Lindsay Squire - The Witch of the Forests Guide to Natural Magick

MY STORY

F or as long as I can remember, Ive felt a strong pull toward nature and Witchcraft. I loved the magick of the turning of the seasons long before I even knew what The Wheel of the Year was. But it wasnt until I was 22 that these interests turned into a practice and became my way of life.

I began my Witchcraft journey when I began to practise Wicca, where many begin their journey. At the time, I was very much a witch in the broom closet, where I stayed for nearly ten years due to family circumstances that are, thankfully, no longer an issue. I like to call that my former life, but it really shaped my early years in the Craft. Like many people in the broom closet, I had to get creative, and its surprising how many tricks you pick up over the years that allow you to practise your Craft under the radar.

Social media played a huge part on my Witchcraft journey, as it gave me a place to express myself, talk to like-minded people and learn about the Craft in a discreet way. I started my Instagram account @thewitchoftheforest in 2012 to create a safe, anonymous space for me to explore Witchcraft. I didnt want to use my real name, so I adopted the name The Witch of the Forest. As an Earth sign (Im a stubborn Taurus), I get so much of my grounding and balance from being outside and connecting to nature, especially in woods and forests. I could picture myself as an old woman, living in a little house in the middle of a beautiful pine forest, growing my own food and herbs, mixing potions and living the simple life. I really felt The Witch of the Forest perfectly captured the essence of my Craft at the time, and it still resonates with me so much now.

Over the years, my Instagram account has helped me to meet so many wonderful people and make some amazing friends. I truly feel blessed to have them all in my life, as each one has had a positive impact upon my Craft and has helped me grow and evolve. I never thought it would one day provide a space that would enable me to share my knowledge and give practical guidance to other Witches. I want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has helped me along the way, and to you, reading this book right now. I truly am so thankful for your presence and for all your support and help.

I hope this book helps you along your journey and helps you connect with yourself and the natural world on a deeper level. As Witches, we all walk very different paths, but my wish is that this book will help you discover the path that is right for you. There is no wrong way or right way to practise Witchcraft, just your way. Remember, if you are looking for the right way to go in the Craft, we are all our own best teacher.

I am honored that I can walk with you on your path as you have been there on mine.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFOREyou embark on your journey through this book:

EVERYBODYS PATH & PRACTICE IS DIFFERENT

When I began my Craft, my practice was influenced by East Anglian Witchcraft and later Cornish traditional Witchcraft. After practising Wicca in the broom closet for a few years, my Craft then evolved into the more traditional practice it is today, as I felt connected to how it lent equal value to light/dark, left/right, masculine/feminine and the known/unknown.

Yet when I first started out in the Craft, having a label for my Craft felt important to help me figure out who I was. I felt I needed to have a specific identity and the order that this identity brought. As I developed though, I started to feel that labels were restrictive. I discovered that by focusing more on one area of the Craft in order to fulfill and embody a specific identity, I neglected a lot of my other skills and it made my Craft feel unbalanced. I needed to learn to embrace the Witch I was, and that meant accepting that although I didnt fall into any specific type of Witchcraft, it didnt mean I wasnt a real Witch.

Whoever you are and however you came to the Craft, you dont need to label your practice. Dont worry about how you categorize your Craft. Its more important to find the path that feels right and is authentic to you.

YOU DONT NEED TO BE A HEREDITARY WITCH TO PRACTISE POWERFULLY

There is often a misconception that being a hereditary Witch somehow makes your Craft more valid compared to someone (like me) who is walking their own path as the first Witch in their family. But as beautiful as it is to come from a long line of Witches, with all the family history, traditions and practices associated with it, it is not necessary to become a Witch.

YOU CAN PRACTISE ALONE OR AS PART OF A COMMUNITY

Being a solitary practitioner or a Witch initiated into a coven makes you an equally authentic Witch. The kind of Witch you become is completely in your own hands and will be shaped by your commitment to researching, learning, practising and honouring Witchcraft.

It can feel overwhelming to begin your Witchcraft journey alone. There is so much to learn and its not always easy to find accurate information or know where to start. But this book will help you navigate and find the right path for you. It can act as your starting point at the beginning of your journey, or as a place to check in with and re-centre your practice further down the line. Either way, I have filled it with resources I wish I had had when I began my own journey.

YOUR CRAFT DOESNT HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE

An important point all Witches, not just those at the start of their journey, should know is that your practice doesnt have to cost a fortune. Social media can give the impression that to be a Witch, you must wear all black, have a cauldron, a fully stocked herb cupboard, incense, every colour of candle and every crystal, all of which can cost a small fortune. But being a Witch is so much more than the kind of tools you use or clothes you wear, and having these things doesnt mean your magick will be any stronger or your spells more successful. Whether you enjoy collecting and using these items or your toolkit is more minimalist, your practice will be just as powerful either way. Its the strength, power, and focus of your intention that matters.

WHETHER YOURE A WITCH IN THE BROOM CLOSET OR AN OUT-AND-PROUD WITCH IN PROGRESS, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU

I understand how hard it is to have to hide the magickal part of yourself from the people around you. This is why, as my Craft has grown, I have wanted to help other Witches who dont have the option to come out of the broom closet to practise their Craft in a way that is both fulfilling and subtle. For example, there are so many ways to celebrate the Sabbats, honour the cycles of the Moon and perform magick in a way that isnt obvious to the untrained eye.