Wielding Privilege and Breaking Boundaries in Modern Witchcraft with Mike

Mike, one half of the Rusted Rabbit jewelry team, recently joined Your Average Witch podcast to discuss their unique approach to witchcraft, community building, and how they navigate their identity within the magical community. As someone who identifies with they/them pronouns and describes themselves as a "destroyer of gender as a construct," Mike brings a refreshing perspective on what it means to practice witchcraft in today's world.

For Mike, identifying as a witch is fundamentally an act of protest. They explained that witchcraft represents "an identity outside of what is expected" and serves as a reclamation of something that has historically been feared, ostracized, and persecuted. This revolutionary approach to spiritual identity sets the tone for how they engage with their craft and community.

Unlike many practitioners who follow structured traditions or join covens, Mike has deliberately chosen an unstructured path. They revealed they "promised myself that I would never look for organization in my belief, never wanting to fall into the trap of someone else's belief and taking that on as my own." This independent approach reflects their Aquarian nature and desire to forge their own spiritual path rather than following established dogma.

The conversation took a fascinating turn when Mike discussed their jewelry-making practice as a form of transmutation magic - "making something from nothing, turning something undesirable into something desirable." Through their work with The Rusted Rabbit, Mike creates "talismans of protection, power, healing, joy and so much more." This perspective transforms everyday creative work into profound magical practice, demonstrating how witchcraft can be seamlessly integrated into daily life and artistic expression.

One of the most thought-provoking moments came when Mike addressed the challenges of navigating white privilege while practicing witchcraft. They acknowledged that their biggest struggle is imposter syndrome - feeling that as someone who is "masculine presenting" and white, perhaps they shouldn't take up space in magical communities. At the same time, they strive to use their privilege to "push back on those institutions that give me this unearned privilege and try my hardest to uplift those who have been victimized by the system." This nuanced understanding of power and privilege offers valuable perspective for all practitioners.

Mike identified communication as their most powerful magical tool, describing it as "the ability to share perspective with those that I come across, to learn from each other's mistakes and accomplishments, to glean a glimpse into someone else's existence." They expressed concern about how communication is being weaponized in today's world and emphasized the importance of resisting echo chambers and groupthink.

The conversation also touched on the dangers of organized belief systems. Mike noted that "when you think about it, every single person alive - 8 billion and something of us - has their very own belief system." They cautioned that even within magical communities, there can be tendencies toward "gatekeeping, exclusion, lack of empathy" when practitioners forget that everyone's experience is unique and valid.

For those who are looking to build community around their practice, Mike offered practical advice about organizing community cleanup walks and creating activities that bring people together in playful, trust-building ways. They encouraged listeners to "use yourself as a resource" by identifying what you need from your community and then either finding or creating it.

Mike's approach to witchcraft embodies a deeply humanistic value system centered on inclusion, authenticity, and love. Their advice to new practitioners - "Listen, Dream, and Trust" - encapsulates a philosophy that honors both traditional wisdom and personal intuition. By emphasizing the importance of trusting oneself while respecting others' boundaries, Mike offers a balanced approach to magical practice that feels both revolutionary and deeply grounded.

For those interested in exploring their own practice, Mike recommends checking out The Feminine Monochromatic tarot deck by CR Warner, which they described as "one of my favorite tarot decks I've ever seen." This handcrafted deck represents the kind of independent, artistic magical tools that Mike values in their own practice.