It is my belief that witches were never meant to be celebrities, “influencers”, or have thousands of “followers”. I find it disheartening to see so many people actively seeking a certain level of fame and status in the wider pagan world. This should not be the goal. Just like the historical witch at the edge of the forest, we were meant primarily to be of service to those in our local communities. That is our first priority. It all begins from there. This being said, there is good work being done by some very high-profile witches, but they did not set out to become famous. Their reputations preceded them as their work was shared by those who benefited from it. These witches remain humble and do not seek the limelight. I can count on one hand those that I would seriously recommend.

There are several others, however, who have become popular for the wrong reasons. I will not name names, but there are some well-known witches that I have chosen not to follow. Some have made broad, sweeping statements that I simply cannot support. Some seem to direct their energies toward certain demographics and the trendy ideas they cling to. They love attention and are fixated on clicks, likes and reviews. They take notice when they are muted or unfollowed. Does it really matter? Be wary of pagans and witches who are always talking about themselves and rarely about the work of others.

Just because someone is popular and has a best-selling book does not mean they are a worthwhile teacher. Even books can be popular for the wrong reasons.

There is an old saying, “Bloom where you are planted”, and there is a lot of wisdom in this. Let us offer our magical skills and gifts to our local communities, unconcerned with followers and popularity. May we be more like the witch at the edge of the forest, detached from mainstream society and yet still accessible to those who need our services.