Weave the Liminal: Living Modern Traditional Witchcraft

by Laura Tempest Zakroff

It is not an eclectic path, but rather a curated one, requiring you to consider and choose the elements carefully that define and make up your personal practice.

True wisdom is expressed not by seeing how complex you can make the material but by how well you are able to make it accessible for others to grasp.

At the Loom: In order for us to be amazing weavers, we first must understand the history of how such things came to be. Liminally Minded: To find the space in between, we need to see where we have been and feel where we are going.

To know yourself means to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, mentally, spiritually, and physically. When we are conscious of these things, we can make better choices about what we need to do, how to do it, and who to do it with. Be mindful of your own limitations as well as those of others.

I choose the word Witch because I feel it best describes who I am and what I do. I am not a magician or a sorceress, nor am I a shaman. I am urban yet wild.

Journal Reflection: Do you identify with the word Witch? Why or why not? If not, is there another word you use?

• How you see and interact with the divine is important only to you and the divine—and the people you work with directly.

It’s their path, and it works for them. It doesn’t have to work for you.

• Do the work—in particular, do your work.

Read again the last five words of the definition. Authenticity is being true to oneself in what one does.

Here are the words that make up RITES: Roots Inspiration Time Environment Star

Roots is about exploring the origins and makeup of you. Inspiration delves into what inspires and influences you. Time asks you to think about your schedule and overall calendar of the year. Environment is an examination of location, particularly where you live. Star helps you craft a system to guide your path.

Research Suggestion: Make a list of inspirations and practices that appeal to you. Start with your childhood and work your way to the present day. Are there connecting threads? Can you pinpoint how you got interested in these things? Mark the ones that particularly stand out to you, prioritize them by how much they pull your attention, brainstorm what you know about them already, and start to investigate how to learn more.

Research Suggestion: Consult a lunar calendar and mark out the cycle over the next month in a journal, datebook, or notepad. Twice a day—upon waking up and before you go to bed—write down a word or phrase that describes how you are feeling (calm, anxious, stressed, depressed, excited, etc.). Once you reach the end of the first month, look back and see if you notice any correlations between the phase of the moon and how you felt at that time. It may take several months to start noticing a larger pattern.

Research Suggestion: Starting with the equinoxes and solstices, consider how these solar events impact your life, whether seasonally, spiritually, mentally, etc. Then look at the cross-quarter days and other solar-oriented festivals. Do you feel like they have a place in your practice? Why or why not?

Research Suggestion: Consider what dates, people, events, spirits, and/or deities are important in your life. If you feel the need to honor them in some way, write them down in a list, noting dates and what form of observation you believe is appropriate. Be sure to look for inspiration in your hometown as well.

Research Suggestion: Evaluate your local landscape, identifying natural and humanmade landmarks. What are the major geological features that surround you (north, east, west, south, and center)? Familiarize yourself with the local flora and fauna as well as the changing of the weather and its effects.