Path Confusion

[Absinthe]

Hello,
I consider myself a nocturnal witch or dark pagan, but it seems there is nothing to back it up. Would I just be a eclectic witch then? Because I cant find anything else that fits

[yewberry]

I consider myself a nocturnal witch or dark pagan, but it seems there is nothing to back it up. Would I just be a eclectic witch then? Because I cant find anything else that fits

What you believe is a lot more important than what you call yourself. Figure this out and the monikers tend to create themselves.  Pro Tip:  you don't need to fit into a preexisting category.

Brina

[Jack]

Hello,
I consider myself a nocturnal witch or dark pagan, but it seems there is nothing to back it up. Would I just be a eclectic witch then? Because I cant find anything else that fits

 
What sort of things would "back up" your being a nocturnal witch or dark pagan? How are you defining those terms?

[Absinthe]

What sort of things would "back up" your being a nocturnal witch or dark pagan? How are you defining those terms?

 
Nocturnal witchcraft is a common expression in the witchcraft world these days as a way of describing the side of witchcraft that is darker. That's not to say it's "black magick" but that it looks more to the darker perspective and embraces the energy of the night and the Moon.

[Juni]

Nocturnal witchcraft is a common expression in the witchcraft world these days as a way of describing the side of witchcraft that is darker. That's not to say it's "black magick" but that it looks more to the darker perspective and embraces the energy of the night and the Moon.

Okay, so a quick google search for nocturnal witchcraft brings up two Llewellyn books by the occultist Konstantinos, and a thread on wicca.com that seems to emphasize the "we're misunderstood" and that the intent of an action is what determines its ethicality. (Which I note, later in the thread, is all derived from Konstantinos' stuff.) Perusing the Amazon reviews, it looks like Konstantinos' stuff is largely typical book Wicca with some gothic trappings, which given the titles of his other works is not surprising.

I see that you're new here, so I'll say this much: Llewellyn tends not to be well regarded as a source here at TC when it comes to religious texts. And the "nocturnal witch" stuff put forward by Konstantinos looks like cashing in on a gothic fad. That doesn't mean the practices or label can't be useful for you, but I don't think you're likely to find much in the way of specifics here at TC that will help.

That said: there are plenty of people here on TC that embrace the fact that the dark doesn't mean evil, and though I'm not coming up with names off the top of my head, I'm fairly certain there are people who incorporate lunar cycles and such into their magical practice. But the ooky-spooky gothic-flavored snowflake stuff tends to come across as such:



(I would like to note that I am not accusing you of being an ooky-spooky gothic snowflake. Just that these sorts of Llewelyn books tend to breed them, and people are wary because of that.)

[Emma Eldritch]

Okay, so a quick google search for nocturnal witchcraft brings up two Llewellyn books by the occultist Konstantinos, and a thread on wicca.com that seems to emphasize the "we're misunderstood" and that the intent of an action is what determines its ethicality. (Which I note, later in the thread, is all derived from Konstantinos' stuff.) Perusing the Amazon reviews, it looks like Konstantinos' stuff is largely typical book Wicca with some gothic trappings, which given the titles of his other works is not surprising.

I see that you're new here, so I'll say this much: Llewellyn tends not to be well regarded as a source here at TC when it comes to religious texts. And the "nocturnal witch" stuff put forward by Konstantinos looks like cashing in on a gothic fad. That doesn't mean the practices or label can't be useful for you, but I don't think you're likely to find much in the way of specifics here at TC that will help.

That said: there are plenty of people here on TC that embrace the fact that the dark doesn't mean evil, and though I'm not coming up with names off the top of my head, I'm fairly certain there are people who incorporate lunar cycles and such into their magical practice. But the ooky-spooky gothic-flavored snowflake stuff tends to come across as such:



(I would like to note that I am not accusing you of being an ooky-spooky gothic snowflake. Just that these sorts of Llewelyn books tend to breed them, and people are wary because of that.)

 
That's the best image ever.

Also the most appropriate response ever.  Konstantinos is just pure gawthic wankery - I bought his book on vampires when I was in my early twenties. It's not the worst thing I've ever read, but it sure wasn't anything special. I couldn't bring myself to read his 'Gothic Witchcraft' even then, though. Too embarrassing to bring to the counter.

To the OP: 'darker' witchcraft ain't no big thing. You're just into magic with less morality, sounds like. ('Nocturnal' makes me think you sleep all day, which must be heaven.) As for using the night and moon, a lot of magical paths do that. So you should fit right in here.

[NanLT]

Hello,
I consider myself a nocturnal witch or dark pagan, but it seems there is nothing to back it up. Would I just be a eclectic witch then? Because I cant find anything else that fits

Based upon your descriptions later, this encompasses some of what I do as a witch.
Personally, I just refer to myself as a Pagan witch and I don't worry about the other descriptors. I'm neither a good witch, nor a bad witch. Neither black nor white.

As I patiently explained to a person of another religion once - you wouldn't walk up to a Christian, Muslim, or Jew and ask them - But are you a good XXXX, or a bad XXXX