Witchcraft adjacent?

[Martedi]

Hi,
I have been interested in paganism and/or witchcraft for years now. I’ve recently had a long period of having no interest in spirituality whatsoever. This lasted a few years. I can feel a twinge of interest when witchcraft appears in the active chats on Mumsnet.

I was put off a few years ago by the publishing boom in witchcraft books. Some of them were a bit samey and superficial. Of course, I bought quite a few of these books. I even bought a large book of spells and felt no draw to it at all.

I’m peri and possibly looking for something to lift me up a bit.

I don’t know what I’m asking really. Share your experiences?

Thank you @meltingrainbows I feel like I opened a door when I made that post this morning. Like a block has lifted. I may look around for some witchcraft blogs to read.

Have you read Religion & the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas? It’s some years since I read it.

When I looked into folk beliefs of past centuries, I got the impression that some people did use the Bible in spells. And that some churchgoers were also practising magic. So, if you’re drawn towards church and magic you won’t be the first person who has felt that way.

I had similar feelings re witchcraft, the traditional ceremonial spells and working with deities stuff is just not for me either. I do however, now follow a druidry path, celebrating the turning of the wheel etc . Druidry is also very nature and creativity based, which I love. I do practice some forms of magic now and then, mostly chaos and divination, cartomancy which I've done for 30 years now.

Thanks @meltingrainbows xxx

May I ask if you’re a member of any Druid organisations?

Religion & the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas was the first witchcraft book I bought too, many years ago.

Most of the published witchcraft books are pretty terrible. I am now very choosy about what I buy and am far more likely to pick up books on folklore instead. There is plenty of fluff in most of the mass market books and very little actual substance.

Using the bible as a spell book is definitely a thing, both now and in the past and some witches use the psalms for cursing. I have a cursing psalter somewhere in my own library. The Apocrypha is also well used. I particularly like the book of Tobias myself.

Folk magic and plant based spirit work along with astral is the core of my personal practice but I'm not averse to adding a little variation at times.

@Martedi yes I'm a member of the OBOD and took their course (was ok) but I think I'm going to join another order where I can get to meetings & celebrations soon.

I have been practicing for around 10 years it is the absolute centre of my life and he me .

Sorry, home 🙄

I'm interested in this too, probably from the point if view of honouring the rhythm of the year, but also feeling mindful and intentional in setting my mood. Also peri so wondering if this is a need to feel comforted by something bigger than myself. I'm sort of interested in gentle spells using herbs and crystals

@crochetmonkey74 I found that in conversations about ageing I kept coming back to a very positive image of older women and I think I picked that up from paganism/witchcraft.

@Elphame I’ll look out for some folklore books, thank you

Following as I feel exactly the same OP!

Bump for the nighttime crowd

I'm a Greco-Roman pagan, a priestess and I came from practicing witchcraft. It really works for me as Hecate was the ancient Roman goddess of witchcraft. So there is a big long real documented history.
And sure in the medieval period monks practiced magic! They got it from Greece and Rome and adapted it to fit Christianity.

There is a long running very busy thread here.
All witches, pagans or curious welcome.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality/4847683-any-witches-here-part-19

Try Wild Once by Vivianne Crowley x

Slightly different to witchcraft but I practice ceremonial magic combining Gnostic Christianity, hermeticism, Qabalah, divination, mysticism alchemy Rosicrucianism magic and divination.

Many of the more mystical paths looked at 40 as a time when doors would open.

there’s a you tube channel Foolish Fish you might find interesting.

Theres been a massive increase in interest over the last few years in magic but it has brought with it a lot of TikTok superficial elements to it

i would say it’s as essential part of my life as breathing

I also felt the craft calling me more strongly at menopause. I think in my case I had grown into my natural state of hag, as the other two never sat right with me. For me it helped that I slowed down and let the path reveal itself to me, rather than my usual style of researching the hell out of something and burning out.

Please don't use the bible in spells. That's making a mockery of Christianity and the Bible is very clear on this.

And?

There is a long tradition of using the bible for spellwork and it’s one I am happy to continue.

Actually, generally it’s likely to mean sorcerers. it’s generally used to discredit existing practices and cultures - Daniel, particularly around the story of Belshazzars feast is a very good example of the motive here.

The bible is full of magic and spells. Every Eucharistic mass is a spell.

I follow the seasons, try to observe the festivals even if its just lighting a candle or bringing greenery into the house.

I like hedge witchery. Herbs etc and I planted my garden for nature.

I don't like all the spell work or personification but believe living life alongside nature is the right thing to do.

Have a lovely Hecate necklace in solid gold but probably not to everyone's taste.