Talk about Witches

Culture & Society Forum

Witches: Fact or Myth?
I have tried to get a discussion on Witchcraft started a couple times, but it just never took off. I'm interested in hearing some ideas and opinions. I believe in Witchcraft as a practice; not as a religion. What do you think?

Not practice without belief, practice without religion. I use the word witch meaning either a follower of Wicca, or a practitioner of Witchcraft. Witches chose to hide behind a veil of secrecy during the ages of persecution. Now the belief is starting to come more into the open, and is being openly spread and taught.

Then you are talking about religious beliefs. Wicca has its own tenets and rules. It is an Earth based religion. A Wiccan primer is in order.

What exactly are you after?

Nicegerbil- I know what a Wiccan is. I know some of their beliefs. I have read the Book of Law and all that. I'm curious as to why you feel I started this thread to recieve a history lesson. As a response to your question "What exactly are you after?". must I refer you back to my original post? I simply wanted to hear opinions, whether people think Witchcraft (not to be confused with Wicca) is fact or myth. No offense taken, just thought you needed a little guidance in the ways of responding to a post.

Edorian....Wow..Ouch.... And she goes by "Nice" gerbil

Correct me if I'm wrong Edorion, but I believe your statement I believe in witchcraft as a practice not a religion means that you parctice witchcraft but not Wicca. Meaning that you don't really disregard Wiccia as a religion you just don't parctice it. I thik that witchcraft along with witch is a bad term to use. There are severl meaning for the word so you should really try to be a little more clear on what you mean when you use the word. First off Wicca is a religion. It's based on respect for the Earth people, doing no harm to anyone, rule of three, type things. Nothing to do with waving a wand at something and it dramatically changing shape color size whatever. You can't chat something and have a car magically appear. It don't work like it does on Tv and in the movies. Now witchcraft is the practice of magick. You can practice witchcraft and not ba a wiccan. Now how one uses it is there choice but ever mind the rule of three. I believe magick sholud be used more for personal growth and enlightenment than personal gain. If you meditate on something and think about it coming true your gonna make it happen. I person asking a god or goddes for help or guidence is much like a Catholic praying to ST. Jude.

Wicca exists, people call themselves witches at times... people perform chants and ceremonies and all kinds of spells and potions and all that stuff

Does any of it do anything? No. Unless......
-they make a potion of chicken stock and hot water, making a mean cure for the common cold.
-Perhaps some ground coffee in a pot with hot water, a bit of milk and sugar to make a potion to ward off sleepiness.
-Making your enemies cut an onion will have an adverse affect, making them teary eyed...

If I'm wrong, please someone hex me so I apologize

I'm with bit on his assumption, so it's more than an assumption... we have it up to rumor status

Yes, I do also poke fun at those people too I don't single wiccans out.

The post asked what I thought, and I said what I thought. Weird that.

I believe I was born. And I believe, eventually, I will die. Hopefully later rather than sooner.

If I had the answer to the universe, trust me, I'd be telling everyone. But I doubt anyone has the answers, since I'm yet to find an answer that satisfies me. Many think they have all the answer, but who's right and who's wrong?

Well put

HELLO!!!
what do you people think a witch is?? someone like in the movie or some one living like a normal person among us?? well a witch isnt a witch in the general people opinion , if she can't do any sort of magic or stuff to defy the eyes or the mind [magician??] hell no, every country have its different sort of witches , isn't it a sort of evil person mostly that is sort of thought of as a witch or something... well here, a person who can do bad things by just chanting some things for some time, or giving someone physical or emotional suffering by somt sort of writings or doing some sort of chants or reciting some words or phrases that , something would bad happen to somone or something, would that person be known as a witch in other places??? i know i haven't read most of the post in this thread but seeing the topic i just had to say my piece of say. most of the people will just disagree but some will really know what i mean, there are people who can and will do these sort of things, well they are witches in my mind, what do other people think about that, it does really happen , bad things can happen by somone by just doing these sort of things. I KNOW. have happened to me. so i know it is true.

I actually can't figure out what your trying to say. I read the post twice and still don't really get what you are saying. I'm going to try to reply on what I'm assumeing you meant. Yes people can use the craft for bad but those aren't usually witches. There is the rule of three that wiccans abide by, the majority anyway. You don't have to parctice the craft to be a wiccan and you don't have to be a wiccan to parctice the craft. So to greneralze y sating wiccans do bad things is wrong.

Ha, Ha, Ha, Cool go, go, you lot..... go for it.

Are you wicca's, are you? all are you Witches or wizard's

Hell with it, i tell you now
Ok

Witchcraft = the Craft
Witch = female person of the Craft
Wizard = A male person of the Craft

Wiccan (or Wicca) is a religion
you can have a Wicca Witch or Wizard, or a jewish witch or wizard, and so on...

And yes it is true... use the internet to look it up, one more thing you can also get a Black Witch or wizard, or a white witch or wizard.

Male witches who pracice the craft are not called Wizards. They are witches.

I am NO Girl, I am Male of the Ctaft and also Wicca,,, are you?

Adds14s, I did not say YOU were a GIRL. If you read my post you would see that I was correcting you. Men or Women who practice the craft are termed witches. Almost all sects of the Craft use that term.


from early dusk, to dawn of light,
to understand, I wish you might.
of the words that are in sight,
without malice or a fight.

Mate, i know you did't call me a Girl, but as you say "Almost all sects of the craft use that term.... yes there do. but that dose not make it true.

Adds, what are you trying to say? You are male? I got that.

what does not make what true?

This is very interesting. Yes adds what is your point. Outsider I think what he's trying to say is yes "Almost all sects of the craft use that term" I'm assuming witches, but it doesn't make it true that male Wiccans are not reffered to as Wizards.?.

One more time, just for you.

But As You Say " Almost all sects of the craft use that term"(Witches for female & male) yes, there do, but that dose not make it true

Got there befor me,,, it mite be my English

Okay, got it now. What sect uses wizard? I have no idea? If you know the craft, you know that wizard is not a craft term. Unless in the UK you have a new sect that has adopted this term.

So are you saying you are wiccan? What did you want to discuss?

Ok, i take it that you are a wiccan. the best thing i was ever told is that ...you do whats rigth for you... in the craft, it my just be my way that a wizard is a male witch.

Ah, I get it now. I understand.

I believe what you are referring to is the concept of applying only those things from the craft (beliefs, rituals, stc) that work for you. And not paying any attention to the parts that don't work for you. This is true.
If you mean for personal gain, then that's not true.

And then there is the main line "Harm none, do what you will."

However Adds, many from the craft will think you like the craft as a fad if you use the term wizard for yourself. Only because those who have studied the craft can tell when a term is used that is an indication of education about the craft. You may call yourself anything you please, but some may not take you seriously. I prefer not to call myself anything other than Pagan. Very generic term, but I love it.

you got it in one. I should have said that in my frist post!

This has been touched upon but, I'd like to elaborate.

Witchcraft was a term applied to the practices of Pagan religions, a looooong time ago. The practice of "witchcraft" has been distorted to supposedly involve evil, special "magic powers", the ability to fly, etc. However, the practices of Pagans, call it witchcraft if you must, are really no more than rituals and meditations; just as the followers of other faiths, pray, attend services, use incense, light candles, etc.

Growing up as a Catholic, I remember going to mass and lighting candles for family or friends that were sick, needed help, etc. The Pagan practices or "witchcraft" are similar to this in that there are rituals that are done for the belief that they will provide a given effect. (The ill family member's health will improve, a prayer will be answered, etc.)

People who go around practicing "witchcraft" without the religious elements of a Wiccan or a Pagan belief system, are in my opinion, probably just enticed with the idea of "magic".