Everyone has their own opinion about what Witchcraft is and I will be more than happy to share mine! These are my “truths” just as my “truth” is that clouds are beautiful while another person’s “truth” may be that clouds are hideous. Let me begin by answering some commonly asked questions before telling you what I feel Witchcraft is.
Is Witchcraft evil or of the devil?
– No. Well, let me rephrase that: no unless you are working with evil Energy/Spirits. It is up to the Witch (the one practicing Witchcraft). Occasionally a Witch will “cross to the dark side” and will be a naughty Witch. But, no, most of us aren’t bad. Most Witches don’t even believe in the devil; but I do.
Is Witchcraft just a money-making scheme?
– A lot of people think that New Age interests such as magick, the occult, Wicca, Neopaganism, Tarot, Astrology, ect. is just a way to make money. The idea, here, is that people keep writing books on the topic so people keep buying them; the books are completely made up from lies and the authors and those in the business make big bucks. While some people do get into New Age interests for this reason, it is unethical. So, no. Witchcraft is real. It is said that the only ones that don’t believe in it are the ones that know deep down inside that it’s real and are afraid of what it is capable of.
Prove to me that Witchcraft is real!
– I could “prove” the existence of Witchcraft to you all I want. But it won’t mean anything! What is Magick to me may not be Magick to you. The beauty of Witchcraft is that it can be a Science. Go at it with a “prove your existence to me” attitude and you will be surprised! If you’re open to it, it may do just that!
Are Spells only poems or words that rhyme?
– Short answer: no. Some Spells have words (or poem-like chants) that go with them to enhance their power to the Spellcaster. They don’t have to rhyme but often that do if it is in the interest of the Spellcaster. But rarely are Spells only chants; often they include a ritual or something similar. When I was a teenager this is what I thought Spells were: just words. As I looked more and more into Witchcraft, I noticed it was quite the opposite! Spells that include chants helps show the Art aspect of Witchcraft.
Is Witchcraft a Religion?
– Sometimes. Some practice it as a Religion while others practice it as a way of life. For me, it can be both. I am Christo-Pagan which means that my beliefs are Christian and Pagan-based so some of my Religion is related to Witchcraft; the rest is more of a way of life for me. To understand whether Witchcraft is a Religion for a specific Witch, ask! Witchcraft is more about Spirituality than Religion, though, because not all Witches practice it as a Religion, but rather to connect them with the Universal Energy. Basically, it is a Spiritual Path. As a little history lesson, Witchcraft was once called the Old Religion (and still is).
Now, let me go on by saying what Witchcraft is to me. To me Witchcraft is using the Energy from the Universe (and the God and Goddess). This Energy they leave to us to decide how we use it. We can Cast a Spell, heal others, contact deceased loved ones, etc. Witchcraft is seeing that we are all a part of the Universe, each other, and the Divine.
Each Witch will have a different definition just as each non-Witch will have a different definition. It is a personal definition and not one is correct. Who are we to judge and say what is right or wrong?
What is your definition of Witchcraft?
– Lady Cerridwen Brighid Morrigan
I highly recommend the following book to anyone interested in Witchcraft, Meditation, or Psychic Abilities. It is the best book I have ever read when it comes down to teaching the Craft from the beginning. It doesn’t talk about Spells but rather how to make them work, why they work, how to develop Psychic Abilities, how to Meditate, etc. This is all the foundation for Witchcraft! I remember feeling lost because I felt like all the other books just jumped into Spells but I didn’t even know how to do the Spells! This takes all the guess work out. His following books in the series go more in-depth.
The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development (Penczak Temple Series)
Lady Cerridwen Brighid Morrigan's Blog 