Creed Crafting
I've been on my spiritual journey probably since I was sixteen without realizing it. At an age I thought myself finished with god and all things religion, I didn't know I was really just taking the first steps on my spiritual journey. I was the Fool of tarot, wide-eyed but disillusioned of my independent fundamentalist baptist (IFB or Indie Fundie) christian upbringing, and ready for the Unknown.
Now I'm in my thirties and I've been practicing witchcraft for about 5 years. Moving out of busy NYC really helped me connect to things that mattered most to me spiritually, like a connection to the Land.
Over the past five years, I've also somehow found myself returned to my conservative roots. Like the more "spiritual" I became, the more traditional I leaned. At first this was extremely difficult to navigate without feeling afraid of reopening old doors, such as a door to Christianity which was extremely triggering for a long time. Somehow, I found myself dabbling in deity work and what seemed to be a dark side of witchcraft.
My Shadow Work Experience
Looking back, I see it differently. It felt dark because I felt dark—like a forgotten, broken thing. Though I refused to study demonology or Satanism, my spiritual practice felt cloaked in shadow, almost haunted.
In truth, I was undergoing shadow work: deconstruction of my self and what I'd been carrying, excavation of my soul and beliefs. It felt gloomy because it was the healing of trauma. I had ghosts to release.
Because of what I was going through, I was easily overwhelmed by anything that even hinted at God.
I was also overwhelmed by both the “love and light” tone of mainstream Wicca and the overtly political messages of modern witchcraft communities. Alternately, I was unbearably overstimulated by the intersectionalist activism and "rebel" messaging around witchcraft. Dealing with addiction and PTSD, those extremes felt too clean, too hot, too cold.
This turned me off. Not because of my former beliefs, but because I was making every effort to dissociate from either side of any spectrum--even if just for a moment. I'd been raised in a cult and was wary of community of any kind. I wanted neutrality, to pause having to care about anything. I wanted to sit in lukewarm water and wash away blood and crusted scabs. And because I rejected what felt like the "loud" messages coming from all directions in the modern occult world then, I found myself in solitude.
Finding Folk Witchcraft
In this solitude, I rediscovered my authentic values. My core beliefs. In the quiet, I found traditional folk witchcraft—a craft that hums beneath the surface of American history, persisting for centuries.
As a young Christian, I was told 'witchcraft' was synonymous with rebellion. But as an adult who still believed core Christian teachings, while finding healing and solace in paganism, this does not ring true. For me, witchcraft is a return to Spirit, not rebellion. It's not an activation to fight or a political alignment. It is simply a way of living and a way of thinking. It is honest in nature. Honesty can be both brutal revelation, pain, darkness, and then also form of recovery, illumination, and connection. In the balance of these things, I have found my personal equilibrium. I've unearthed historic correspondences and ancestral ties to the Old Ways. I've also reformed the bridge to some of that good old doctrine I once believed. But not all of it.
For me, my path has taken me home to myself, to God, to Nature and Spirit. And while 16 year old me, my wounded inner child/teenager, might have been behind the wheel early on the road; I've found that today I'm in a place where this isn't about fighting anything or anyone. It's about memory, acceptance, devotion, connection, and love. Through this, I’ve unearthed ancestral ties to the Old Ways and even reformed a bridge to parts of the doctrine I once believed. Not all of it, but enough to feel whole again.
A Personal Creed
If you’re struggling to reconcile old beliefs with a new path, take your time. This isn’t a war, and witchcraft isn’t a weapon. It’s a tool of self-discovery.
Through witchcraft, I’ve rekindled my love of nature, Spirit, country, and community. The history of cunning work and the occult in the United States is a tapestry of multicultural folk practice, religion, and, at its heart, a dream of liberty—of living freely.
I've found a way to celebrate my freedoms through witchcraft. And also to connect to the rich, direly important history of "witches" or spiritualists or pagans who came before me.
CI encourage you to pick a personal value—perhaps one you’ve always held or one you wish to reclaim—and write a letter to your younger self charging them to care more deeply about it. For me, that value was patriotism and connection to my homeland. Having lived through 9/11, worked as a nurse, and watched the world burn in its own ways, reconnecting to the land and my inheritance of it has been essential.
Here’s the creed I wrote to my inner self:
Somewhere in your bloodline there were those who bled for the land you call home today,
those who sewed the threads of banners under which you now find safety,
and those who prayed for the day their children’s children would enjoy the freedoms you claim without a second thought.
Remember the declarations forged with you in mind and be not afraid to speak up for your country’s soul.
Never forget the lives laid down so that you might stand side by side with sisters and brothers made common by uncommon heroism and sacrifice.
Always honor the land into which tears and blood were poured so you might drink from the spring of liberty.
Join those who loved this country before you, add your voice to their eternal hymn of power, anointing this place and time with the oil of reverence, humility, and devotion.
It is our duty to be worthy of this inheritance, to preserve its blessings through service, and to teach those coming up after us to receive this bounty with thankful hands. - B.G.
Shadow Work & How to Craft Your Personal Witch’s Creed
Rebuilding your spirituality often means facing the shadows of your past and unearthing what still has power over you. A creed—a personal declaration of values—can serve as both compass and anchor while you walk this path. Before writing your creed, it helps to spend time in reflection.
5 Shadow Work Prompts
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What spiritual teachings or doctrines still feel heavy in my body?
(Notice where you carry tension or fear when recalling them.)
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What beliefs did I adopt only out of fear of punishment or rejection?
(And do those beliefs truly serve me today?)
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Which parts of my past faith or upbringing still feel beautiful or true?
(Claim the good without denying the harm.)
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What emotions surface when I think about words like “God,” “Spirit,” or “Witch”?
(Write through resistance or discomfort with honesty.)
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If I could whisper one truth to my younger self, what would it be?
(Let this guide the values you choose to reclaim or redefine.)
Steps to Crafting Your Personal Creed
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Excavate – Journal on the prompts above. Write down what no longer serves you and what still holds meaning.
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Identify – Highlight recurring themes or values that keep surfacing.
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Select – Choose 5–10 values to serve as the pillars of your creed.
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Reframe – Rewrite each value in your own words, free of old dogma or fear.
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Declare – Weave these values into a short passage, prayer, or vow that feels empowering, grounding, and authentic.
Your creed doesn’t have to be long or lofty. It only needs to reflect what you hold sacred and what you are committed to living out.
Example: 10 Core Values to Consider
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Truth – Seeking honesty with self and others.
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Devotion – Commitment to Spirit, however you define it.
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Balance – Honoring both light and shadow.
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Freedom – Living and practicing without coercion.
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Service – Giving back to community and land.
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Resilience – The ability to endure, heal, and transform.
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Stewardship – Caring for the earth and its cycles.
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Heritage – Respecting the wisdom of ancestors.
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Integrity – Aligning actions with beliefs.
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Love – Rooting practice in compassion for self, others, and the divine.
Freedom to Choose
Witchcraft in America is a fascinating subject—a history full of tragedy and triumph. But practicing here doesn’t mean you must look or sound like anyone else’s idea of witchery. You’re free to choose what to believe and how to express it. That freedom is, itself, a form of magic.
Book Recommendations
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
If you're looking for a starting point to Traditional Witchcraft, I highly recommend the Beginner Witch's Handbook by Leah Middleton. This book teaches both philosophy and practice. It's also a gorgeous book with beautiful pictures and is written very well. 5 Stars must read!
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https://amzn.to/4nXMvPK
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If you're looking for a book about using words as a magic tool to enhance your witchcraft, I highly recommend The Magical Writing Grimoire by Lisa Marie Basile.
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| https://amzn.to/46TFHMj |
Lastly, the incredibly popular book Weave the Liminal -- it is popular for a reason. This book is all about making your path your own, choosing your values, gaining knowledge of the craft, and weaving what you beliefs and intuition into your daily life authentically.
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| https://amzn.to/4pTyqof |
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