Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
your questions have multiple answers ...
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
That lady is strange to me...
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
:wave: The "label" I choose to wear in re my spirituality so people online can understand as such (even tho' spirituality is to fluid to really have any labels) is Solitary Eclectic Pagan NeoWitchcraft.
We are everywhere and everyone.
Oh btw, there is a world of difference between a religion and a spirituality.
Religion is group-orientated and usually structured.
Spirituality is purely individualistic and more fluid (adapts to the indivudual).
Why are you so surprised about the casual-ness? It isn't unheard of these days.
I must be really ignorant to the ignornace of the masses out there.
I don't see it as any different to someone speaking about any other religion and/or spirituality.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Religion: a community of people with like-minded beliefs and spirituality. Usually will have a core set of beliefs/principles which the community/group of people will adhere. This is how a community's spirit expresses itself.
Spirituality: is usually non-religious as it is for the individual. This does include athiests as even tho' it isn't spiritual in the usual sense of the word, it is still a spirituality. This is how an individual's spirit expresses itself.
In a nutshell, religion is for the masses whilst spirituality is for the individual. Religion can be a way for someone to express their spirituality (some, most to all of one's spirituality). Religion is a linking together of people with similiar spiritualities. Spirituality will only ever be for the individual.
PAGANISM (including modern day paganism)
A category of religious and non-religious paths that are mostly earth-centered or nature-based including, but not restricted to, Witchcraft (Neo and Traditional), Wicca, Shamanism, Druidism, Asatru, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Goddess-worship, or any follower thereof. An unmbrella term for most nature based religions. Most (not all) forms of Pagan spirituality are modern (aka "Neo") and based upon ancient beliefs.
NEO-WITCHCRAFT (modern witchcraft)
A scientific and magickal way of life/style or craft.
It can be practiced by anyone and you need not belong to any coven or group and/or initiated to be a practionior of Neo-Witchcraft. A practionior of Neo-Witchcraft may incorporate other religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Satanism, Paganism, Wicca, etc.
- Scientific: a system based on hypotheses that can be tested under controlled conditions. In other words, Witchcraft involves experiments.
- Magickal: spells and any such magick is usually worked on an elemental level using the powers of fire, earth, air and water, power words and prayer. It can also involve the use of Folk Magick amongst other magickal systems.
- Life/style or Craft: something that is studied, and learned, and applied to use in life.
OLD WITCHCRAFT (traditional witchcraft)
Members of an Old Witchcraft coven take oaths and the knowledge within is kept to the coven and never allowed to be seen by the public and non-family. The coven, usually, is comprised of family members (including those who marry into the family). The type of Witchcraft practiced could be religious or craft (not religious). Old Witchcraft does still exist however is, usually, kept private or away from the public and non-family. Whether there exists an unbroken line of Old Witchcraft is disputable - be cautious around those who proclaim to be part of an ages old family coven.
WICCA
A religion which involves a belief in divinity (generally a dual divinity as in God/masculine and Goddess/feminine), Wiccan Rede and Law of Three. A modern religion based upon many systems of belief (including Old Witchcraft) and generally believed to have been popularised by Gerald Gardner (foremost), Charles Godfrey Leland, Dr. Margaret Murray, Doreen Valiente, Alex Sanders, Janet and Stewart Farrar and others. There are two branches within Wicca currently: Traditional and Liberal. Traditional Wicca is an Initiatory Mystical/Mystery religion (which can only be learned within a coven setting) whilst Liberal Wicca is generally practiced by those who are solitary and/or eclectic.
witchcraft (with a small w): the use of sorcery, magick or the occult arts. Unlike "Neo-Witchcraft", it is not a lifestyle choice.. just a practice (whether used frequently or not is irrelevant).
MAGICK (my personal definition)
The use of my mind and Will to focus energy to bring about change in my reality. My Will is my dominant desire (at the time) and I use this alongside my mind (concentrated thought) to focus universal (neutral) energy to bring about some form of change in my reality. I recommend that one channels and uses Universal Energy not one's own Personal Energy when working magick.
Magick always works according to your beliefs surrounding it. For example, if you believe that magick does not work or that you cannot do magick do not be surprised your spell does not work as you blocked its success through your disbelief. You need to believe in magick (and in yourself!) in order for it to be manifested in your reality. Belief does create your reality and if you do not believe in magick (and your own potential).. magick will not be present in your reality nor work if your beliefs are against it. I have my beliefs so you have to find out what your beliefs are.. so only you can really answer the questions: "Does magick work?" "Is magick real?" amongst other similiar questions.
WHITE magick is cast with the intent to manipulate one's inner reality (self-esteem, that which isn't tangible) to achieve one's desires.
BLACK magick is cast with the intent to manipulate one's outer reality (one's appearance, other people, circumstances, that which is tangible) for one's desires.
GRAY (neutral) magick is a mixture of both white and black - the intent of changing one's inner AND outer realities (that which is untangible and tangible) to achieve one's desires.
SILVER magick is a perfect blend of black and white magic used for great/divine/higher purposes and never has a kickback.
ROGUE magick is similiar to silver magick except has a kickback.
ECLECTIC
A person who works outside of any formal and/or established tradition and uses ideas, practices, doctrines, methods and/or styles from two or more sources for their own spirituality (aka spiritual path). The eclectic does honour and respect other traditions and will usually adapt instead of use without alteration the ideas, practices, doctrines, methods and/or styles from other sources. Those who self-identify as eclectic can share common or similiar beliefs with each other however this is a very individualistic path. It's usually based upon the concept of using what works best for the individual.
............I used to be the moderator (main one) of a very popular Witchcraft/Magickal message board and thus I had to come up with all these definitions so as other people could understand.
I dedicated myself back in Dec 1995.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
I used to be catholic, then I was wiccan, then I was more shamanistic, now I'm me. I worship at the church of me and the only god I believe in is me.
As disorganized as I am I figure if I worship myself, then I can't possibly be a form of organized religion lol.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
I consider myself a Satanic Witch. I believe most women in the sex industry, especially strippers are using many forms of Satanic witchery...probably without realizing it!
Here is some info about it here (probably not at all what you think):
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
I must admit that I have tid-bits of Satanic Witchery in my spirituality. As I said, I am ecclectic! ;D I learnt about what Satanism is really all about a loooooong time ago... that lead onto discovering about Set and as well as Satanic Witchcraft.
The Left Hand Path isn't "evil" at all!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-Ha...ight-Hand_Path
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Thanks for the information. I learned a lot. I guess what suprised me the most was the talk of spells and magic wands. I did not really think people did that in real life.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GoldCoastGirl
The Left Hand Path isn't "evil" at all!
"Evil" is a relative concept, just as "good" and "bad" can mean many different things to everyone. I believe I am "Evil" but not in the way that you would consider a murderer or rapist. To me it means that I reclaim power for myself, and my "Witchdom" is a celebration and expression of my femininity and intelligence.
I don't believe in using wands, tarot cards, or healing crystals and much of the traditional spiritual props to initiate a spell or curse. My practices are very much based upon the strength of individual actions and humanity, as well as believing that humans can exist as their own gods and goddesses. To throw a hex, all you basically need is a strong will and a sane mind. Well, Anton LaVey (the founder of the Church of Satan) would say there are other preparations involved, but we are all different. Even though I respect him and have learned a lot from his teachings, I don't subscribe to 100% of anything all of the time.
Satanism has just as many sects as Christianity it seems, and it's the crackpots who give us a bad name (much like the extras girl does to the ethical stripper). There are those that think "Evil" is best expressed in the form of animal mutilation or being destructive in the name of Satan, and I truly despise them! Just because you wear black and listen to Slayer while torturing a cat doesn't give you the right to call yourself a Satanist! It makes you a dysfunctional sociopath. I do not want to be associated with those people.
Sorry - I didn't intend for this to turn into a rant. I just want to clarify what I mean.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AlexxaHex
I consider myself a Satanic Witch. I believe most women in the sex industry, especially strippers are using many forms of Satanic witchery...probably without realizing it!
Here is some info about it here (probably not at all what you think):
I had to bold this statement out! when i was in the navy i got involved with the church of satan, and was almost kicked out for owning a copy of the satanic bible. No matter how hard i tried to explain that it wasnt what they thought, no one would listen so I'm glad you said that miss hex!
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Blade
I used to be catholic, then I was wiccan, then I was more shamanistic, now I'm me. I worship at the church of me and the only god I believe in is me.
As disorganized as I am I figure if I worship myself, then I can't possibly be a form of organized religion lol.
Can anyone join your 'church', B?:)
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
alexxahex, i can't believe I just spent so long watching your little diddy/bjork thing!
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AlexxaHex
uh....how can you be a satanic witch if we wiccans don't believe in satan or christianity? feel free to call me ignorant on the subject because the only so-called satanic "witchery" i've come across is about satanists.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
if I am forced to apply an official term to my own beliefs and practices, it would probably be Green Witchcraft. However, when my grandmother was teaching me the 'basics' no mention was ever made that this was in any way related to Hollywood Witchcraft (which it certainly isn't). It was just a collection of herbal knowledge plus traditional Irish folk beliefs and practices.
I am also of the opinion that 'black' and 'white' are meaningless descriptive terms - as are 'good' and 'evil' - because these are all based on a particular 'artificial' viewpoint. However, what's commonly referred to as the 'Law of Karma' is NOT meaningless !
As to the performing of 'spells', in general these are simply a means of focusing one's desires and intent i.e. visualization - which can also include elements of self-hypnosis. As a graphic example, consider the true effect of a 'spell' to lose weight. Obviously the 'spell' itself does not magically make fat disappear ... but the visualization of oneself as being 10-20 pounds lighter, combined with an element of self-hypnosis stemming feelings of hunger, can achieve fairly rapid results.
As to fortune telling / predictions et al, I have found that the symbolism of the tarot cards often provides some very accurate information. I can't really explain why it seems to work, but it often does.
~
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mina loy
uh....how can you be a satanic witch if we wiccans don't believe in satan or christianity? feel free to call me ignorant on the subject because the only so-called satanic "witchery" i've come across is about satanists.
I'm not Wiccan. I'm a Satanist.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
I have done alot of soul searching too. i hit the satanic church ...chirstianity (forced uppon me growing up)...various schools of wicca...from my learning i've settled on gnostic. but anyway... you dont need to part of a religion to perform witch craft. witch craft comes from your spirit/force of will to make things happen around you...alot of religions embrace that belife but you can do it without religion being involved. i learned i had a gift with witch craft very early on...i did....usualy destructive things that i realized couldnt normaly be done. i've had many lables from it...witch, psychic vampire, "natural". i dunno what its really called but really anyone can do it.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Beliefnet.com has this quiz you can take and from your answers will tell you what you most closely match. I always get way high in Neo Pagen followed by New Age. But as far as I know, I don't belong to any one religion or way of thinking. My spirtuality is my own. I believe in karma. I believe in reincarnation. I believe we are all one and whatever God force you want to call it is a part of all of us. I believe in my higher self. I believe I am infinite. I believe in the power of will and the power of the universe to alter my own reality. I have a fixation with pyramids and the energy from them. I believe the body has chakra's. I see aura's. I have had interaction with those who have crossed over. I have a 6th sense. I've experienced many things that would probably freak most people out. So I don't know what all of that makes me in the "label" sense, and I mostly don't care. It is my own, and it's my truth.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
When I was looking to break away from Christianity, I did a lot of exploration in the Pagan/Wiccan arena. I was part of a coven in college, and I grew & learned a LOT from the experience.
Part of what I learned is that it ultimately wasn't for me in the long haul, and I gravitated towards Buddhism as something more natural to me. I have the utmost respect for those who continue to practice, and I still think "The Spiral Dance" is an excellent read for anyone who's interested or even just curious. (And - even though it's fiction - "The Mists of Avalon", as it really gives a great context to the history of the craft. *fond memories*)
P.S. Blade, how did I just KNOW this about you? Somehow? ;)
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Not trieng to be funny or anything...but where did the whole "witches on a broomstick with a black cat and a big pointy hat, cape, and a green face and big nose" thing originate?
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
The most cmmon theory Ive come across for the flying on broomsticks.
>>The original "Witches Flying Ointment," an herbal recipe producing psychedelic effects, was used by witches in the Middle Ages. They did not call them flying ointments at the time, they were called 'green oils' or 'green ointment', because of the mixture of herbs. The ointment consisted of belladonna or mandrake, poplar leaves and soot and to hold it all together fat or clove oil. Poplar leaves has a nice scent for the mix and clove oil like nutmeg gives one the feeling of a mild high as if your head is expanding and you feel light. This ointment would be rubbed on the forehead,wrists,hands or feet. There have been written accounts of witches rubbing broomsticks with the ointment and inserting it in certain places, if you know what I mean. This is probably where the idea came from of witches flying on broomsticks. A fifteenth-century source reads, "They anoint a staff and ride on it...or anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places". If it was applied this way it was to insure the speed of the body absorbing the hallucinogenic through the membranes.
Snip
And on witches hats...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LuckiCharm
Not trieng to be funny or anything...but where did the whole "witches on a broomstick with a black cat and a big pointy hat, cape, and a green face and big nose" thing originate?
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
That is such a great quote!
I wish I was a Satanist so I could use it! ;D (Wicca is the most common form of witchcraft around here, not that I have a problem with that as such, I just dont wish to get lumped in with the group. (Im a spiritual atheist / athiest witch with definate left-hand leanings.))
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AlexxaHex
I'm not Wiccan. I'm a Satanist.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mina loy
uh....how can you be a satanic witch if we wiccans don't believe in satan or christianity? feel free to call me ignorant on the subject because the only so-called satanic "witchery" i've come across is about satanists.
there's your and alot of other peoples first mistake... witch does not equal wiccan.
Keep this saying in mind: Whilst most Wiccans are witches. Not all witches are Wiccan.
Satanic Witches have nothing whatever to do with Wicca. It's totally different tradition.
I know I'm also loathe to be lumped into the "wicca" basket. I can definately say whilst I have some "Wiccan" tendancies in my spirituality ... I just am not nor identify with Wicca. The atheistic part of my spirituality wouldn't stand for it ;)
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Got involved with this. Met some nice people. Wiccans. Been to one of the outings (celebration in the woods) and they can be kinda 'odd'.
The only (pretty much) parts that turned me off is i don't belive in a goddess, i belive in God..i do.
And i still own (never got rid of it) a book of spells.
When you perform a spell say for love to come your way, after you do the spell, you MUST act on it. Okayyy, well this is what we do when we pray or go on diets!
You can't just perform a spell and walk away after your done, and poof it will come true, you have to act on it. It's that way with anything.
Want better health? Perform a spell for health, then you must make diet changes, exercise etc. Nothing is different from a prayer to God or going it alone.
I was turned off by alot. Then i liked the fact that they are nature loving people. No hate.
And God help you if you perform a spell that is hate filled on a person. It comes back at you much harder...i believe that is just karma..lol.
Dunno. Not for me.
Re: Witches and Witchcraft.
Yeah, I'm tired of being lumped in with the Wiccans. Wicca is way too detail oriented for me...
When I have to label myself I'm a Green Kitchen Witch and somewhat of an Animist, somewhat in line with the Wise Woman Tradition.