a reply to:
The2Billies
It just appeared so because you brought up both Satanist and Wiccans and made no clear distinction. That's like positive and negative or the
difference between water and fire. Why I felt the need to make it clear to the rest of the readers, not especially to you.
I have no issues with it being called occult, as I put no judgement into that word. If it is to describe Pagan practices then I can live with that.
Most however think occult = blood and satanist, slaughtering goats and similar. If you ask 10 people on the street, most will come back with the wort
Satanist.
Yes of course there are always exceptions. That was what I meant with people coming into Wiccan faith and think it is the same as Paganism, when it
isn't. The saying "do what you want but harm none" was perverted by many, by shaking the definition of what "harm" is. I am not Wiccan in faith but I
acknowledge the mindset and have a very similar one.
Generally a Wiccan practicing curses isn't following the Rede actually.
These groups should not call themselves Wiccan, but some do, just as some crazy groups who call themselves Christians and Muslims (but in reality are
not) do great harm to their religion and the very nice and peaceful people who believe in those religions.
Agreed, it's not my place to tell anyone what they are or are not practicing in faith but like you say such people exist, "perverting" the true
natures of these faiths and religions.
It was just important to me that others that are less into the topic, do not get a false impression about Satanist and Wiccans being the only thing
they have in common is the descriptor "occult" from externally.
Besides the fact that Christianity lent a big chunk from Pagans anyways. It's almost cynical that there were witches burned on stakes, what is
actually a different word for "cross" and the cross or T is a important symbol in Paganism that was integrated into Christianity.
That's why I do not put much into the word occult, because if I think about how people light candles on their birthday cakes and blow them out while
making a wish, is comically not seen occult, when it is nothing more than what some refer to candle or fire magic.
Or blowing the seeds from a dandelion into the wind while making a wish is actually a Pagan blessing ritual for nature. Also not seen occult.
Most people have no idea how "occult" they really are in their daily life, I could bring a dozen more examples.