which comes with a full 72 card deck and a little guidebook explaining the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana and what each suit and each card means. I looked at a few cards every day, reading their explanation and studying the cards to notice symbols and what resonated. The artwork is lovely and full of animals so I was immediately in love. I did some readings with my partner which opened us up to explorative chats about mind and behaviours. I’ve done personal spreads which have just felt magically correct. These last few weeks I hadn’t been taking care of my soft self so I left the tarot cards in their box for a while. I pulled them out just three days ago and the reading I got was just breathtaking. I think I cried. I was struggling with what to do next and the cards were just so accurate and kind and made sense and I urge you to try tarot, no matter what your spiritual or religious beliefs are. My tarot deck is a friend and a guide and a realist. They lift me up and encourage me and yeah, they’re everything Tarot fans have said they are. And now I’ve seen it for myself, and I have Witchcraft to thank!

Altogether, this past year has been one of growth and self kindness and exploration, all gently supported by my living as a Witch. I’ve learnt more about the world and other Witches. I visited Stonehenge and really took my time to feel it and soak up the ancient divine energy. I’ve learnt a lot of new knowledge but I’ve also become wise to just how deep and beautiful this world is. Everything has more gravitas now. Everything that matters to me, anyway.

I like to say that I discovered I’m a Witch, or even remembered. For me, it kind of just all made sense at the time, (I’ll do another post on that) and it was less that I decided to become a Witch and more that I realised I am one. So, if you think you’re a Witch, and most importantly, if you identify as any gender! you kind of, most probably, very likely, are. Go and explore, my child of the Earth.

🌿

Here are the resources that helped me find my light.

Podcasts

Witch Wednesdays

Start at the beginning and learn how they think is best or pick a Sabbath you’re interested in and start there! Very informational.

The Bell Witch

Absolutely lovely Northern lasses talking about daily rituals and spells and how Witchcraft is part of everything they do. Very real and chatty.

The Pocket Coven

These two caring souls discuss the cross-section of magic and mental health. It gets deep and rambly and it’s very cool to hear about their craft in their lives.

The White Witch

Book reviews, mythical stories, practical spells and tips on how to celebrate Sabbaths. Super cosy vibes this one.

YouTube

Nourished Natasha

Super cool and insightful Tarot readings, updates on what the Moon and the planets are up to and how they'll affect you. Also, yoga!

The Hearth Witch

More book reviews and such deep knowledge about living as a Witch!

Ginny Metheral

Super fun, super folksy. Again deep knowledge but delivered in shorter videos. Covers monthly magic and Sabbaths, how to cleanse and loads more practical tips!