Foundations of Self-Sovereignty

The Witch has a strong sense of self, independent and fully aware of their own power and agency. One of the most defiant and powerful things we can do as Witches is to claim our space, and the right to personal governance, while also acknowledging our responsibility.

Understanding that you are interconnected and part of nature — not separate from it — does not discount your sense of self. The concept of sovereignty focuses on the power of a body or being to govern itself, without interference from outside sources or other beings. While there will of course be outside influences — as is the nature of being part of the universal pattern — sovereignty is about acknowledging and honoring your sense of self regardless. Witchcraft is not about having power or authority over others, but rather over yourself.

In Modern Traditional Witchcraft, there are three main keys that all factor into this concept of sovereignty:

• Know thyself
• Maintain balance
• Accept responsibility

“Know thyself” seems like it should be an easy thing, but it’s not. This concept is about being aware of not only all of your strengths and good traits but also your flaws and weaknesses — not for the purpose of inflating your ego or picking yourself apart, but rather of having a realistic map of yourself; if you focus only on the good or the bad, you will miss opportunities to challenge yourself and grow your wisdom.

In terms of sovereignty, “maintain balance” is applied in being conscious about what you give and what you take energetically. This key reminds you not only to take care of yourself, but also to take care of others.

As for “accept responsibility”, I find that Heron Michelle summed it up beautifully in her Patheos blog, Witch on Fire:

To add to that, if you choose to ignore your own warning signs or unbalance yourself repeatedly, that is also your responsibility. It’s not about placing blame on someone else or yourself, but about becoming wise to the ways of probability, pattern, and consequence. With experience as a guide, you can learn to do better in the future.

But what does sovereignty feel like in regard to being a Witch? Sovereignty is a sense of wholeness, of feeling centered in your body- yet this power is also flowing out around you like a fountain. There’s a near-subconscious or subliminal sense of your own divine presence and connection with the world. That may sound egotistical, but again, sovereignty is not based in power over other things or people; it’s authority over yourself. Once you have achieved this state, it’s very much like breathing: Involuntary.

That often involuntary nature doesn’t mean you can’t learn to feel sovereign, however. Rather, it just takes a bit of practice and building familiarity with the feeling of recognizing yourself as sovereign.