Anyone else here practice witchcraft??

[Ponka]

I've been slowly working my way deeper into the practice for the past year. I'm a neopagan who doesn't work with any deities or spirits (yet?) and I mostly focus on practical magick. Haven't really worked on the spiritual plane either. I mostly do meditation with the occasional formal spell. Recently, I've felt ready to do divination, but I'm not so sure I want to use tarot cards (too complicated for me). Any other alternatives or tips?

 

[TBRS1]

Tarot cards can be as simple or complicated as you want them to be. You don't have to follow specific instructions - use intuition.

Dreaming, and dream interpretation might be interesting.

Casting the I Ching is not complicated, although interpretation might be, if you don't ask your question correctly (don't ask "What is going to happen?", ask " In this specific instance, what type of action will move me forward?).

 

[Ponka]

I did do some quick research on Tarot reading, and you're actually right. Some spreads are more complex, but it can be simplified greatly. However, I'm not sure if my mother would even let me. She has this big grudge against them, being a devout Christian herself, but hey, I live under her roof, so what can ya do?

Even before I took on paganism, I've been interested in dream interpretation. A lot of my dreams nowadays really revolve around my own traumatic events, you know, PTSD just PTSD-ing, so I'm not sure if I should use dream interpretation yet as guidance.

I've never heard of I Ching before. Doing a quick Google is giving me a good outline of the procedure, but the interpreting does indeed seem very complicated.

 

[SusanLR]

I've used the I Ching for many years. It looks complicated, but like the Tarot cards, mostly it lies in the realm of intuition. Go with what you feel the lines are telling you and try to be within the subject's aura for use of their energy field when doing a reading for someone, if possible.
It has been very accurate for me and it's my favorite method of divination.

I've never had training in formal witchcraft, but I'm interested in all things involving energies and use of consciousness.

 

[Lemon Zing]

Please don't screw around with occult stuff, whatever you do. I doubt there is anything safe about meddling around with it. Demons and magic isn't as fictional as horror movies may seem.

My sister lived in a flat years ago, and her walls were red. She took photographs, and within those pictures, you could zoom in and clearly see faces and screaming skulls on her wall, with evil expressions and red eyes. She contacted someone in a church, who revealed they were "shadow demons" that had gotten settled in there because someone must have used a Ouija board.

I've been quite concerned about my sister, to be honest. Since our mum died, she has talked about mediums, wanting to pay for a private sitting, and smelling her scent. Seems to get paranoid that certain people follow her, know her every move, monitor her online activities, have police cars driving up random roads to follow her or me, and so on. I don't really pass comment on any of it, but that just doesn't seem normal to me. But like myself, she has been subjected to a lot of hassle and heartache. So that's the reason for her mental health declining. Although I've never really entertained the thought of seeing a medium, as they likely just say things to make fools into believers. However, occult practices are real.

Just go on Google and read up about the dangers of doing this, if you want to know more.

 

[Alexej]

I agree with @Lemon Zing
this kind of thing is not to be taken lightly. there are forces there, they are real and they do not mean you well.

 

[Dagan]

I know Eileen Dietz. She has stories, as well. She feels that what energy/emotion/belief a person puts into anything...gives it power.

Also, never ignore what it says in every major religious text - what it says a couple dozen times in just the Bible alone: Thou shalt have no other gods... And then said texts all elaborate further on them. The point being, in every major religious text, it makes it abundantly clear:

There are other gods.

 

[Ponka]

Please don't screw around with occult stuff, whatever you do. I doubt there is anything safe about meddling around with it. Demons and magic isn't as fictional as horror movies may seem.

My sister lived in a flat years ago, and her walls were red. She took photographs, and within those pictures, you could zoom in and clearly see faces and screaming skulls on her wall, with evil expressions and red eyes. She contacted someone in a church, who revealed they were "shadow demons" that had gotten settled in there because someone must have used a Ouija board.

I've been quite concerned about my sister, to be honest. Since our mum died, she has talked about mediums, wanting to pay for a private sitting, and smelling her scent. Seems to get paranoid that certain people follow her, know her every move, monitor her online activities, have police cars driving up random roads to follow her or me, and so on. I don't really pass comment on any of it, but that just doesn't seem normal to me. But like myself, she has been subjected to a lot of hassle and heartache. So that's the reason for her mental health declining. Although I've never really entertained the thought of seeing a medium, as they likely just say things to make fools into believers. However, occult practices are real.

Just go on Google and read up about the dangers of doing this, if you want to know more.

I'm not sure if we're thinking of the same kind of witchcraft, haha!

I typically use my practice simply for my own spiritual growth. I've never worked with or upon another person besides myself. Darkmagick isn't my gig, and even though I am not Wiccan, I do follow the whole "An ye harm none, do what ye will" rede. I'm really big on energy and how it can affect someone. That's why I try to do some sort of energy cleanse everytime I come back home, to help simmer down those other energies I potentially brought home.

I do believe there are malicious forces out there, but 99.9% of the time the reason why they're around is because they were summoned or provoked. The only sentient force I've been actively working with is Nature, and I don't plan to interact with any sort of other spiritual entities anytime soon, helpful or hostile.

Disrespecting a spirit's space can also cause some trouble as well. Most spirits are morally ambiguous and vary greatly (just like humans!), but almost every force gets riled up when someone makes a major change to the space they don't like, whether it be renovating, removing an important object or even just simply moving in. That's why, when you don't have the right mindset, deciding to live or modify an old property can be spiritually risky, as a lot of them tend to have some sort of energy attached to them. I believe a lot of properties themselves are almost conscious in some ways, carrying their own memories, and many people just don't respect that in general. If I were wanting to significantly change a space with a lot of energy, I'd ask permission first.

I'm sorry about your sister, she seems very mentally stressed over her situation. I do somewhat agree with you on the whole medium craze. Yes, I do believe consulting oracles can be quite helpful, particularly in complex situations. However, anyone can do their own divination. You really don't need to pay someone to interpret situations spiritually, that's what intuition is for, and nowadays all sorts of information on traditional symbols and interpretations are available at our fingertips (thanks, internet!).

 

[Lemon Zing]

I do watch a lot of horror movies. Ones about creatures don't bother me. It's the type about the paranormal that has me keeping the lights on, since I believe in that.

But I have court this Friday. It is really affecting my anxiety. I wish I could just have all this nonsense done and dusted, but the courts have been picking on me for over a decade now. So of course, I cannot really do much about it other than relaying to people how stressful such matters are.

 

[Rachie]

I did do some quick research on Tarot reading, and you're actually right. Some spreads are more complex, but it can be simplified greatly. However, I'm not sure if my mother would even let me. She has this big grudge against them, being a devout Christian herself, but hey, I live under her roof, so what can ya do?

I wasn't going to reply as it is your choice what you do with your faith. However having read this here I will reply and say, I do think you need to respect your mother and do not do these practices in her house.. Her faith is clear on this- In Leviticus 20:27 those who are wizards, familiar spirits there is indeed a penalty for these practices and witchcraft falls into this. This still holds true for many Christians. You could also invoke evil and unclean spirits in your mothers house. It is better to respect your mother or move out and go somewhere else to do your practices.

 

[TBRS1]

Nature religions (frequently forms of "witchcraft," but more commonly known as "pagan") are not inherently bad or dangerous. They reflect respect and awe for the way in which plants, animals, and landscapes interact.

Unfortunately, when some people hear terms like " witchcraft," instead of asking "What do you mean?" for clarity, they automatically go to the definition of "witchcraft" that is "anti-Christian" (involving devils and Satan).

They are not the same things.

I know many pagans. Not a single one of them have anything to do with evil spirits.

Beware of religious prejudice.

 

[tree]

@Ponka

What is "practical magick"?

 

[Dagan]

@Ponka

What is "practical magick"?

It's a store in Vermont.

 

[tree]

It's a store in Vermont.

I think that's a coincidence.

And not what @Ponka is talking about.

 

[Ponka]

@Ponka

What is "practical magick"?

It's a term I've heard as a magick that is used for everyday magickal practices, and has a focus more on simplicity and accessibility, contrary to ceremonial and ritual magick.

Also, I kind of forgot to define the term "magick." My bad, haha...

Magick (sometimes also Magik) is intentionally misspelled to distinguish actual magical forces that many superstitious and/or religious people believe in from illusionary or fictional magic (think magicians or Harry Potter). Many practicing witches use this term when talking to people potentially outside or new to the community in order to avoid the association that their practice is a performance or fake.

 

[Ponka]

Nature religions (frequently forms of "witchcraft," but more commonly known as "pagan") are not inherently bad or dangerous. They reflect respect and awe for the way in which plants, animals, and landscapes interact.

Unfortunately, when some people hear terms like " witchcraft," instead of asking "What do you mean?" for clarity, they automatically go to the definition of "witchcraft" that is "anti-Christian" (involving devils and Satan).

They are not the same things.

I know many pagans. Not a single one of them have anything to do with evil spirits.

Beware of religious prejudice.

Yes, thank you!

I'd also like to add to this and say that practicing witchcraft doesn't automatically mean you're pagan. Witchcraft is a religious/spiritual practice, not a religion itself. A lot of pagans practice witchcraft, but atheists and other people of mainstream religions may also engage in witchcraft as well (the famous witches of Romania? A majority of them are actually Christian!). Vice versa, you don't have to use witchcraft in order to be pagan.

 

[Ponka]

I wasn't going to reply as it is your choice what you do with your faith. However having read this here I will reply and say, I do think you need to respect your mother and do not do these practices in her house.. Her faith is clear on this- In Leviticus 20:27 those who are wizards, familiar spirits there is indeed a penalty for these practices and witchcraft falls into this. This still holds true for many Christians. You could also invoke evil and unclean spirits in your mothers house. It is better to respect your mother or move out and go somewhere else to do your practices.

For the most part, my mom is mostly fine with my practice, actually. As long as I'm not using tarot cards, only using smoke outside or in limited amounts within my room, and not burning the house to ashes, she tolerates it. I understand the last two, but I'm not sure why she hates tarot cards so much, but whatever. I do appreciate the concern!

 

[TBRS1]

Yes, thank you!

I'd also like to add to this and say that practicing witchcraft doesn't automatically mean you're pagan. Witchcraft is a religious/spiritual practice, not a religion itself. A lot of pagans practice witchcraft, but atheists and other people of mainstream religions may also engage in witchcraft as well (the famous witches of Romania? A majority of them are actually Christian!). Vice versa, you don't have to use witchcraft in order to be pagan.

Very true!

Every religion has forms of "folk magic" which are not generally part of the theology, but exist as folk traditions that look a lot like "witchcraft" to outsiders.

For example, there is a form of fortune telling in which a person asks a question, flips open a Bible to a random page, puts their finger on a random line, and gets their answer.

Also, "witch" might also mean a folk healer, like a herb healer, or a root and leaf doctor who might be working as a part of a Christian culture, but using pre Christian traditions and knowledge.