A question for pagans only...?

Question

Crystals, runes, tarot cards etc etc... it's a lot to take in and it is VERY confusing!

We should definately try to listen to mother nature and admire the natural world. So how do the crystals, stones, runes, tarot, etc work? How do you learn how to use these tools? Are there set procedures or do you do what comes instinctively? Do you meditate? I have heard of pagans 'praying', to whom do you pray? Is a prayer the same as a spell?

I apologise if I come across as being ignorant, but this is all very new to me and I am genuinely interested in Pagan beliefs and Majick (is it Majick or Magic? What's the difference? What's the origin?).

I have been to www.witchvox.com and some others but I am still confused. Can anyone help me understand some of these simple Pagan beliefs?

Please, I don't want Christians doing the whole witch-bashing thing here. Leave your Bible's at the door or walk away. I do not want a quote from the Bible. I want to hear from Pagans only please!

Is there a genuine reason why I picture a pentogram in my head and seem to be drawn to that symbol?

Answer 1

1. Tools are things Witches use to concentrate and sort energy. For example, the Tarot are cards that you can infuse with your power and then assemble for interpretation. The placement can help you descern the meaning.

2. It takes years of practice to be skilled at all tools. Most new witches start out learning one tool and then move on to another. I've been in the Craft for along time and I have not mastered everything. Take it slow and one at a time. It's easy for most to start out using stones and crystals. Try doing a rock vibration. That's when you hold a stone or crystal in your hand and try to draw and exchange energy with it. Its like flexing your magickal muscle.

3. Yes there are set procedures to using tools, but it's not required to be an expert in all areas. Start with the basics

4. Yes i meditate. Meditation is a great way to clear and release excess energy and start fresh. Its also a great way to get inspired or find answers to tough problems.

5. Prayer and Spells are virtually the same. The biggest difference is that with prayer, a Witch may call on the specific name of a God or Goddess that pertains to their need. For example, if in need of guidance in the love department, one might call on Aphrodite to assist you. Many Witches do prayers before bed time in order for guidance to be received in the dream state where the psyche is more open.

6. Most Witches use the spelling Magick to differentiate it from the magic performed by illusionists like David Blaine and Cris Angel. I'm not certain, but the origin may be Old English.

7. Yes, I am Wiccan and Wiccans have 13 Princples of Wiccan Belief. I'm going to post a link here to a question I answered with a big piece on Wiccan beliefs. I hope it helps.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqUtvRdA.l.0e3ulX_MmnQHsy6IX?qid=20070214123405AAAgGtc&show=7#profile-info-fad8c1168f2a409dc9a452242b6b7768aa

8. If you want more info check out my you tube page.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BlueFireWitch

Answer 2

Hahaha wow, you have a lot of questions, but thats a good thing.
I am starting to use runes. Basically I started with some study of the literal meanings of the runes, but then did some meditation and reflection on the more abstract meanings. I use stones as guides in meditation sometimes, basically I explore the physical features of the stone in my hands by touch while I am exploring myself. I guess basically I do what comes instinctively. And yes, I do meditate frequently. I also pray, and it differs from spellwork in that prayer is a request for a diety to do something, while a spell applies your own power to do whatever it is.

I have never seen magic written "majick" before, but I have seen "magick". The alternation in spelling was made to differentiate between stage magic and slight of hand and our spellwork, but its not universally accepted, even among pagans.

If you want to know something about a specific pagan belief I might be able to help, but otherwise there's too many pagan beliefs to go into here. If you have more questions, feel free to message me, I always love to chat with other pagans. Blessings!

Answer 3

There are a lot of "pagan beliefs" - "Pagan" is an umbrella collection of religions that include things like Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, Asatru, Kemetic Orthodoxy, etc. While many of these religions have things in common (generally polytheistic or animistic, ties to the natural world and its cycles, use of magic), they are very different in their individual beliefs and ways.

Who pagans pray to is as varied as the individual and the beliefs. Prayer is similar to a spell, in that it is a focusing of will to bring about a result, but while prayer tends to be more "please intervene and do this for me", magic is more "please help me while I do this". (Of course, that only applies to religious magic - some magic users do not have a belief in a Deity, so the whole prayer/spell analogy is different)

Not all paths that use magic or divination use them in the same way. For example, Wicca and Voudoun both use magic, but the purposes and ethics and rituals are very, very different!

Regarding the whole "how do you spell magic" thing - I use "magic". Some use "magick" to "differentiate it from stage magic and sleight-of-hand". My personal $0.02 is that if the person you're talking to or writing to doesn't understand the difference based on context, then the "k" isn't going to help a whole lot...

If you're feeling overwhelmed, I would recommend taking a step back, seeing which _one_ tool interests you the most, and immersing yourself in it. Don't try to take on all of them at once.

If tarot interests you, put the runes and crystals aside and focus on learning everything you can about tarot, becoming comfortable with understanding its use, its limitations, its symbolism, the archetypical journey of the Fool, etc. There are several good books on tarot out there, as well as websites (I like http://www.aeclectic.net ) that should help you.

Once you have a good feel for it, then move on to another subject that interests you. What you learn from the one will carry over, to some extent, because it's a similar process of accessing the energy of the universe (or the Collective Unconscious, if you're a Jungian type), even though the tools used to interpret it differ (cards vs runes, etc).

It's not a destination, it's a journey. And it's something that requires study and practice (which can be frustrating!!). Good luck!

Answer 4

It takes years of study to really understand any branch of mysticism. (And personally, I'm disinclined to belive very much of it is more than intuition.) But the best way to learn is to try them. Get a set of cards or runes. They generally come with instructions.

I meditate, though less frequently now that I should. It's a good way to build self-control, patience and stimulates the mind. Many people do it who aren't religious. It's a really good place to start.

Prayer is fairly standard in any religion. Pagans pray to whoever they feel most comfortable with, and everyone has their own personal opinion on divinty. (IMHO, divinity is within everyone and everything, and it's all interconnected. When I pray, I'm talking to the divinity within.) Spells are actions and thought forms to encourage some event, and rituals are usually invocations of some kind or larger workings.

As for magic(k) or majick, I prefer to just use magic. Other people want to make it confusing. Pick whatever spelling you like best. I've heard that the weird ones are to denote that the writer is distinguishing between stage tricks and true Maj(/g)ic(k). Bollocks. If the reader can't distinguish, then they're an idiot, so there's no use in denigrating everyone else.

Hope this helped!

Answer 5

outstanding to your question. i have been wiccan for over 30 yrs. what wicca/pagan is first a old nature religion. maybe the oldest know form of religion of all. it is a nature based form of worship,that follows the cycle of the earth. is not nor has ever been satanic, as that came out of the christian faith. we dont believe in a super powerful being called satan. yes there is good and evil in all things, most of all humans. wiccans believe in duel devine being, the god of nature, and the goddess of earth. in all things there is male and female, positive and negitive. its a natural balance. magic is only energy set in motion, backed by prayer or faith, and a bit of hard work. we as wiccans follow one simple law. as long as you dont do harm to yourself or any other living thing we are free to do and be whatever we will.

Answer 6

Be carefull - I think you are calling upon a subset of
pagans - the Wicca.

There are a lot of pagans who aren't Wicca, but not
the other way around.

In any case, I prefer my thunderbolts straight
from the fridge... No incantations, no funky
diagrams, just unfurl and hurl.

Answer 7

I'm sorry, but I´m a christian and i know you already know what we think about that, but I want to ask you something...what is it that attracts you about this? Do you know where magic comes from? Are you trying to do good with this?

i´m just curious about this choice of you.

Take care.

Answer 8

They are not real dude. Im not a christian, and I think God is only nature as well. But these things you speak of are ridiculous ploys