Are there levels of your being a witch? If so, How do I learn them?
Garnet
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Iāve absolutely no idea. Maybe if youāre in a coven 
Within my practice, there are levels of expertise, Seidr, Trolldom, Rune Master but theyāre not ranks, itās just where you fit really and how long youāve practiced for.
Will follow your post with interest 
Skal 
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IMHO:
Several of the different disciplines have ārankā. I usually look at those as dogma. Often, maybe not always, they are associated with artificial barriers to entry. I have seen them even in the Chaos practices.
Here on Spells8, there are ābadgesā which are not dogma. Even new people can earn them and they just indicate where you are on the forum - not necessarily where you are in your practice. In the past few months, I have noticed ānewā people join with years of experience and initially they are āBaby Witchesā which is just a forum rank.
Many of the courses in magick offer ālevelsā for the students. These are used to describe where the student is and sometimes to encourage spending more money for the courses. As such, I look at them as marketing and not much more.
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Newer witch POV: I think there are unspoken ranks. But more than just traditional rankings, I feel like it is more a respect thing. For instance, as I am learning more about the group here, I am seeing that certain people seem to be very experienced in different ways. @tracyS is the go to Loki and Nordic expert. @BryWisteria is great at general knowledge, divination and herbs. @Artemisia knows a lot about oils and spells. I know Iām leaving tons of people out, but these were off the top of my head. I think I see those who are more knowledgeable and experienced as elders, in a way. But it is totally my own ranking system! LOL
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I think that is a great way to look at it. Gaining respect through what you do is the very best ranking system.
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I agree with this, as well as the comments from @tory. It sounds more natural - almost similar to what our indigenous First Peoples would do in their tribes.
The system here at spells8 has granted me another rank beyond Baby Witch - but frankly, I am fine with Baby Witch because Iām just starting out. It feels like a better fit. 
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I donāt know what Iād call myself other than a witch. I mean, Iām past the baby witch level, or at least I believe so. But Iām not up to being a teacher yet either, really. Pfft. I wish I was into talking to spirits, then Iād call myself a Happy Medium! 
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I suppose some sects of magick do have ranks that you can learn or earn, but Iām not sure magick in general does. If weāre thought experimenting, I suppose novice, intermediate, proficient, and adept are ranks of experience that donāt necessarily come with a title but rather with expanded knowledge and skill.
Ah, now this resonates with me. There was a time not so long ago that elder, even as a term of respect, would have offended me, but Iāve hit that stage in my life where Iām not the maiden, never a mother. I have come to think of the third stage as using and sharing the knowledge and skills Iāve acquired, yet still seeking new challenges and knowledge.
I can understand that. (and 
Happy Medium) Maybe thatās why I tend to use practitioner of magick to reflect my continued journey. I feel like Iām not in my āfinal form,ā whatever that might end up being. 
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When I was first learning, there were a few things I donāt hear about anymore. There are two forms of magic. One is called High or Ceremonial Magic, and the other is called Low or Folk Magic (I never liked those denominations).
We in the forum are folk magicians- we do what we do to heal ourselves and each other. There is no ranking among us except those of novices, witches, and elders. Some covens have a High Priest and/or Priestess as a guide and leader, too.
In Ceremonial magic, however, there are ranks which reveal how much you know, ability to handle certain forms or levels of energy, and skill levels. Different groups may define ranking differently from each other based on the rules of the school and who is running the show. Most tend to use those ranks kind of like what level of schooling you have. The more varied your skill set, or the more years you have been learning, the higher the rank you may have.
This information came from long ago. Things change. Research on ranking done recently may reveal other definitions.
Hope this helps, @Garnet.
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I donāt take credit for that one, in A Wrinkle in Time there was a character who was far seeing called the Happy Medium. Great book.
Same here. Iām still learning and growing. Iām not in the caterpillar phase any more, but Iām not a butterfly yet!
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4 posts were split to a new topic: A Wrinkle in Time
Hey @Garnet ! You have received lots of information from here already. I think of myself as a crone (elder) witch in some areas because I have been practicing them for soooo many years. And a baby witch in other areas because Iām just learning them. Iām a solitary witch so donāt do ranks, but as others have stated many covens have ranks that you gain as you learn new traditions and grow in that particular coven.
I hope we have been of help rather than causing more confusion 
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I donāt have any levels in my witchcraft practice. However, I am not from a specific tradition, and I practice a very folk-based and regional witchcraft practice. I think rank and degree levels only come into play in certain traditions, or if thatās something that you want to incorporate into your practice.
For example, Traditional Wicca has three levels of initiation before one can become a High Priest or High Priestess. Those degrees of initiation are governed by the rules of the tradition, so you would only be able to attain those levels if you are in that tradition.
So, if you want to add rank to your magical practice, then you can do so in whatever way you can. For me personally, itās not something Iām particularly interested in.
Itās interesting that you mentioned this because from what I understand, in a lot of folk-based practices and community-based practices, the label of Elder, Priestess, or Priest isnāt something that you can give yourself. Itās a label that is given to you by the community that you serve. I think that was just a very concise way of putting it for yourself, and youāve actually touched on something that is a common occurrence in a lot of community-based practices. I just felt like I needed to mention that here for you to let you know that itās not necessarily something that youāve made up on your own. It is something that is done in a lot of different places and a lot of different practices.
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This was a topic I sort of touched upon on my Facebook page years agoā¦and I think āranksā come with Covensā¦The presence of a High Priestessāand even the role of a Priestāsuggests a system where matriarchal and patriarchal influences structure of spiritual and societal power.
I run a Coven and refuse to be called High Priestess. LOL. I dislike that because I do not feel I am āhigherā than my members of the coven, while I may lead, I am equal and still learning myself.
But here is what I had written a while ago when I came upon some weird Facebook group stuff lol.
I see a lot of newer people entering into the craft and because we are a society that feels the need to label every blessed thing, some new terms have been created.
They call themselves ābaby witchā or āwitchlingā and I have even seen people call themselves ā¦get readyā¦ āfetus witchā. Yesā¦that last one made me cringe. 
Think of it like this, a Master Blacksmith has an apprentice. He doesnāt go around introducing his brand, new apprentice like this: āHey, this is Dave, my baby blacksmith.ā
I mean honestlyā¦itās your practice and your label (if you feel you need a label) call yourself āchicken soupā if you want. Haha- yes, you can actually call yourself whatever you want. Itās no oneās business but your own. BUT! (always a but with me! LOL)
My inner crone is strong, and if you want to be taken seriously in the craft, I am going to give you a suggested list, that in my humble opinion, sounds better than FETUS witch! 
OY!
YOU are a strong and powerful being, you should have a title that reflects that. Witchcraft isnāt a game, itās a spiritual practice. Treat it with dignity and the utmost respect.
Recommended Titles
- Novice: 0-6 months
- Apprentice: 1-2 years
- Adept: 2-5 years
- Acolyte: 6-20 years
- Elder: 20+ years
At the end of the day we are all witches and practice to the best of our abilities and most witches practice with the best intentions. The most important thing is to be safe in your practice, be respectful to Mother Earth, others, and all living beings, and be willing to have soft ears to hear, and an open heart and mind to learn.
Even as an Elder, we still will always be learning. Blessed be my witches!
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