| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 6:15:18 AM | I have to say I am delighted that this thread has generated as many responses as it has.
Feral, very good definitions thank you.
I also like the fact that some of the Africian religions have been brought up and some light been shed on them
Keep it coming, I am learning a lot. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 6:41:28 AM | Do I dare go Dungeons & Dragons here and list all the diffferent magic users there are? Aside from the types of magics used or "concentration of studies" is there a correlation with your definitions?
Most use some sort of herbalism, chant mantras or words of power, and use gestures.
Here goes:
Mage
Illusionist
Witch/Warlock
Wizard (alread mentioned I know)
sorcerors
conjuerers
magicians
clerics
druids
"The eight schools of magic available to spellcasters are abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, and transmutation."
And with the clerics/druids their power are derived based on which diety they worship.
I'm only mentioning this as other forms of magic users. D&D based alot of their info on some historical contexts based on what ancient people used to do, but they went further and made the magic real to be able to play a fantasy game. My point is just that these are other forms of sorcery and magic that were believed in at one time and are still seen in fantast media today (i.e Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings).
Speaking of Harry Potter, they have alot of references to "types" of magics as well. | |
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longte
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Joined: 10/18/2004
Msg: 153 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 6:51:53 AM | Mage
Illusionist
Witch/Warlock
Wizard
sorcerors
conjuerers
magicians
clerics
druids
Witch Doctor
Necromancer
Arcane Adept
Shaman
I just added a couple on to round out most of those mentioned so far
They all blend in together in various ways
Many would use similar crafts
But how many of these would we actually fit into the category Witch??
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 9:07:58 AM | I agree with longt there are more types of craft out there
most of them are not the fluffy stuff one sees on the net.
true witches weild true power, and they do not need all the ritual, nor the god-goddess atributation stuff to do it . I am only a beginner I know nothing , but I seem to find all these" witches" whom apear to "know" yet when asked ie" what would be the beninfit of pysically merging with fire elementals" no one knows.
To me a true witch is someone whom seeks knowlege for the sake of knowlege; in order to become more divine, and more powerful, so that the higher pupose of one will can be served leading to the enlightenment and benifit of all things
To me a true witch repects all things good evil and neutral, as they have there part in creation,and can all be usefull teachers.
All tthings in nature should be revered, as they are an extension of the divine.
this is just my opinon and i am only a begginer. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 9:24:34 AM | | Creepycarrie i was wondering if the lil orb in the pic are your doing or something else? | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 11:13:41 AM | As to all of the concerns of people as to belief or disbeileif in others deities:
I can only see it this way "sorry for the spelling" ain soph.
the creator is , and that is all , matters not how or what it is called male or female it is all the same thing, we give it names, it shows us different aspects of its self, leads us to choose differnt paths to finding it. fire water, and other types of god, and goddesses and other entities are something other than the creator, and still possibly divine in nature.
I am what i would call a witch\wiccan\pagan whatever; yet i feel the same conection to divine in a church by a creek , temple doesnt matter. a holy place is a holy place.
I respect nature on this plane and all others, as to do otherwise is utterly wrong.
for instance my mother is a hereditary one of the old ways coming from the fenwick side of the family in england, she does not really teach me , and says things will come as I am ready. And when i do catch on to something she will say some thing to the effect ahh grasshopper you finally got it
My talents are latent.
lately fire beings have come to me they seem to like to be around me for what ever reason. And since that time much knowlege has came my way that was impossible for me to find, as have a few other people whom ibelieve to be of benifit to my work i accept them and have no fear as they have been sent fo a reason.
Hopefully other elemntals will come with a positive intention wich i can attune to for the sake of union and knowlege.
Like I say i am a witch I do not practice rituals or any of the mumbo jumbo, all that is unnecessary. I do not need athames or the like they are just tools. I do have stones crystals etc. i believe they are just as alive as me and they can help if they want to.I eat meat, I work sleep, And crap just like everyone else.
As to what makes a witch there a very few who even know. i belive traditon deities prayed to and all that bs has nothing to do with it some people just are witches and the divine ones choose thier own. cio | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 11:44:50 AM | Okay, I missed it before, but there's one more I wanted to get before stopping (unless someone asks about more). Again, from the Feral dictionary*:
Witch Doctor - a magical worker, usually of a tribal society, visited for assistance with physical/spiritual ills and for wisdom and knowledge to help in daily life. The etymology of the term, as it is understood, is based in the age of missionary imperialism, during which nearly all magic was ascribed to "witches" or some comparable concept of magical worker. The explorers and chroniclers of these societies tended to notice the role played by the tribal shaman and drew a parallel to the doctors in their own cultures to whom people would go for healing. The idea that "witches" -- a term incorporated by many of the encountered tribes, based on the obvious pejorative connotation when used by many visiting explorers -- was lent to "others" with magical powers that would be used to harm out of jealousy, spite, etc. Thus, the "witch doctor" was one who healed the tribe (as a doctor) from the supposedly magically based ills sent upon them by enemies ("witches").
*An amalgamated mix of knowledge, conceptions, ideas, connotations, and lint. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 12:39:16 PM | Excellent posts guys.....
-----------"As to what makes a witch there a very few who even know. i belive traditon deities prayed to and all that bs has nothing to do with it some people just are witches and the divine ones choose thier own. cio"-------------------------------
While I get what you are saying and I agree that gods and witches dont need to go hand and hand. They often do in many systems, in fact some "Branches" work with gods and the dead side by side. Some systems even work with gods and negative entities* side by side applying whatever is needed for the achievment of the aims of the practicioner.
*Notice I don't consider the use/working with of the dead as being negative. When I speak of negative entitie would be refering to simular to christian devil (If said system has such thing as some do.) or the use of "demons"
Finally I would like to add a BIG thank you to feral foir those definitions they were outstanding and will help me when translating material to english. Since I dont publish (For lots of it is secret) I would like to thank you now and here for that info and definitions. Thank you too to all others who have posted definitions it is a great help. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 3:51:42 PM | I'm affraid I have to dissagree with the idea of speaking withthe dead being evil or negative. I think the reason for the summoning of suck spirits is what makes it possitive or negative.
Also when communicating with demons or daemons the purpose is often to banish them and dissolve their influence on the practitioner.
Some people are of the thought that demons are merely our fears and phobias while angels are our hopes and aspirations. In fact the god and goddess of wicca could be veiwed as achetypes of the mother and father in our subconcious. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 4:25:06 PM | | is this real or out of some video game? seems rather surreal | |
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longte
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Joined: 10/18/2004
Msg: 161 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/11/2006 4:50:05 PM | ""is this real or out of some video game? seems rather surreal""
It is only surreal until you actually witness/partake
Then it becomes very real
There are many things out there that are very unexplainable unless you are prepared to forget all your preconcieved ideas
Yes there is a lot of chicanery that has been involved in the past, present, and probably will be in the future
But then you reach a point where you actually see/do something under your own guidelines
At that point it becomes very real
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/12/2006 4:22:25 AM | No one said speaking with the dead is evil. In fact it is an itergral part of many traditions for doing good as well as negative things. One does not only cast out demons one can work with such creatures as well if they know the proper ways in which to handle them. It totally depends on the tradition you practice as to what forces one will work with and will not work with. So to say just because wicca does this or druids do this or shamans do this or sorcerers do this or witches do that and this is the only way is just as elitist as some of the other people who post on here from their religious point of view when they say that their god is the only way to salvation etc.
I think as people of other than christian faith we need to come together and at least stand up for each others various practices and make sure we are no longer oppressed by fanatical christians or other religious zealots who might wish to impose their beliefs on others. The ancient ways must carry on to keep a spark alive so that we can bring back the fires of ancient wisdom. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/12/2006 8:20:06 PM |
Finally I would like to add a BIG thank you to feral foir those definitions they were outstanding and will help me when translating material to english.
First off, you're very welcome. Always a pleasure to share meaningful discussion with someone of similar interests. I'd be careful with the use of those terms, though. Most of what I've given is, like I said, straight out of my own understanding which, as I said, does consist somewhat of misfiring synapses and lint.
Some people are of the thought that demons are merely our fears and phobias while angels are our hopes and aspirations. In fact the god and goddess of wicca could be veiwed as achetypes of the mother and father in our subconcious.
There's a bit of insight in this view, but I would caution against calling such things "merely" anything. The causal relationships of the spirit world don't seem to necessarily correspond to things that humanity can quantify.
is this real or out of some video game? seems rather surreal
Hey, Over. It does tend to get a bit esoteric, doesn't it. Mostly it's discussion "outside the box" of mainstream conscious human thought. So, I guess "surreal" is a pretty apt descriptor.
But then you reach a point where you actually see/do something under your own guidelines
At that point it becomes very real
Very true, Longte. Of course, looking back and knowing both perspectives, you can still see how it's "surreal."
The ancient ways must carry on to keep a spark alive so that we can bring back the fires of ancient wisdom.
Hey, as long as neo-Pagan syncretists like myself are still cool, I'm all for it. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 1:57:53 AM | --------------"Hey, as long as neo-Pagan syncretists like myself are still cool, I'm all for it."------------------
Look not only is it kewl it is the begining of the revitalization of the ancient ways. Through your search your bound to run into many good oportunities to connect and commune with ancient knowledge of many forms. If you find a way to interact with such things and through it you grow in spirit I nor anyone else can say nothing bad about it.Well they can if they want to but hey if it works? It works.
---------------------First off, you're very welcome. Always a pleasure to share meaningful discussion with someone of similar interests. I'd be careful with the use of those terms, though. Most of what I've given is, like I said, straight out of my own understanding which, as I said, does consist somewhat of misfiring synapses and lint.
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The use is not again as I said going to be in print it will be used to explain things to english speakers whom become initiated to such things in systems not based in english. Any way that I may be able to help these people understand as well as know the words in english is a HUGE help. Even if they are full of lint and the profuct of misfires and such. will just have to let spirit have its way with it and burn off the lint and reform it if needed. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 7:53:23 AM | | You have mentioned teaching several times, where is it you teach? Apparently you have people of different dialects that come to where ever you are at. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 9:51:52 AM |
*I've known people who stopped clocks using witchcraft, and I've also known witches who couldn't help doing so (powerful personal magnetic field, is my guess). You've a point that it's not a general thing associated with all witches, but this is the tone on all of my points.
I personally don't know people that can do this, have read about it, and for many it isn't a Pagan thing, can also be related to Christians. And I really don't understand how they do it, other then very strong magnetic forces within their own bodies.
I have not been able to wear a watch in over a decade now. Whenever I wear one it always stops or breaks. I have tried digital, wind up, & solar batteries. The only explanation I have for this is that I have been electrocuted a few times in my life, so I don't know if that is the reason or not that I cannot wear a watch. I purchased the old fashioned wind-up watches thinking they would be ok, and as an experiment i held it in my hand for about 10 minutes. The spring inside popped. I've never had them repaired. | |
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nergal
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Joined: 5/12/2005
Msg: 167 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 9:55:40 AM | | When I moved into town my watch stopped .. I've seen it happen to a few other people too .. nobody here wears watches .. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 11:04:51 AM | a watch witch? Which witch is a watch witch if the witch has a watch which she can't watch?  | |
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longte
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Joined: 10/18/2004
Msg: 169 | |
| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 1:44:39 PM | But
And this is the important bit
Which watch would a watch witch watch if watch witches watched watches??
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 1:58:01 PM | -------------"You have mentioned teaching several times, where is it you teach? Apparently you have people of different dialects that come to where ever you are at. "------------------
Only thing I teach is an afro-brazilian martial art dance. the other stuff I dont teach at this time I merely share information with brothersand sisters of mine(who have already been iniated). Yes they speak other languages as well as do I. If you wish to know where I am I am in Atlanta GA. There are several people here who practice forms of afro - cuban as well as other african diasporic traditions here in town. Hopefully more people who practice the afro cuban forms from matazas cuba will come and gather here since we are rare in the states.There are even some pople who travel to africa to study/become initiated as well. If you want some more information on the line I come from. Check out this web site my Padrino (godfather) has up.
www.kabiosile.org
If you are looking for a teacher I would recommend him not me. Only hitch is you would have to go to Cuba yourself. He has never been here and probably never will even want to.. life in Cuba is VERY good to him he is one of the most famous santeros and paleros in cuba. He has many godchildren all over the world. If you are looking for the cultures that belong to the bantu people or the yoruba people that were taken into slavery this is the guy to teach it. His name is Alfredo Calvo. I believe he also has a video and a cd there so you can see a type of public (non-secret) ritual where a new priest is presented to the sacred drums. Also I think if I remember correctly they have another public(non-secret) ritual of the spirt being passed from one set of sacred drums to another new set. This is a must see for anyone interested in such things. There is a guy here in the states I know of that is often spoke highly of I think he lives in LA area now his name is Philipe Garcia. I would actually love a chance to meet him as well. He too teaches the tradtions from matanzas can get a bookl about his life called drumming for the gods. GREAT BOOK BTW. not too many of these in english either.
That info should help you on your way.
I misspelled matanzas lol just in case you are loking it up. typos suck | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 6:43:55 PM | | How much watch would a watch witch watch if a watch witch could watch watch(es). | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 6:54:09 PM |
Creepycarrie i was wondering if the lil orb in the pic are your doing or something else?
Hmmm...I am not really sure what that is....could be an orb? Most likely it is light flash though. The picture was taken in the dark outside at fearfest Canadas Wonderland with a digital camera. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 10:55:13 PM |
Only thing I teach is an afro-brazilian martial art dance.
Capoeira? Right on!! One question, though. Has anything developed with this in regard to Shango? I would almost have expected it to happen, anthropologically speaking, that is. | |
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/13/2006 11:54:04 PM | ---------------"Has anything developed with this in regard to Shango? "--------------------
What do you mean by this?Has what developed what is this? Not sure what you are asking me in reference to shango.
Yes I teach Capoeira Angola in atl.
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| What is a witch?
Posted: 1/14/2006 5:06:48 PM |
all satanists(really should put that in quotes) are christians, as only christians believe in the christian god of evil, therefore they are not pagan.
Please dont confuse evil for good. | |
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