Why Christianity Hates Witchcraft

Being raised Southern Baptist I have always wondered why Christian churches preach so heavily against witchcraft, when it's a way to grow closer to the Divine, learn about yourself, and learn more about the world around me. Reading in the Bible I find numerous cases of leaders consulting mediums, diviners, and prophets. And often the prophets worked magic! So what is the problem? Power.
Power is, and has always been, the motivating force behind the Jewish and later Christian hierarchies. Tell the people the only way to communicate with the Divine is through a select few, and the people are dependent on you. They need rain for their fields and a blessing for their children? If they can't sacrifice to their god(s), bless, pray, or worship without the consent of a few, the people are powerless. All control over what they think, believe and are able to do is stripped away. This doesn't mean that a leadership structure isn't needed. A leadership structure should be there to help teach and train, to pass on knowledge. Not to be a dictatorship that restricts or forbids contact with the Divine.

1 Samuel 15:23 in the New King James version reads, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." In the time that 1 Samuel was written the Jewish people wanted a King of the Jews to rule them and unify them as a new nation. The Jewish leaders realized that to do this would destroy their relationship with the government, and they would no longer receive the protection and benefits of being citizens. So what do they do? Create fear. To do witchcraft - sacrifice to your god yourself without a priest, to divine your own future, and to pray to your god directly - is rebellion. How can you be unified if the people are rebellious? Look what happened to Moses. The people rebelled and God punished them. Believe you are right and become stubborn? Then you are a sinner and as bad as the idolaters who worship the gods of the ruling government as well as Y-HW-H, the Jewish god. All past stories for the Jews taught that those who worship false gods are the reason they've been enslaved. God will be mad at them for having different opinions and punish them yet again.

A good Jew would be very familiar with the books of the Law and Moses. Deuteronomy 32:35-36 reads, "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.’ ³⁶ “For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bond or free." Disobey and god will take vengeance. He will destroy you and your entire family; he will be sure all power is stripped from you. Power and fear.

Power remained the motivating force as the Holy Roman Catholic Church sprang up under the Roman Empire. Power dictates their command structure, their influence over people, and why their priests are raised above the "lay people". The priests were always from the highly educated. They studied history and the Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic texts. They knew that fear and power are the cornerstones for the control they lust after. Their priests were deemed the average persons way of communicating with the Divine. They teach that the Divine will not communicate directly with all people, only through Saints or their ordained ones.

But what happens when people, these witches, laugh at them and say they have direct connection with the Divine? That what the Church teaches is obviously wrong and the people can know this through their own experiences? Their power base is threatened. The whole reason they exist becomes obsolete. Persecutions, wars, and genocides ensue to terrorize the people and to create an iron fist for the Church to rule with. Don't follow the Church? Burn in eternal flames with no rescue. Commit a heresy (the definition of which changes every 50 years if not sooner)? Burn in eternal flames with no rescue.

Judaism, even though its prophets were diviners and Jewish mysticism is still a practiced form of magic, has always taught against witchcraft to maintain power over its people. The Catholic Church has continued this practice, and proclaimed the torture and slaughter of millions to maintain their power. Power and fear, that's why Christianity preaches against witchcraft.

You are have a spark of the Divine within you.

You can communicate directly with the Divine and experience the Divine in a number of ways. It is not wrong to worship, pray, and divine. Each person is an agent of free will on their own path of spiritual development. A High Priestess or High Priest can help you along your path by passing on knowledge and techniques to you.

They are never a replacement for your connection with the Divine; being a witch means you are responsible for yourself.

Woman Burned Alive in Nepal For Witchcraft

From the reporters at CNN we bring you this tragic story of a mother beaten and burned alive after being accused of witchcraft. The following is from CNN.com, minus all the ads between every few sentences. 

"Nepalese woman accused of witchcraft and burned alive

February 18, 2012|From Manesh Shrestha, CNN

A 40-year-old mother of two was burned alive in central Nepal after she was accused of being a witch, police said Saturday. Dhegani Mahato was attacked and set on fire by family members and others after a shaman allegedly accused her of casting a spell to make one of her relatives sick, Police Officer Hira Mani Baral said. The attack occurred Friday in Bagauda in Chitwan district, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, Baral said by telephone.

Police arrested 10 people, including two shamans, five women and an 8-year-old boy, in connection with the burning."Those arrested have confessed to their crime and will be charged with murder," Baral said. Mahato had just finished cleaning a cowshed early in the morning when she was attacked, Baral said. She was beaten with sticks and rocks before being doused with kerosene and set afire, an attack witnessed by her 9-year-old daughter, according to the local police report.

Neighbors told police they were alerted to the attack but by then it was too late to save her. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai appealed to the people not to heed to shamans and faith healers. The government announced 1 million Nepalese rupees (about $14,000) in compensation for Mahato's two children."

To read the article as originally published, with ads ads and more ads, visit CNN.com here.

Am I A Good Witch?

What really constitutes a "good" witch? Do you have to be a vegan, or never curse anyone, or know every spell ever created? No, no and no. The base definition for witch is someone who practices magick. A deeper meaning is one who is self aware, disciplined and knowledgeable enough to perform magick with powerful results. Anyone can wish on a shooting star, but a witch brings their wish into reality. Every spell you do won't work perfectly or instantly as being a witch is a path, not a destination. Continual growth and development are how we progress. So how do you continue to become more self aware, disciplined and knowledgeable? By focusing on 3 areas: healing, divination and community service.

Healing
There isn't one specific healing art you have to learn. Some of the ones I enjoy are herbalism, soul retrieval, Reiki, nutrition and fitness. The body, mind and spirit can all be injured or sickened, so I suggest learning various healing modalities while mastering one or two. Then teach what you've mastered to others. When you teach it's amazing how much more you'll learn!

Divination
Divination is the ability to see hidden knowledge through psychic means. Witches are historically marked by their ability to know information about the past, present and future magickally. Divination allows you to learn more about yourself, others, situations and decisions. Popular forms of divination include reading Tarot cards, water dowsing, and scrying. Remote viewing is a form of divination that was used by the CIA in which the viewer sees objects and places psychically. Through helping others you'll help yourself by increasing your psychic abilities.

Community Service
We are all members of our communities and should look for ways to help others. By enriching the lives of those around us we enrich ourselves, much like through teaching we learn. Through finding ways to serve others we can also share what we believe through proving we're not evil or sinister. Some ways to serve include picking up trash, volunteering at hospitals or schools, and participating in charity 5k events.

Share dreams, inspire love, heal hearts,

embrace spirits, nurture souls…

- Anonymous



Why Didn't My Spell Work?

Now everyone who has ever tried spells has had them fail from time to time. What causes this? You researched the moon phases, bought the right tools, gathered the perfect herbs and carefully wrote your own spell. You performed it flawlessly, but it still didn't work. Don't worry, this happened to me last month! It doesn't mean you're a horrible spellcaster, it means you have something to learn. What a great opportunity!


The most common reasons spells don't work are:

• Doubt
• Rejecting
• Second Guessing
• Outside Interference

The solution to each of these is easy, but takes continuous practice and daily discipline:

• Use the Magickal Mindset - it IS possible!
• Harness the Law of Attraction
• Let it go
• Empower Yourself.

Self-confidence is often the first, and most difficult, obstacle to overcome. If you write a spell and are thinking, "This is crazy, it can't work". Then set up your tools and cast your Circle while thinking, "Why would the universe give this to me?" Then perform the spell while concentrating on, "I don't deserve this", why do you think it would work?? Every step of the way you're broadcasting to the Universe reasons why your spell shouldn't work, why the Universe shouldn't care, and that you don't deserve it.




So remove the obstacle - change your mindset by retraining your brain to the Magickal Mindset. Throughout the day periodically stop and ask yourself, "What was I just thinking?" Recall your last few thoughts. Then ask, "Was that how an effective witch thinks?" If it wasn't, then reword the thought so it is, and then ACT on it. How many times a day do you think "I'm tired" or "I'm lazy"? Picture a powerful witch. Are they tired or lazy? No! They're energetic and strong. Think "I'm energetic" and "I'm powerful." Become aware of what you're thinking and change your thoughts. "Cogito, ergo sum - I think therefore I am" - Descartes




As you change to the Magickal Mindset encourage yourself by harnessing the Law of Attraction. What you put your energy to will be what comes back to you. "Where your attention goes, your energy flows." Human beings are giant magnets emitting electromagnetic waves, often seen and described as an aura. This energy wave acts as a magnet affecting the world around us. If we concentrate on what we want, it will be drawn to us - and vice versa, so be conscious of where you're directing your energy! We can draw things into our lives by visualizing, hearing, smelling, feeling and gratefully accepting anything we desire. This is the basis of spellcraft. For a more in-depth explanation of how to harness the Law of Attraction, check out "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrnes.


Humans are a unique magnet,  in that we can reverse our polarity in a heartbeat. If you've begun to attract something to you then start thinking "it'll never happen." Well, it won't! You just switched from attracting it to rejecting it. Once you've performed the spell, let it go. The end of a spell is always releasing the energy you've built up out into the universe to do your will, right? Don't yank back what you just did all that work to release! Let it work for you. This is why it is tradition after completing a spell or ritual not to speak about it till the next day, and often to never discuss it.


"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt. The same is true of your magick. Another person's thoughts, feelings or beliefs can't stop, diminish or alter your spell unless you give them that power. This means two things:

1. Don't talk about your spell. They can't coax you into doubting yourself if they don't know about it.
2. Monitor your magick. Routinely cleanse yourself and always shield your spells. As you cast your spell, form a shield of pure confidence around it. No one else's energy is strong enough to break through it - if you believe it, it is so.

If your spell didn't work, be truthful in your review of it. Did you doubt? Did you reject it? Did you second guess? Did you empower others to work against you?

Use the Magickal Mindset, Harness the Law

of Attraction, Let It Go, & Empower Yourself!

3 Crazy Myths About Witches

Anyone who's been raised watching Disney movies is probably familiar with the outlandish myths out there about witches and witchcraft. Below are just a few of the myths surrounding witches. Which ones have you had people ask you?


Witches are crazy old hags who do gross things like pull their eyeballs out.
     Source: Shakespear's play, MacBeth. In the play the three witches are blind and see the future through an eyeball they pass around.
     Truth: Think I'll stick with reading Tarot cards thanks! The truth is if you take out your eye, witch or not, you'll be blind and in a lot of pain. And if a healer knows you were stupid enough to do that to yourself, they probably won't help you. In the play they also add all kinds of crawling, slithering things to their cauldron, "Double double toil in trouble.." The cauldron is a useful tool for boiling up infusions of herbs for healing teas and potions. However, becasue of the weight and expense of a wrought iron cauldron, most witches use a regular pot.
    Warning: Use common sense and good judgement. Don't consume herbs or direct others to do so without  insuring they are nonpoisonous and not irritants. Check every herb before use by its botanical name - some herbs have similar common names, so be careful!


Witches wear pointy black hats and are covered in warts.
    Source: Not sure of the original source of the warts myth, but witches have worn pointed hats in the past as a tool for the cone of power.
    Truth: Pointy black hats are a fashion faux paus, and you should see a doctor to have warts removed.
    Warning: Playing with magick didn't work well for Mickey Mouse, so don't slap on a pointy hat and start summoning spirits!


"She turned me into a gnewt!...I got better." - Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail"
    Source: Witches have long been accused of doing terrible things to their neighbors. Books such as Malleus Maleficarium (a witch hunting guide from 1485) have induced hysterics and witch hunts for centuries. The ideas and beliefs written in it are still perpetrated in modern times. In 2008 the popular tv show Supernatural had an episode entitled "Malleus Maleficarium" in which witches were whores who sold themselves to demons for their powers.
    Truth: While anything is possible, why would a witch turn someone into a gnewt when a diamond would be more practical? The ability to transform objects into other objects is known as transmogrification. It's as rare as alchemists turning iron into gold and I've never known anyone who could do this.
    Warning: A witch may not turn you into a gnewt, but it may not stop them from cursing you with a gnewt infestation! (Just kidding, use magick wisely)
  

5 Tips for Pagans in the Military

While there is opposition to pagans, in particular to Wiccans and witches, in the military from conservative Christian groups such as the Family Research Council, military members can openly practice their beliefs. As an active duty Marine, I attended a Wiccan "Sunday school" while in boot camp on Parris Island and later while stationed in North Carolina I was able to meet with other pagans serving with me for religious meetings when off duty.


There are a few things that military members need to be aware of when requesting the right to worship:


1. Pagan holidays are not recognized as government holidays, except for the Spring equinox ("Easter") and Yule ("Christmas"), so do not expect to receive these days off. As when requesting leave at any other time, you will need to speak with your command and put in the proper requests to receive Sabbath days off. Also as with any other leave request, such requests can be denied.
2. Upon request, the military must provide religious clergy for you to speak with. Be aware that this will usually mean a Christian chaplain who's taken a "what is Wicca" course. They'll be largely unknowledgeable, but are very kind and trustworthy. I spoke with my Christian chaplain many times and greatly appreciated him. More and more chaplains are joining the military as Wiccan chaplains, so ask - you never know who you'll be blessed with!
3. You can have an altar in your barracks like you can have a stereo system. As long as your tools, books and herbs comply with allowable materials (not illegal drugs, Nazi worship, or other ridiculous items) you are allowed to have them. Know that you may have to stow your supplies and put away your altar during inspections, just like you may have to do with stereo equipment or decorations.
4. Don't take sacred items to a training environment. Religious reading material such as the Bible is allowed to be taken into basic training and other training environments. Because there is no officially recognized "scripture" for pagans, you aren't guaranteed the right to bring your Book of Shadows. In training environments you aren't normally allowed unncessarily equipment, so don't bring your tools as you'll just have to ship them home or have them stored.
5. Be conscious of your barrack mate's comfort level. If they are an evangelical Christian, don't expect them to be open and accepting of your need to meditate or cast Circles. Religious discrimination is not tolerated in the military, so report instances up through your chain of command - always start at the lowest level to try and resolve problems, such as with your squad leader.