Witchcraft has long existed in its various cultural forms, thousands of years before the birth of twentieth century Wicca. Sorcery, shamanism and magic have always been with us. Greco-Roman evidence of conjuring and spellwork date back to the sixth century B.C.E. Tibetan Buddhist history features the tale of its beloved saint and poet Milarepa (circa 1050) who once used sorcery to exact revenge (bringing forth a rain of scorpions, lizards and snakes) before hesought the path to enlightenment.

Today the Craft continues to carry on outside of Wicca's framework, quietly existing within diverse clusters of belief. Even Christian believers and atheists count among them practitioners of the Craft. Witches are not necessarily Wiccan. Many practice a magical or shamanic path influenced by multi-cultural teachings as diverse as the Hebrew Qabalah, Celtic Faery Tradition, or Jungian psychology. Many would never use the word witch at all. Energy dowsers, Native medicine healers and water witches are all examples of disciplines that share certain customs and methods with the Craft, without belonging to the Wiccan or witchcraft identity. Energy work, chanting and meditation are practiced by multiple traditions.

Spellwork and prayer work are intimately related. A witch may be a Wiccan, or she may simply belong to her own non-Wiccan tradition. Recognizing non-Wiccan witches and wisewomen in our discussion embraces a kinship and history rich in diversity and heritage.

Non-Wiccan witchcraft and wisewoman's craft evoke the human impulse to affect change, to seek transformation and pursue an active role in healing. Our beloved archetypal witch cannot easily be pigeonholed.

Unfortunately, there is a very human impulse to categorize, construct limitations, and desire such definition, a need for boundaries set in black and white. I have witnessed displays of pigeonholing and exclusion firsthand; on e-mail groups and the internet I have read posted arguments about which witch gets to use an uppercase W. Apparently, for some, w or W is a big deal. Country or hedge witches, dowsers, folk magic practitioners and solitaries aren't "supposed to" use an uppercase W. Only initiated Wiccans have the right to use a W. Those who practice high ceremonial magic may often look down on practitioners of low magic, also known as folk magic, kitchen witchery, herb craft or dowsing.

When an acquaintance of mine disclosed her childhood gift of insight to a member of a prominent feminist goddess caucus, the woman snubbed her, remarking, "Oh, a natural. We hate those!" If some of you out there are witchcraft virgins, this may come as quite a shock; but these arguments and divisions actually take place. No kidding.

It might be time now to take a break and go grab a piece of chocolate.

Lack of generosity and empathy harms our larger spiritual community. For those sincere in seeking spiritual truths (no matter what our chosen path) such judgment and exclusion smacks of the dogmatic delineation that has haunted religious hierarchy through the ages. Boundaries may bring ego comfort but they also create conflict. Our identitifications ought to be fluid, expansive, generous and evolving.

Our paths ought to support everyone's search for authenticity and happiness. Perhaps, dear witches, Wiccans, non-witches, magicians, pilgrims and Pagans, the time has finally come to truly embrace and celebrate the diversity within the neo-spiritual community and beyond; and welcome paradoxical viewpoints, input and experiences. Think of all the personal energy you'll preserveby not investing in defending your own position.

Not everyone interested in the goddess path resonates to the ceremony of Gardnerian Wicca. Not all practitioners of the Craft wish to join a coven. Some may find their spiritual home in solitary witchcraft, while others explore the Gypsy path of their heritage. A close friend of mine combines her Buddhist meditation practice with moon rituals and reading tea leaves. Another is attracted to Druidry.

Another is a devout Christian who has recently discovered the Virgin Mary as goddess. Each woman is finding her own way to experience the divine. Every one of us has emerged from a different birthright, influenced by our own tribal blood, family of origin, and inherent personality traits - not to mention, our karma! Our spiritual paths are exclusively our own responsibility. My own teen years repeatedly heard the paternal decree - my way or the highway - and I cringe when I hear today's seekers invoke similar intolerance.

In my travels I have met devout Catholic women in New Mexico who are potent wisewomen. Their altars often serve the goddess through icons of the Madonna. Many Wiccans insist that NO witch could also believe in anything Christian; but these witches do. They seamlessly weave their hereditary folk beliefs with a deep devotion to the archetypal Holy Mother and Divine Child, Mary and Jesus.

Though paradoxical to some, it works for them (and has for generations).

Their beautiful milagros with their tiny silver charms have power. Their candles burn just as brightly as any Wiccan's. The simple truth is, the statue of a saint might indeed equal another's pagan god. I suppose you could say, one witch's Green Man is another witch's St. Francis! From a Jungian viewpoint this is entirely possible. The archetype of the saint may share his character with a pre-Christian god. The energy is the same energy.

When we respond to a god image, or a saint's story, we are responding to their eternal essence, the universal archetype within. It is the archetype that speaks to us, that mirrors back our own hidden divinity. Our response is a clue, a method to see our true nature. Our eternal truth. In the end, what matters most is our own individual, alchemical process of self discovery. True spirituality, like true beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Spiritual paths (including witchcraft and Wicca) ought to be elastic, evolving and expanding with our own personal, deepening awareness.

Spirit is not static - so why should our practice be? Our beliefs are not sustained by someone else's set of rules, classifications, laws, and dogma. The external does not define the internal. Our truth lives and breathes within our own heart. If we freeze belief into a rigid structure it is in danger of becoming yet another dry and lifeless doctrine; too many religious paths have suffered this fate; the belief in correctness and rules ends up replacing a personal, direct, and juicy encounter with divine Mystery. A living practice is constantly evolving, echoing the unique character of each practitioner, informed by each new era. Spiritual paths need to remain fluid as we navigate the twists and turns of life experience and new perspectives.

Witchcraft, Wicca - and Spirit - cannot be paper clipped into neat and tidy definitions. As a wisewoman once said to me, "Only one truth is for certain: The more you think you know, the more you DON'T know!" Buddhism teaches, develop a mind that clings to nothing. Powerful advice, for any path.