|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 9:28 am
Sanguina Cruenta So, I have a witch hangout in Heaven, and some dude came in and asked what witches believed. I said "nothing really, it depends on the witch", and he, quite rightly, called me on it and said "surely there must be SOME things all witches believe, else what is witchcraft?". Witchcraft is a tool and witches don't necessarily believe even close to the same thing. To me, that's like saying that people who wield hammers all have some common belief and goal. Generally they want to build something and usually it involves both a hammer and some nails, but not always. Quote: The List of Things Witches Believe: - That there is energy, and that this energy can be raised, gathered, and manipulated. - That this energy resides in oneself and in the world around one, including within objects. - That spirits exist, whatever their nature. - That the world, and possibly the future, can be further understood via divination. - That there are Mysteries, and things that can be known. - That there are other worlds, that one might be able to travel to, if one has the knack and puts in the work. That said, this is a nice list which explains some basic witch concepts without assigning "good" or "bad" to what witches do or getting into too many specifics of how they do witchcraft, which can be dicey. Quote: I am also interested in compiling a list of Things Witches Do, if you would be interested in suggesting items for that list. Based off of what witches believe, I guess what they do probably looks like this without getting too specific. Again not all witches do everything on the list and some may disagree with a few but if you do none of these things then you're not a witch? Witches Do: -work to become more in tune with and understand the world's natural flow of energy -use the world's energy for their own ends/client's own ends -practice divination to help achieve their goals -commune with/respect/acknowledge spirits locally and globally as pertinent to their practice -to know the Mysteries through communing with spirits, divination, and gathering/learning energy flow -to share or use the knowledge they gain on Mysteries as he or she sees fit.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:09 am
I think the whole "stupid witches" thing is probably more relative than it is general. I mean, sure, there are some witches that the majority probably look at and conclude are stupid, but that doesn't always apply. The only way to really try and weed that out would be to start "covens" where witches are trained or tested or both. But even then, who's to say one coven won't look at another and go "Boy are they stupid." Because let's face it, we'd end up with the "Magickal Coven of Mysteries and Unicorns that s**t Rainbows" or something.
Lol "Thing's Witches Do": Cast Spells... wink
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:29 pm
Sanguina Cruenta I'll put this here because I feel like it adds on to this discussion. So, I have a witch hangout in Heaven, and some dude came in and asked what witches believed. I said "nothing really, it depends on the witch", and he, quite rightly, called me on it and said "surely there must be SOME things all witches believe, else what is witchcraft?". So instead of just tossing out the question I tried to compile a short list. The basis of the list is that all witches will believe most things on the list. Quite a few might disagree with one or two points, but they can't disagree on all of them as to me that would put them in the "not a witch" category - that is, I might consider what they do to be similar in some ways to witchcraft, but not witchcraft. I am interested in input on the List. Please let me know if there's something you seriously disagree with, if you'd rephrase anything, or anything you would like to add to the List. The List of Things Witches Believe: - That there is energy, and that this energy can be raised, gathered, and manipulated. - That this energy resides in oneself and in the world around one, including within objects. - That spirits exist, whatever their nature. - That the world, and possibly the future, can be further understood via divination. - That there are Mysteries, and things that can be known. - That there are other worlds, that one might be able to travel to, if one has the knack and puts in the work. I am also interested in compiling a list of Things Witches Do, if you would be interested in suggesting items for that list. This is kinda not contributing to the conversation here but I just found it interesting. By this list, I would be a Witch, though not a practicing one. I do none of those things as to be frank I am terrible at working energy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:19 pm
PersianPapiiChulo This is kinda not contributing to the conversation here but I just found it interesting. By this list, I would be a Witch, though not a practicing one. I do none of those things as to be frank I am terrible at working energy. No, you misunderstand the list - being a witch is not about what you believe. I was trying to compile things all witches happened to believe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 5:50 am
Sanguina Cruenta PersianPapiiChulo This is kinda not contributing to the conversation here but I just found it interesting. By this list, I would be a Witch, though not a practicing one. I do none of those things as to be frank I am terrible at working energy. No, you misunderstand the list - being a witch is not about what you believe. I was trying to compile things all witches happened to believe. I'm still somewhat confused. Could you explain more? As I understood it the list was things that Witches believed, and they are things I do believe. Each thing on the list is something I believe, I just dont, or didnt, do any energy work so I didnt consider myself a Witch. Or am I just ridiculously confused?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:58 am
PersianPapiiChulo Sanguina Cruenta PersianPapiiChulo This is kinda not contributing to the conversation here but I just found it interesting. By this list, I would be a Witch, though not a practicing one. I do none of those things as to be frank I am terrible at working energy. No, you misunderstand the list - being a witch is not about what you believe. I was trying to compile things all witches happened to believe. I'm still somewhat confused. Could you explain more? As I understood it the list was things that Witches believed, and they are things I do believe. Each thing on the list is something I believe, I just dont, or didnt, do any energy work so I didnt consider myself a Witch. Or am I just ridiculously confused? This is a list of things all witches believe. ALL witches, of any religion. But believing in these things doesn't make you a witch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 5:55 pm
Basically, all witches believe these things but not all who believe in these things are witches. Kind of like all tigers are cats but not all cats are tigers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:30 am
Sanguina Cruenta PersianPapiiChulo Sanguina Cruenta PersianPapiiChulo This is kinda not contributing to the conversation here but I just found it interesting. By this list, I would be a Witch, though not a practicing one. I do none of those things as to be frank I am terrible at working energy. No, you misunderstand the list - being a witch is not about what you believe. I was trying to compile things all witches happened to believe. I'm still somewhat confused. Could you explain more? As I understood it the list was things that Witches believed, and they are things I do believe. Each thing on the list is something I believe, I just dont, or didnt, do any energy work so I didnt consider myself a Witch. Or am I just ridiculously confused? This is a list of things all witches believe. ALL witches, of any religion. But believing in these things doesn't make you a witch. Ok. So then I suppose my question is what makes you a Witch then?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:28 am
PersianPapiiChulo Ok. So then I suppose my question is what makes you a Witch then? That's what this thread is discussing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:49 am
Sanguina Cruenta PersianPapiiChulo Ok. So then I suppose my question is what makes you a Witch then? That's what this thread is discussing. Ok! Got it now. Thanks. Sorry. @Thread- If as Sang has pointed out, just believing these things doesnt make you a Witch...then maybe its attitude? Such as living by the Crede?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:08 am
And can men be witches? Or is that another thing?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:11 am
If you read through the thread, you'll see some of the points we hit on in trying to define what makes a witch. I mean chiefly and primarily it's the practise of witchcraft, but we wanted to be a bit more thorough than that. The only creed I'm aware of is that poem by Valiente.
Yes, men are witches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:05 pm
I read through it all now and two of the things that stuck out to me, not sure who said them, was that they think the difference between witchcraft and other magic is that you craft something and that intelligence though not necessary would dull your skill. When I think of a witch I think of someone making something. A potion, or an item something. Even spells and rituals are crafted, elements blending together..things done in a certain order..words actions and movements chosen to do something in a certain way. So I agree the difference is the crafting part. I also agree that 'stupid' witches arent necessarily not witches but that its the cleverness and brilliance of others that make their magic stronger. A lot of Energy Work is visualization and I find that those people who I would actually label 'stupid' have a hard time visualizing things and explaining them. Or I am talkin out my a**. What you guys think?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:21 pm
Okay, so just to get this topic going again...
Garrett and I are planning out a book on witchcraft. (That may take like, ten years to write, so don't get excited.) You can help us, by answering these questions that have been ridiculously cross-posted all over the ******** place.
To whit:
How do you personally define "witchcraft"?
What beliefs do you think all witches share?
What practices do you think all witches share?
How does one know when or if one is a witch? Does practising witchcraft make one a witch automatically, or is it something you become?
What was the first time you really felt like a witch?
What specific practices, in their own right, do you consider to be witchcraft?
What topics or issues do you wish were covered in more books on witchcraft? If you were designing your perfect book on witchcraft, what would you want to see included?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
