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Philosophy/religion

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Original poster

Wicca/Paganism

365 replies

DoctorShoe · 03/05/2015 01:03

Bright blessings to all!

Wiccan here. Just wondering if there are any more of us around. :) I don't have a coven, and there doesn't seem to be too much opportunity for it in Ireland, even in the medium sized cities.

DP is not a Wiccan. I'm a hospital doctor. We enjoy Dr. Who and Star Trek. I was raised Catholic.

I have had a lovely Beltane. Didn't get to celebrate quite as soon as I'd have liked, due to work, but it was beautiful.

My sick orchid is budding, my Book of Shadows is growing... Thinking about a nice walk in the woods tomorrow afternoon.

Would love to hear from others. :) I have so many questions.

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propelusagain · 10/05/2015 10:11

I am a witch, atheist and scientist.

Milllli · 10/05/2015 12:16

Daisy thanks about the Rosemary. Years ago I used to burn sage to clear the house. I have done spells in the past and they worked Shock . My daughter " sees" things. So did my Aunt. I read people and and tend to keep to myself cause it gets exhausting when there is a lot of negative energy around. My Husband is someone who people radiate towards to talk to. Annoys me sometimes but he is fine with it. I have always considered nyself a bit different as I have believed in fairies and divine powers ever since I was a child but only found out I am not alone in my thinking about twenty five years ago when I started reading books on the subject. We are Welsh ( Gogs).

Milllli · 10/05/2015 12:23

Vivacia do you have any experiences yourself?Smile

Milllli · 10/05/2015 12:33

elfy enjoyed your post. I have always felt there is " more" than just what we see. Do you all ever feel that the world that is constructed around us is not the whole picture? It's there to control us and the majority believe what is said by people in power without question. Or is that just me Smile I have actually been living in the constructed world for the last ten years and had been asleep and this thread has awoken me again .Grin

Milllli · 10/05/2015 12:35

prop always good to know there are people with feet in both worlds.

Vivacia · 10/05/2015 14:46

Vivacia do you have any experiences yourself?

I think that saying I'm open-minded about witchcraft and spells would be going too far. I would certainly hope to be open-minded to others' experience and truths. Following this thread I find myself curious as to how some of us may have had similar experiences and yet ascribed them to different causes. For example, as a child I loved the Sherlock Holmes stories, so I think that that influenced me to "believe" in deduction and common sense and coincidence. Perhaps if I'd had a beloved aunt who believed in special powers, I may interpret events differently?

Another example is that I get a lot of enjoyment and comfort from nature. I actually grow a lot of the plants mentioned here in this thread. However, I don't believe that they ward off evil, for example.

I'm very interested in those who identify as scientists, yet believe in things like homoeopathy.

propelusagain · 10/05/2015 15:58

My jury is out on homeopathy.
As a chemist I understand that homeopathy is not rational.

However our local NHS Medical Centre run a homeopathy clinic and the practitioner is a homeopath and qualified GP.
THe clinic is massively busy with referrals from GPs al over the region.

I do work magical spells to ( I feel) great effect.

Milllli · 10/05/2015 16:44

Is homeopathy not similar to immunisation in that The law of similars states that a disease is cured by a medicine that creates symptoms similar to those the patient is experiencing?

Original poster
DoctorShoe · 10/05/2015 17:22

Propelus, that's interesting. Smile

I'm open minded enough, given my witchcraft, but my view on homeopathy is : I'll believe if it's proven! I'm a selective skeptic. Wink

Daisy, all very enlightening . Lovely talking to you, and keep posting!

Bright blessings, all.

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DaisyStarLight · 10/05/2015 17:25

I'm not sure Homeopathy works but would try it - open minded about it. Acupuncture on the other hand worked great on my SPD.

science is great but its a process of understanding the world and there is a lot in this world that we have yet to understand or even notice. Feelings, belief, faith and personal experience can not yet be measured by anything that is solid, its all intangable.

Common sence can be wrong sometimes and people fear the unknown. Its just a leap of faith that there are different energy in the world and its governed by a bigger force than ourselfs.

Vivacia · 10/05/2015 17:27

No millli. There is lots of reliable evidence that immunisation works. There is no evidence that homeopathy works.

Vivacia · 10/05/2015 17:29

Feelings, belief, faith and personal experience can not yet be measured by anything that is solid, its all intangable.

Is your epistemological view that knowledge can only encompass what can be objectively measured?

Original poster
DoctorShoe · 10/05/2015 17:37

Vivacia, right with you on the vaccines vs homeopathy. Grin

The witchcraft goes against my science, but really seems to work for me.

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Vivacia · 10/05/2015 17:49

I think that homeopathy goes against "do no harm".

Original poster
DoctorShoe · 10/05/2015 17:56

Again, agreed. Smile

But if a few RCTs proved jelly beans worked, I might look upon them differently.

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propelusagain · 10/05/2015 18:30

I don't see any dissonance between my witchcraft and science.

Original poster
DoctorShoe · 10/05/2015 18:50

Maybe not. But maybe.

I'm honestly not too sure.

Could you please elaborate? Smile

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propelusagain · 10/05/2015 19:12

doctorshoe- this is my understanding.
If we understand the "sphere of availability" then we know that witchcraft can only " allow " things which are reasonably possible. Witchcraft cannot make the seas dry up or find us a million pounds down the back of the sofa.

"Primitive" cultures also understand the power of ritual ( as does the Catholic church), our subconcious mind does play an important role in our day to day life. Our subconcious mind responds to ritual , repitition, music, smell, many of the elements found in a magical spell.
THis is the part of the mind we appeal to when we perform magic. When we magically impress a intent upon our subconscious we send instructions in a language that can be understood.
Then during the course of our everyday interactions, our subconcious carries out subtle work to bring about the desired consequence. Our body language may subltel change, the way we speak to people, our manner on the telephone, our instinctive responses, our intuition when making decisions. These small but important actions work in a tiny but powerful way.
All this work goes on in the background without our conscious mind being aware. In fact some of my most successful works have worked best when I have put the whole spell or ritual to the back of my mind. Ultimately however these small unpercieved changes bring about our goal.

To me this explains 90% of my witchcraft.

The other 10% remains a mystery to me. The serendipity, the coincidences, sometimes shock me to the core. As does my Tarot pack which I have had for over 30 years, and is now so powerful and perceptive that I feel goosebumps when I pick it up. These things I actually don't understand.

Original poster
DoctorShoe · 10/05/2015 19:19

Well put! I'd agree with that. Thanks.

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DaisyStarLight · 10/05/2015 20:15

I totally agree with that propelusagain.

DaisyStarLight · 10/05/2015 20:30

Knowledge is facts backed by solid evidence but belief is what feels right to each individual and wicca allows you the freedom to follow your own path. To start that path I would recommend meditation and look inward to see what feels right for you vivacia.

elfycat · 10/05/2015 20:35

I have an interest in homoeopathy, Dr Bach of the rescue remedy fame, worked at the homoeopathic hospital and discovered some of their stuff . His remedies are energy based though, and not homoeopathy.

I will use arnica as one method to reduce bruising, but the whole treatment ideology doesn't ring true for me.

And I say that as a crystal healer Wink

I had a lovely moment with a White Chestnut tree today. DDs (and DH) were climbing a huge tree, so large the branches had reached the ground and sprouted new branches. It was in flower, the bit you use to make flower essences obviously and it really was thought calming. I may need to become an official 'tree-hugger'.

Vivacia · 10/05/2015 20:36

I too like propel's description. I suppose I just don't have the extra 10%.

Daisy my preferred definition is that science is what we hold to be true because we are convinced by the evidence. Belief is what we hold to be true despite the absence of evidence Smile
As I alluded to earlier, I don't really find anything missing in my life that might be addressed by a faith system.

morethanpotatoprints · 10/05/2015 20:45

Can somebody explain the difference between Paganism and wicca please.

I am open to the spiritual side and believe both myself and dd are able to see/ sense spirits.
We are superstitious and believe in positive thinking.
This is just because we are like this though and don't know anything about Wicca or Paganism.
I would be very interested in reading material if you have any suggestions for something that will take me from beginner to more practised please.

Milllli · 10/05/2015 21:43

morethan do you think you and your daughter could be indigo children?