I don’t 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 that’s 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, it’s not something I’m particularly interested in.
It’s 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 isn’t something that you can give yourself. It’s 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 you’ve 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 it’s not necessarily something that you’ve made up on your own. It is something that is done in a lot of different places and a lot of different practices.