Witchcraft- have you tried? Would you try?

[speakout]

Have you had any experience of this craft? Would you try? I understand that some think it's all rubbish, or may have fear but I am curious to other's views.

Witchcraft is not a religion.

And just to add you can be a witch and not be Wiccan.

I'm just waiting for the 'devil worshipping' old chestnut to pop up!

magpiemischief I am pretty sure you can find a religion that has every view under the sun from all grey to black and white, even when they have books to follow they can be interpreted to mean anything you want. Just like witchcraft.

speakout, yes I know witchcraft is not a religion but insert relevant word maybe belief system is better?

occam, Maiden, I would ask my earlier question to you too.

Do you recognise there are any inherent dangers in your 'craft', presuming there is power in it? How do you, personally, minimise them?

What are the dangers?

Julie, but is you follow a singular religion it usually tends to involve following. That is putting high consideration on the perspectives as stated through the core beliefs and values of the particular religion. With witchcraft there is less of this, as it is more secret and solitary and there is less established practice. So it stands to reason there is more scope for it to be more unwieldy and practitioners are more vulnerable to using their power as a result of emotions and whims, unwisely.

Is there danger in prayer? They are both sets of words asking for help, healing, strength, protection etc.

You, as a practitioner, do not know speakout?

Doing more harm than good is an obvious risk.

The person I knew wanted someone, who had treated them very badly during a traumatic time, to understand exactly how she felt. She cast a spell to that effect. That person did come to understand as they subsequently went through an equally traumatic life event. The person I knew (half) believes it was her spell that caused this. So harm caused psychologically or actually. Whatever you believe.

She also had disturbing nightmares of going out in spirit form haunting people with a 'spirit guide'. So she stopped. Not heard of any witchcraft activity from her since. (Or reports of haunting dreams)

Whether you believe this was supernatural or just in the mind, it was not a particularly healthy activity.

Is there danger in prayer?

The belief is the result of prayer is governed by God, not the individual. If someone trusts God, believes in His goodness, they will not believe there is any danger. If prayer is not prayed in faith, the belief is,
it will not work. A person praying cannot have any faith in something they believe is bad.

So the person I was talking about, would have no worries regarding praying for another person's understanding.

Haven't tried it myself but finding this thread an interesting read so placemarking

The belief is the result of prayer is governed by God, not the individual. If someone trusts God, believes in His goodness, they will not believe there is any danger. If prayer is not prayed in faith, the belief is,
it will not work. A person praying cannot have any faith in something they believe is bad.

Replace 'God' with The Universe/Gods/Goddess. I have faith, just not in the same God!

Your friend is a negative person and would still be a negative person regardless of her faith.

I would never put energy into revenge. It serves no purpose.

Good witches will do good things, bad witches can do bad things. Which is a lot safer than religion, where good followers can be told to do bad things by their chosen diety/priest.

What idiots actually believe in rubbish like witchcraft? Casting spells etc? Grow up. And before anyone says anything I am an atheist.

The person I know is not 'a negative' person. She is normal. She was grieving at the time. It is normal to grieve a struggle with traumatic events in our life times. She wanted the person who treated her badly to understand. On the surface of this situation quite normal. Sadly that person subsequently suffered a very traumatic event following the spell casting. The worry the person I know felt over this would just not have occurred with prayer. Even if a person feels vengeful they can trust nothing bad occurs as a result of prayer. It is not part of the belief system.

Good witches will do good things, bad witches can do bad things.

So the woman I know is a 'bad witch'. Helpful. The woman I know is also a lovely kind person. We all can be angry at times with people. If these thoughts can be directed so easily, through witchcraft, without governance, one would have to be very self disciplined not to cause accidental harm. As with the example I gave.

Cream, even as an atheist, you must understand the powerful psychological effect a belief in witchcraft can have.

@Creambun2 it's called freedom of choice!

People are free to believe anything they want to believe.

Intent is a very powerful force.

People who dismiss spells and magic really do not understand what it actually is witches do.

I am a scientist, an atheist and a practicing witch.

That's interesting speakout.

I'm a sceptic, an aficionado of James Randi, an atheist and a pragmatist ... and I study Tarot.

I've even written a book about it (whether it will ever get published or not is another matter ).

No decent witch would ever use 'witchcraft' for revenge or against people in a negative way. I dont know any that would. They all follow the mantra 'and ye harm none, do as thy will'.

Spells are a way of focusing your mind to help you achieve what you need/want.

Reinette

No decent witch would ever use 'witchcraft' for revenge or against people in a negative way. I dont know any that would. They all follow the mantra 'and ye harm none, do as thy will'.

The person I mentioned did not cast a spell for the primary purpose of vengeance. She just wanted the person her spell was concerned with to understand her better. Unfortunately it would seem any anger / vengeful feelings she harboured towards that person seems to have manifested through the spell casting. That person then did suffer an equally traumatic life event.

Whether or not people believe this was as a result is the spell is moot. However the person concerned was deeply shaken by it.

How do the witches on this thread ensure their intentions are pure/good when spell casting? That no harm is done. Nobody is perfect. The person I spoke about was grieving. The spell arose out of hurt and desperation. People go through circumstances they struggle with. How does a witch ensure their emotions do not impact their craft?

*@magpiemischief

*
They all follow the mantra 'and ye harm none, do as thy will'.

And we also live by the 'Rule of Three'

Rule of Three (Wicca) The Rule of Three(also Three-fold Law or Law of Return) is a religious tenet held by some Wiccans/Pagans. It states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times.

Sadly Maiden, I don't know how that mantra and rule of three could have protected the person I speak of. The harm was somewhat unintentional. A person struggling with life events might want someone to 'understand' but might not think through all the permutations of what gaining this understanding might involve.

I joined the Pagan society at university many (many) years ago. Had always had a spiritual leaning even before then.

Made some great friends at the time. Learned to love and respect people and nature as much as possible.

I think "Do as thou will as long as it harms no-one" should be a mantra adopted by all religions.

My advice is have a look at all the neo-pagan religions. Find something that suits you. Don't let anyone else tell you what to do.

I don't cast spells neither!

I am but a humble servant of the Goddess.

Jumpingsomebodyelsestrain - my experience is very similar to yours. I couldn't gel with the structured ways of Wicca, but identify as a Pagan.

I haven't had much time to practice spell casting these days, but way back when I first started, the sense of well-being and calm I had from the spiritual practices of spells and focus of energy was amazing.