An Interview with a Witch #1 - Witches of Essex Project

The following interview and images are part of my Witches of Essex project, an exploration of what it means to be a witch in Essex today.

What is your definition of a witch and how does that define your own witchood?

Hmmm, now where do I start? A definition of a witch isn’t quite how a child or an ordinary person off the street would see a witch. They would think of the Disney type character, Brother’s Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson type of witch with warts, long nose, a cackling laugh and rides a broomstick.

Well, I do have my own broomstick, or ‘besom’, and I do also have a pretty loud cackle when I get going. But no warts, crooked nose, nor do I boil newts and toads in my cauldron. I have one of those too.

My definition of a witch, wise woman, pagan, cunning man, is someone who appreciates nature in her finest, throughout all the seasons. Honouring the sun and the moon, and the planet as celestial beings. To respect the earth, the air, water, and fire as elements with which we work, live, and die with. I love the land, cleansing, growing as much as I can, and I love the sea…. roaring and foaming.

To me, my definition of a witch.... When you consider the Witch Finder General and followers, calling people who respected these things, owned a cat, owned land, grew herbs in their garden. These were ordinary people in touch with the elements, the planet and creatures of the earth and water. They were midwives, doctors, psychics, oracles, herbalists, but were called witches because they managed to do these things that others couldn’t. They were called witches through jealousy, misunderstanding and greed. Matthew Hopkins and other witch finders called these people witches. Those who were persecuted didn’t.

Alistair Crowley and Gerald Gardner put a fantastical stance on the term witch, bringing dark and mysterious into what was and still is for many of us a nature based magical life. Crowley was known to work with the devil, whereas Gardner brought in Wicca, conducting full moon rites sky clad (naked).

In my line of “the craft”, the devil doesn’t exist. Paganism has no devil. But dark Christianity does. To dabble with demons, there is no turning back.

Due to this, I, myself have never felt settled with calling myself a witch. It is not a term that sits well with me.

Can you share a bit about your identity as a witch and your practice?

As I have mentioned, I don’t sit well with the term witch, but as a pagan practitioner, wise woman also priestess.

I have attended the Glastonbury Goddess Temple and studied as a priestess of the Goddess for 2 and half years. I didn’t complete the third year, as I came to a standstill. What was I going to achieve? How was my life as a priestess/pagan going to change if I was Priestess of Avalon? Basically, it wouldn’t.

I already hold ceremonies, mainly for the sabbaths of the wheel of the year. These I hold at the Museum of Power. They are very welcoming for these to take place there. I also hold handfastings, but not many. So why would I want a label?

My practice is very elemental. I work with the elements and with spirit. I am connected to trees, flora, wildlife, the sea, rivers, and springs. Everything I work with comes from nature. I work with the Old Ones, The Old Ways, our ancestors, making spells from herbs, using candles, incense, anything from earth, air, fire, and water. We are of the earth and we return to the earth. We are of the air and we return to the air. We are of the water and we return to the water. We are of the fire and we return to the fire. We are of the spirit and we return to the spirit.

How do you feel being a witch enriches your life today?

As a child, I attended high church, which is very close to Catholicism. I was always drawn to the candles, incense and the chanting. I started chanting to the moon and doing little spells from around the age of 10. I had a white magic book that my sister had given to me. She ‘couldn’t get on with it’, were her words. Immediately I did. I still have it to this day. On receiving this book, it was like I had come home. My whole world had opened up.

Being a pagan, wisewoman, priestess has enhanced my life. I have a job, and yes, we all need money for living. I also lived hand to mouth until recently, but I didn’t panic about it. I’m not a materialistic person, nor do I outwardly stress.

I find being on my own is one of the most satisfying things. Living alone, being myself, doing my own thing. It has been a long, long journey, but I have finally come to learn to love myself. To like and love who I am.

If I wasn’t on a spiritual path like this, I wouldn’t be here now talking like this. To be out in nature and appreciate her wealth is enough. The people I meet along the way make my life richer, going to pagan based festivals and meeting like-minded souls.

Over the last 15 to 20 years, things have changed so much for pagans. We now can say who we are without scornful looks. We can dress how we want without being ridiculed. We can hold our ceremonies, moots, covens and festivals without the spiteful words and persecution. Some people still don’t understand and will cause trouble due to their ignorance and misunderstanding, but we are a friendly bunch….well most of us…..

Have you suffered any prejudice for being a witch? If so, how as it affected you?

Years ago, when I came out as a pagan, people I told seemed to think I was into black magic. A very blinkered view, but then again, the Christian faith, fairy tale books and the Crowley image didn’t help matters.

I would say the worst thing I encountered, and it wasn’t much…. I was holding a festival called Spiritual Awareness Day. I had posters dotted around and one was on my car. I went to get myself some lunch in a deli in Danbury, and as I got back into my car, a lady came up to my passenger window (which was partially open) said ‘I think you need some spiritual awareness’ and flung a leaflet through my window. For a moment I was stunned. This person was angry…but why? I got out of the car and went over to the bin where I put the leaflet in and walked back calmly to my car, got in and carried on with my lunch.

I had no problem. I was holding an event to spread spiritual awareness and understanding. It wasn’t a pagan event. It was for all faiths. But this woman had no spiritual prowess. No understanding. The anger I felt from her was her anger at herself.   

Are you aware of the history of witchcraft and the witch hunts in Essex and does this impact your identity or your practice as a witch today?

As I have mentioned previously, I am very aware of the history of witchcraft and the persecutions led by Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne as well as other people over this country, Scotland, Europe and the world.

Knowing of these persecutions has made me stronger in my beliefs and my craft, so much so that I am working with a historian and fellow pagan on a project to get the people persecuted for witchcraft recognised. This has already happened in Colchester, by the same historian, and a plaque has been laid in Castle Park. We are now looking at Chelmsford where many of these innocent women, men and children were executed for just being different. I am very passionate about getting these people recognised and understood and to finally lay them to rest. I also hope to hold a ceremony to honour those who died in the most horrific way by the hands of men and women who misjudged, were misguided, and misunderstood.

I want to thank Lyz for her support with this project and her time and energy answering my questions and allowing me to take her picture.

If you are a witch, or know a witch who might like to be involved with the project, please do get in touch - https://leilabalinphotography.com/witchesofessex