paganism/ witchcraft/ magick?

Question

how can i find a teacher that won't try to make me join a cult or want me to do dark/ black magick. i am only interested in good magick to help others and protect my family. any ideas???

Answer 1

First of all, if you are under 18, you need to be content to study on your own for now. No organized Pagan group will allow minors to join without parental permission. No ethical teacher would or should take on an underage student. There are two main reasons. The first being panicy parents who don't understand and won't listen to an explanation that accuse us of trying to recruit their kid into an "evil cult." The second being that there really are predators out there who will do anything to lure young girls into their web. So, learn on your own while you're young, and beware of "teachers" who would teach minors.

As far as a teacher who will make you join a "cult," that problem is actually quite rare. There are groups that teach Magick, witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, and so on which you can be initiated into (once you are 18!), but very few of them I would classify as "cults." Neopagan and Occult organizations tend to be intensely individualistic, encouraging their members to think for themselves. You don't find much of the "hive mentality" here that you would find in other religions. Also, many Pagans won't even join groups, prefering to be "solitary practitioners." Isaac Bonewits created a tool that you can use to evalute any group you may consider joining to determine how "cult-like" it may or may not be; http://www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.html

Thirdly, while some practitioners of magick and witchcraft do adhere to dualistic concepts like Light/Dark, Black/White, Good/Evil, not all of us do. Magick is not, in and of itself, good nor evil. Magick is a tool. It is the intent of the practitioner that makes it so, not the technique used. You could use Reiki (which is always considered "Light Work") to manipulate the energies of another person and seduce them. You can summon a Goetic demon and command it to heal a sick person. Magick is deep, many facetted, and complex -- not simply Black and White. The important thing to remember is that Magick is the art and science of causing change in accordance with your Will. An ethical magician respects the Will of another person -- never hinders, manipulates, or interferes with the Will of another. Some magicians believe that there are Karmic repercussions in interfering with another's Will, others believe that interfering with another's Will directly interferes with their own. Try to be open minded, and don't judge the magician by the techniques they use.

Answer 2

witchvox.com is one possible source. So are some bulletin boards at New Age stores. However, a few notes should be added. One, most teachers that teach for profit don't offer much beyond what you can learn for yourself from a WIcca 101 book. Second, teachers that instruct without fee are rare, are often connected with covens (which you may nee dto be a part of to be taught), and are certainly never obligated to teach.

Also, neither place can guarantee the legitimacy of a teacher. The responsibility is upon you to identify what the teacher is representing, and if they start doing things you are uncomfortable with, you need to leave. If you're expecting to find a teacher to just tell you everything you should and shouldn't do while you blindly follow, then you're not ready.

You may also want to figure out what you want to learn. Anyone who claims to be teaching "paganism" is an idiot. There are a large variety of religions within that term. It would be like teaching "monotheism." Wicca, witchcraft, and the various pagan paths are all different things.

Also be aware that unscrupulous magicians rarely announce they're prcaticing "black magic." Evil is in the intent, not the tool. Again, it will be up to you to determine whether the teacher's applications are ethical.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as black/white magick, good/bad spells, blessings/curses. The outcome of any spell relies on the intention of the caster. An experienced practitioner can control their emotions and utilize this rule to maintain necessary balance - which is what it's all about. Casting too many positive spells without also incorporating negativity (NOTE: positive ≠ good, negative ≠ evil) upsets the natural flow of things, and can create chaos.

I recommend starting as a solitary and teaching yourself through books and other resources - find what works for you; everyone's path is different! But if you really want a mentor, or if later on you'd like to join a coven or a circle, I recommend http://www.witchvox.com/ when looking for anything or anyone in your area relating to Pagansim and the Craft.

P.S. Listen to MSB - she knows her stuff.

Answer 4

Few cults are Pagan/Wiccan/Witches, though there are bad apples in all barrels and you always have to be careful of who you get involved with in life no matter what their religion.

Likewise, a small portion of Pagans/Witches are into "dark/black" magic. We are a religion of peace and responsibility and, no matter what the rumors are, you rarely run into practicing religious Pagans or Witches who are into harming others. We believe in karma, which means you get what you give-- doing harmful magic is not only unethical, but stupid because you'll just receive more negativity in return. Most Pagans/Witches are well aware of this.

The bad news is, if you're a minor and are looking for a Pagan/Witch to teach you magic, you probably won't find one. It is unethical in our beliefs to teach children, though some will if they talk to a consenting parent/guardian. I would be wary of any Pagan group or Witches coven of adults that would admit a minor.

The good news is, magic doesn't just belong to Pagans/Witches. You can read books on the subject and practice meditating and learn, to some extent, on your own. One of the first most important things is learning how to discipline your mind through meditation. You can practice this on your own.

My belief is that if/when you're ever ready for a teacher, one will find you.

Answer 5

Your local pagan store will most likely also offer classes - generally beginner classes are free and give you a chance to meet the people you might work with.

Unitarian Universalist churches have a group called CUUPS. They usually host events and groups/classes for free, like-minded people. It's also a good place to meet people to hang out and talk, and often the meetings are away from the church - just in case you have a thing about going to church.

Answer 6

You have gotten a lot of good answers for where to look for a Pagan Coven to learn the Craft. Most notably, Witchvox, which is a kind of worldwide meeting place for Pagans to meet, connect, learn and teach. They also have listings of Covens all over the world so that you can help find the one that is nearest you.

Here are some basic things to know, however;

1. The Witches Rede (aka Wiccan Rede) is "An it harm none, do as ye will". What people refer to as "black majic" is not performed by true followers of the majority of Pagan religions, as we are nature based and believe in Kharmic retribution. The vast majority of what we do is to heal, protect or bring about justice and balance.

2. If someone offers to teach you the Craft.....but charges you for the knowledge; Run, do not walk, in the other direction. We know of NO ONE who will charge to teach the craft. Charge for services (spells, incences, special candles, Tarot readings, etc), yes, but not to teach.

3. As others have said; Paganism is a religion. Unlike Christianity which expects you to "take it on faith", Pagans expect you to seek answers in all of the things around you as well as within yourself.
It requires a huge amount of self-honesty.

4. Unlike a church congregation, where they take anyone without regard to the effect of your energies on the workings of the congregation; In most Pagan Covens, the Priestess and Priest of the Coven will interview you first to see if you are right for their Coven.
This is also a chance for you to interview them to see if their Coven is right for you, as well.

5. Trust your feelings (Use the force, Luke). If something doesn't feel right when you are interviewing for a Coven, then find another Coven to join. If you are not completely comfortable with the Coven you join, then it will not be good for you or them.

6. Your dedication to wanting to learn the Craft may be tested. You may get rejection after rejection. Amongst groups in some areas, this is to protect the Coven from the casual Pagan as well as to protect it's members from those who would do them harm if they found out about them being Pagan. There are still those who would return us all to the burning times.

7. If you are successful in finding a Coven which is right for you, you will find some of the dearest friends that you will ever find.

8. While Solitary practice is good for some, it is not good for all. being a Solitary Practicioner means that the only real sorce of knowledge that you get is from books; and while there are many great books out there, there are as many bad ones out there that teach what many of us refer to as "fru fru" magic.

There is also another downside to solitary practice; No one to ask questions of if the books do not answer your questions. There is that advantage in a Coven. You can ask your high Priest/Priestess and you will always get a real answer, even if they have to look it up or ask their High Priest/Priestess.

If you are under 18;
Then, as others have said, no respectable Coven will have you until you are 18. If they do, then it would ONLY be after they have talked to your parents as well as you, but then you would have to have exceptional levels of maturity as well as permission from your parents and most likely be close to 18.

Answer 7

First of all Paganism is not some kind of cheap parlour trick, it's a religion, if your willing to commit yourself to any religion it's good to talk to an official of that religion, There are different kinds of "magic" and I don't think Pagans in general even have much to do with it.

I've read a bit of the Oracle myself, and there's not really many teachers who DO practice black magic, it's mostly "white" magic, I think all you need to do is a bit of decent searching, five minuites or so really.

Answer 8

It's often hard to find a good "in person" teacher, because there are so few good gurus out there. Try this webpage.... http://servantsofthelight.org/
This group is decended from Dion Fortune's teachings, so you can know they're quality correspondence.

Answer 9

First it is said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.

And second, I understand the wanting to find a teacher but try learning on your own. Try book and yahoo groups; and when you have gain your own perspectives and experience, then find a teacher. ...there is only so much you can learn from books as there is only so much you can learn with a teacher.

Answer 10

http://witchvox.com/ is a good place to look up pagan/Wiccan groups in your area.

No one who truly understands paganism will force you to do black magic; many try to focus on good, or "white" magic. However, you should not deny the existence of black magic, as it provides a balance to white magic, and in many pagan paths balance is a key concept.

And not to be mean, but you kind of sound like you should do more reading and researching before you seek out a mentor.