Merry meet all,

I am a solitary Witch. I am proud of it. I have witnessed and experienced firsthand how awful it is to be in a coven, especially when that coven is run by narcissistic, power-hungry, sociopathic assholes, pardon my language. I was mistreated for years. I now have nothing to do with them. This post will discuss the few good things and many bad things about being in a coven. I no longer want to be with a group of people who have the nerve to call themselves Witches that you can’t turn your back on. Nope, no more for me. 

The one thing that infuriates me is that the High Priest and Priestess, the Elders, never did anything about the way I was treated. Instead, they made excuses for them or blamed me. Well after I was screamed at on a camping trip so bad that I was nauseoous, suffered tons of verbal abuse, and manipulation. After a while, when it was made clear this would never change, I found empowerment in being a Solitary Witch. 

When you practice as a solitary, it can get lonely. There is no one to tell you when to cast a spell or clean up spilled incense. You are on your own. But if the coven you are with is dysfunctional, please don’t waste your time or precious energy. Just leave and find a fairer field. You deserve better. Also, never pay to join a coven. You never have to pay money. 

This post below will help you decide if the solitary path is meant for you. 

Is Solitary Witchcraft Right For You?

A big misconception about witches brought about by movies, television shows and other mainstream media is that you have to be a part of a coven in order to effectively practice the craft.

Being part of a coven is great for learning basic skills and practices unique to that school of thought, as well as feeling connected to a magical family, but solitary witchcraft better fits the witch who thrives on being alone and following the veins of their own personal magic, rather than that of a collective coven.

Solitary witchcraft isn’t for everyone. For some, this practice can lead to feeling more isolated and drained from performing spellwork. In this post we’ll discuss the in’s and out’s of a solitary magical practice so you know if it’s right for you!

What Is Solitary Witchcraft?

I would like to start by saying, whether you choose to be part of a coven or practice alone, there is no right or wrong way to practice your craft. Each witch is unique and encouraged to find their own way of doing magic.

Solitary witchcraft is exactly what it sounds like: witchcraft that is practiced by yourself.

Solitary witchcraft can encompass any style of witchcraft, such as Green Witchcraft or Kitchen Witchcraft. Solitary witches can practice any religion they choose alongside their craft, such as Wicca. The only important indicator is that their magic is performed, for the most part, alone.

If you’re interested in learning more about different types of witchcraft, check out this article: An Introduction Of 27 Different Types Of Witchcraft For The Novice Witch

Unlike a coven where there are many members to bounce ideas around and share information, a solitary witch is solely responsible for growing their practice through constant reading and research.

This is why witches that take the initiative to learn on their own will thrive as a solitary witch. If a weekend hanging out in a comfy chair reading sounds better than a weekend with friends, the solitary path may be for you.

One of the biggest benefits to being a solitary witch is that your practice is truly your own. The solitary witch does not answer to the rules of a coven. They follow their own intuition during spellwork and their daily life, choosing the paths that speak to them.

This doesn’t mean solitary witches don’t rely on others, however. Solitary witches can and do call on other entities to help guide or fuel their magic. Calling on the elements, deities, or ancestors is typical for a solitary witch, though the specifics of how and when this is done will vary based on the witch.

Who Is Solitary Witchcraft Good For?

As a solitary practitioner myself, I’ve always found solitary witchcraft to be the right path for introverted witches. But the term “introvert” is commonly misunderstood.

While the majority of introverts are shy, soft spoken, and reclusive, this is not always the case. To me, a true introvert is someone who gets their energy from being alone; someone who turns inward to recharge.

This would mean that an extrovert is the opposite. They get their energy from being around other people and recharge by interacting with others.

With these definitions, it’s easier to work out whether being part of a coven or taking up a solitary practice is right for you.

For example, I very much enjoy interacting with people on a daily basis. My job requires me to communicate and connect with others in various settings which I have come to love. However, at the end of a long day I have found that I turn inward to recharge.

While others may go out with friends after work to decompress, I find this to be further draining. Hence, I am an introvert and have chosen the path of solitary witchcraft.

For those that find they gain energy from others, a solitary practice would likely be stifling to you! Even if you are shy and a bit reclusive, perhaps you need the boost of another’s energy to help you excel in your craft. There is nothing wrong with this!

So if you find yourself stuck when trying to choose between a coven or solitary practice, simply ask yourself where you feel your energy comes from? Do you thrive on being alone, or being with others?

Is Feeling Isolated As A Solitary Witch Normal?

In short, yes. Feeling isolated as a solitary witch is still normal. Even for those that thrive while being alone, the feeling of isolation can still creep up on you.

Does this mean you should drop your solitary practice and join a coven? Not necessarily!

While there’s nothing wrong with being part of a coven, this is something Iwouldn’t recommend for a true solitary witch. It is more likely to drain you than to make you feel connected again.

Understand that the feeling of isolation is completely normal in this complicated time we live in. The world is still trying to recover from a global pandemic, protests and political unrest have become common, and in some places war is breaking out.

Be kind to yourself. Use your magic to reconnect to the earth and to your spiritual energy to stay grounded in these troubling times.

If you’re feeling disconnected with your craft, check out this article: How To Reconnect With Your Witchcraft After A Dry Spell

What Are The Biggest Challenges Of Solitary Witchcraft?

There are 2 big challenges of solitary witchcraft which exist at different ends of the spectrum: risk of burn-out and risk of a stale practice.

Burn-Out

Since the solitary witch lacks the support of a coven during magical rites, some spells can be especially draining. This is one reason the appeal of a coven is so high. More witches equal more energy.

If you’ve ever been part of a mass spell often organized via social media, the whole purpose behind them is to get as much magical energy focused on achieving the same specific goal.

For example, many witches recently performed a worldwide protection/ healing spell for the people of Ukraine. In this case, the more witches involved, the more potent the magic.

But for many spells, this level of energy isn’t necessary and the desired effect can be easily achieved by a single witch’s magic. It is therefore important to know your limit. 

There are also certain things a solitary witch can do to boost their magic, such as working with their chosen deities or correspondences. Calling on a patron goddess for help during a spell not only adds divine energy to the magic, but also prevents the practitioner from draining their own energy during spellwork. 

Additionally, practicing basics such as grounding, centering, and circle casting will help shield a witch from becoming burnt out, both in their workings and in day-to-day activities.

If you want to learn more about these basics, check out this category: Beginner Witch Tips

Stale Magic

On the other end, however, limiting yourself by only using certain aspects of your craft can lead to a stale practice. For most witches, I feel like this is more terrifying than being burnt out.

It’s easy to get stuck in a routine, even for magical beings. The great thing about being part of a coven is that there are always other people to bring in new ideas, new spells, and new concepts to try. This can allow your craft to grow faster than practicing alone.

But again, being part of a coven may be draining or perhaps not even feasible depending on your local community. So how can a solitary witch be sure to keep their practice fresh?

Find multiple outlets for information. Become part of a forum or online community such as Reddit’s r/witchcraft. Make connections with other witches via social media, whether they’re in your area or not. If you can, attend a meet up with other witches every once in a while.

Don’t discount your local bookstores, especially second hand stores. There are many occult gems that can be found if you know which thrift shop to check.

If you’re new to an area, swing by the closest metaphysical store and ask about similar businesses around town. Usually a small shop is more than happy to point you to fellow witches in the community.

Is Solitary Witchcraft For You?

Now that you know a little more about solitary witchcraft, I hope you have a better idea if it’s for you! If this article was helpful to you or you just enjoyed it, leave a comment down below and connect with me over on Instagram!

If you’re interested in learning more about Isolation Magic, check out the rest of the spotlight articles for this month: Category: Isolation Magic 

Copyright credit given to the creator of the website: https://witchwayfromhere.com/is-solitary-witchcraft-right-for-you/

I hope this helps. I wish you all a magical green spring season! Plant seeds of hope and magic!

Blessings, Spiderwitch