Do you seriously believe in Wicca?

Question

alight no offense but Wiccans, do you really believe your spells work, why do you say magik, why do you use such vague spells you'll never know if they work (if this isn't true tell an example), i don't understand the difference between white and dark "magik", and please no overreacting, i want honest answers from you, i don't mean to be so scrutinizing but I'm curious. Did you know your religion is only 60 years old, its based off other religions, so why act like your part of an ancient cult. Also, witch and Wicca arn't the same, right, Not all witches are Wiccans despite your beliefs! Thanks for your time.

"blessed be?"
why do you say that

im sorry i think i asked for Wiccans to answer this, not crazy Christian zealots.

catrionn, why r u calling me IMHO, and when did i say that spells were ridiculous? i think that a prayer and a spell are one in the same except with a different process.

gasp, i never said i was Christian, why do you assume so? and about the 60 year old thing I'm saying that because many, if i can use this new word, "fluffy bunnies" like to say they are part of an ancient religion.

OMG!!!!!!!!! WHEN DID I EVER SAY I WAS AGAINST WICCA, FOR ALL U KNOW I AM A WICCAN (in reality im not) BUT MOST OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS ARE! SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS ARE (ill use it again) FLUFFY BUNNIES SO I WANTED REAL OPINIONS. WHAT IS EVERYONES PROBLEM!

why do u assume I'm complete ignorant of the real answers to these questions, i want opinons i never said i didn't know any of this (actually i did but i led :s) religion. I cant stand how ur just all telling me about all these other generalizations ignorant fools make, i never made any of these generalizations and why does everyone bas Christianity.

Answer 1

I take no offense at your questions. Skepticism is good. Let me take them in order.

1) Yes, I believe that my spells work at least part of the time, because positive results occur after I have done them. Granted these results could just be coincidence, but they could also be the result of the spell itself.

And I make my spells VERY specific. When I want healing, I specify what kind of healing. When I want a cat to be adopted from the Humane Society, I specify that I want a cat adopted. ;-) (I'm basing these on actual spells I've done. In the case of one of the healing spells, a wound that had been resisting treatment and refusing to close up for days began to heal with what the nurses on the hospital ward called "amazing speed" after we did the working. In the case of the cat, not only that cat was adopted, but all the other cats in the same room within a week -- something that the managers were astounded at, since such things very seldom happen.)

If nothing else, magic serves a psychological function quite apart from any physical changes it may create. See point #5.

2) "Magik"... *sigh*. Not all Wiccans use this (in my opinion) rather pretentious term. I call it "magic", and leave it at that. More on the type of magic that Wiccans practice in point #5.

3) There is no "white" or "dark" magic -- magic is magic; it's a technique, like prayer. It's the intent of the person doing the casting that determines whether it's harmful or beneficial.

4) Yes, I know that my religion is only about 60 years old, with roots in Masonic practices, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic era's ideas of classical religions. So? All religions have to start somewhere; we're just closer to the beginning of ours than some other faiths. It's the uneducated Wiccans who claim that it's "the oldest religion in the world". If you want a serious study of the history of Wicca by a non-Wiccan historian, I recommend "Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton.

5) You're correct, "witch" and "Wiccan" aren't necessarily the same thing. Witchcraft is a technique, like prayer, and Wicca is one of the religions in which witchcraft is practiced, and even then not all Wiccans practice it. So it's fair to say that while most Wiccans are witches, not all witches are Wiccans by a long shot.

Witchcraft 101 would go something like this, at least as I was taught: All things in the universe are interconnected by energy, which some witches (including Wiccans) perceive as Divine in nature. This is how witchcraft works: by focussing my intent, and using sympathetic correspondances (certain herbs for courage, for example), I can create an amulet using those herbs which will stimulate courage in the person who wears it. Similarly, by using a lock of hair from a person who is ill, I can (with their permission) set energies in motion that will help them to heal.

In this sense, witchcraft is a very mechanistic worldview. The entire universe is seen as a giant interconnected machine, and by applying one's will to exert pressure one area, one creates a cascade effect that causes change in another area.

6) We say "blessed be" because we are wishing that the other person "be blessed". Pretty simple, no?

Based on your attitude, I'd say you've encountered what many Wiccans call "fluffy bunnies" -- people who have very little idea of the history of the faith they practice or the details thereof. If you want a good non-fluffy site on Wicca, I highly recommend "Wicca For the Rest of Us":

http://wicca.timerift.net/

A good non-Wiccan writeup on Wicca can also be found at:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

or

http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/paths/wicca.htm

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me. I promise you I won't attempt to convert you -- Wiccans don't hold much with prosyletizing.

Answer 2

Not all Wiccans practice witchcraft. Witchcraft is a practice not religion.

There is no difference between white and black magik. Its all just magick. Its the intent that makes it good or bad. If the spell is meant to harm anyone in any way, or force them to do something against their will, its bad.

The spell is vague rather than specific because that allows the spell to carry out in a way that will harm none. Whatever way is most useful and least disruptive to the energies of the universe at large.

It is not a Wiccans belief that they are a witch. We accept and acknowledge that fact. Its the belief of others that say they are one and the same.

Every Wiccan knows the religion is only 80 (not 60) years old. Thats not a secret, and not a lie so its not a shock.

Wiccans do not act like they're part of an ancient cult, its others that think they do. They just acknowledge (unlike certain other religions that will remain nameless) that their religion is a development, and has adopted, practices from older religions.

As for Blessed Be, it means "Blessed Be ye by the God and Goddess". It also means "May you live your life well and happy". Blessed Be is just the short version of saying it.

Answer 3

I"m not Wiccan exactly but a NeoPagan, but I'm close enough I can answer your questions.

Spells DO work if you approach them right. The effective spells are the ones you cast on yourself, to change your own perspective or perception or focus. It's just ritualized mediation, that's all. The most effective witchcraft is headology, as Terry Pratchett puts it.

White and dark 'magik' (agreed it's a silly term) is basically the same thing as saying good and evil, good intent vs malintent.

It's true that the Wicca we know today was written about and popularized 60 years ago, but the true ancient traditions have been lost forever and this is the best approximation we have given what we know. The basic principles are the same: a reverence of nature and the cycles of life. Don't forget that weird pastor wrote about the Rapture in about the same time frame, and many, many Christians believe in that as if Jesus said it!

And yeah we know the difference between fictional witches and religious witches.

I don't say blessed be, I guess it's a way of identifying with the Wiccan culture. It's a signal.

Answer 4

IMHO, Wiccan beliefs are not any sillier than the following:

1 - prayers (you never know if they'll work either)

2 - believing a virgin had a baby

3 - believing a dead man resurrected

4 - believing that the aforementioned resurrection was intended to pay for every bad thing ever done by any human being

5 - taking communion

6 - believing in a trinity

Also IMHO, just because a religion is only 60 years old, does not invalidate it. Every religion in the world was new at some point. Many of them are based on previous religions (Islam and Christianity are both based on Judaism; Buddhism has roots in Taoism and Hinduism.)

You are correct that "Wiccan" and "witch" are not always the same thing. Not all Wiccans actually practice magic or spells. Not all witches consider themselves Wiccan.

If you want to learn more, one of the best sources is "The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk.

Answer 5

To be honest, I really don't do that much spellwork and it's not necesary to the practice of Wicca anyway. With any spells I have cast, I haven't expected to work divine miracles.

I've taken more of a scientific view of spells. Everything is made up of atoms which are connected by bands of energy, in fact, atoms themselves are comprised of energy. I believe that when we cast spells we can in a way, nudge (for lack of a better term) the energy the energy into a more favorable position (according to the caster).

Of course I think it's a little unresonable to believe that a spell will always, or even the majority of the time, work. I think that most of the time if a spell appears to work, it is probably due to our own actions or merely chance.

As for the spells being vague, I believe that every witch/magician should write their own spells and strive to make them as detailed as possible and not just mumble something out of a Silver Ravenwolf book.

There is no difference between white and dark magic (I hate the spelling "magik"). While I believe that the purpose of the spell should be taken into account, no spell can be completely beneficial or destructive. A spell that may say, bring money to the caster, may land another in the poor house. Of course this is an oversimplified example but hopefully you see where I'm going with this.

You're very right in saying that Wicca is a mere sixty years old, and those who disagree should really open a history book. Gerald B. Gardner (believed to be the founder of Wicca) took from many belief systems to create Wicca. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, the works of Aleister Crowley and the Law of Themela.

You are also correct when you say that all witches aren't Wiccan. There are many people who practice witchcraft that, quite honestly, get offended if someone refers to them as Wiccan. Also, not all Wiccans are witches either. There are those who have no desire or see no need to practice witchcraft.

The phrase "blessed be" is simply a greeting or a farewell. There really isn't very much religious/mystical connotation to it anymore, if there ever was. Some Wiccans don't even use the phrase, opting for a simple "hello" and "goodbye." I don't know the exact origin of this phrase, but it's possible that it was derived from the practic of the fvefold kiss.

"Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways
Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar
Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be
Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty
Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names."

If you have any questions about my explanation or if you would like to comment on something I have said, please feel free to contact me and please forgive any spelling errors, the spell check doesn't want to work with a response this long.

Answer 6

I am not a Wiccan, but I am a witch, and I have a deep respect for people who follow the Wiccan path.

Magick is a tool for bettering ourselves and our lives, as well as the lives of the human race. You might not be aware of it, but somewhere right now there's a Wiccan or a witch casting a spell to protect the Earth which we are all living on.

There is no such thing as white or black magick. There is only magick, and a witch with a black or a white heart. It's all in the intention of the spellcaster. Magick is a part of the world and a part of nature, and nature is terrible and beautiful at once. Nature is just as it is, and it's neither black nor white.

Wicca is a relatively new word but it's based on a very old word, and even though the WIccan faith is a little bit newer than, say, Judeo-Chritian faith, they've never killed in the name of God. New is not necessarily bad.

And yes, not all witches are WIccan. I'm not a Wiccan, but I am a witch, and we've been here since...well, since always :)

Answer 7

Well for one, I am a kitchen witch. I follow my own beliefs according to my family. My family has passed onto me the book of shadows. My spells work ocassionally. I just did one spell last week and it is working wonderfully. White and dark magick is just what preferences some witches use. I use both because to me it is about balance. Not about being good or bad. Everybody in the entire world has good and bad in them. Most of the people aren't balanced enough. Why do you critize our religion? Don't you think christianity was only a few years old whenever it got started? Every religion has to start somewhere. It only picking up the pieces of pagan beliefs and adding new ones to it for a modern society. We are not a cult either. Most of us witches and wiccans are very peaceful and do not wish harm on anyone. It is against our beliefs.

Why do christians say Amen? It's an ending to whatever you are saying right? So...Blessed Be

Answer 8

Wicca aside for a moment...I am not Wiccan.

Yes, I believe my spells work. To have doubt in your spell is to weaken it. I cannot "prove" my spells work anymore than a Christian can "prove" that their prayer works. It is all a matter of faith.

Many Wiccans/Pagans/Etc use the term Magick to differentiate it from stage magic. Myself, I use regular m-a-g-i-c. White/Black Magic is really non-existant. It depends upon the intent of the spell-caster as to the path it takes.

Yes, Wicca is only 60 yrs old. It was brought to the public by Gerald Gardener, who claims he was initiated into a secret coven that was ancient in England. Who knows? He took old beliefs and transformed it into a modern religion. Wicca is based on old beliefs. Paganism has been around forever. It is older than Christianity.

Correct, not all witches are Wiccan. Also not all Wiccans are witches. Those that do not consider themselves witches tend to just follow the religious aspect of it and mainly honor their deities without ever lifting a magic finger.

The term "blessed be" derives from the 5-fold kiss during initiation.

"Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways.

Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar.

Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be.

Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty.

Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the Sacred Names."

Answer 9

You certainly demonstrate a total lack of comprehension! Our beliefs are not a mere 60 years old; ours is a belief system that has grown and evolved over hundreds of years. Nor was it always called Wicca. Certainly there are aspects in Wicca that are similar to other belief systems, but there are also aspects of other belief systems that emulate Wicca.
There is no "white magic" nor "dark magic". It's spelled "magick" and it's part of our ritual, as the eucharist and Apostle's Creed are part of many Christian denominations' Sunday ritual. When we "cast spells", we are practicing rites that concentrate our attentions and our spirits and enable us to see more clearly the course of action required of us. When we meet in a group, we often engage in a group spell-casting, a ritual intended to help us all focus on the issue at hand, whether that be the illness of someone we all care about, a wish for an end to war or famine, to celebrate one of the four major or four minor Wiccan holidays, or to bless the handfasting (marriage) of one of our couples.
Do not attempt to tell me witches are not Wiccans. If you know one who claims to be a witch but is not Wiccan, you know a pretender, one whom we call a Warlock. That is NOT what a male witch is called, by the way - "Warlock" is what we call a fake, a pretender, a wanna-bee and a traitor.
We rarely meet in a "coven"; most often we practice our beliefs as "solitaries". When we meet another whom we know to be
Wiccan, we will say "Merry meet!" And when we part, we will say "Blessed be" for the same reason Christians say "God bless you."
Now: you may take your aggressive behind and get outa here, capisce? We Wiccans don't "turn the other cheek".

Answer 10

A spell is a form of Prayer my guy...

And Wicca is trying to revoke the Old Religion, the pre-Christian era and on..

And you're right, not all Witches are Wiccans.

I suggest you do some searching on the internet...

EDIT FOR THE GUY BELOW ME..

Aleister Crowley is a ****** nut case...self centered and does not promote positive things at all...