Especially around Halloween/Samhain, people ask me if I’m a witch.

I identify as a witch (sometimes with an upper-case W), standing with the many women and men, including some of my Salem ancestors, who were linked to — or accused of — the crime of witchcraft without evidence or any basis in fact.

It is not my religion.

For many people, witchcraft is a practice. It can include something as innocuous as herbalism, energy work, reverence for Nature, or the use of candles, incense and visual imagery to assist spiritual focus.

Those practices can fit seamlessly with someone’s mainstream or alternative  religious beliefs and practices.  There are Christian witches, Buddhist witches, Jewish witches, Atheist witches, etc.

Claiming the term “witch” can reflect beliefs and/or practices, or it can be an identity chosen for entirely different reasons.

By contract, Wicca is a religion. I am not Wiccan, though I respect those who choose that path.  It is one of many religions I’ve studied, seeking the common elements that unite most religions and spiritual traditions.

I identify as a witch, but that’s an eclectic choice within an historical and political context.   (I think this is similar to Michelle Belanger identifying as a vampire.)

My spirituality is private, and — if you’re expecting anything sensational — you’ll probably be disappointed.