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.

If your friend was suffering with negative energy and she wanted someone else to 'understand how she was feeling' then to me it wasn't unintentional, it was intentional.
She shared that negative energy by her actions. 'I didn't mean it' just doesn't cut it I'm afraid.

If you live by the Rede and Rule of Three as most of us do and apply it to every aspect of your life you would never do as your friend has done.

Every Witch and indeed Pagan I know are very, very strong people who regardless of what difficulties they are experiencing are guided and draw strength from the Rede and Rule of Three.

The Wiccan Rede /ˈriːd/ is a statement that provides the key moral system in the Neopagan religion of Wicca and certain other related Witchcraft-based faiths. A common form of the Rede is An it harm none, do what ye will.

Maiden, the trouble is a lot of people 'dabble' without proper understanding. I think the woman I was speaking of can be very strong. This probably was part of the problem, the intensity of that energy and a very strong will. As I said, I don't think the craft is healthy for her. With prayer there is a built in safeguard - God does not do anything against His will. Witchcraft relies on the practitioner to know whether what they want comes from a good place. Because it is 'just' focussed thought and ritual they might not take it as seriously as physical action.

I could easily see this as a common problem though. A way things could easily go wrong. People's intentions are not always pure. You need a very good self awareness to acknowledge this in times of emotional strain.

And how can people gain a balanced understanding with witchcraft? When so much is hidden, secret, not firmly established. A lot of the craft does involve 'dabbling' and 'following your own path'. It is not surprising that some practitioners get their fingers burnt.

And after all, Wicca was only invented in the 1950s so inquisitive types could easily decide to drop its mantras and rules.

@magpiemischief you raised lots of points in your post.

Lots of people 'dabble' in lots of religions and belief systems.

Many Pagans follow their own path because there is no doctrine and no 'wrong' way to be Pagan.

Personally I don't need a god to police me, I'm responsible for my own actions (see Rule of Three/Rede), I'm not a sheep that follows blindly. The answers I seek are all in me. I don't do the right thing through fear of hell and damnation I do it because it's the right thing to do.

Any individual in a position of power, say for instance a vicar/Catholic Priest/ pastor can abuse that power....it happens in all belief systems/religions.

Why do you think the craft remains hidden/ secretive? You seem to think it's because it's bad. It's not. It's hidden to protect those involved.

Wicca it's self is indeed relatively new but witchcraft isn't. As I said in a pp not all witches are Wiccan and Paganism predates Christianity. Wicca (to me) draws on the old to make it compatible with the new (modern life).

As a pp said, the Rede and Rule of Three could be followed by everyone regardless of their beliefs and the world would be a better place for it.

Yes, I practice witchcraft but I am not Wiccan.

My grandmother was taught witchcraft tools when she was growing up in the 1890s, so predates Wicca,

Interesting thread. The rule of 3 also applies to the law of attraction, I read recently.

I am also not Wiccan.

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

There are at least two contradictions in there that you really should notice as a scientist.

"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."

OP - As a scientist, would you care to explain to us how exactly this coefficient of 3 was calculated?

CoteDAzur I really don't think you are in a position to say that.

You know very little of my views.

I don't do the right thing through fear of hell and damnation I do it because it's the right thing to do.

Not all Christian preaching focuses on hell and damnation but rather the transformative power of Christ.

Many Pagans follow their own path because there is no doctrine and no 'wrong' way to be Pagan.

This is exactly some of what I was dealing with in my posts. There is a lot of scope to do harm, with witchcraft, either to yourself, psychologically, or actually to others, depending upon your beliefs.

Religions where there is doctrine, at least help new followers negotiate their way through things. Yes some abuse their power, as in all walks of life, but there are legal systems of accountability with a religion which openly publishes their creed and practices within full view of society,

I think it is important to actively acknowledge the potential dangers within the practice of witchcraft in order to prevent situations like the one I described earlier.

Wicca (to me) draws on the old to make it compatible with the new (modern life).

How is 'the old' established, with very little in the way of writings and archeological evidence being scant in terms of the specific nature of beliefs and ritual? So much has been reconstructed. What does exist, in terms of ancient Pagan practices, is evidence of a great amount of human sacrifice and other blood sacrifices which would certainly be illegal now.

This is exactly some of what I was dealing with in my posts. There is a lot of scope to do harm, with witchcraft, either to yourself, psychologically, or actually to others, depending upon your beliefs.

Why are you linking Witchcraft with negativity and harm when it's actually all about positivity and doing good?

Maiden, how can you say what witchcraft is about, when so much depends on the person practising? You said yourself there is no right and wrong way to practice. There is no doctrine, as you said. I relayed my understanding of the dangers from my contact with someone who experienced them. Are you minimising their experience?

Shall we pick apart the Bible because I'm pretty sure there's an awful lot of nasty practices in there which are illegal today.

By the old I meant the use of herbs/plants for healing and such like. Knowledge passed through generations.

Neo Paganism is an earth/nature centred spirituality.

No I said there is no right or wrong way to be Pagan.

I'm not picking it apart. I'm just asking how the 'old practices' are known.

Is herbal medicine witchcraft? I know 'wise women' often employed the used of herbs. However I would split herbalism from witchcraft, in terms of using herbs with chemical medicinal properties requires no ritual. I suppose in the practice of biodynamics, in farming, there might be considered some cross over.

I know there is blood sacrifice etc in the Old Testament but these people were not practicing Christianity. Just as, I presume, the majority of modern witches do not practice blood sacrifice. My question was merely concerning establishing the origins of belief and ritual within witchcraft.

I'm not minimising anyone's experience I just don't recognise that person as a witch.

Take the Hypocratic Oath taken by Doctors.....Harold Shipman took the same oath, does that make all doctors potential murderers?

Surely though, being a 'witch' is self defining. What would you call someone who casts spells which do cause harm?

Yes, doctors do have the power to purposely cause harm. However there are so many rules any regulations and safety procedures, the risk of this is minimised. How could witchcraft, seriously, be governed?

I'd recommend The Witch: A History of Fear from Ancient Times to the Present
By Prof Ronald Hutton.

Read it and hopefully educate yourself. I'm off to tickle kittens and then slaughter a goat or two.

I already know of Prof Ronald Hutton's material. Sadly my questions remain unanswered.

Perhaps you could ask 'god' and he can help you out.

Of course, Maiden. And what I am sensing is that there is no answers as to how witchcraft could be practiced entirely benevolently and safely. That probably is my answer, isn't it?

I feel I'd be a powerful witch but I'd use my power for low level irritation on people I don't like. No idea why I feel like that