You're not a "Baby-Witch." Why New-Age Spiritual Communities Should STOP Using This Term
Am I the only one that cringes when I see or hear someone use the term "baby witch" to describe individuals (or themselves) who are new to Wicca, Witchcraft, and/or spiritual practices? I find it to be pretty distasteful, which is why I am choosing to write my very first ever blog post about it. If you're not familiar with the term "baby witch," GOOD (lol). But just for some background, "baby witch" is a term that popularized on the app TikTok, + it functions as a label for individuals who are new to Witchcraft. Here are my top 5 reasons for never using "baby witch' to describe Witchcraft novices.
1. You are not a "baby witch," you are learning & growing.
You're not a baby. You are a beginner, a novice, someone in the beginning stages of learning something new. A baby is someone that has to rely on everyone and anyone to meet their basic needs.....& that's not you, my friend. You have already shown the world your power by taking the brave steps towards exploring a belief system that is calling to you, for your highest good. Just because you're new, doesn't mean you are any less powerful. Other witches and practitioners may only be "more powerful" than you currently because they have many years of practice and devotion under their belts! You will get there, witch.
2. Why create this power dynamic?
Something I find even more harmful than an individual calling themselves "baby witch," is an advanced practitioner or business owner using the term to "call in" their ideal customer base/ clientele. A teacher or mentor calling their clients "baby witch" only creates an unconscious (+ sometimes conscious) power hierarchy that can be harmful. A "baby witch" may feel like they need to ask their mentor or teacher EVERYTHING before acting upon it. This term takes away an individual's power before they have even found it yet. IDK about you, but if I went to work with someone and they were using the word "baby" to describe me, I'd sense a red flag and run for the hills.
3. It's a little degrading...
Once again, why are we calling grown adults babies just because they are new to something? Very cringey to me.
4. Seems like gate-keeping to me
So, when is someone not a "baby witch" anymore? Who gets to choose when someone "graduates" from this off-putting title? This perpetuates the whole idea that people need to prove themselves, and (in today's world) people [typically] have to pay for extremely overpriced online courses + teachings from a mentor for one to be deemed not a baby witch anymore. Why are we letting people control our spiritual practices like this and label us for their benefit? I'm all for finding a coven and/or mentor to guide you through your journey-that's traditionally how the initiation process is done. But I can't imagine coven leaders calling their members "babies" way back when....can you?
5. It smothers our Solar Plexus energy
"Baby witch" doesn't sound empowering to me + despite "forbidding" not being the end-goal with this label, it feels like it to me. To me, "baby witch" says "you can't do this, it's too complex for you." and "you're not good enough yet" and "you need help." etc. This is extremely damaging to our solar plexus energy field, which is where we hold all of our personal power + confidence. I also think the term hinders our solar plexus because, in an abstract sense, "baby witch" alters an individuals autonomy// willpower. Think that's a stretch? Let me explain where I'm coming from. As stated, the term creates a power dynamic between said "baby" witch and advanced practitioner. Under this title, one's willpower (solar plexus energy) is altered because we literally have someone telling us "you need me to succeed" or to move to the next step in the Craft/ our practices. Of course there's still literal free-will, and an individual can do so as they please under any label, but I believe it hinders the "free-will-mindset" if that makes sense. "Baby witches" may not feel comfortable following their free will, or even following their intuitive nature, due to feeling like they need to consult their mentor before every magical decision or act, or due to continuously being reminded that they just "aren't there yet."
Those are just some of my own personal thoughts surrounding the term & my hopes were to share a different perspective.
Thanks for reading!
♡ Meghan
