Newcomers
answers for those new to paganism and witchcraft
We might as well ask "Does energy exist?" Since we can measure energy in joules, heat, watts and so forth, the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!" We know that energy exists in its varying forms between all things. If we translate 'magic' to simply 'energy', the question "Does magic exist?" doesn't seem so silly. Although many different practitioners may describe magic differently, I definitely think of magic as energy. Magic is what we'd call metaphysical energy.
Real magic is distinctive from the performative illusion of magic shows. We aren't talking about sleight of hand.
Metaphysics is is the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter, between substance and attribute, and between possibility and actuality (2). Metaphysics and magic can often be interchangeable terms. If we stop for a moment and think of magic as simply energy, vibration, frequency, and our ability to both sense and emit these things, magic stops being part of fantasy and starts to be a practical tool for those who want to feel empowered and more aware of themselves and the world. It's my belief that all people have magic, can practice magic, and can begin to learn the metaphysical principles to direct their will to shape their reality.
Have you ever sat and visualized something you wanted to happen or made a wish? Ever decided that you needed to think positively and imagine a situation turning out the way you want? This is all metaphysics and it comes naturally to us. Choosing to practice metaphysics or magic is simply making a choice to do this as an intentional practice. Cultivating an awareness of the energy around us is an important step towards metaphysical practice. Sources: (1) Wikipedia. (2019). List of Psychic Abilities. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_psychic_abilities (2) "Metaphysics". American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language(5th ed.). 2011.
Fictional depictions of magic are common in today's media, but it's important to remember what is part of real magical beliefs and what is theatrics.
Telekinesis (the psychic ability to move objects with your mind)
Making sparks or colorful puffs of smoke (all part of stage shows and entertainment)
Transfiguration (transforming one physical object into something entirely different using only your mind)
Manipulating other people's physical body
Teleportation of your physical form
Flying on Brooms or levitation
Manifesting physical objects from empty space
Making anything glow/sparkle to the naked eye
Good or evil. Magic, metaphysics, and energy are just tools. The intentions of the practitioner determine the morality and ethics of how they are used.
Some metaphysical practitioners call their practice 'witchcraft'. Witchcraft can describe many different practices and skills including but not limited to: herbal medicine, energy healing, divination, blessings, banishing baneful spirits, and spells. It can be used to focus on personal change and transformation or to project your will into the world. Witchcraft is a practice, not a religion, and so it can be paired with any religion or none at all. It can call upon your personal power or involve deities for assistance. Witchcraft is also a discipline that encourages personal responsibility for our actions and how we affect the world around us. Many paths include specific moral codes to guide the ethics of the practitioner. Unfortunately, it still has a lot of negative connotations due to how Christian supremacy is threatened by any perspectives of independence and self-empowerment.
Yes, there are real witches. Witches don't have any supernatural powers as seen in movies like Harry Potter or fairy tales. No one is born a Witch, as this is a title that is chosen by someone that chooses to develop a magical or spiritual practice involving magic or energy. However, we probably do not resemble expectations from media. We have careers, families, hobbies and you might not be able to pick us out of a crowd. Some of us may embrace a whimsical style to go with our practice, but it's not the norm. Not everyone chooses this title, but it is the most common.
Terms like 'witches' and 'witchcraft' probably conjure some negative images of wicked witches and villains from fairy tales. Hollywood, and other uninformed institutions, often depict some confused teen invoking "the forces of darkness" and ending up a victim of some horror film. Cultures shaped by Christian conversion have a history of anti-witchcraft propaganda to defame practices that conflict with Christian views, even going as far as depicting witches invoking their Satan figure to drive this message home.
Some modern practices reclaim this propaganda by using images of Satan as a symbol of liberation from religious authoritarianism but that does not mean they are literally invoking or worshiping the embodiment of evil.
'Black magic' is actually a racially charged term that originally was used to stigmatize the spiritual practices that African diaspora slaves and their descendants use(d) to connect with their ancestors. Although Hoodoo and Voodoo are beautiful and valid practices, they are stigmatized to this day. Although one has to wonder at whether it's really the self-empowerment of black Americans that is actually unacceptable and threatening to white Christian supremacy. Either way, to support black folx, let's avoid the use of the term 'black magic' for any reason. Magic used unethically, but it's not evil in nature.
Since we're talking about baneful magic, your next question is probably "do witches hex people?" Yes, some witches hex/curse people, but usually, they are used in self-defense against spiritual attack or other oppression rather than to inflict pain senselessly. A hex is striking against an intended target with metaphysical power. Witches aren't the only people that cast hexes though. I have had Christians tell me that they pray that horrible things will befall me to direct me back to the Christian god. This form of prayer seeks to undermine my autonomy and my religious identity, and so it's also a hex. Just like magic, prayer can be used to empower, heal, and protect or to destroy, inflict suffering, and attack. There are some witches that take an oath against hexing but it is up to the personal values of the individual. Wicca is a pagan religion that opposes hexing as part of its ethics code.
Wicca is a specific religion founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1930s to be a modern culmination of Celtic Paganism and the practice of witchcraft. Today there are multiple Wiccan religions that include deities from various pantheons. Wicca is defined by having Mother and Father goddess and god pairings, 'maiden', 'mother', 'crone' triple goddess incarnations, the Wiccan Rede governing practice, and the specific inclusion of witchcraft as a part of religious practice. This is one of the few Pagan religions that is defined by having a magical practice included.
Welcome! I consider witchcraft to be healing and empowering. There are many systems of witchcraft, so I suggest doing some research on the different approaches and philosophies and deciding what resonates with you. These are intuitive skills and finding the right fit for you is important. Remember, if something doesn't feel right you can always learn another method. There is no pressure to learn and practice them all.
Paganism encompasses many different religions, beliefs, and practices that are earth-centric and focus upon local folkloric practices of that region. During the spread of Christianity, the term Pagan was a derogatory word used by Christians colonizers to belittle regional beliefs. Today it's been reclaimed, but Pagan isn't a religion unto itself. There are some unifying staples to these identities though.
I'm going to focus on Norse-Germanic and some Celtic practices because they are the paths that I follow. I encourage you to explore many different traditions and perspectives until you find elements and practices that speak to you and promote your well-being and growth. Paganism is very much focused on the individual and does not presume to insist that there is only One Way that is right for everyone.
Most Pagan religions venerate the Earth, the balance between its inhabitants as sacred, and are fundamentally animistic in their belief that all things have autonomy and consciousness. Veneration of ancestors, other spiritual beings, and multiple deities is also common but not the rule. Prior to Christian colonization, interacting with these beings was an essential part of connecting to the Earth and with the world in which we live. Most pagan religions also have a positive attitude towards magic, folk practices, and metaphysical perspectives.
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In Forn Sidr, there are many examples of animism and the connection that we have with the natural world. Yggdrasil is the world tree that connects us via its many branches to the nine realms and the entire universe and land spirits such as trolls, wights, landvaettir, and jotnar personify and animate nature for us to connect with.
Most Pagan religions are rooted in the sanctity of life and great importance is placed on finding joy during our time spent in each life, as well as forming human and spiritual relationships. Pagan religions usually place emphasis on personal well-being, community, and in deriving joy and pleasure from life. Modern Neopaganism typically involves a value of scientific exploration, personal identity, healthy consenting relationships, and protection of the earth against the climate crisis. Paganism highlights the need for a personal path that only the individual can walk and cannot be directed or determined by any outside religious teachers.
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This can vary greatly from tradition to tradition, but more focus is typically placed on how we live our current life than what is to come in the afterlife. Reincarnation is a common modern belief rather than eternal punishment (hell) or eternal reward (heaven) for the actions or beliefs of a single temporary lifetime. the afterlife is a place to be reunited with loved ones and find peace from whatever troubled the soul in life. Ancestor Veneration is common in Pagan religions.
Due to these different perspectives, Pagan religions also have a much different perspective on death. Death is a universal human experience that we must all face and part of life. It's rarely talked about with fear or taboo and communication with deceased loved ones is common. Many believe that our Ancestors' spirits live on and that they have a vested interest in their well-being. In this way, Ancestor Veneration and spirit work is a common component of Pagan practice.
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Death work and honoring Ancestors is a big part of my personal practice. Read more on Death Work in my Death tag.
Let's change this question to "is witchcraft harmful?" There are some concepts from Christianity that don't translate to all spiritual beliefs: good and evil are determined by social norms and religious laws. They're not objective ethics. One thing that is acceptable and holy in one culture may be considered a punishable heinous offense in another. But no, witchcraft isn't objectively harmful. Just like and knowledge or skill, it's how you choose to use it that determines its ethics.
Some magical practices may involve the following:
herbs/plants
essential oils
tinctures
the outdoors
cooking
burning incense and candles.
These must be done with care and a certain amount of education regarding safe handling. That is the extent of possible physical harm from practicing magic. The emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of the person practicing magic is up to the practitioner. Any hobby, interest, or spiritual practice can be harmful if used in unhealthy ways. Witchcraft isn't an exception. There are many different practices in witchcraft and it's up to the practitioner to protect their mental/emotional health.
Whenever you interact with spiritual situations and beings, you should take appropriate steps to protect your personal autonomy, emotional wellbeing, and safety. [Witchcraft safety coming soon]
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Nope! Magical practice doesn't automatically link you with any set of religious beliefs or doctrines. It can be paired with any religion or none at all! There are metaphysical practitioners who are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan and more. Although more and more practitioners are choosing a secular magical practice over affiliating with a religion.
Not usually, since Satan is specifically a figure from the Christian-Judeo myths. During the Roman-Catholic colonization of Northern Europe, the Church defamed Pagan beliefs by reframing their regional deities into the iconic images of the devil we know today. Abrahamic religious texts contain no descriptions of goat-men or horned demons. The Church taught narratives that pagan deities were Satan in disguise to sow fear and distrust of their ancestral gods. This anti-pagan propaganda is still continued today by evangelical Christians. This could be compared to a Pagan accusing a Christian of worshiping a harmful spirit disguised as their God: this is ignorant and extremely disrespectful to people from different faiths.
There are pagans who may include Jesus, Saints, Lucifer, Archangels, or other figures from Christian mythos into their practice as spirits to work with or venerate, but this would be considered blending Christian and Pagan practices. This is called Christo-paganism.
This would be determined by the spiritual beliefs of the individual. While this is a vital question to Christians, this question may be irrelevant for people in religions that don't teach a punishment/reward model. A Christian witch may believe they are going to Heaven, whereas a Hellenic witch may believe they will go to Hades, and a Norse witch may believe they will go to one of the Halls of the dead with ancestors and loved ones. Beliefs about the afterlife are unique to the individual and their religious perspective.
Heaven and hell are both afterlives that only exist in Christianity. Please remember that non-Christian witches have no reason to fear hell any more than Christians have to fear religious laws and consequences in a different holy book, such as the Veda (Hindu), the Quran (Islam), or the Wiccan Rede (Wicca). However, back when I was still a Christian and curious about witchcraft, I looked into this claim that witches will go to hell or should be put to death immediately from a theological perspective.
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Here's what I found:
There are numerous incorrect translations made in the Christian Bible from the original Greek/Hebrew. Many due to King James's obsessive phobia of witches and those that still practiced old European traditions. He is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent men and women. (Robinson. Translation errors and forgeries* in the Bible.)
The same sections of the Bible that say witchcraft is evil, or that witches should be put to death are the same sections that forbid the eating of shellfish and the mixing of fabrics, such as Exodus and Deuteronomy
There are numerous examples of witchcraft and magic depicted in the Bible. David, Daniel, Moses, Asaph, and his sons, were all seers and diviners. Joseph engaged in scrying (Genesis 44:5). Divination was used by priests and practitioners to determine the will of God via lots (Numbers 26:55; Proverbs 16:33 Proverbs 18:18). Even Paul and Peter cursed people in the name of the Lord without condemnation. The amount of magical practice represented in the bible is about equal to the contradictory condemnation of these practices.
Sources:
Robinson, B.A. Translation errors and forgeries* in the Bible. Religious Tolerance Website. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.. July 25, 2015.
Witchcraft Acts of 1542, 1547, 1563, 1604, 1736, UK Parliament. **The Witchcraft Act of 1736 was in effect until its repeal in 1945, it continued to prosecute and convict British Citizens through 1944.
Yes, most pagan religions have oral traditions that have been recorded by scholars, such as the Mabinogion for Celtic pantheons and the Eddas for Norse pantheons. Every culture will have its stories and oral tradition that preserves their beliefs, practices, and history. Usually, these stories and lore are viewed as allegory and metaphor rather than literal guiding texts for living our life, though. This is a contrast to mainstream Christianity.
These stories usually invite examination and even criticism of our deities, heroes, and ancestors. Unfortunately, most of what we have is incomplete. Much oral tradition has been lost or eradicated through colonization. Christian colonizers destroyed pagan art, bastardized stories to fit their worldview, and otherwise destroyed a lot of pagan teachings. Various laws were passed forbidding the practice of ancestral traditions and witchcraft (eg: Witchcraft Acts of 1542, 1547, 1563, 1604, 1736 in Europe**). Today, pagan religions must piece together the remaining oral traditions, historical records, archaeology, and social scientific discoveries regarding how pre-Christian peoples lived, worshiped, and practiced. Modern Pagans also incorporate modern scientific evidence and theory to supplement spiritual ones, as they see the spiritual world as a reflection of the scientific natural world.​
Although animal sacrifice was a common practice in many ancient pagan practices, as well as Jewish and Christian ones, we do not currently practice this today. Just as modern denominations of Judaism and Christianity have evolved beyond these primitive practices, so have pagan traditions. Likewise, human sacrifices did exist throughout different world religions at one time, including but not limited to Incan, Mayan, Norse, Slavic, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mesopotamian, and others. These practices are now outdated, illegal, and considered heinous.*
*It is this blog's stance that abuse or the torture is never part of the spiritual practice of a healthy individual.
Yes, just as Christians summons the spirits of their religion (angels, saints, the holy spirit, and other guardians) pagans summon spirits prevalent in theirs (deities, ancestor, protective guardians, and others).
There are numerous purposes for summoning spirits. A Pagan may summon the spirit of their mother if they need guidance, love, or reassurance. They might also summon a spiritual guide that has elected to help them reach their greatest potential and well-being. Likewise, Pagans learn to banish negative spirits that have harmful intentions.
The definition of "demon" varies greatly from one religion to another. Demons can be fallen angels that only wish humanity harm (Judaism, Islam, Christianity) or simply spirits of the earth and beneath the earth whose intentions vary spirit by spirit. Most pagan religions don't include the idea of pacts with fallen angels, although there are some people that will work with these spirits just as they work with any other deity or spirit. If you are uncomfortable summoning a particular spirit or deity, don't do it. In your personal religious practice, your empowerment and comfort is key.
The misinformation that most people are exposed to from media and religion may make this idea worrisome. Especially if you remember Satanic Panic in the 80's. Hopefully, the above FAQ's will help dispel some myths, and answer your questions. Paganism and witchcraft both teach responsibility for one's actions, examination, celebration of personal identity, critical thinking, learning to make sound decisions, self-discovery, and protecting one's autonomy. Both pagan religions and witchcraft are protected by law under the Constitution and Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.
Cults are abusive groups that discourage members from thinking for themselves, questioning beliefs or practices, intellectualism, and seeks to alienate its members from support systems outside of the group. Cults often come with a culture of thought-policing, high demand of assimilation, and real or intangible consequences for leaving. It is important to understand that cults can exist within any religious or philosophical belief system.
I do not recommend this.
While these religions and practices may disagree with your beliefs, they are not dangerous or a cause for concern for the health and well-being of your child. The curiosity for learning about various faiths and traditional practices is a sign of healthy development and an intelligent mind.
Although you may desire to control the religious/spiritual practices of your child and it is within your legal rights, forbidding your child from learning about or practicing their beliefs may result in a child turning to secrecy, rebellion, or other behavior that could put them in harm's way. Allowing children to talk to you about where they are with their beliefs and listening without a personal agenda will help foster open communication with your kids and will help provide avenues where they can explore new beliefs in a safe environment that keeps you fully informed.
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*I will never knowingly have direct contact with a minor regarding religious education, and will always encourage openness between the individual and the family members they live with.
If you are a minor, I do not recommend this.
Your parents have the right to raise you according to how they feel is best as long as it doesn't objectively harm you. As much as you may want to practice witchcraft, it is not abusive or harmful for a legal guardian to not allow you to practice. It rarely ends well to hide a magical practice because of the stigma attached to it. When parents find out you've been practicing against their wishes or without talking to them the assumption is that it's because it's harmful, dangerous, or deviant. And believe me, you don't want that shit show raining down upon you.
If you think that you might want to explore witchcraft as a minor, talk to a legal guardian about your interest and allow them to ask questions. Agree together what they feel comfortable with you doing in their house in accordance with their rules.
If you don't believe your parents will be receptive you exploring witchcraft, wait until you are a legal adult and have moved out of their house. I know this is frustrating, but there are so many more important things that you need to focus on when you're a teen and young adult. Witchcraft will still be there for you to delve into then.
Frequently Asked Questions for those coming from Christian worldviews