Wicca, gentle nature lovers or a wolf in sheeps clothing?

All of the wiccans I have ever known were very gentle individuals with no intention of harming others. Most of them believe that if they do harm to someone, it will come back to them three-fold.

I am a Christian, and I too believe that what we do affects what happens to us in the future, and can have horrible results. Sort of like karma, but not quite the same.

Having said all that, I'm sure there are some who practice black magic.

Has anyone noticed the resurgence of wicca in society within the past few years? I wonder why that is? And there seems to be a special interest in it by teenagers. Is this a fad resulting from television shows, or do you think it's more a result of teenagers seeking something novel?

Please mind you, I am not condemning anyone for their beliefs here. I don't like to be condemned for mine, so I try my best not to do it to others.
Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't, unfortunately.

WOW, my post disappeared. It says on the 'recent posts' page that I was the last poster, but it's not there...and I'm not talking about this one.

Okay, which one of you made it disappear?
__________________________________________________


Nevermind...there it is

[edit on 3/2/08 by idle_rocker]

reply to post by Bigwhammy


Hi Bigwhammy,

Just like 'enchantress62', I don't use drugs of any kind ... don't drink alcohol (except a sip during the 'cakes & wine part of a ritual' to be respectful ... a bit like communian in church) ... I've recently given-up smoking ... and since my last relationship ended I've been celibate (5 bloody years).
OMG, I must be the most boring witch on the planet.

The thing is I never went out of my way to be this 'good' ... it's just the way it's evolved ... and I actually like my life this way.

I prefer to be perfectly 'clear-headed' ... that way I know that the wonderul things I experience are not due to any mind-altering substances (that's just my personal preference). I'm sure there are many witches and christian's alike who think such things bring them closer to the God-source.

I've been in and out all day so I haven't seen your sourcery thread yet but I will. I've also been giving a little bit of consolement and advise to another ATS'er, who appears to have been on a 'foeing' rampage whilst I was away for a day or so ... sure many here have been added to his hit list so you'll know who I mean.

Woody

reply to post by AshleyD


Hi AshleyD,

Glad to be of assistance ... just to let you know, a 'witches bosom' is somethng else entirely.

Ok, bear with me whilst I add a bit of garbled rubbish just so this isn't a one-liner. That should do it.

Woody

Nope the one thing that I have found in natural circles is that most witches call a spade a spade. What they are is what they are. I have both types and really find no difference as I like to live between the two neither good nor bad, saintly or sinner. I have been a witch in so many past lives it is no longer a practice, it simply is.

Originally posted by Bigwhammy
reply to post by dAlen

 

PHARMAKIA (or -EIA) (Eng., pharmacy etc.) primarily signified the use of medicine, drugs, spells; then, poisoning; then sorcery. . . . In sorcery, the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc.

edit on 3/2/2008 by Bigwhammy]

My recent research on Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple would be a good example of Christian sorcery under the discription given here.

youtube.com...

Sorcery is nothing more then the ability to trick the mind, sometimes that involves drugs and sometimes it doesn't. Sorcery is not exclusive to Pagan beliefs. and all sorcery is not evil. When surgeons put a patient under anesthisia to perform their surgery I would be considered that a type of Sorcery under the discription you just gave.

Originally posted by idle_rocker
Has anyone noticed the resurgence of wicca in society within the past few years? I wonder why that is? And there seems to be a special interest in it by teenagers. Is this a fad resulting from television shows, or do you think it's more a result of teenagers seeking something novel?

People come to Wicca for many reasons, but I think this day in time ppl are looking for comfort. We're all looking for where we fit in, and what we can believe in. The thing about Wicca is that it's a gentle way of looking at our life as it exists in the Universe. It gives you freedom to explore the possibilities with respect to everything around you. There is no judgement in this religion, you soley, are responsible for your actions, and you alone will face the consiquences. There is no guilt here, you don't have to be perfect, in fact inperfection seems to be revered. But mostly, there is comfort in the knowledge that we are part of the Goddess. Believing that because we are part of her/him, she/he does not want to hurt us. I think ppl, expecially teenagers feel safe in this belief.

reply to post by idle_rocker


TO give a slightly less-huggable response than Enchantress...

A lot of people are growing disgusted with Christianity in America. On the Catholic side, you have the pedophile shell game. On the Protestant side, you have... uh... more pedophiles. And a frankly obscene political agenda.

So what else is there? Judaism doesn't accept converts readily, and Americna Judaism is in hte pocket of American protestantism.

Islam is "terrorists!" in America. If you convert to Islam, you're derided, insulted, attacked, ostracized...

So what's left? Like Judaism, Hinduism doesn't readily accept converts, and it's difficult for most Christians to follow the Hindu mindset. So we're left with atheism (which gets almost the same treatment as conversion to Islam in America), Buddhism, and Wicca as the practical choices for these people.

So could you be a wiccan who is, for want of a better word, non practicing, that is you follow the basic tenets and beliefs aas best you can in your life but don't take part in any ceremony's or cast spells etc.

reply to post by Cantwara


If you are asking me then I'll answer by saying, yes and no. What I am is new to this religion so therefore careful what I do in it until I fully understand it's power. When I first started practicing, I jumped in with both feet, boy did that turn out to be chaos! lol But, I learned. I practice magic, but on a smaller scale until I learn to use it in the way it was meant to be used. I hope this answers your question.

I wanted to pop by and say thank you to Enchantress.

I am a Christian and I believe we will all give an account for our lives one day.

I do not know how Christ will sort us out.

I have a feeling Religion might not be as important as your heart.

He said by their fruit you shall know them.

IMO, whether the dogma is correct or not, Enchantress bears some good fruit.

reply to post by Cantwara


I would say the answer to your question is yes !

The reason I say this is because when I first became a 'practicing solitary' witch, and began my learning (including the history of the craft), I realized I'd actually been a witch all my life ... just hadn't realized it until then. I think a lot of witches will tell you the same thing.

There is a difference between 'witch' and 'wiccan' insomuch as the source of their craft eg;

A 'Witch' follows the traditional path and a 'Wiccan' comes under the umberella of 'Neo-Paganism' (which basically means it's a modernized version of the 'old religion'). Both have (should have), the same respect and intent in their belief (wicca is probaby a little bit more rock and roll ... and so appeals to the teenagers coming into the craft) and the two do tend to get interlinked more often than not.

But you don't have to belong to a coven / perform rituals / practice spellweaving, to be a witch ... you can just feel it in your heart and soul when you see the miracles of nature and so connect to the God-source.

That is portrayed in the imagery of witchcraft ... the Greenman (foliate head) ... Pan (half man/half animal) ... all things pertaining to nature. And of course the moon cycles and the turning seasons of the Earth represent the feminine aspect of the Goddess (maid = new life/Spring ... mother= nurture in what the planet provides for us - harvest ... crone=the wisdom held in nature and the death - winter - in preperation for new life seen the following spring) this is a very very brief example ... but as you can see it has nothing to do with the devil in any way.

Woody

Hey I posted this article this morning. You guys might find it interesting, it's kind of sad though. www.abovetopsecret.com...

by enchantress62
People come to Wicca for many reasons, but I think this day in time ppl are looking for comfort. We're all looking for where we fit in, and what we can believe in. The thing about Wicca is that it's a gentle way of looking at our life as it exists in the Universe. It gives you freedom to explore the possibilities with respect to everything around you. There is no judgement in this religion, you soley, are responsible for your actions, and you alone will face the consiquences. There is no guilt here, you don't have to be perfect, in fact inperfection seems to be revered. But mostly, there is comfort in the knowledge that we are part of the Goddess. Believing that because we are part of her/him, she/he does not want to hurt us. I think ppl, expecially teenagers feel safe in this belief.

You know, that's really not too far from Christianity when you think about it. We too are responsible only for our own actions, and we alone will face the consequences. We are also guilt-free, believing that we have been washed clean of our wrongdoings, and we don't have to be perfect, in fact, we are told there is no way we can be...we are to just keep trying.

We also find comfort in the knowledge that we are part of God (who is your Goddess, I presume). So I guess, if we who are Christians, would practice our religion more "perfectly"...lol..., we would be a lot the same.

Our craft of course is prayer for miracles. It's a little odd comparing the two, but I just thought I would point out the similarities. Maybe there are similarities in all religions that would enhance each. I'm just guessing there.

Thanks for the friendly answer.

I_R

Originally posted by idle_rocker

You know, that's really not too far from Christianity when you think about it. We too are responsible only for our own actions, and we alone will face the consequences. We are also guilt-free, believing that we have been washed clean of our wrongdoings, and we don't have to be perfect, in fact, we are told there is no way we can be...we are to just keep trying.

We also find comfort in the knowledge that we are part of God (who is your Goddess, I presume). So I guess, if we who are Christians, would practice our religion more "perfectly"...lol..., we would be a lot the same.

Our craft of course is prayer for miracles. It's a little odd comparing the two, but I just thought I would point out the similarities. Maybe there are similarities in all religions that would enhance each. I'm just guessing there.

Thanks for the friendly answer.

I_R

Well yes and no. I found Christianity very oppressive, however my parents had a lot to do with that. It's funny though, the simularities you find when you go looking. I don't think I could have embraced Wicca like I have it hadn't felt like a better way to practice what I already knew to be the truth. Even the Atheists have simularities to Christianity if you look close enough.

I personally think the most important thing we can do for ourselves is come from a place of acknowledged ignorance. When we stop thinking we know something, we open our minds to learning the truth.

I'm not wiccan but a good friend of mine is, so I can see both sides of the coin. My thinking is that during the 1500-1700s the puritans were so devote in their faith that they thought any healing MUST be the work of god and should be carried out by a minister. It was a sort of "Your either for us or against us" mentality, there was no middle ground. witches may have meant no harm but if they weren't holding a bible while they were healing the sick then they HAD to have been servants of the devil sent to destroy them.

thank god I don't live in the bible belt, there are still people like that down there.

reply to post by enchantress62


Merry meet sisters/and brothers;

I too was a Presbyterian, and later jumped from the pan into the fire and joined the Christian Reformed Church. My boss at the time, was a BIBLE thumping Baptist from Alabama. Between them all, they drove me crazy.
Then I stepped back, and took a long look at religion from it's beginnings.
What the world has today is a HOBO STEW of ancient, old, and new doctrines pureed and homoginized into blends that suit the ideals of one group or another. None of them are correct or perfect. None has exclusivity with GOD's or the Goddess's ear.
For any one group too claim that they alone are the rightous path, and then condemn all others, is wrong and arrogant.
The HAG image started in Iceland and moved too Greenland. It was based on the troll legends and a famous old crone who lived in a cave in Iceland. It spead to Scandinavia, and out wards to England and the new world. The Inquistion helped fan the flames, and any old, odd, unmarried, barren, ugly, wizzened, woman was then suspect to be in league with Satan. Men given power over all by the fearful Vatican, used their new all encompassing powers, to threaten, torture, and murder women who were WISE and Unrepentant. Wise women kowtowed too no man. Rome feared the vagina then, and it still does today.The power of the pussy still baffles men. They are like moths drawn to the flame because of it, and they hate it, and love it at the same time. So, laws need to be passed to control the thing that women have, and they haven't. Independant and smart women, cannot be trusted. After all, women are supposed to be dependant on a man, and defere too his great judgement. Muslims are a very good example of Men with terrible vagina envy! So cover them up, from head to foot...don't let them have any rights...That's the Ticket!
I believe it was the cartoonist, NAST who also furthered the image of an old, ugly, straw haired, pointed nosed and chined, wart covered, broom flying scary hag, to help promote the commericalization of All Hallows Eve, i.e. Halloween. Brothers Grimm tales of hoodwinked children being baking in ovens by old Hags who lived out in the forrests didn't help much either. Disney's, Snow White burned the image of HAG/Witch and Socerer as one and the same, in the minds of children forever as well.
The current revival of NEW AGE WICCA, and the perceptions by popular media of it, has only backed off from the crazed ugly hag image slightly.
Can't a girl get a little love? Can't girls meet, sing, dance, and show their love for one another in unity of spirit, and give thanks too the Goddess? I mean come on! What's it going to take too get some respect?

Blessed be!

By the way, I am a MALE! Take care sisters.

Originally posted by enchantress62 The word "Witch" coming from the word "Wicce" meaning "Wise"....

AFAIK, the "witch" that is used in the bible actually comes from a hebrew word for poisoner, 'not wise'.

I thank you all for your recent posts. For the record, there are like 17 different meanings for the word "Witch" from different languages. The word "Wicce" if I remember correctly is either Greek or Latin and means wise, but yes I AM THAT I AM in the Bible it's the Hebrew meaning. I'm curious though, why is that important? I mean why does everything have to come back to the Bible? Don't get me wrong, I respect Christians and their beliefs, but I don't believe in the Bible or Christianity.

This is exactly what inspired me to write this thread. Throughout it I've heard these thoughts. "I know a Witch and she's a pretty cool chick" "I have friends who are Witches and when we disagree, we do so with respect." "I never hear Witches preach or critisize others faith." etc... It's funny to me that the general consensis in here is that the Witches you all know are honorable, honest, respectful ppl who are doing their best to live in harmony with the world around them. So why is it then, that some of you keep going back to the Bible and pointing out how bad we are supposed to be? I mean I could go into our books and look up quotes, I could keep telling you how awful you are because your religious ancestors decided to pursecute us. I could even twist your own teachings around to show you how inadiquate they are. I could do all this and beat you down with it constantly like some of you seem to thrive on doing, but why? What a waste of energy! I would much rather engage you in a conversation that looks at things from a whole new perspective. Witches are what every body else is. We're ppl doing the best we can do in a world, that most of the time, makes no sense.

The thing about Witches that makes us both a mystery and an attraction to those not in the craft, is that we don't need to prove anything to anyone else. We know who we are, we know what we're doing, and we can do what we do with love and respect because we know our place in the universe.

reply to post by I_AM_that_I_AM

Hebrew for "witch" was actually kashaph (kä·shaf'). At least that's the way it appears from the Lexicon I was looking at.

cf.blueletterbible.org...