You will hear it said, many times over if you are on social media long enough...."There is no room for ego in witchcraft". Now, while I agree with this, having a healthy ego, or being self assured is absolutely necessary in witchcraft.
But what is the difference between Ego and Self Assurance?
Ego typically refers to a person's sense of self-importance or self-image. It involves an individual's perception of themselves, often characterised by their desires, beliefs, and personal identity. When someone is said to have a big ego, it usually means they have an inflated sense of self, focusing heavily on their own needs and desires above others. Ego can sometimes lead to arrogance, self-centeredness, and an inability to accept criticism.
Where as self-assurance, relates more to confidence and a secure belief in one's abilities, qualities, and decisions. It's about having faith in oneself without necessarily having an inflated ego. Self-assured individuals are confident in their capabilities but are also open to learning, feedback, and growth. They don't necessarily need external validation to feel secure or confident in their actions.
While both ego and self-assurance involve a sense of self, they differ in how they manifest and impact one's behaviour and interactions with others.
So how do they differ in witchcraft spaces?
The concepts of ego and self-assurance can be interpreted in various ways, just as they are in other aspects of life.
Ego in witchcraft might relate to an individual's sense of superiority or self-importance in their magical abilities or knowledge. Someone with a big ego in this context might believe they are more skilled or knowledgeable than others, proudly and arrogantly boast about it both publicly and privately, and this potentially leads to a lack of openness to different perspectives, a reluctance to learn from others, or an inclination to dominate rather than collaborate within the community.
Self-assurance in witchcraft could manifest as a healthy belief in one's magical practice and abilities without being arrogant or dismissive of others' perspectives. Self-assured practitioners are confident in their craft but remain open to learning, growing, and respecting differing opinions or practices within the community.
In witchcraft circles, fostering self-assurance is often valued because it encourages practitioners to explore their abilities, trust their intuition, and grow in their practice without feeling the need to assert dominance or belittle others. Collaboration, mutual respect, and a willingness to learn from various traditions and experiences are often key components of a healthy witchcraft community.
However, like any community, the witchcraft community is diverse, and individuals within it may exhibit a range of behaviours related to ego and self-assurance. The focus on self-assurance often aligns more closely with fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where practitioners can learn and grow together.
Now just to be clear, having an ego isn't inherently negative, it's crucial to recognise its pitfalls of having an out of control ego, especially within social media spaces. Those entrenched in an unbalanced ego often stumble into or even create drama due to their reluctance to acknowledge their own personal flaws or simply do so out of jealousy of another's success or popularity. They struggle to admit their own shortcomings, preferring to evade addressing them by claiming indifference, playing the victim and even diverting attention. They have this belief that by accepting that someone else might excel or be more favoured diminishes their own worth, and they cant have that.
In all, being truthful to yourself is a lesson in humility and self-awareness. The challenge lies not in erasing the ego but in embracing vulnerability and humility, fostering genuine connections beyond the constraints of one's self-importance.