There are many misconceptions about Wicca and witchcraft,
Among them being the idea that we only work or practice at night.
There are indeed a great many of us who do prefer night time for our rituals and workings.
A number of us are naturally nocturnal.
In the case of the latter,
This is mainly due to work schedules and personal preferences.
Darkness does tend to get a bad rap in mainstream society,
So the very idea of it lends itself to how witchcraft is also viewed by many.
Yet the mention of a midnight mass never causes a single eyebrow to raise.
It is commonly thought that one of the reasons why witchcraft is associated with night time is because of the moon and a practitioner's devotion to it.
While there is a bit of truth to this,
It should be noted that the moon can also be seen during daylight.
Also,
During periods of history,
When the craft was even more misunderstood than it is today,
And especially the periods when it was illegal in some places,
Practicing at night became a necessity.
As time went on,
This continued as more or less a tradition,
As there are no hard and fast rules in Wicca or witchcraft.
But now that secrecy is no longer a huge concern,
Night time is still appealing to a great many practitioners because it offers more privacy,
Stillness,
And peacefulness.
We will often hear someone say,
She's completely in the dark about this matter.
There is a negative connotation to this expression,
And I would argue that it is largely inaccurate.
Some of us are able to actually see far more at night.
This is because darkness is typically a time of self-reflection,
Looking inward,
And what is commonly known as shadow work.
Accordingly,
The new moon,
A time when the moon is not visible in the sky,
And the sky is therefore dark,
Is considered to be an ideal opportunity for inner work.
This can,
Of course,
Be done in broad daylight,
But night time is more naturally conducive to it.
Some people enjoy waking up early and having a few hours or a period of time to themselves before the chaos of their daily schedule presents itself.
This is exactly the same concept,
And that's really all it is.
It has far less to do with secrecy than it does with privacy or solitude,
And it has everything to do with stillness.
To the point of stillness,
One of the basic necessities of rituals and workings is that the practitioner first be grounded and centered.
This requires one's complete attention,
And is most easily carried out when distractions are few or completely absent.
Darkness generally serves as a backdrop for this.
It should be noted that Wiccans and witches are not inherently opposed to sunlight or daytime.
As nature-based spiritualists,
We view both as equal halves of the whole.
Both are essential,
And one cannot exist without the other.
In some traditions,
Practitioners will wake up early,
On the morning of the summer solstice,
In order to watch the sunrise and greet the sun on its day of highest power.
They will also sit vigil to the longest night of the year,
In celebration of the winter solstice.
Practicing the craft at night,
Or taking things a step further by becoming a completely nocturnal being comes with as many challenges as it does rewards.
Perhaps the most obvious of these is the fact that the mainstream world generally tends to operate during daylight hours.
So seeking solitude or performing rituals at 3am and then having to be at the office or at an appointment five hours later can be difficult.
Regardless of whether you are a morning person or a night person,
There is no getting around the fact that all of us require an adequate amount of sleep and solid rest.
Be aware of this if practicing at night is your preference,
And look for ways to adjust your schedule to balance your nocturnal spiritual time with mundane obligations during daylight hours without jeopardizing proper rest.
Again,
If one is to truly follow a nature-based path,
At the core of nature's teachings is the undeniable need for balance.
In keeping with an often quoted passage from the Wiccan read,
And at harm none,
Do what you will,
Your spiritual practice should be done at a time that works for you and makes you happy.
In the end,
It doesn't matter if that time is noon or midnight.
If you are a follower of the old ways and find night time to be especially appealing to you,
May the thoughts I've shared inspire your path.
For others,
My hope is that it will dispel any myths or inaccuracies concerning witchcraft and darkness.
Regardless of your path,
Or whether you view early as 6am or noon,
May you always walk in love and light.
The crow flies from me to thee,
To send a message,
Blessed be.
