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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/26/2006 4:42:43 PM | "All Wiccans are Pagan but not all Pagans are Wiccan".
"I have to agree to disagree with that comment."
I actually agree with the above statement - that all Wiccans are pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans. I am most definately not a Wiccan. I toyed with the idea of BTW over 10 years ago, but it wasn't for me. I am a Reconstructionist who works with 2 pantheons - Celtic & Baltic. I am a 10yr member of OBOD (Order of Bards Ovates & Druids) and a member of Romuva (Lithuanian paganism)...
I don't like being lumped in with Wiccans - not because there is anything within the path that is abhorent to me - but because I am not a Wiccan. It would be like saying that there is no difference between the umbrella term "Christianity" and "Roman Catholicism" - the Anglicans, Methodists, Calvanists, Lutherans, Russian Orthodox etc would take issue with that. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/27/2006 3:21:03 AM | Thank you maryte,
That is the point that has been made here and on several other threads. Unfortunately those that don't know, research or want to understand, still want to lump everything Witchcraft under one heading. Maybe it is more comfortable for them.
The point of this thread was actually to try and educate some and maybe take some fear away about the craft. If you read the thread you will see that there are still some that thing all things witchcraft are evil. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/27/2006 11:29:10 AM | Maybe if it's approached from the standpoint of "magic"?
There are many elements within Christianity which could be considered magical. For example, until a few decades ago a Catholic Priest could give a general benediction over his congregation with the wave of his hand - a general "I absolve you of all your signs", the concept of transfiguration with the bread & wine being changed into the body & blood Christ.
People will always fear what they don't understand, but hopefully as this thread and others bear out, through just gentle sharing of knowledge hopefully we come off as less scarey.
Not all of us look like the Wicked Witch of the West (from the Wizard of Oz).. I know I don't have green skin and have a cohort of flying monkeys.  | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/27/2006 4:32:05 PM | Failure is the fore runner of fear... | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/27/2006 7:17:52 PM |
Maybe if it's approached from the standpoint of "magic"?
Not a bad idea, actually, since some of the concepts we've discussed, at least for me, only obliquely address or touch on the subject of "witchcraft." Of course, that's more a vocabulary/definitions thing, but Behold! the power of language!
People will always fear what they don't understand, but hopefully as this thread and others bear out, through just gentle sharing of knowledge hopefully we come off as less scarey.
A big-time unfortunate amen to the first part, I'm afraid. As for the rest, I agree. Knowledge and understanding always trump fear. Right on!
Not all of us look like the Wicked Witch of the West (from the Wizard of Oz).. I know I don't have green skin and have a cohort of flying monkeys.
Dunno about the green skin deal, but an army of flying monkeys would be cool! (apart from housing and clean-up, of course...)
Failure is the fore runner of fear...
I truly wish I had a clue to what this meant. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/28/2006 8:43:19 PM |
That is the point that has been made here and on several other threads. Unfortunately those that don't know, research or want to understand, still want to lump everything Witchcraft under one heading. Maybe it is more comfortable for them.
Hrm..and there in lies the problem. Lumping. Lord knows Ive come to see how vast the term "witch craft" really is.
The point of this thread was actually to try and educate some and maybe take some fear away about the craft.
I think there always will be fear. A little old school teaching, a little sunday school teaching, a little bit of hollywood thrown into the mix and what do you get? All witches, spells, are evil.
If you read the thread you will see that there are still some that thing all things witchcraft are evil.
Any always will be, which is their perogative, however, they are also missing out on knowing some great folks, simply because they fear the unknown...or shall I say, the unfamiliar.
Not all of us look like the Wicked Witch of the West (from the Wizard of Oz).. I know I don't have green skin and have a cohort of flying monkeys.
Dunno about the green skin deal, but an army of flying monkeys would be cool! (apart from housing and clean-up, of course...)
Gotta agree with Feral on this one....flying monkeys would be kinda cool LOL Altho I'm not a witch..so I'd just be a crazy lady with flying monkeys... hrm.. better than cats I guess. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/29/2006 8:33:47 PM | Hey I'd rather be a witch than God....being witch means do harm to others, being God means do harm to yourself.No offense to anyone, I just think it's funny.Oh but at the moment, being human suits me fine. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/30/2006 3:51:46 AM |
being witch means do harm to others,
Not sure where you came up with that. Nowhere in my practice do I do harm to others.
As a matter of fact I go out of my way to not harm others.
Again I say, read the OP...then scan through all the different replys. I think it might be an eye opening experience as to what it really is all about. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/30/2006 9:06:00 AM | | I didn't mean "being witch means do harm to others" in reference to paganism or wiccan , I just said it because it has been potrayed throughout history in a negative manner(remember salem witchcraft trial and numerous others in history) and not many people accept, not sure why though.I was talking about it in a light tone ,didn't mean to offend anyone, it's just funny and sad how people always think of followers of God as good and people who practice witchcraft as bad, so I was just making a joke about it. I am sorry if people were offended but that wasn't my intention at all. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 10:44:03 AM | | My fault Sayonara, I misunderstood. You're right there are many people that really don't understand the concept and are not willing to educate themselves. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 2:23:46 PM | | I am Wicca, very missunderstood, this religion is one of the most oldest known to man.It is a grounded, earth, we think thier is a Goddess as well as a God, but more inportant, Wicca is open to everyone, Tarot cards, candles, chrystals, astrology, all of it is Wicca, you can take what is in you heart and not feel bad about what you believe in. I dont run around naked in my back yard OK. I am forgiving, and treat with kindness, I am open to others. Yes, you may cast spells, if that is what you believe in, pay as well.You see???? I hope I have been helpful and answered your question. If you choose to call me a witch, that is OK with me as well, all is good.pj | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 2:34:37 PM | | PS. I read some of the answers you have got, wht ever happoned to kindness, accpetance, some people can not see beyond themselfs, is this the way too treat others???PJ | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 2:37:30 PM | I am pagan, and I absolutely love that I have finally found my path...
I found a great woman to help guide me through it, and with her help did my first banishment ritual and my first protection spell....the energy that was in my living room that night was incredible!
I wish I had followed the goddes and found my path years ago! | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 6:06:17 PM | Pj,
There are many answers that have to do with kindess, There are also a lot of different definitions.
I don't know if you read the O.P. with somewhat of an explaination. I am a Green Witch that follows a somewhat Celtic path of Paganism. I already have my definition of what and who I am. The thread was started as an aid to help others. It grew beyond what I thought it would and we had some wonderful input from many different paths.
Thank you for your imput also.
I might just give you a heads up to the fact that the wicca branch of Paganism is actually fairly recent, taking some ideas from the past. I am sure if you do some more research on it you will discover that yourself. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 7:29:22 PM | | Hello, congraulations, You are lucky, as am I, I too have found my path Wicca and pagan as well, isnt life wonderful. I find candles are my path, whatever the Goddess gives too me, good and not so good I know she has a plan for me, so I accept it. PLease contact me if you like, I am new also, I get books from the library and buy as well. My spells so far are for a companion, I have been divorced for 2 years, I am ready for a man to come into my life, and I know he will when the Goddess thinks him and I are ready for each other. Nice having you around!!!PJ | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 3/31/2006 7:35:10 PM | | thank you for taking the time to message me.I am both pagan and wicca, I am new, only about 5 months, I am educating myself every day, and I embrace with love and trust knowing that I can deal with what ever life brings my way with peace in my heart. I am in Reno, I have found a few, always have my charms on to attract, and it works sometimes. Thankl you.. still learning are receiving the blessings along the way.. pj | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/1/2006 4:47:25 AM | | I thought Wicca was my path, until my cards said otherwise. I know I am moving along the correct path(paganism) but I need to do a vision quest to really find out where I am to go with this. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/1/2006 12:03:36 PM | | You must do what you feel in your heart is the right direction for you, no matter, cards, yes, I have cards, Goddess cards, very useful for me.Helps me direct my life in the proper direction and keep a good prospective on life. Things change all the time, including you, at this time you have been guided to paganism, you will be rewarded for your efforts to inquire about the path you choose. Mine was given to me, by a simple task, I was already living the Wicca life, as you please, and did not know it, but I had no spititual direction, I do not believe in organised churches at all and have been to some seeking the truth. The truth came to me, in a person I just stumbled on in conversation, she told me to burna candle, I did...that was it, now I am in the process of educating myself..good luck to you pj | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/2/2006 4:55:45 PM | SeriouslyFunnyLady: not sure if this is the proper place to address this. The thread has gone on so long I cannot know where to begin to re-read.
I just learned of an activity called "Blessing Way". I would like to know more about that if you can help define what that means, what is done, etc...
You will be happy to know, I have been enjoying reading up more on the phases of women, especially Crone or Wise Woman archetype, since I'm spinning my wheels that direction... and also because just in the past few weeks, I've been dealing with a 92 year old woman and her decline.
I read that some think we need a new Crone archetype - a sort of "Aquarian Crone" that reflects new ways of perceiving the latter part of life as a more vibrant, free elder woman
rather than the dependent on family, eccentric woman. As I near those latter years, I am more interested in proving to the younger generation the value of our elder women (IE: their wisdom, courage, guidance).
Any thoughts, comments?
Ash | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/2/2006 11:00:00 PM | | Actually, Ash, as regards my understanding of the Crone archetype, the "vibrant, free elder" is a part of that, inclusive as a facet of the potential. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/3/2006 3:20:12 AM | Ashley,
The Healing Way is not somthing I am familiar with. I did go look it up because you made me curious. What I found all seems to lead to the Navajo indian way.
I'm not sure if this agrees with the things you have read or not. Let me know.
The Navajo do not pray for rain. Unlike their neighbors, the Pueblo and Hopi, who dance for the favor of the gods when drought threatens, the nomadic Navajo will hold ceremonies to put themselves in harmony with nature, even if it means buckling down to wait out a season of no rain. Similarly, the Blessing Way Chant is designed not to heal the patient of his physical ills, but to restore him to the "path of beauty", the road of balance and harmony. And if that means the patient dies, or loses an arm, or comes out of the experience scarred in some way, that too is part of the process of living and dying that the Navajo seek to align themselves with. The point of the ceremony, like the laying on of hands among Christians, is the renewal of spiritual force, not bodily health. Like their spiritual cousins the Zen Buddhists, the Dineh (Navajo) seek wholeness and understanding rather than the manipulation of cosmic forces
Source:http://www.munchkyn.com/xf-rvws/paperclip.html
As for the giving of wisdom and guidance to the younger women, I agree. We use to live in a society where the elders were taken in to the home to help care for the children and teach the old stories and ways. Now with modern day society we stick them in "old folks homes" where our children really don't have contact with them, Or learn the history of the family.
It is sad really. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/3/2006 4:21:20 AM | Thanks ^^ that really makes me even more curiouts about the author who spoke of
this gathering - out of the blue - which she didn't define. She is a physician. She has mentioned Wicca in her writings, so naturally I thought the rest of her dialogue....
Hmmmmm..... will continue to read... Thanks - Ash | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/4/2006 4:25:44 AM | Ashley
Please post when you find out more. I am curious now too.
Many of the pagan religions borrow, if you will, from each other to make the whole of their religious beliefs. It would be interesting to know if this person is borrowing from the Natives.
I personally find many of the ideas behind Native religions to correspond to my thinking. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/4/2006 8:54:07 AM | Yeah, I'm see that connection too; thou I am new to that which you have introduced me...
I have always admired or felt kinship with the Indian "Mother Earth" things I've learned over the years.
And, I find it much easier to commune with God, value my relationship with God, see his wonderment, etc... out of doors. I also find it easier to meditate outside.
The only real thing about the physical building of a church that rocks me are the stained glass windows.
(I am planning more stained glass hangings for my next home.)
Perhaps the similarities between Pegan and Indian practices, are like so many similarities that we see in the various places on earth. IE: Pyramids that are built virtually at the same time in different places on earth.
The author that I am now reading and of which this concerns is Christiane Northrup, MD "Mother-Daughter Wisdom"... the web of nature and nurture, of biology informed by consciousness.." She is into Chakras and how one's beliefs, emotions and physical health intertwine.
Next in my bookshelf is Awakening Intuition by Mona Lisa Schultz. Using your intuition to heal yourself, to strenthen your mind-body consciousness, empower yourself...
oooo watch out world - here comes Ash!! | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 4/8/2006 3:55:29 PM | A Witch is the pejorative word for Celtic women who have strong Celtic spiritual beliefs that go back far beyond "the birth of Our Lord Jesus".
A "witch" is a Celtic Pagan gifted woman, a Leader of Men, a woman of great sipritual connection. In short, a Good thing (as long as you don't worship a male dominated Judeo Middle Eastern devised religion) LOL..  | |
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