A Beginner's Guide to Secular Witchcraft
Last Updated: September 24, 2022
What is secular witchcraft? Secular witchcraft is a form of witchcraft that does not draw upon any religious beliefs. It can be practised by anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation (or lack thereof).
In this blog post, we will explore what secular witchcraft is, why it’s different from other forms of witchcraft, and how to become a secular witch. We will also discuss the difference between agnostic witches and secular witches.
What does secular witch mean?
When you’re secular, it means that you keep church and state very separate in your witchcraft practice. You don’t work with deities with your spellwork, you don’t call upon spirits in your tarot practice, and you just might not believe in any god or gods, yet that doesn’t mean you’re automatically a witch.
To be a secular witch means that you don’t use religious beliefs as the foundation for your practice. Instead, you focus on the natural world and the energy around us. And whilst there are so many benefits to being a secular witch, you’ll find yourself reading published books and changing spellwork to match your practice on the daily.
Do you know how many books I’ve had to personalise spells for as I started out? Even now I find myself doing it. There just aren’t that many openly secular witches out there, so I am opening up the conversation here.
What does an agnostic witch mean?
I like to think that agnosticism suits everyone. It is the belief that we cannot know whether or not any gods exist and so it doesn’t really matter. You can read more about what an agnostic person is via a quick google search but in short, they don’t focus on the deities in their practice.
Instead, they focus on themselves and the energy around them. So this as a practice compliments secular witches perfectly – the difference is if you’re agnostic, provided with proof that deities exist for you, and then choose to include them in your witchcraft practice moving forward – you wouldn’t be considered secular.
Secular witchcraft practices and what do they look like?
Literally, ask a secular witch! Here’s a list of the sort of witchery I get up to (I love to call it witchery as if it’s its own mischievous, fun, powerful thing.. because it is!) and I am sure this will get your witch-muscles twitching to try something new. If you’ve never tried witchcraft from a secular perspective before, I hope these ideas can also get you excited;
- Tarot for daily reflection, journalling and introspection.
- Confidence spells for relationship introspection, communication and support.
- Kitchen spellwork for parenting support, cooking in the love on the days we struggle, making nourishment in all areas.
- Wheel of the Year celebrations with seasonal decor, seasonal blessings for our home & loved ones, and an excuse to bake homemade bread (not that I need one!)
- Water magick for emotional support such as showers for energy cleansing after divination, river swims to carry away anxieties, and bath rituals for connecting with each season or sabbat.
- Astrology readings for business insight, structure and inspiration.
- Oracle readings for career guidance, for the days we rage at poor management and need soothing.
- Crystal work for incorporating themes in our spellwork, stopping distractions and working with our quirks.
- Shadow work for mental well-being, and a witchcraft structure for those with neurodivergence.
- Charm casting for inner child healing, explorative discovery and piquing interest.
- Candle magick for before-bed comforts, whether we are winding down or we are stirring ourselves up.
- Glamour magick for reconnecting with your body, turning body moisturisers into self-love balms to soothe any inner critics.
- Herbalism for reassurance, meditation and sustainability. Caring for our environment helps us care for ourselves.
Can I be a witch if I'm secular, atheist or agnostic?
Yes! You absolutely can be a witch regardless of your religious stand – witchcraft is not a religion, it is a practice. You might find that your secular or agnostic practice leads you to call on deities later down the line, and that is okay too – your practice will always be unique to you.
So there we have it, a beginner’s guide to secular witchcraft! It doesn’t stop you from being a witch, it doesn’t stop you from using critical thinking, and most of all I hope it has given you some clarity if you’re feeling drawn to this practice but aren’t sure where to start.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out – I would love to chat! Until next time xox
I love curating divination experiences for those invested in spiritual growth with secular honest vibes. I am that witch you come to for these honest, interesting and beneficial divination experiences!
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