sofiathehedgewitch:

jacktellslies:

Disability in witchcraft

Occasionally I’ll see a post encouraging spoony witches. You’re still valid, as the kids like to remind each other. I admit, I’m a generation too old for this validity schtick. Personally, I always wanted to read as quasi-fictional.

I disagree. Disabled witches aren’t valid. Disabled witches are so traditional, it should practically be mandatory.

Think of Odin, one eyed. Think of Gandalf and his walking stick. Think of bent and elderly crones. Remember Merlin when he fled to the forest, terrified and haunted by memories of war.

I’m hard of hearing; I hear ghosts and gods better than people, some days. My spine is crooked and broken; the pain roots me to the earth. There are days that I cannot walk, but there aren’t any days that I can’t fly.

I’m stubborn and hardworking, and there are days that I try to fight through my pain as if it weren’t there. So I don’t always remember this, but your ailments are your teachers. Your practice isn’t acceptable despite your disability. Your disability is part of your practice. You know things that people who are merely healthy won’t know until they’re old. You know yourself in ways the healthy don’t and can’t. That’s something more wild and more true than validity. It’s power.

This is the most empowering thing I’ve ever read. Thank you.