I'm a witch. AMA

[Fireproof]

Practising witch here, happy to do some mythbusting.

It's my understanding that pagans and wiccans do not practice satanism

Can you explain your religious practices? I'm an atheist. It all seems like superstition to me.

Do you genuinely believe you're a witch and can do magic? Have you sought professional help?

@TakeABreak2 by Satan do you you mean an evil entity or force that is responsible for all the world’s ills? If so then no, I don’t believe that such a thing exists so I don’t fear my religion leaves me open to evil any mor than yours would. I do incorporate some LeVeyan (Church of Satan) beliefs into my own- they use “Satan” to describe the primal urges that drive us, and other animals, which are often suppressed or seen as sinful in other religions. My object of worship is Nature.

@unintentionalthreadkiller I am not open about my beliefs with many people outside of my immediate household and my very closest friends. There is a lot of stigma attached to witchcraft- a lot of people think all witches are Devil-worshippers and practise things like animal/ human sacrifice or ritual abuse. I live in a small village and work with children so I feel it is best if I keep it under my pointy hat. My religious beliefs and practises are private. However, if you came into my home you’d definitely see pagan stuff, and if I as asked directly about it I wouldn’t lie.

@JustAnotherPoster00 no broomstick here, just a piece of shit Fiat 500. Broomsticks are used by many pagans and witches, though- just not for flying! For example in a wedding/ handfasting the bride and groom often jump over a broomstick as part of the ceremony, and they’re often used to symbolically sweep negativity out of a house.

The myth of witches flying on broomsticks apparently comes from old ceremonial witchcraft where the witch would cover the broom handle in a hallucinogenic salve and then strip off and rub her vagina on it. She’d not be physically flying but mentally there’d be all sorts of stuff going on!

I reckon broomsticks would cause a fucking colossal wedgie so even if it was a transport option I think I’d go for a flying carpet instead.

by satan i mean the devil

@glitterbiscuits All religious practises are superstitions to those that don’t believe them. I know I enjoy them, they work for me, they make me feel good and they don’t harm other people.

Do you have anything specific you want explaining? Like, how I feel when I do a ritual or a spell, or are you more interested in things like Sabbats?

There are atheist witches- in that they do not worship a particular deity but still practise ceremonial magick.

@CanaBanana yep, I believe I’m a witch in that it is how I’d describe a person who holds my religious beliefs. I don’t believe I can do magick as in, like, Harry Potter. But I do what works for me. I use magick as a way to connect myself with nature, and to bring power out of myself that I might not normally be able to access (for example, confidence, or bravery). Would you ask a Catholic who believes in transubstantiation if they need professional help?

@TakeaBreak2 no, I don’t believe in the devil or Hell. Evil is done by people through their own choices and actions.

@CanaBanana would you ask Christians if they had considered seeking help for their belief in an imaginary giant in the sky? How rude and condescending.

Fireproof It's good to see more Pagans on here but going by other threads you're in for a rough ride as people will say all sorts of shitty things about a non mainstream religion that they wouldn't dare say about Judaism, Christianity, Islam Etc. Seems they don't believe we are deserving of any respect unfortunately

@LadyDeadpool Meh, I don’t mind, it’s an AMA after all! Nice to see i’m not the only one on MNet at least :)

How important do you think things like phases of the moon are when casting spells? Or do you think that the effect is more psychological? (By which I mean, you think it's a "stronger" day for a particular ritual, so therefore, your belief in the process is stronger, and therefore is more effective)

Ooh, and another, if I may, since you said you have an interest in Hoodoo - how does "Christian" magic, like that tradition or Voudoun, differentiate itself from eg Pagan magic?

Do you have a special connection to animals?
I'm not a witch but I find animals come to me all the time and are very calm around me, I once got told by someone that I'm a natural witch because of it?? I just think it's because I'm a calm person to be honest.

@UtterlyDesperate your first question re phases of the moon- they can be more or less important depending on the witch. The moon and it’s phases are very important to Wiccans, because the phases of the moon represent the three aspects of their Goddess (maiden= waxing, mother= full moon, crone = waning).

For me, I think you’ve described how I feel about it pretty well- I love the moon, and the sight of a clear night sky with a bright full moon is very energising to me. It creates the right atmosphere, which heightens belief, which makes it work better. If I needed to do an important ritual, I’d probably choose to do it on the full moon if it could possibly wait til then. Same with candles, incense, altar set up etc- it helps to get in the right mindset for what you’re doing.

I think the main difference in hoodoo and Santeria from other types of paganism is the use of Christian prayers and saints in their practise. Palm 23 gets used in a lot of hoodoo spells, for example. But otherwise they’re pretty similar in nuts and bolts practise- sympathetic magic, candles, use of herbs etc.

@chickedychicked Yes, definitely there are some types of animals I feel a connection with an am always very happy when they’re around. Corvids and hares, most prominently. I think a love of nature is vital for a witch so in that aspect you’re a natural witch :) But also, yes, animals like calm and non threatening humans!

Thanks so much, op - very interesting and your detailed replies are greatly appreciated

Another pagan here!

What's your favourite time of the year and why?

@RadicalisedPortal autumn! I love the woods in autumn, the colours, the crisp air and sky. My favourite two Sabbats are the autumn equinox and Halloween/ Samhain. There’s a definite feeling, to me, of the world being on a kind of crossroads at that time, and that you should celebrate and make merry because there’s dark months ahead.

Me too! It's a changing season when there's a lot afoot. The beginning of Autumn is a complete opposite to the beginning. Great for foraging too!

Alexandrian Wiccan here.

For example, a few years ago I had to go through what was an incredibly harrowing emotional ordeal, so I performed a ritual to give me the power and strength to get through it, and it worked

Surely you can see just how flawed that logic is?

While I agree that "ritual" (if you believe in it strongly enough) can provide you with a psychological boost, you must know that whether you had performed the ritual or not, you would have "got through" the situation. That there is no causal connection between whatever the ritual was and the outcome of your ordeal.

Also, why the spelling of magic with a k?

@RadicalisedPortal yessssss lots of hazelnuts and blackberries and apples and chestnuts to be had. Plus there’s all the silly stuff that is a complete hoot- horror films and costumes and decorating the house at Halloween. My family are Scottish so we always went guising as kids, which is something not many English children seemed to do when we firs moved here.

@BitOutOfPractice magick isn’t about logic, though, it’s about tapping into that which is hidden. Some people see this as an external force, others (like me) see it as something internal that needs the right keys to unlock. I know with 100% certainty that if I had not performed that ritual, I would not have been able to do what needed to be done.

The magick/ magic thing is to differentiate from the Paul Daniels type of magic :)

BitOutOfPractice, its similar to Christians chosing to say a prayer when a relative is ill or seeking solace in church after a loved one has died. Those people would have got through the hard time without the prayers or church, but it harms no one and brings comfort. Faith is a huge part of society, just because its less mainstream when its wicca, doesnt make it less valid or less important to the individuals that believe in it.

I find that just as illogical yes ShadowsInTheDarkness. Just as I find touching wood or other superstitions.

And adding a k doesn’t convince me either

But yes I agree it’s not harming me personally though lots of people are harmed by a belief on magic.