Hi i'd like some help from other ppl in knowing more about wicca & witchcraft and how i can follow the craft?

Question

Hi i'd like some help from other ppl in knowing more about wicca & witchcraft and how i can follow the craft?

Answer 1

Witchcraft is a wide area, depends on what forms of witchcraft you are interested in, whether or not you are just interested in Wicca, Neo-wicca or Pagan forms of witchcraft or other forms.



I'd also say in order to tell you more about Wicca we would need to know what you already know, although we can always give you brief explanations of what Wicca is and work from there if you have more specific questions.







Wicca is a henotheistic religion, which recognises its own specific gods, while not denying the existence of gods and goddesses from other pantheons. Wicca itself is a 'hard polytheistic' religion, meaning that Wicca see their deities as specific individual beings. The gods of Wicca are known as the Horned God and Great Mother, these are outer court references meant to be used as place holders for the real names of their gods until the Seeker is initiated and taught those names.



Wicca was founded by Gerald Gardner in around the 1930's, although the exact date is open for discussion, also open for discussion is whether Gardner founded Wicca entirely or whether it was an already existing spirituality which he merely re-introduced and re-invented, either way he is considered the founding father of Wicca. Gardner brought together Paganism with influences from many sources including the rituals and teachings of Freemasonry and Golden dawn resulting in a unique orthopraxic religion. Wicca embraces it's early Pagan roots in history, the history of Pagan faiths and the gods whom they followed and worshipped, Wicca also introduces eastern philosophy into it's primarily western path, along with this possibly one of Wicca's best known features, that of religious witchcraft.



Wicca is gaining much attention due to a change in peoples approach to religion and the increase in public awareness of the religion through media attention and with this attention there has come much change to the face of Wicca with many forms:



Wicca is an initiate only mystery tradition, or more precisely a priesthood, where one can trace their lineage back to Gardner. Initiation is the only way into Wicca, and is carried out by a Wicca coven, initiation into a coven requires formal training after which initiation and a system of degrees is followed.



Wicca follows a strong set of doctrines, one who takes on the name 'Wicca' is also taking on these doctrines as well as practices and beliefs of Wicca, the title of 'Wicca' implies more than that you are a member of Wicca, but also that you have worked long and hard to earn that title.

Seekers are those who wish to become Wicca however have yet to find a Wicca coven. Wicca covens can be hard to find let alone become a member of, often those whom are without a coven continue to study Wicca and surrounding subjects while seeking a Wicca coven to join.



Often Wicca is described as 'Traditional Wicca' or 'BTW:British Traditional Wicca'.



Neo-wicca is a new phenomenon, which is usually wholly eclectic, however like Wicca there are various different traditions. Neo-wicca often learn on their own terms, from books and other sources, but have little or no formal training and no initiation into Wicca. The beliefs of Neo-wicca are generally similar to that of Wicca however the details can often vary greatly as it follows the new age idea of personal belief/spirituality over formal religious doctrine. Neo-Wicca have varied views of the divine, either following soft-polytheism seeing all gods and goddesses as one god/goddess, polytheism working with gods and goddesses from various pantheons or pantheism working with a single divine present in all.



The 'Neo' in Neo-wicca refers to the New Age approach taken by Neo-wicca that puts emphasis on personal spirituality or belief over the organized religion of Wicca. It also refers to a new take on Wicca, this has less to do with the age of the religion but the idea that this is a belief system which may have come naturally from Wicca if it was allowed to evolve in it’s own time, media influences have brought about Neo-wicca, it develops paralleled to Wicca, but is not part of Wicca.



Often Neo-wicca describe themselves as 'Eclectic Wicca' or 'Solitary Wicca', although not actually Wicca.



Although Wicca is heavily influenced or based upon witchcraft it is not the main belief behind Wicca, the terms 'Wicca' and 'witch' are not interchangeable. The practice of witchcraft fits well with the Wicca way of prayer and ritual, which often involves a highly personal relationship with the divine, the witchcraft of Wicca also works well with how Wicca views the universe as working, however it should be noted that witchcraft can be practiced by many religions as well as by Atheists and Agnostics.



Wicca is not dogmatic, much of the morality and ethics of Wicca are in fact determined by the individuals take on a given situation. Often followers of Wicca will incorporate utilitarianism, which means that an act is carried out for the greater good or elements of their own morality rather then seek to find suitable behavior based on Wicca doctrine.



The rede plays a large part in the morality and ethics of Wicca, there are many takes and much documentation on the rede that can be found in many places, the rede however in itself can be clearly understood by the quote below given by Gardner himself.



"[Witches] are inclined to the morality of the legendary Good King Pausol, "Do what you like so long as you harm no one". But they believe a certain law to be important, "You must not use magic for anything which will cause harm to anyone, and if, to prevent a greater wrong being done, you must discommode someone, you must do it only in a way which will abate the harm." Gerald Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft, p 127 in the 1982 and 1999 printings



Another aspect of the Wiccan ethical philosophy is that of the 'law of return' often known as the 'three fold law' which is similar to that of western karmic philosophy, that anything you do either good or bad will come back to you. Law of return is often more closely associated with magic ethics rather than the everyday ethics covered by the rede or other Wiccan ethical beliefs, however is often thought of as cause and effect. This is also often referred to as the 'rule of three' or 'law of three'. For the most part these morals and ethics are held more strongly by Neo-wicca, within Wicca these are often only taught to new initiates and Seekers to help them learn responsibility for their actions, for the most part Wicca rely on personal moral and ethical philosophies.





WICCA LINKS:



http://amberandjet.spiralpaths.org - Amber & Jet

http://www.cyprian.org/Articles/gardchron.htm - Gardnerian Chronology and Bibliography

http://www.wargoddess.net/index.php - Enyo`s Workshop

http://wicca.timerift.net/ - Wicca: For the Rest of Us

http://www.homecircle.info - Homecircle

http://www.starkindler.org/ - StarFire Rising

http://www.asiya.org/ - Asiya`s Shadows

http://www.whywiccanssuck.com - Why Wiccans Suck

http://www.newwiccanchurch.net - New Wiccan Church International

http://members.tripod.com/~Moonpfyr/gardnerian.html - Gardnerian Tradition

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agora/2416/wildrose.html - Wild Rose Outer Grove

http://members.shaw.ca/stoneandcauldron/ - Coven Of The Stone And Cauldron

http://www.oldeenchantments.com/coven/ - The Hollywood Coven

http://www.geocities.com/DesertHenge - Desert Henge

http://www.geocities.com/firestonecoven/ - Firestone Coven

http://draknet.com/proteus/proteus.html - Proteus Coven’s Webspace

http://belladonna.hypermart.net/Sage-and-Sickle/index.html - Sage & Sickle Coven

http://paganwiccan.about.com/ - PaganWiccan

http://www.cogcoa.ab.ca/ - Covenant of Gaia

http://www.chasclifton.com/ - Chas Clifton

http://www.ravenwood.com/coven.htm - Ravenwood

http://www.avalonia.co.uk – Avalonia

http://www.rosemoon.com/ - Rosemoon

http://www.geocities.com/k_garber/wicway.html - The Wiccan Way

http://www.wildideas.net/temple/ - The Temple

http://www.candledark.net/silver/ - Pour Down Like Silver

http://www.thewellhead.org.uk/ - The Wellhead

http://dasa.on.ca/qs/ - Quicksilver Site

http://www.gis.net/~nagel/grovepage/ - Page of the Mists

http://www.geocities.com/gwydionfl/ - Pagan Place

http://www.geocities.com/reikihealer2001/ - NFTD

http://www.nectw.org/ - N.E.C.T.W.

http://www.doreenvaliente.com - Doreen Valiente 1922-1999

http://www.boniface.us/CTW/index.html - Compact of Traditional Wicca

http://www.pagansunite.com/ - Witch/Pagan Resources

http://www.geocities.com/thespiraloak/ - The Spiral Oak

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4177/ - Manor-House For Wiccan Studies

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sjgavula/wiccahist.html - History of Wicca in England

http://geocities.com/sphinxmuse/wicca/index.html - Wiccan Religion

http://davensjournal.com/index.htm?Header.xhtml&0 - Daven`s Journal

http://www.pangaeasanctuary.org/darkwood/ - Darkwood of PanGaea

http://www.wicca.utvinternet.com/ - Wicca na hErin

http://www.tryskelion.com/ - Tryskelion

http://www.mothersmagic.net/ - Breathless Noon

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm - Wicca, the religion

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/religions/wicca/faq/ - Wicca FAQ

http://www.allonewicca.com/ - All one Wicca

http://www.cuew.org/cffn/index.html - Coven of the Far Flung Net

http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/gbos/index.htm - Gardnerian Book of Shadows

http://www.paganspath.com/ - The Pagan`s Path

http://www.rantingwitches.com/ - The Ranting Witches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca - Wicca

http://janus.spawnfar.net/ - The Janus Gate

http://www.hiddenmuse.com/ - Hidden Muse

http://www.geraldgardner.com/ - Gerald Gardner

http://beaufort.bravepages.com/index.html - Beaufort House`s TradList

http://www.tradwicca.org/beginnings.html - A Traditional Alexandrian Coven

http://www.waningmoon.com/ethics/rede.shtml - The Wiccan Rede

http://www.glasstemple.com/home/ - Glass Temple

http://www.witchipedia.org – Witchipedia





BOOKS ON WICCA:



The Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook - Janet & Stewart Farrar.

The Witches' God - Janet and Stewart Farrar

The Witches' Goddess - Janet and Stewart Farrar

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft - Ronald Hutton.

Witchcraft Today - Gerald B. Gardner.

Witchdom of the True - Edred Thorsson

Wicca: the Old Religion in the New Milennium - Vivianne Crowley

Advanced Wiccan Spirituality - Kevin Saunders

The Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water & Earth in the Wiccan Circle - Deborah Lipp

What Witches Do - Stewart Farrar





BOOKS ON NEO-WICCA:



Witch Crafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic - by Phyllis W. Curott

Positive Magic - Marion Weinstein

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Scott Cunningham

The Circle Within: Creating a Wiccan Spiritual Tradition - Dianne Sylvan

Book of Shadows - Phyllis Curott

The Second Circle - Venecia Rauls

The Heart of Wicca: Wise Words from a Crone on the Path - Ellen Cannon Reed

Evolutionary Witchcraft - T. Thorn Coyle

The Wiccan Path: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner - Rae Beth

21st Century Wicca - Jennifer Hunter

Witchcraft: A Concise Guide - Isaac Bonewits

Way of Four - Deborah Lipp





General tips would fall into – study study study – with a lot of misinformation about Wicca it is easy for people to fall into thinking they are Wicca when in fact they are not, I have honestly met people who have called themselves Wicca for 10 years without actually realising they are not Wicca as until that point they had been unable or unwilling to step out of their comfort zone to study further into Wicca past their bad sources they had been used to for so long. Don't fall into that trap, Wicca is a constant learning path and it is no good closing yourself off to new information that challenges your current ideas on what Wicca is – although misinformation is hardly a positive there is at least one thing to be said of misinformation about Wicca, it helps determine those serious about becoming Wicca from those unwilling.



With that said there are things to avoid – Wicca is an initiate-only oath-bound priesthood working within a pagan mystery tradition, generally if a book or web site says otherwise they are not a reliable source, there are other signs to avoid such as people who use the spelling 'magick' are often uneducated themselves, people who use mechanical magic (i.e. copying spells from books or each other) – that is not to say these sources cannot teach you something. You will find most people will pooh-pooh people such as Horne, Ravenwolf, Buckland, Cunningham, etc. however valid their complaints are there are often some parts of their writing that are valid, and if nothing else you can use these as a test to your own knowledge as the more you study the more you can tell the reliable information from the nonsense. You need to realise that just because a person says they are Wicca, or a book or website says it is about Wicca does not make it so, as you learn you will start to know the difference, until then take everything with a pinch of salt as there is a lot of ignorance and misinformation about Wicca even from those who claim to be Wicca themselves.



Get yourself into a good forum, you will find many forums are filled with people who look to Wicca as an escape from Christianity or as a fashionable title, however there are some groups around that do have Wicca that have a strong community that can help you study and guide you in the right direction – Amber & Jet being a prime example of this. Another idea would be to find yourself local Pagan contacts or go along to local pagan meetings to form study groups, find a coven, find a teacher, or simply have a community to support you or just chit-chat with (a note here, study should come before training, or else you won't know who is really knowledgeable on the subject and who is not when it comes to finding a teacher or coven).



With that I suppose all I can do is give you some reliable links and books to look through – with books if you cannot afford them try swapping with others online or in your area, and remember you don't have to just stick to books on Wicca but can also get books on related subjects such as paganism, herb lore, mythology, divination, etc.



If you do want to become Wcica in the end if you cannot find a coven locally you will have to find one, many Seekers will actually move locations to find a coven to join so to become Wicca, others simply convert to Neo-wicca if they cannot find a coven.

Answer 2

I have a list of two books for ya to read sweetie, start there. The first one is called "Living Wicca" by Scott Cunningham, its for those interested in the craft but have no real access to covens or others of the craft, its a wonderful starting place. The other is "Wicca, The Complete Craft" by D.J. Conway, Conway is also the author of Celtic Magic by the way. Both of these explain the art and the magic (forgive the pun) of Wicca.



However I can give you a piece of advice hun ok. Wicca is an ever evolving religion. If you do not believe in the goddess, you don't have to, I don't and I'm still wiccan ok. Just so that you know and won't be confused ok.

Answer 3

May 24 You'll be amazed at what the ebook you get will inform you, since all of them will inform you approximately it is historical past. THat's additionally what it's--historical past, or a minimum of will have to include a few of it otherwise it'll no longer be an academic Vwiccann ebook, however a few offshoot wiccan concentrating on on black magic--which isn't a variety of Hwiccann. I might reccomend going the duration of your town should you might uncover a used ebook on it, while it might have a lived-in seem and consider to it. But or else, you're going to ought to truthfully have a ebook of it to realise it versus watching across the web for a few information. The price maybe someplace to 22 greenbacks (eighty quarters) and no tax, straight from a wiccan ebook trader. Also, maybe you desire to seem for a wiccan village and discuss with it if one is neighborhood and spot the wiccan elder, (Sydney you are saying?) or a demonstrating Wiccan institution that almost always has this ebook. A little extra approximately this form of ebook is that it's truthfully historical past of the europeans, earlier than kings and castles. It is not anything like halloween, and does no longer resemble halloween in any recognize. It appears like an angel, no longer a goblin. And whilst you get the ebook, and in case your nonetheless scared, go away it in whatever while you can't see it till you do not forget you could have it and desire to learn it. It is real a well thought you could have determined right here!

Answer 4

Best thing to do, Read, read and then read some more. One of the best books you can read just to understand what Wicca is would be "The Truth About Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham. Then if you want to continue I would say any or all of the following "Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" also by Scott Cunningham, "To Ride a Silver Broomstick" by Silver Ravenwolf, and "Witchcraft From the Inside" by Raymond Buckland.



You also might to look on www.witchvox.com to find information about Wicca and also to find others in your area that might be willing to offer advice, this site will also usually give a good idea of what shops are Wiccan orientated to find others or at least supplies and ideas.



Blessed Be )O(

Answer 5

I suggest read, read, and read some more. One nice thing about Wicca is that it is a very open to your own opinions religion. There really is no wrong way to go about things, so long as what you are doing or what you believe works for you, that's all that matters. What can help you to form your own beliefs and opinions is to read as much as you can about others' beliefs and opinions.



Several authors I would recommend for a wide spectrum of reading to learn about Wicca would be, in no particular order:

Scott Cunningham

D. J. Conway

Patricia Telesco

Margot Adler

Silver Ravenwolf

Raymond Buckland

Ted Andrews

Migene Gonzalez-Wippler

Sandra Kynes



A great fiction series that entertains as well as educates about Wicca is Isobel Bird's "Circle of Three." It basically follows three high school friends throughout their year and a day study to become Wiccans. As they learn about the religion, so does the reader.



Also, be sure to check out http://www.witchvox.com

It is the best site on the internet for info about Wicca and other Pagan religions.

Answer 6

Read, make sure you are interested in the craft and are not trying to be trendy- I recommend The Wicca Bible, and Living Wicca.

Then look for a group or coven in your area, or an internet based group.

Answer 7

OK, first, read about the lives of famous occultists:



http://usminc.org/famous.html



Then decide if it's worth persuing. If you want to wind up broke and forgotten, go for it!



If there is any truth to the old saying "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.", that truth is found in the occult, and Wicca in particular. Silver Ravenwolf has written close to a dozen books on the subject of "The Craft", and claims she has been studying it since about 1969, which is almost as long as I’ve been alive. She has written a book on how to cast money spells, and includes a chapter on how to do so in her Teen Witch book. But the thing is, she doesn't particularly sound all that prosperous herself. Ravenwolf writes,



" For years I couldn't afford to go to a hair stylist (still can't, it's shop and chop for me). I got pretty good at stying my own hair from looking at magazine pictures" [SOURCE: Teen Witch, Llewellyn Publications, 2003 edition, page 145]



OK, she so rich she can't go to the hairdresser. Hey, get me a copy of that Prosperity Spell book!



Silver Ravenwolf seems to have inadvertently discovered that Wicca makes things worse, but won't ever admit it as such.

In Teen Witch she says



"A lot of people tell me how bad their lives have gotten after casting a spell and tell me they won't do Witchcraft anymore. I tell them their lives would have been much worse for not having cast the spell".



Gee Silver, you would think a lot of people would be saying things like "Hey, Silver Ravenwolf, my life has improved tremendously with Wicca!" if Wicca is as great as they claim. Instead it makes lives much worse, and even Silver Ravenwolf admits she hears this a lot!!!



Why? Because sometimes, things are just as you think they are. Most average people will tell you the occult deals with black magic and demons, and demons are evil beings who wish us harm. This is how it is my friend. The occult is evil, and brings bad happenings into a person's life, and Wicca is an occult religion. When you stop trying to rationalize it with inaccurate data and just use common sense you will realize this. Some occultists are of above average intelligence, and I think part of the problem is they have book smarts but not common sense. There are two forces at work in this universe: the counterfeit and the genuine. Wicca’s source of power is not the genuine. There’s just simply no way Wicca (and thus the copycat Neopagan religions) can be created from the black magic writings of “The Great Beast 666", the bizarre sexual practices of Gardner, the spiritual “guidance” of the Watchers (fallen angels) and still be a source of good!



Adian Kelly wrote a book on the history of Wicca called "Crafting The Art of Magic" in the 1980's. Wiccans had a fit when it was published, and pressured Llewellyn to take it out of print. It was supposed to be the first in a series of books. I think Adian Kelly probably summed it up best when he said this about the Gardnerian "Book of Shadows", the closest thing Wicca has to a sacred book:



" [M]any of the Book of Shadows rituals did not exist in 1954 (when Witchcraft Today was published) but instead were still being written. [T]he major sources from which the rituals had been constructed included: (a) Mather's edition of the Greater Key of Solomon; (b) Aleister Crowley's Magic in Theory and Practice; (c) Leland's Aradia (d) some Masonic rituals akin to those described by Duncan and those of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (aside from those transmitted by Crowley; and (e) Margaret Murray's The Witch Cult in Western Europe. There were also bits and pieces from other works by Leland, Jane E. Harrison, Gilbert Murray, James Frazier, and other great classicists from the 19th century. That accounted for EVERYTHING in the rituals! There was nothing left that differed in any important way from what you can find in those sources- - but that is NOT at all what Gardner had claimed!"



None of the people who have answered your question can make it work either. Don't delude yourself. It's an incredible waste of time and money, and it's spiritual poison.

Answer 8

Read, study, and read some more.



There are lots of good sites on the Internet, several of which will have Recommended Reading lists. Many of the books are available at local bookstores like Barnes & Noble or Borders, and you may find others there who are looking into similar books.



Look around your community to see if there is a local pagan/Wiccan group - http://www.witchvox.com can be useful for that sort of networking.



Did I mention "read, study, and read some more"?

Answer 9

best thing you can do right now is read - Wicca does not have a strict set of beliefs, and you will find Wiccans with very different views. You can also try to find a convent near where you live, but some decide to practice on their own.

Answer 10

try Wilcox, or go to your local bookstore and by a book on Wicca, anything by Scott Cunningham, Amber K, or any of the books on Wicca published by Llewellyn . Please avoid Raven Silver wolf's books though, as some beginners I know have hurt themselves using them.



Remember, magic (real magic, not stage magic) is not a toy,



"an it harm none, do as thou wilt" is a warning to think about your words and actions before speaking or acting to ensure you do as little harm as possible. and the Law of returns reminds us that what is sent out, comes back threefold.

Answer 11

hello and welcome to the path. merry meet. I'm Brian, mournyngwolf is my craft name. i am a solitary practitioner of Wicca and wizardry. there are a lot of amazing books and materials out there on anything craft related. some keywords are Wicca, witchcraft, magick, occult, spells,

now some advice on guidance, be careful of who you read and what you get from it. a good rule of thumb is if any magick or spell or ritual involves someone as a target even for benefit such as healing, your dealing with black or negative magick. the rule of thumb for Wiccans is the threefold law. anything you send out comes back 3 times as powerful. so if you heal someone at a time they needed a lesson from their ailment then when a lesson that is important to your learning will be prevented 3 times more. (classic example is like a woman learning from a man that beats his woman, she will have to suffer 3 boyfriends that hit or hurt her til she learns from it) so do be careful on what spells you want to learn about. i only do spells that are for myself.

blessed be and good luck

mournyngwolf

solitary practitioner of Wicca and wizardry

Answer 12

go to a book store, and visit the occult section, and check out the books there. My advice stay away from wicca, its a religion created in the 20th century by a guy named Gerald Gardner... look more at paganism, and witch craft, just for me, Wicca is so cliche, and to ritualistic...

Answer 13

http://wicca.timerift.net/



Don't get discouraged and if you are honestly looking into it as a Spiritual Path, don't let others bother you with their views of it. Please look into it yourself and do not just accept anyone's word for what it actually is. Most of the people here talking against it have no idea what it is outside of the Fluffy side that is everywhere.



Good luck. ^_^

Answer 14

What you see in the movies, forget it.



What you read in popular literature, forget it.



What you've seen on Buffy/Sabrina, forget it.



Go into any new age store, ask around, find a decent coven in your area and start from there.

Answer 15

my advice... heed your own interests and ignore those who thinks that wicca is a worship of the satan or more of those nonsensical insults to the religion of wicca...



stand for what you believe in and ignore those who dont...

Answer 16

bookstores. best source of information. get many different authors and pick and choose what you like and what you don't like about each person's craft. there's also plenty of websites, here's a few good ones:



www.workingwitches.com

www.witchvox.com

www.wicca.org



good luck on this new path!

Answer 17

There are many good books for solitary witches. Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland are two really good authors. You can join Witch School and take courses for free or be a supporting member at witchschool.com

Answer 18

Read read read and then read some more. Check out sites like witchvox.com to find other people with similar interests that you can talk to. And then read some more!

Answer 19

As Juliart states - this is a dangerous door to open. You're playing games with your immortal soul.



Why does witch craft interest you? Because you want to cast spells and thus have power over others? Be careful. People play games with the three fold law. Even an "innocent" love spell can be not so innocent. Toying with someone else's free will and emotions is utterly uncool. If you cast a spell on someone, three will be cast against you.



In Christianity, there is a safer venue. One that leaves your soul in a profound state of grace. Petitioning God for gifts of the Holy Spirit. Bilocation, levitation, prophecy, knowledge and wisdom, joy and peace. Ah well, the last two are fruits of the spirit.



See the link about Padre Pio and Joseph of Cupertino - flying monks

Answer 20

i happen come across best course on the undernet about wiccacraft see this website www.masteringmagickwitchcraft.com super stuff it eill cost 300 us and let me know how u doing

Answer 21

ummmm I can help you with alot of this subject but you need to get a hold of my on messanger....thunder_rainclouds

Answer 22

when your ready the teacher will manifest

Answer 23

randisha,



i pray that you will not seek this easy, wide road. it is a path that will give you quick gifts, immediate pleasure, probably. but, this pleasure is like a highly addictive drug. it will feel good, you will get hooked, and then it will drain the life out of you. you will lose everything good at the end of it all and it will make it so much more difficult to find your true purpose for you life, what you were created for...to serve God, to be loved by Him and to love Him and to have a peace like you've never known. it's a much more difficult road, but MUCH more worth it. i have been to both sides and would NEVER go back to the dark side where i was separated from God.



may God bless you and may your eyes be opened to how precious you are to Him and may He heal your deep hurts and make you a new creation in Christ Jesus, your salvation.

Amen!



:)

Answer 24

I apply the Blood of Jesus on this assignment against your soul. I call on the name of Jesus on your behalf and ask that the Lord will send someone to minister the Gospel on your behalf.

Answer 25

Careful there, you are opening a door that will be difficult to close. Caution. Avoid this!

Answer 26

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usfl&c=white&id=1938



FAQ's of Witchcraft (Print Version)



Author: Wren

Posted: February 2nd. 1997

Times Viewed: 41,394



Substantially Updated

Monday, March 1st, 1999



What is Witchcraft? Who are these Witches anyway?

A practitioner of a nature-based belief system or religion. Not all Witches follow the same belief system. Some practice what is called the "old religion" which has its roots in pagan pre-monotheistic folk ways and beliefs and usually follows the seasonal cycles. These belief systems or "traditions" of Witches are often based upon the particular culture from whence they originated. Many Witches believe in a polytheistic deity structure (usually based upon the local gods and goddesses of the area of origin), but some simply practice magick (sometimes spelled with a 'k' to differentiate it from stage magic). Witches may practice alone as 'solitaries" or in covens. There are also family groups or traditions which trace their practices and beliefs within the same close group throughout several generations.



Traditional Wicca:

A modern form of Witchcraft is called "Wicca." Traditional Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner, is coven based and each coven can trace its lineage (line of teaching passed on by initiated Traditional priests and priestesses) back to Gardner himself. There are offshoots of Gardnerian Traditional Wicca such as Alexandrian Wicca, Georgian Wicca and many others. Traditional Wiccans are considered a 'mystery' religion, require initiation by the coven and have a "degree system" or different levels of rank based upon coven training and the readiness of the initiate to accept the duties and responsibilities of that degree. They have a core of inner knowledge-often called the "Book of Shadows"-which is known only to initiated Wiccans. Most Traditional Wiccans believe in the balance of male-female divinity. Traditional Wiccans are seldom solitary except for those 'Elders'-usually former priests and priestesses-who may have retired from active coven involvement.



Other Forms of Wicca:

A newer form of Wicca has developed since the 1970's which is looser in structure and practice than the Traditional Wicca. These practitioners may follow a mixture of various or "eclectic' pagan and/or non-pagan beliefs. Some have formed 'traditions' or covens of their own, with or without a degree system, and have written a "book of shadows" outlining their own belief system and coven structure. Many are solitary practitioners who practice their beliefs and formulate their rituals in their own way.



Pagans:

Since the terms Witch and Wiccan are often mistakenly interchanged, many simply call themselves "pagans" or Neo-pagans" when talking with others who may not be familiar with the complexity of the different belief systems. But just as not all Christians are Lutheran or Catholic, so not all pagans are Witches or Wiccan. Neo-paganism is a term used most often to describe people who follow an earth-based belief system or religion. Druids and the Norse tradition of Asatru (who tend to prefer the term 'heathen") are considered to be pagan belief systems, but their adherents are neither Witches nor Wiccans. Neo-paganism should also not be confused with the "New Age" movement as pagans are almost exclusively involved in distinctive nature religions or earth-based practices while New Age spirituality draws from many sources and esoteric spiritual techniques.



Q: Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?

A: When you ask if someone is a "good" Witch or a "bad" Witch, it is the same as asking someone if they are a "good" Presbyterian or a "bad" Presbyterian. Wiccans adhere to the Rede, "An it harm none, do as ye will." Witches, Druids and other pagan belief systems and religions have their own ethical standards. There are good and bad people in every society and in every religion. When a person breaks the laws of society or the tenets of their religion, they are called to account for their actions. To judge a person as either "good" or "bad" based upon nothing more than their religious preference alone has a label, too. It is called bigotry.



Q: Do you worship Satan?

A: Satan is a part of the Christian and Muslim religions. Since pagans are neither Christian nor Muslim, Satan is not part of our deity structure at all.



We believe that each and every human being is completely responsible for his or her own actions. To us, evil is a choice, albeit a bad one, that a human might make, not an embodied entity to blame our actions upon.



If an individual chooses to do evil, most pagans believe they will be punished via the laws of karma or as a result of "cause and effect.". In other words, "What goes around usually comes around."



Many Witches and Wiccans believe in some form of reincarnation, that the results or karma of past deeds can follow a person from one life to the next. This may also help to explain why terrible things sometimes happen to wonderful people or why some people seem to have been born with certain skills and knowledge. It may also explain why some people seem to lead a 'charmed" life.



Some pagans believe in an after-life spent in another plain of existence. Known as Summerland, Avalon, Valhalla or simply the "Other Side', they believe that they will be reunited here once again with friends and family.



Q: So why do you use that "Satanic" symbol?

A: The pentagram, or five pointed star, is not Satanic. Pythagoras used it as a symbol of health and his followers wore them in order to recognize one another. In Medieval times, some Christian knights used the pentagram as their symbol. To modern Wiccans the pentagram means many things; The five points correspond to the elements Air, Earth, Fire and Water with the top point corresponding to "Spirit". The pentagram in a circle may also represent a human with their legs and arms outstretched, surrounded by universal wisdom or the "Goddess" - humankind at one with the environment. Many Witches and other pagan practitioners do not wear the pentacle at all, but have other symbols of special meaning to them.



Satanists turn the symbol upside-down, which puts the elements of Fire and Earth at the top (Fire symbolizes willpower and passion and Earth, prosperity and earthly goods) and Spirit, spirituality, at the bottom. Satanists also turn the cross upside-down. This, in itself, does not make the cross or pentagram a Satanic symbol. In some Wiccan traditions, the reversed pentagram is a symbol of "second degree" status - one who has been elevated from "initiate". To members of these traditions, the reversed pentagram is considered highly positive and has no connection to Satanism. A symbol is simply an image or mark in itself. It is the mind and the beliefs of the beholder which attribute to it a particular meaning.



Q: Do you do blood sacrifice?

A: Goddess NO! The nature of sacrifice is to give up something of one's own in order to gain something more important. Wiccans believe in the sanctity of all life. Most pagans believe that animals are part of the same natural cycle of life as humans are. Witches have long been associated with animal companions known as "familiars." Check out the TWV "Cats of Witchcraft" page. Do these animals look abused to you?



Q: Do Witches and Wiccans cast spells?

A: Yes. Well, some do anyway. However, the term "spell" is widely misunderstood.



Spells, are somewhat like prayers and are used to create needed change in one's own life or the life of a loved one. But while prayers are a petition to an external Deity to create the change, most Witches and Wiccans believe that Deity is present in everything, including ourselves. Spells, then, are the channeling of our own divine selves, our own energies, to create the change.



Spells such as those which use love magic to gain the attention of a specific individual, or curses, are considered "manipulative". Most Wiccans believe that anything manipulative-that goes against the free will of another-is considered wrong. Many other pagan paths have similar codes of conduct based upon the tenets of their tradition or belief and almost all believe that the responsibility for their actions will lie with them.



Q: Are Witchcraft or Wicca cults?

A: A cult by definition is a group of people who blindly follow one leader. As Witches, Wiccans and pagans tend to be free-thinkers, there is no one person that we consider to be THE leader. Thus we cannot be called a cult.



Q: Do you have ritual orgies?

A: These rumors come from our lack of taboos regarding sex. We have no rules which prohibit homosexuality, nudity or pre-marital sex. Sex as the generative force in nature is seen by most pagans as something utterly sacred. We feel that the physical act of love is to be approached with great respect and responsibility.



Q: Why do all Witches/Wiccans wear black?

A: We all don't. Many Witches/Wiccans actually seem to favor green and/or purple. Black, however, is in many cultures a symbol of clergy. Priests, Ministers and Rabbis all favor black as the main color of their ritual garb.



Scientifically speaking, color is energy. The colors you see are the ones which are reflected and not the ones absorbed. Therefore, what appears to be white, which is the culmination of all colors in the light spectrum, is actually reflecting all colors and absorbing none. What appears to be black, is absorbing all colors and reflecting none. This is evident in the fact that when one is wearing white, one feels cooler - as the fabric is sending the heat energy outward, and when one wears black - the heat energy is absorbed in the cloth that one is wearing, making one feel warmer. Many Witches feel that wearing black attracts and holds more natural energy.



Q: Aren't all Witches Women?

A: No. Neither are Wiccans or those in other pagan paths. Witches can be either men or women. The term "Warlock" is never used to describe a male Witch as it is considered to be a religious slur. "Warlock" is an old Scottish word meaning "traitor" or "oath-breaker". Men and Women alike can be Witches, Wiccans or pagans.



Q: Why would anyone want to be a pagan, a Witch or Wiccan?

A: People are generally drawn to Wicca and other pagan paths for several reasons. Many women feel left out of more mainstream religions because of the lack of feminine divinity. For them, the Wiccan concept of the Goddess as Mother of all Living fills an empty space in their spiritual search. As a nature based religion, Witchcraft also appeals to those who feel a strong need to "get back to the Earth" and places a major importance on protecting the environment, which we are a part of, not apart from. People drawn to the mystical find pagan belief systems much more accommodating as we do not see anything unnatural about psychic ability or the use of magic to create needed changes in one's life. It gives us the freedom to make our own decisions about what is best for us.



Q: How do you convert new Witches/Wiccans/pagans?

A: We don't. We feel that the attempted conversion of others is a form of religious bigotry. i.e. If one tries to convert another to his/her religion, s/he assumes that the other person's beliefs are not as valid as his/her own. We feel that all paths are equally valid as long as they do not infringe upon the basic civil rights or free will of another. According to our beliefs, it is up to the individual to choose his or her own path. We do not try to manipulate others into our way of thinking, we only try to educate others about our religion so that they may better understand us. We do, however try to help guide those who have already expressed an interest in the pagan belief systems or religions.



Q: So what do Witches/Wiccans/pagans DO?

A: Pretty much what everybody does. We come from all walks of life. We raise families, go to work, throw steaks (or vegetables) on the "barbie" and hang out with our friends. We practice our religions and belief systems, celebrate our holidays with festivals and continue to study and explore our past while contemplating our futures.



Many covens and groups meet once a month to worship together under the moon. Pagans tend to hold ceremonies or "circles" out of doors as we feel that being with nature brings us closer to the divinity who creates it.



Some pagan beliefs may seem strange to those who have not heard much about them before. Pagans, on the other hand, are usually very well versed in the beliefs of other religions. They find the various religious systems interesting and often encourage their own children to learn about these other religions. Pagans believe in free will and free choice and that an educated choice is always better than blind obedience to any religion or dogma. We are not "against" other religions. We have simply made our choice to be pagan and we expect others to respect that choice as we respect theirs.



All that we ask is that we are allowed to practice our religion without prejudice or interference as is our right guaranteed here in the United States under the Constitution and as outlined within the constitutions of many other countries. The freedom to practice religion -or no religion-as you choose-whether it be Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Pagan-is the freedom to follow your spirit and your heart. This precious freedom must be defended, protected and treasured by all or it will no longer be guaranteed for anyone.