Why Do Witches Label Themselves? 

One of the reasons I'm not the biggest fan of labels is because mine are always changing. Some of my practices/beliefs stay the same but I have so many interests and I'll dabble in anything I find interesting.

"You don't year people calling themselves baby doctor..." 😂 I love it

The most insidious curse of the modern age: May your interest go mainstream.

The only label that really bothers me is Baby Witch. I just get the ick from hearing it and I recently left a Facebook group because not only was the label “protected” in the group, the admin was promoting Baby Witch online courses.

I was born into a 'witch' family - I'm a witch/occultist/magical practitioner (whatever you want to refer to me as); I practice all sorts of 'witchcraft', therefore I declare myself a "witchy witch"! Seriously though, I never had a label growing up, I experimented with herbs, candles, cards and crystals, etc but never felt the need to call myself anything and still don't to this day. Have a wonderful Solstice everyone 🌞

I saw the thumbnail and title and was like RIGHT?!? I'm a witch. Period.

Hearth and Annie are absolute gems, I love their content

I am an older witch and native American. I thought the same in the last decade. When I came upon my path, witches were just witches. Or a Wiccan. 😂 I have just went along on my path. Just now realizing everything that I have done in my life and on my path naturally...makes me a chaos witch. I do not really like labels so I mostly ignored them. Ran across your channel quite a while ago. I love it ❤

I always relate witchcraft to the notions of art movements or schools of thought. You could simply say "I am an artist" or you could say "I am influenced by the Cubism movement of the early-20th century" or "I am into philosophy. I am a philosopher" or you could say "I am influenced by the Platonic philosophy but more into Neoplatonism" It doesn't replace that you are the artist or the philosopher but having labels. It just echoes it further. Love this video!!

I've entered the realm of magical practice at the beginning of last year only, pondering along by myself. So I totally wouldn't know what to "label" myself. I found the rise of labelling has been happening in so many areas, not just in the occult/esoteric community. What I personally find problematic with this sometimes is that some people, especially younger ones, are so keen to label themselves because they are still generally seeking their own identity, as you do at that age, and often think the label will give them that, rather than reflecting on their feelings and thoughts, which can be scary for obvious reasons. And it can divide people more easily, too, rather than exchange, learn from each other and inspire each other in a loving, accepting atmosphere, rather than "us vs. them." ❤

U r right about being a beginner and thinking we need to "find" our Witch label. When i started, i kept seeing these "what kind of Witch are u" posts and quizzes and i thought i had to hurry up and identify with the label so I knew what path to follow 🤷‍♀️. I even tried the baby Witch but i took it as a beginner label, absorbing whatever i learned 😊 but i felt like an old lady calling herself a baby Witch was awkward when i said it out loud. I tried to force myself to follow the label i most resembled but as soon as i did, something else resonated with me and then i thought i chose the wrong label and path which then made me think im doing something wrong. At the end of it all, im a Witch 🧙‍♀️ still learning everyday and happy i dipped my toes into Witchcraft (thanks to Willow when i began re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer a year and a half ago 😅 ). And thankful for RU-vidrs like you Ivy ❤ . I've always been that weird kid/teen too... and now, im so proud of her 🤗

I just had a realization about the term “baby witch”. I was raised EXTREMELY religious (Christian) and I very regularly heard the term “baby Christian” be used to describe new converts. I’m wondering now if it’s a coincidence or accident that they are both labels put on someone’s spiritual practice. It feels intentional the more I think about it because I really can’t think of other areas that commonly use this phrase. It seems to me that it’s a way of establishing a spiritual hierarchy and setting people apart from each other, almost in a condescending manner. Hmm. I’ve got to chew on that a bit and see if I can find more examples. “Baby witch” has always rubbed me the wrong way and now I’m wondering if my experience in the church might have something to do with it. Great video, Ivy! 🤍

Being a communicative psychology nerd myself, labels, while at the end of the day they only hold as much weight as you let them, they carry the ability to convey information. It can lead to soooo much depth especially for those that have empathic abilities and use words as a form of healing for oneself and others. Sadly it can also be used as an onslaught, which is why it is important to use labels responsibly and ethically. Words carry vibration because they are sound, and the act of writing causes sound as well and even typing carries an electrical signal. Everything is literally all vibration, so when a human projects a vibration and another receives it, it can change them-- for better or worse.

Thanks, Ivy, for this fun exploration. I'm on the "call yourself what you want" train myself ... Thanks for sharing!

Ivy, I like it when you discuss controversial topics because you do it with intelligence and a broad perspective. I have never felt the need to label myself, but if other people want to, So Be It! I don't like the term "baby witch" for the same reasons that you mentioned. I understand that some beginner Witches like it, their choice. Thank you for pronouncing "niche " correctly!❤❤ As a Canadian who speaks some French, misprouncing niche (nitch, ugh) is a pet peeve of mine. Thanks for all your content and for being the bad-ass that you are! 😊

This is a good conversation. 💙💙 I never thought of calling myself a novice, but now I feel like that's a much better choice for me than baby witch haha. I try not to label myself nowadays though, especially since I am very new and my craft is evolving constantly. I am grateful I never really have felt the need to be labeled as anything outside of beginner, I don't like feeling restricted by labels.

I really appreciate this because I don't like calling myself a witch at all, As of now I have settled on Occultist or magical practitioner, and once I did that it took some weight off. Thank you for addressing the labels for people that want or don't want them 🙏🏽

I think that the fascination in fantasy really has to do with escapism and the effects of Covid on our society has really accelerated this with escaping the world because it sucks. And it used to be that people that were a little bit outcast of groups were the ones who really loved the escapism but now it’s just everybody. Of course I love the fantasy is not only tied into that, but I can see some people becoming interested in it because of that.

I agree 100%. Labels are great for expedient communication of primary practice but they're a pigeon hole that's largely useless outside that. Especially baby witch. I assume anyone who uses that learned about witchcraft through tiktok and I am immediately cautious about what they share. Aside from that, I feel like the older I get and the more specific I get with creating my own magical system, the less anything but eclectic makes sense for me, and I haven't really ever felt like my practice has had a specialty. I've tried out all the labels, much as I think most of us do, but I never anything other than ick about using them. I am a witch, plain and simple These days I relish the idea of talking something through the nitty gritty of my practice and how I work, because conversation breeds ingenuity and inspiration.

As a middle aged witch I never thought much about labels. When I started making connections this year I noticed this was helpful in communicating especially to younger witches. It has also helped me find relevant information faster.

I LOVE that you talked about this. I have been practicing witchcraft since I was quite young, (23 now), but always kept it in the dark. During the Pandemic, I was excited to see more people practicing, but quickly found myself being judged by people new to the practice because I didn’t choose to label myself. Specifically, because my practice involves a lot of fluidity in what I do, and even close friends would truly get mad at me for practicing stuff typically for green witches, when they felt I needed to only practice cosmic magic. No one should ever tell you how to practice. I felt forced into boxed, confronted with a lot of misinformation, and having to deal with a lot of judgement. Where I am now, (after removing myself from most social media), is that this community is just meant to be a safe sacred place for us witches. It doesn’t matter what you call yourself as long as you love and respect one another, and truly mean to grow in whatever your practice means to you, labels or no labels.

Conversations like this make me feel much more comfortable in this community honestly, and even more comfortable listening to your content. I come from a fundy christian background and inter denominational hate is both common and encouraged, it was awful. I've been very careful about who in the pagan/witchy/polytheist crowd I listen too because of experiences like that and not wanting a repeat of those experiences. Seeing so many in these communities like yourself pushing back on labels and encouraging respect is deeply comforting.

TOTALLY agree with you on this! I hate labels and favorites. Anytime people ask I usually just say I'm super eclectic or if I'm feeling goofy I'll say I'm a sandwitch, I live in the desert lol

This made me laugh! When I started a few years ago I definitely bought into the whole "baby witch" and stressed so bad about finding my label. Now I'm just like... I'm not sure I just do what I do 😂

I tend to find labels are attractive to younger people or those going through the first stages of self discovery. And it can be helpful to find likeminded people and content. I’ve been through that phase years ago when I was young. But I find it liberating to not label myself and to realise that everyone is too specific and constantly changing for these labels to really be enduring or useful long term.

Researched, informative, brave and fun. A classic Ivy video! I especially found it interesting when you brought up the usage of labels to communicate with people outside of our practices, it's something that definitely needs more discussion. And I'm really glad you brought up the pressures newcomers feel to grab labels and an identity right away. I hope we as a community can help alleviate such pressure and make this an even more welcoming and beautiful community. For my two cents on labeling myself: I tend to not label myself by nouns, but with verbs. I'd rather say stuff like "I nurture spirits, I work with x y and z deities, I ward spaces and cast protections on others, I receive visions, I can communicate through tarot, etc." I'll admit, it's a little annoying because that takes longer to tell someone and people have short attention spans, but it's what's right for me, especially as I grow in my practice and learn more and more while leaving behind things that don't work for me anymore. Tldr: boxes ain't for me

I started 9 months ago. I felt pressured to pick what direction I was going so I'd say "I'm new to this." This all bothered me because some said to just take your time and not rush to label yourself because you will be changing many times. So why the hell do people pressure you to choose a label? The last time I was asked I just said "eclectic."

Labels have absolutely helped me research what types of rituals or workings would fit best into my life, and they felt like a great place to start. As I'm learning more and practicing, i can settle into just being a witch. For the term baby witch, I use that for myself because I do feel like a baby spiritually right now. I left the religion I was born into and now it feels like Im discovering myself for the first time. It feels like im growing up all over again as I try to figure out what I actually think and believe.

Funny thing is: many folks called me a warlock long before I did - even before I first started my occult journey, but I just went with it lol. Once I did more research into the word and traced it's roots back to the ancient Scandinavian shamans known as VVardi-Lokkur (Spirit Caller) I fully embraced it. 🤘🍎🐍

I personally don't like to call myself a baby witch for the reasons you stated and I'm 52 years old. Baby really doesn't resonate. Also, I've studied esoteric, occult and new age practices, comparative religious studies, etc all of my adult life, so I didn't just see a youtube video one day and decided it was cool. I took a beginner class with my Tarot teacher who is practicing and a very educated person, both in science and many esoteric traditions and practices for decades, so I feel, I've had a good base to start, and witchcraft/magick is another tool I explore which I've found to be very empowering ad helpful in my personal development thus far. At the same time, I'm a "live and let live" personality, so I'd never tell anyone else what they can or can't do, what's wrong or right, etc, as long as no one gets hurt. I don't know much about chaos magic yet, mainly what you explained about in your videos, the concepts, and that really speaks to me. So I'll definitely explore that further besides other things - label free - as I feel like and as time allows. ❤

I totally read The Vampire Diaries book series back in the 90s lol. I too was a fantasy loving ,Magic the Gathering playing, nerd. Still am.

I flip flop on baby witch. I can accept if someone identifies that way as a “yeah I know I have a lot to learn” but it also can come across as… idk minimizing to oneself. Like stand tall! You have the courage to learn the ancient ways, be proud of yourself! Also I got cosmic witch from the quiz, fitting because I love the night sky and galaxy aesthetics, but never would I call myself a cosmic witch on those alone!

I'm glad you gave a positive shout-out to Hearth! I love her, she's great!

I remember one time going to a botanica and was asked "so what kinda witch are you?" I'm so confused and said I'm new to this *which I'm not* then the lady said "ohh a baby witch" 😂

I find labels useful in the way that you can quickly convey what one of your main focuses or interests are to someone who does not know anything about you otherwise. It’s helpful online for me. An example was a social media group where non witch people were posting their favorite outdoor spaces, so I used the term green witch even though my practice is much bigger than that in order to convey that I take a ton of photos of my garden and plants. I have a medicinal garden, a pollinator garden as well, a food garden-all of these are kind of impressive locally and they get a lot of people slowing down to look at everything as they drive by. People sometimes even walk up and ask if they can look around it. So I would definitely say that green witchcraft is one of my focuses in my own craft. Certainly not the only one, but it does explain a lot when I’m photo dumping garden pics online 😂. So I throw the term “green witch” into the ring sometimes because it’s convenient and fast as an explanation of why I am the way that I am 😂. It’s quite a bit different of one of my other frequent craft related hobbies such as, let’s say-divination practices. The ability to quickly differentiate between interests is useful online.

I have to admit that I got immediately frustrated by the Buzzfeed quiz, even though I know the questions were silly (imho) but also because I didn’t get to pick multiple answers, like the time of day and place questions, I would practice in more than one of those times/places/etc. It feels a bit like I got both rationally and irrationally annoyed. Probably because also plays into my intense dislike for labelling myself, particularly as a novice practitioner who felt so hemmed in by everything being about Wicca in the 90’s (particularly where I come from where everyone was a Wiccan), which I couldn’t resonate with yet thought was the only path at the time, so much so that I abandoned my spiritual witchcraft path completely for 20 years. I suspect that’s why I became particularly adverse to self labelling beyond calling myself a novice…though if I’m honest I will probably always avoid labels because they feel restrictive to me in general. That said, I do understand that labelling can be helpful for some people, at least initially if it can give the individual a genuine focal point for their own witchy interests. I also enjoy witch aesthetics from an artistic perspective, but I do worry about witchcraft being reduced to aesthetics rather than focusing on learning and developing one’s craft. I’m don’t think I’ve added anything useful to the conversation here, but that Buzzfeed quiz was triggering, and I can see that I need to delve into those labelling triggers more so I can better understand why labels are so upsetting to me.

Listening to you reading of the Buzzfeed quiz, it is clear that many of these questions are trolling marketing questions for future consumers . RU-vid is an amazing resource to connect with likeminded people, but it also is a hotbed of marketing ploys, and misinformation. Like life, it is a paradox. Consumer beware. As always, I love your honesty and your willingness to speak truth to bull#%it ( as Brene Brown would say) . 🌹

This was fun! That witch quiz, though....ridiculous! 😂😂

I loved this! Thank you for posting this video. Sick of everything needing a label. Too much pressure for no reason.

When I began my witch path, I did feel a bit of a sense of overwhelm with the amount of labels and the concept of fitting into (or conforming to) a box. There were so many witchy subjects I wanted to learn! The hearth, the cosmic, the elemental, etc, I wanted to learn them all! Nowadays the only label I’d use in my ceremonial magick is merely my magick name. That’s my craft, that’s the kind of witch I am. My name encompasses it all. Not because those labels are in the name, but because all those wonderful types of magick are in *me*. But I keep a list of ‘types of witches’ from the beginning of my path that fascinated me most merely for inspiration when I’m feeling stagnant while learning a certain subject. Oh, learning astrology is getting a bit much? Let’s switch it up to astral projection, or the elements, or weather magick! At the end of the day, absolutely, I’m a witch. I love merely being a witch. But I keep that list from the beginning of my path to remind me I’m not just going to ever be *one* of these types of witches: I am *all* of these types of witches. And more!

I loved this video. "sometimes i just wake up and choose violence" Big Mood. I never really got into the labels it made me feel stuck so I just chose not to use them. Thank you for all you do you inspire me to grow my practice.

So happy that I have discovered your channel. Thanks Ivy! Cannot wait to explore your library of videos. I was laughing the entire time watching this one. I know your outrage (mostly) was faux… especially when taking THE QUIZ!😂😱😂 For me; similar to a comment I left earlier today on another of your videos; “Magick is Magick”… and… “A Witch is… A WITCH!” 🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️ If it makes someone happy to give yourself a speciality label?” 🤪🤪🤪 “Blessings upon you!” The only thing that would be of interest to me is what happens when you take it to the floor with your Practice of the Cræft. Knowledge & results SPEAK louder than anything else. Other than that you can call yourself whatever you please. We all have things, aspects of Witchcraft we are more interested in. And most of us have areas we seem to be more naturally gifted or inclined/attuned with. But that doesn’t mean all aspects are not open and workable by every Witch. I “label” myself as an Eclectic Witch. I could always narrow it down to a Tradition or even Magickal Lineage, if I was into such things. What Pantheon/Deities I prefer or work with most often. And I definitely have my Patrons. But I don’t exclude anyone. Or what area of Practice I personally get most excited about… and there are a few. But I tend to leave those things for people in the community I have some sort of connection with who might ask or want to know. Other than that it’s just easier and most accurate to just say “Hi! I’m Colin… I’m a Witch!” And I am DEFINITELY not in the camp that is going to look down on or get butthurt by someone labeling themselves or using the term “Baby Witch!” 😂😂😂 People get there panties in a bunch over the silliest things. I honestly think a lot of people just want to stir the pot just for the sake of “STIRRING THE POT”… erm… CAULDRON!!! LOLOLOL!!! 🌙🧙🏽‍♂️🕯️✨🐈‍⬛

You really inspired me with this one. I’ve done some thinking and here is what I have to say. Basically the trend these days is "aesthetics." When that’s all it is. It’s just a trend. Earthy, witchy, kitchen, lunar, hearth, cosmic etc it’s all based around aesthetics and therefore trendy. So it’s no wonder that we have "types" upon "types" of witches. You’ve inspired me to say what’s on my mind even if it means that I upset people. If you’re a beginner witch and you’re hung up on "aesthetics" and "types" then I believe you’re getting into witchcraft for the wrong reasons. Because witchcraft is first of all a spiritual path and it was originally for the cunning. Meaning you had to be smart enough just to get by with a few objects and whatever was in our natural environment to make up a spell and to manifest your desires and dire needs and that to me is witchcraft at its very core. But now the community has taken it made it into "aesthetics" and "types." For the beginner witches out there, I advise that you don’t care about "types" because they’re just aesthetics and therefore trendy. Because 5 to 10 to 20 years down the line these "aesthetics and types are going to fade and your tastes along with it. I would suggest to focus on your personal essence for now. Use whatever you have on hand and don’t worry about it looking cool as long as it gets results. And the next thing you know the things you are using on hand is going to become part of your personal practice. For now. Exploring the changes within you is all part of the journey. Well thanks for reading and I’m sick of being afraid of nasty ENTITLED comments, but it’s whatever. I hope you are well regardless.

I think combining labels of different practices would be nice instead of only focusing on one nieche, unnless that's what people want to do. So let's say someone could be a cosmic kitchen witch. I love labels and they're so fun, I just hope people don't feel limited or that they have to choose one thing because of it!

You know its going to be good when Ivy starts by choosing violence. 😂 Love it!

Ok that last clip of "That's my opinion!" literally made me LOL.

I love this video so much! I agree with what you said about the term baby witch. I feel like another component on the discussion is that since mysticism is defined by its ineffability (the mystery of the experience, UPGs, etc.) baby witch isn’t the most suitable because no matter someone’s skill level, we are always learning new things. We are just humans in the microcosm and there’s so much more in the universe that is literally outside of our comprehension. So making a healthy and encouraging learning space for both beginners and also intermediate / advanced practitioners is awesome! 👏♥️

Honestly the same is being done in the makeup and fashion communities. You wear a little more red than normal then it's all of a sudden "strawberry-core" 🙄 It's just the internet now lol

YES!!!!! YES!!!!!! To all of this! Especially about baby witches...you are so right....new doctors do not call themselves baby doctors....!! Great topic discussed here Ivy! xoxo

I actually agree. When I first began, I felt forced to pick a label. I even felt like I had to fit my craft within a certain category, instead of having the category fit my craft. I now know that this is ridiculous and I don't have to put a label on myself if I don't want it, and if I do want to label myself and can't find it (because it's not popular enough) then I'll call myself whatever the hell I want to. (Which I do). The mainstream esthetic of the witchcraft that be so toxic and unhealthy. It almost ruined my craft because I almost labeled it as just another minitrend esthetic. Unfortunately, capitalism got a hold of a new (at the time) collective passion of the public and made it palatable to everyone with the goal of profit in mind. Therefore, in comes the mainstream trends, shops, expensive items, etc. I'm happy that spiritual practices became more mainstream because it helped people like me feel more comfortable with accepting the extreme change in our spiritual path, but it also helped to draw in people who really have no interest in paganism at all and just wanted to be a part of what was popular atm. It makes people like me, who also began practicing around the same time, look like just another faux practitioner. It's unfortunate, but I also know that it introduced a lot of people to the scene who are passionate and serious about their new lifestyle. Labels are not important, and shouldn't be used immediately. Because you're just going to end up changing them again and again and again the more you learn about yourself throughout your journey. That alone can discourage you into feeling less authentic in your craft. I'm so glad that I didn't get too deep into all of this before latching onto Seasoned vet witches who are kind, accepting, diverse, and wise. People who taught me that it's ok not to label myself. That it's ok not to be a part of something that everyone else in a part of. That it's ok to be me authentically and speak my truth despite what others may think. That this isn't a rat race, it's a journey. I may not have begun my practice in the 90s with 10, 15, 20 years under my belt like most witches I seem to find, but I am so grateful for their guidance.

Hi Ivy!🌹I'm the person who asked a question about labels in your chaotic Q&A with Olivia and I'm so grateful for the continuation of this discussion. The more I look into this and the more I hear, the labeling feels so much like a symptom of capitalism and the desire to commodity ourselves. We feel the need to box ourselves in so we're easily marketable, as you said, and therefore put into bite sized pieces for others to consume. I also think it softens the power of just straight up calling yourself a witch. This is something I've personally been working on and have only really seen Chaotic Witch Aunt talking about in terms of labeling yourself as pagan vs witch. If both technically apply, which one do you choose and more importantly, why? Do we choose softer labels and terms because they fit us the best, or because we're afraid of the power and fear that come with just calling yourself a witch? (This is meant to drive conversations about this topic, not to be hard and fast answers to anything.)

I love labels, and I love to change them as I need to. When I was first entering the witchcraft sphere I found labels really helpful as jumping off points. I was overwhelmed by the idea of crafting my own practice out of nothing, and there were so many options. Finding labels that I resonated with to establish some concrete steps into the forest was really helpful. Yet as I go, I find myself more and more entranced by the magic of where the elements and practices meet. Strict labels don't allow for experiencing that magic. I will agree with the Baby Witch stuff being more negative than positive. I fell into that because I felt that I had to listen to the more established voices of witches to the point of doubting my own intuition. That has caused a lot of harm to my growing practice, and made growth more difficult than I think it needed to be. I like these chats. This was fun, thanks!

I love this video, its so funny. I started way back in the 80s, before the internet got in the way, lol. I've always felt weird calling myself a witch, so I opted for Pagan. I still call myself Pagan. When I was a kid the only witch on tv was Samantha in Bewitched, and I wasn't very good at twitching my nose to make things happen. You would never know that I'm a pagan or a witch, I don't wear black, Halloween isn't my favorite holiday (its Beltane), I'm a day person-early morning actually. I don't hide my beliefs, nor do I flaunt them. I consider myself a Jewish pagan. I don't care much for labels but I have noticed that the younger generation really is into putting everyone in a category. Maybe its a way of making sense of a very complicated world. Every generation has to make its way in the world.

Hello certified vampire weirdo checking in 😅 (van helsing specifically)

My biggest issue, with the quiz part specifically, is that it is all so nuanced and specific to not what kind of witch I am, but what kind of working I am doing. Space and time are the two main pillars within which my magick takes place, so when and where I craft is fully dependent on what exactly I aim to achieve. Nevermind all of the 'what's' involved. Oof, I didn't realize I had small feelings about this, lol!

Greetings from Denmark and thanks for another fun video :) Could be my ADHD but I´ve never been able to pick just one label because it´s always shifting depending on mood and need...though if pressed I´ve described my style as ecclectic, lol. I support people choosing the labels they feel comfortable with but always hope that that choice comes with the realisation that a spiritual practice is a journey and not a destination ;) Happy (soon) Midsummer!

Don't forget 25 years ago Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured an adorable, intelligent and wonderful red-headed witch.

I've always liked magical witchy things but couldn't ever find a label that fits. I'm just a "Me" witch and that fits perfectly. It's ever changing.

Being new to all this, I wondered about all the labels. Thanks for some perspective ❤ Enjoy the solstice and that gorgeous moon!

Great topic! I also love Hearth and Annie's channel. I also followed "Scarlet Ravenswood", but she is no longer putting out videos for some reason.

witchcraft is serious ,real life ,and it earns deep respect. i hate when its used as a fashion..it is not a fashion.

Thanks for tackling this subject. The witch labels drive me crazy. I don't like the tendency of everyone needing to label themselves. So high school. 🙄

Excellent video, Ivy! First, I agree with you that "baby witch" is a term that infantalizes the user (whether they realize that or not). Second, I don't really apply any of these labels to myself. Nobody is all that curious about my occult identity anyway, and I'm in no hurry to discuss it with them. 😅

I'm just a person on a spiritual journey, and I happen to practice witchcraft. What kind? Most of the time- I'm just a witch without a label. To name it, claim it, or tame it puts a limit on it. Just sayin'😘

The quiz at the end sent me 😂😂😂

Fate:The Winx Saga! I really enjoyed that show and was sad Netflix cancelled it. I’ve always loved Sci fi and fantasy. I really appreciated this nuanced discussion about labels in our community. I realized I was a witch at the age of 49 during the pandemic. My practice and religious path continue to grow and evolve, but as this is a recent and late in life development, I have shied away from baby witch personally and consider myself a novice. Like you, I don’t feel it’s my place to police how people refer to themselves as in just four years, my idea of myself as a magical practitioner has continued to evolve with my religious and spiritual practices. However, I find learning about the different focuses of witchcraft fascinating. I follow both Annie and Hearth and continue to learn so much from them. I’m an inclusive Heathen and am forging my own path of witchcraft taking a generic modern witchcraft framework of spells and correspondences and other ideas from practitioners online and in my readings and adapting them to the gods and spirits and rituals of modern inclusive Heathenry. I’ve been very inspired by the book Rebel Witch by Kelley Ann Maddox who is also a Chaos Magician. She’s also a professional card slinger (Tarot reader) who has a wonderful RU-vid channel. I loved your video. I can’t imagine why you’d get any hate, and I hope the response is positive. Understanding nuance and being accepting of others’ differences is essential to having a strong witchcraft community.

This is a good topic to bring up. I agree that many newer witches have focused on aesthetics. And as you said, while it has helped popularize witchcraft, it has also caused witches to not develop a spiritual relationship. That said, the only label I currently use is eclectic, because I practice different techniques. (of course not closed practices tho lol) even tho I would consider myself still new to the craft, I don't box myself into any one niche.

When I first started these labels didn't exist. When they started popping up I joined in on using labels because it helped me communicate my practice to others. These days I hate labels.

I agree with ur overall sentiment here. The labels are unnecessary and I see why people dislike them, but ultimately it's just language that means different things to different people.

Love this Ivy!!! I am secure in my witchy self and have been asked or told what kind of a witch I am. Ridiculous!!!! This is what people think when they keep seeing this in the media. It is too funny that they try to stick us in a slot - I think it just makes them feel safe with the idea of which from what they had thrown at them in the past or they (in little tests like the one you did) are poking fun at witch so others do not take it seriously. In my heart I am witch and yes, sometimes depending, I feel like a green witch or some other kind of label. 😂

Labels can have some negative effects but it has positive effects too like it makes it easier to search for specific magical practices🌿🌼 It seems that most things have their positives and negatives.

😂 that BuzzFeed test was hilarious. I think it made me more confused. But I thought the point of finding out what kind of witch you are that it would lead me to studying the right books and helping me but I see that that was just even more confusing.😅

The labels were really odd to me after re-joining witchcraft spaces a few years ago. A little bit fun, yes, but weird, because I first learned the craft during the early 2000s when you were either a witch or you were Wiccan and a lot of books didn't really distinguish between the two so sometimes the terms were conflated. I am an eclectic witch because otherwise I would have to type a super long string of words to describe myself (Solitary-cosmic-hedge-folk-cottage-fire-crystal witch anyone?). The other term I use on social media is Astro Witch (mostly because I'm a witch and an astrologer and that is the quickest way to get this across on social media). Sometimes witchy terms can be useful - for example, "green witch" is specific enough to steer a new witch in the right direction of finding books or channels on herbalism, kitchen witchery, gardening, and similar topics. But sometimes it feels like there are just too many terms that they lose their meaning after a while. I am NOT a fan of using the 'baby witch' label. However, I think that could be a generational thing as it's usually witches under 30 who use that term. I try not to judge those who use it because I realize it's a term people identify with and I don't have to like what another witch calls themself. But, looking at it on the outside, it does seem infantilizing. A big facet of witchcraft is self-empowerment and that term seems disempowering and antithetical, as if the person doesn't trust that they can do magic.

As someone who is beginning I wouldn’t call myself a baby witch but I don’t have a problem with the term. I feel like I’m more of a student of witchcraft than an actual witch right now. I’m researching I’m learning I’m opening my mind. I’m exploring I’m finding myself. A student of witchcraft is what I feel like I am.

The only label I remember really floating about in the 90s/00s was 'Solitary Eclectic' which I used myself whenever asked if I was a member of a coven/tradition. I guess there were 'some' books about specific kinds of witches too (I still have my OG copies of Kate Wests 'Real Witches' Kitchen' and some of Ann Moira's Green Witch series of books which were of that time), but yeah, it definitely wasn't so delinated into really narrow categories like it is today. I do think that social media and the use of hashtags has contributed to some of this, along with the aesthetic drive of platforms like IG. I know I find labels useful when searching for information on certain kinds of magic, practices and traditons I'm interested in (e.g. folk magic, green witchcraft etc) but I find myself reticent to actually put a label on myself for the reasons you cited. These days I guess the closest I can describe the way I work as 'spit and sawdust', lol, it's like the complete opposite to anything ceremonial, is kind of scrappy and utilises what's to hand (very much inspired by Aidan Wachter calling himself a 'sticks and rocks kind of guy') but I am usually met with a blank stare when I tell people this because it's not an 'official' witchy label. And I say 'these days' because my practice has changed and evolved over time, which I think is going to happen for most folks. The magic I practiced and my view of the 'Craft' looks very different now than it did in, say, 1997, and that's ok, healthy even. Like you say Ivy, labels can be useful and even fun and as it seems to be the way we navigate our search for information and connection in online spaces, this trend is unlikely to be going away anytime soon. So hopefully, as long we are aware that putting ourselves into a witchy box 'could' (consciously or unconsciously) limit our personal growth and expansion of our practice, we all remember to hold such labels lightly.

I feel like this is spot on. There is SO much focus on labels these days, from gender to witches and all in between. I am a "new" witch (I have always felt different, and been fond with nature and animals), and for me it is SO difficult to try to figure out what witches do, how they live, what they're supposed to do and so on. I decided to read up on a lot and see what draws me in. I have always cared about aestethics because it makes me feel a certain way (like you said). It gives me energy. I feel drawn to nature, and want to learn more about that. So as a new witch, it's too much information out there, and it's making me confused 😅

You are so right, I am just a Witch and nothing else matters. My opinion is if you practice the occult then you should be. My opinion doesn’t really matter to anyone else but me. But who cares. Labels is noise to me and not necessarily a reflection on the person or a fact that what practice the witch does because many witches practice multiples type of magic in their life span or during their craft or spell work. So if someone asks me what I am, I’m just say I am a witch 🧙

I literally just had this conversation on a FB group. It started as a convo about people calling themselves "baby witches". I made comments that I don't understand labels at all. Would I have wanted my surgeon to tell me he was a "baby surgeon"? Uh no. To your point, when I first began looking into and studying what a witch actually was, it was witch/wiccan/pagan/druid and that was kind of it. I do not understand the need to limit myself by labeling myself. If I want to study ALL of it..... why do I want to limit myself.... maybe not even with the label "witch"?! I just AM. I definitely came to this through a process of studying different systems of beliefs and seeing what felt true. Grew up Christian. Went to a Church of Christ HS and Baptist Uni (1st 2 years). I tried Christianity on,because I was raised in it, but always kind of sat back questioning it all. I WILL say that it was at the Baptist Uni that I took a couple of classes in comparative religions that initially opened the door for me to consider a different direction for myself. Then I was a rock climber... for like 20+ years.... and I began to see the outdoor world as my church... the top of the climb as my sacred space. I started traveling to climb, and it exposed and meshed in bits and pieces of some of these systems I was studying (Buddhism etc.). Then I took a community Ed class in Wiccan beliefs and learned about altars and practices. Went to a Wiccan wedding and a pagan wedding.... and I just began to kind of unconsciously dive in.... circling the metaphysical sections in book stores hoping no one would see me. And we'll, now I don't care if people see me digging through books. I have no need to label. I have books on all kinds of directions and want the ability to go whatever direction feels right for me in the moment. So 100% am staying away from labeling myself. Drawn to vampire lore (Anne Rice is my jam... which actually may have been my entry to witch lore as well). My favorite color has been black since I was an early teen in HS.... amongst all the floral clad girls. I was an athlete/scholar/artist. Even backnthen, people couldn't figure me out. Was I a jock or a nerd, a goth or ????? I'd wear my black concert Ts with black cowboy boots????? My mom figured out pretty quickly to just pick whatever in the black option and I'd where it but hand me pink, pastels, floral and it would be wasted on me. I have never been fond of labels.... I do what I like... and that is good enough for me.

Very interesting analysis and breakdown on said topics 😮

I've been binge watching your recent videos and just wanted to let you know I appreciate you so SO freaking much. 15:27-15:29 and we finally get the thesis. LMAO 💜

As someone who's been doing this 30 years, the whole label thing is so weird to me. I like incorporating magic into cooking, gardening, and hiking in the woods, or even with being a wife and mother, and then sometimes i summon the dead in my living room. What the hell am i supposed to call myself? lol. Its not so much that i have a problem with people labeling themselves. My real issue is that it's now become almost impossible to find comprehensive books. I blame scott Cunningham. It's all scotts fault.

The conversation is worth continuing for as long as the topic is relevant (and it is since we still see these labels floating around). BTW editing Ivy is my favourite. :)

Fellow 90's weird goth kid that was also into vampires here. I am just coming back to my practice from a very long hiatus and soooooo much has changed since the late 90's early 2000's it almost makes my head spin.

This video made me think of the concept of hermeneutical injustice (my inner philosophy nerd is coming out for a bit lol), which is when someone's experiences of injustice are not well understood - by themselves or by others - because these experiences do not have a name. For example, as a deaf person growing up without much of a Deaf community (Deaf with a capital D refers to Deaf culture), I had experiences that I later understood to be audism and phonocentrism but did not have the vocabulary to define and understand my experiences. Gaining that vocabulary and being able to name who I am and have concepts for my experiences was empowering. I see naming as a magickal act. I wonder if this concept of hermeneutical injustice can help us understand a facet of what might be going on with this obsession over labels (I too have noticed this phenomenon). The act of naming can be empowering and intoxicating. It can even soothe the pain of loneliness given that witchcraft was and often still is feared and not mainstream. But I think you do an excellent job of describing how this very human and empowering instinct to want to name and label can become problematic. How these labels can be taken on without much depth of understanding. Also, I think the process of becoming a witch (and honestly, a person) requires sitting in the discomfort of loneliness as I explore what works for me. I think sometimes people will bypass that discomfort by labeling themselves (I know I have done that before). Anyways, this ended up being a much longer comment than I anticipated lol. As always, thank you for your thought-provoking and robust content--I have learned so much about magick from you and you even introduced an empowering name for me: chaos magick ;)

You make sense 100% everything you said couldn't say it any better 👍👍💗💗💗💗

Witch...You do you!

I am a very Beginner. I am since Childhood interessted in Occultism and Witchcraft, i grew up in an occult Family, they never teached me Stuff, but i noticed every now and then what they are talked about, i also got some lucky Charms and Gems in my Childhood, from my Aunt she was the only one who wanted to teach me Magic, but sadly she passed away. So here am i in my late 30,s now and fighting with Trauma and Addiction, trying to find my Way into Magic. Every now and then i read Tarot Cards, clean my Room and light some Candles, i also do small Rituals very rarely. Fighting with PTSD/ADHD and Addiction is not easy, but spirtuality helps me a lot to keep my Sanity.

Back in the 60s there was a TV series that shone a positive light on Witches called Bewitched Some more Witches who are online that are very good..The Ladygravedancer ,The Witch of Wanderlust, Edgeofnightfall, Witchntheworking etc

I applaud you for making this video and I agree with your comments.

I don't mind the labels, they're fun for the goofy aesthetic aspects of the community, but I don't use them seriously myself other than to note the pantheons I work with and the kinds of magic I'm doing in the moment. I got kitchen witch from the quiz, by the way, which is fitting for the most part (I have an altar literally in my kitchen for cooking magic lol) but not the only thing I do.

Love this! I don’t even like to label myself a witch. I prefer “magical practitioner” but I’m not married to it. I DO spells and rituals, I’m incredibly intuitive, 1/2 Irish/Swedish. I cannot for the life of me resonate with the word witch. FYI; I’m 61 years old, I work as a reiki practitioner and spiritual herbalist. *Edited for spelling/autocorrect

here for the swings

Great video. In my own practice I don't like using labels. When I first started out in 2008 I called myself a Hermeticist since most of my study was done in the Hermetic traditions. From there I have added so many other elements that feel natural to me it's hard for me to pin it down to any one or two labels. Guess I'm just an eclectic solitary type. :-)

I’ve never understood the need to use labels, but I get why some may want to use them.

I've kind of grown up being adjacent to witchcraft without really calling it witchcraft. After really looking at what it really means to practice, it feels like labels of the different kinds of magic itself are helpful when navigating and learning. I don't really think labels are absolutely necessary for practicioners. I kind of feel like with labels it's neither here nor there. Its cool if people use them. Just like labels for everything else we use in life, we change and grow sometimes the labels can change with us. Or sometime in different aspects of life in the ebb and flow we may not use them at all. ❤ Also, thank you for another awesome video! I'm grateful to you and have learned ao much from you this year!

Ivy swearing was not how I planned to start the day, but was definitely a needed laugh.

Personally, I'm just a witch. It ain't that important for me to label myself. Yes, I'm a guy I'm a cis straight black male. I prefer witch over warlock. Nothing wrong with any label I just don't care that much. If you do that's okay just don't let it limit your practice or make you feel pressured to conform to a label. I'm active in the Goth subculture but thats just a part of me. I'm a goth but I'm also a dad, a husband, witch, son, musician, friend and so on. All these things make up different parts of me. Some of those witchy labels in the witchcraft community are fun and some are funny and tongue in cheek. I guess I'm a "Lilithian Hekatean Witch" to someone on Instagram lol.

I took a few quizzes and mostly got kitchen witch and it’s probably because I prefer to do my “spell work” in my home for privacy sake and I picked afternoon for when I’d do it because I don’t like mornings and I don’t stay up late, but if I do I’m too tired to focus. Im supposed to work with Kali at night but if I wait til then I’ll fall asleep. Lol. I don’t really consider myself a kitchen witch (don’t even like to cook lol) but I know why the quiz THOUGHT that.

taking the 'shaking off dead weight' that's my new motto lol but! I think the 'labels' actually help new witches dabble in what witchcraft can entail! It definitely helped me slowly try out different ways, and it was like a guide line to help? if this...made any sense lol

I love your intro!! I thought your video was very well done! Anyone who freaks out isn't required to share this space.