0
Witchcraft
This is the category where your questions about witches and witchcraft as a spiritual path should go. Based on an ancient shamanistic way of life, witchcraft is a spiritual system known as "The Craft of the Wise" and were a valuable part of villages and communities. Practitioners were the healers and leaders of their people. Modern witches follow the cycles of the sun, the moon and the seasons of the earth for guidance and knowledge. Most, but not all witches practice some form of magic in its true meaning.
1,155 Questions
Is a real spell book do exist?
If you mean one, single book that all witches use, then no. If you mean books written by witches/pagans that have real spells in them, there are plenty of good books. Any books by the Farrars, Margot Adler, Gerald Gardner, Scott Cunningham, Ray Buckland, and Doreen Valentine are good to pick up.
Shoulld you keep or throw the candles after you cast a love spell?
I think it would be wise to bury the remants of any spell, whether it be love, prosperity, etc, etc. I think this because think of all the energy and intent you raised. You need to ground it out, so it's not overpowering, and so all of that is not lingering out there somewhere. AFter a love spell though, I generally bury my candles, i hope this helps, thanks for posting!
There are many variations of this name. Included among them are Alyssa, Elisa, Elyssa and Alicia.
Do you have to be born a witch to become one?
First I want to ask you... do you have to be a doctor to try to do surgery? Well, the answer is "no", you don't have to be a doctor to do surgery, however without surgical knowledge, expertise in the field and proper medical stuudies you won't know which tools to use, why the tools are used in the way the are, or what to do if you accidentally slice open a blood vessel, or worse chop into a lung. The answer is that you shouldn't do surgery unless you know what you're doing. To experienced Witches the Craft is a serious art, not a palor game. Let me give you an example? Do you know which day in the current month is the best day to work manifestation spells? I do, irregardless of which month it is, but that's because I studied magickal correspondences and worked hard to memorize things. Things I couldn't remember, I have my Book of Shadows and Grimoire and yes even the world-wide web, and the local library for. The other question is why in your right mind would you even want to attempt this? What is the motivation behind your intention? A serious Witch knows that one's intention is the prime factor in determining whether or not a spell will "backfire" or work properly, and produce the desired results. To perform Witchcraft correctly you would have to understand the associations. But, one last thing... what exactly is a Witch, anyway? Well, I'll tell you a basic definition... a Witch is a person who studies and practices various forms of magick (in the form of witchraft) to influence changes in their lives and in the world. There are all sorts of Witches, but that is the most basic definition. If you dedicate yourself to the study of Witchcraft, you are a Witch. I know, this is not the answer you were looking for, but it is the harsh reality. Think really hard... would you really want to try witchcraft without fully understanding what it means to be a witch? If you think that through, and you can't come up with anything... think of it like this... would you really want to perform surgery on a patient without fully understanding what it means to be a doctor?
Who was the director of the Witches of Eastwick?
The director of the Witches of Eastwick was directed by George Miller. It was produced by Neil Canton, Jon Peters, and Peter Guber. The screenplay was by Micheal Cristofer.
What is an example of witchcraft?
when a man or a woman is is having a argument and later someone dies!!!
Women, who were the lower working class or widowed were often viewed as witches because they were seen as too independent, also some pagan ceremonies were seen as witchcraft.
Bead colors that represent magic and spells?
green: sight- you can see the future yellow: wisdom- you have all the knowledge in the world
blue: water- you can control water and you are one with it
orange: wood- you are the master of the forest and can control animals
red: fire- you can control fire and play with it in your fingers
brown: earth- you can grow crops and make wildlife come to life after dead
purple: magic- you are master of all
black: stars- you hold the power of stars in your hands
pink: love- you are the master of love just like cupid
Witchcraft & magic are as old as mankind. Anything, beyond your understanding or comprehension can be considered magic. A cell phone to a primitive is magic.
When mankind first started being self aware, we looked beyond ourselves and needed answers to things like, where does the sun go at night? How do we insure it will come back? How do we heal wounds and illnesses? How do we find food?
Eventually members of the group who discovered things, like which plants helped an upset stomach, where to find water, what the migration patterns of the local animals were and other things, became the ones others turned to for answers. These were the Wise Ones...
As we became more evolved the amount of knowledge expanded, and those with the answers learned a few tricks of their own.
If someone tells you a certain herb will cure your cut, you may or may not believe them, if they are well respected and do a little spell/prayer over the cut at the same time as using the herb, you tend to believe... Particularly if it works... you then tell others of the "power" of the Wise One... Eventually a name gets made, and expectation are raised...
It is a commonly accepted fact that your mind has a strong influence on your body... If you believe in something it has a better chance of working. the Wise Ones figured this out early on, so a little "showmanship" helped their reputation...
As spell/prayers/magic/ became standardized and passed on from generation to generation, the words became of equal importance to the practical application...
Magic became accepted as something that worked...
Science is today what magic once was, a practical, evolving set of standard results from repeated experimentation...
Even modern medicine can't tell us everything the mind is capable of, so some of us still believe in and practice Magic...
This is a complex question. Many elements are involved in casting a spell. You need an awakened will, a strong desire, a knowledge of herbs, correspondences and concentration, just to name a few.
Suppose you wanted to cast a love spell. If you are working with a European system, that often would mean calling upon a god or goddess of love to help. Aphrodite or Venus are very popular, and she has a long list of correspondences, including but not limited to: Roses, rose water, rose oil, violets and narcissi; seven rayed stars; the colors pink, red, green and purple; metals like gold and copper, minerals like malachite, gems like emeralds and rubies, and sweet smelling scents like rose, violet, lotus, musk and jasmine.
Advanced people don't need rituals, but ritual gives you a solid foundation. It takes practice to perform a ritual correctly. An excellent ritual to master is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Since I'm not a Christian, I don't place archangels in the quarters - I use deities instead. You should be flexible while being consistent.
No one can succeed in witchcraft unless he isn't bound by social constraints. When I did my love spell, I bought the used panties of a stripper to use in my ritual. Your own bodily fluids are powerful and can be used in ritual to consecrate tools such as candles or the above mentioned panties. You have to find a way to build the energy and momentum. This is often done through drumming and chanting. The energy is brought to a peak and then released. This is true of all spells. This is why simple three or four line rhymes by themselves are useless.
How many witches are still alive?
It is difficult to count the number of Witches out there, because people would not tell if they practice Witchcraft when there is a negative stigma against people who practice Witchcraft.
In North American Paganism (Wicca, Voudon, etc) are recognised religious paths and there are thousands of practitioners who are "out of the broom closet".
Wicca is a new age interpretation of ancient paganism (and not a very well thought out one). Though there are thousands of "practitioners", it isn't accurate to refer to them as witches, wether they call themselves that or not. There are also thousands of idiots that drink blood and skulk around in dark clothing pretending to be vampires, it doesn't make it true. Witchcraft DOES NOT EXIST, so there ARE NO WITCHES. Simply believing something doesn't make it true.
Being afflicted by Witchcraft means to be being harmed by a malevolent spell someone cast against you, your land, livestock, or something similar.
Being accused of Witchcraft means that someone has either told you to your face, or has told someone else that you are a Witch and are using magic, likely for a negative purpose, despite whether or not you actually were or weren't.
During the Witch Hysteria of Europe, people whose crops did not grow well were often said to be afflicted by an evil witchcraft spell. The owner of those crops then would often accuse someone they didn't like of Witchcraft and working magic to make his/her crops fail.
Is there still witchcraft in the twenty-first century?
Yes, a religion call Wicca.
Witchcraft is in fact still practiced today. However notall practitioner of witchcraft call or consider themselves Wiccan, and not all Wiccans practice witchcraft.
What do limes in water in witchcraft mean?
In the Italian Witchcraft, Stregha, Lemon or an orange is used in both Black and White magic. A Lemon with white or brightly colourful pins pinned to it is considered as a lucky charm, where-as a lime with black headed pins pinned to it is used in black-magic.
In South Asian Pagan traditions and Hinduism, Lime is used for cleansing. A bowl of water with a lime cut in to two is used to sprinkle water from, for purification of the space. Few lime fruits and green-chilli are hung on a wire under vehicles to protect them from road accidents.
Did puritans really believe in witchcraft and the supernatural?
yup there are still puritans and they still believe in witches, of course I've not heard of many in America but I've heard and seen many puritans in Africa (nigeria to be exact) who still accuse people of being witches and going on to executing them themselves....does that help?
Are there easy spells where you dont have to use candles?
To be simple, yes. Pagans can cast spells using nothing but their own energies if that is what must be done. However, the use of stones, herbs, incense, candles, symbols, chants, etc. can allow the spell caster to amplify their powers and concentration on the desired goal(s). I have seen a witch cast powerful magic on the fly with no need for anything other than her own energy. I am not focused enough to do it without any help, but herb bags make for a great alternative to candles. Find the herbs with the properties for the spell you want to cast and collect them all in a bag. Charge them with your energy and then when the time comes for the spell, you call on them along with your own powers to cast.
I was forced to do this many times in college because they didn't allow the burning of anything in the rooms, be it candles or incense.
How do you know a spell is working?
usually there are subtle signs to point you in the right direction. Ex: you cast a rain spell. some signs might be, more moisture in the air (humidity is higher), there are clouds forming in the sky, and then the overall outcome, it rains.
Sometimes the simplest things can be a sign, such as a breeze blowing or running into someone or talking to someone who you've never met before and something they say will be a clue.
Keep in mind magic works subtly, and takes it's own time to manifest, you must be patient.
A witch hunt is the search for either evidence of witchcraft or people who practice it. Metaphorically, this can apply to any situation.
What is maleficium witchcraft?
During the 11th century attitudes toward witchcraft and sorcery began to change, a process that would transform the Western perception of witchcraft and associate it with heresy and the devil. by the 14th century, fear of heresy and of Satan had added charges of diabolism to the usual indictment of witches, maleficium (malevolent sorcery). It was this combination of sorcery and its association with the Devil that made Western witchcraft unique. From the 14th through the 18th century, witches were believed to repudiate Jesus Christ and to worship the Devil, make pacts with him (selling one's soul in exchange for Satan's assistance), to employ demons to accomplish magical deeds, and to desecrate the crucifix and the consecrated bread and wine of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). It was also believed that they rode through the air at night to "Sabbats" (secret meetings), where they engaged in sexual orgies and even had sex with Satan; that they changed shapes (from human to animal or from one human form to another); that they often had "familiars" or "spirits" in the form of animals; and that they kidnapped and murdered children for the purpose of eating them or rendering their fat for magical ointments. Having these accusations come from the mouths of trusted local religeous leaders added credence to these fairy tales. The very fabric of these ideas was fantasy used to contain the "flock". Although some people undoubtedly practiced sorcery with the intent to harm, usually by scarring the victim and some may actually have worshiped the Devil, in reality no one ever fit the concept of the "witch." Nonetheless, the witch's crimes were defined in law. The witch-hunts varied enormously in place and in time, but they were united by a common and coherent theological and legal world view. Local priests and judges, though seldom experts in either theology or law, were nonetheless part of a culture that believed in the reality of witches as much as our modern society believes in the reality of molecules. Now,much information about how fear, accusations, and prosecutions actually occurred in villages, local law courts, and courts of appeal in Roman Catholic and Protestant cultures in western Europe. Charges of maleficium were prompted by a wide array of suspicions. It might have been as simple as one person blaming his misfortune on another. For example, if something bad happened to Peter that could not be readily explained, and if Peter felt that William disliked him, Peter may have suspected William of harming him by occult means. The most common suspicions concerned livestock, crops, storms, disease, property and inheritance, sexual dysfunction or rivalry, family feuds, marital discord, stepparents, sibling rivalries, and local politics. Maleficium was a threat not only to individuals but also to public order, for a community wracked by suspicions about witches could split asunder thus reducing the control of the church over the population. No wonder the term witch-hunt has entered common political parlance to describe such campaigns as that of the late Senator Joseph McCarthy in his attempt to root out "communists" in the United States in the 1950s. Another accusation that often accompanied maleficium was trafficking with evil spirits. In the Near East-in ancient Mesopotamia, Syria, Canaan, and Palestine-belief in the existence of evil spirits was universal, so that both religion and magic thus were thought to be needed to appease, offer protection from, or manipulate these spirits. In Greco-Roman civilization, Dionysiac worship included meeting underground at night, sacrificing animals, practicing orgies, feasting, and drinking. Classical authors such as Horace , and Virgil described sorceresses, ghosts, furies, and harpies with hideous pale faces and crazed hair; clothed in rotting garments, they met at night and sacrificed both animals and humans. Accusations, including the sacrifice of children, were made by the Syrians against the Jews in Hellenistic Syria in the 2nd century. These accusations would also be made by the Romans against the Christians, by Christians against heretics (dissenters from the core Christianity of the period) and Jews, and again later by Christians against witches, and, as late as the 20th century, by Protestants against Catholics.
How can to stop black magic spells?
ONE QUICK NOTE. IF THEY PUT A CURSE ON YOUR HOUSE THEN THEY ARE NOT A WITCH
You could do a spell for yourself (the previous answer had some okay spells long but oaky) or you could get a "professional" witch to do it for you. Check out eBay (http://search.eBay.com/_W0QQsassZmoygo)
*********************************************************
TO REMOVE A SPELL OR CURSE
BREAKING A CURSE
On the first night of the waxing moon, gather the following ingredients:
a square of black cloth a little larger than your hand.
1 tablespoon of curry
1 tablespoon of dill
1 tablespoon of vervain
1 tablespoon powdered ginger
1 consecrated black candle paper
and black ink pen
1 black string, knotted nine times
On paper, write the full name and birthdate (if known) of the person who has cursed you. Place the paper in the center of the bag. One at a time, add the herbs, covering the slip of paper. Next, take the lit candle and drip 5-10 drops of wax over the paper and herbs.
Visualize the person who has cursed you and say their name aloud three times while tying the bag shut with the knotted string. The final step is to bury the bag someplace on the property of the person who cursed you. The bag must remain there undisturbed until the next waxing moon. At that time, dig up the bag and burn the contents. This will weaken that person's power (usually until the night of the full moon) and the curse
REMOVAL OF A SPELL
Items: 3 cloves of garlic - water
Ritual : With water, grind the garlic into a paste. Rub the paste on the souls of the afflicted person's shoes, and on the front step of his(her) home. Create a blessing with the Sun retribution Symbol invoking enlightenment and clarity. This will negate earth spells.
REMOVAL OF A SPELL 2
Items: Oil - 1 white candle - 1 black candle
Time: Full Moon
Ritual: Rub and light the candles, saying :
"On the Eve of ( ) I cast a spell And the effect I created I must now quell. Specifically ( ) May this spell be lifted And I now be gifted specifically with ( )"
REMOVING HEXES / CURSES
Materials: Old Cooking Pot Black Candle Water
Get yourself an old cooking pot, place a black candle in the center, fill the pot with water until it is 2" below the wick of the candle. Light the candle and say:
"If truly hexed or cursed I am, let it break with quench of flame".
Then stare into the flame and see all the negative energy being drawn into it. When the candle burns down to the water level, and the flame sputters out, say: "So mote it!".
Dig a hole and empty the water into it. Now bury the candle. It is done.
REVERSE A SPELL
This is to be used to reverse a spell cast upon a person, and return the spell upon the one who cast it. WARNING: Because of the Law of Threes, depending on the strength of the cast spell, this could cause great harm to the original spell-caster. This should only be used in dire need.
You will need a cast iron cauldron, a pile of oak wood, some mistletoe herb, water and 2 - 5 pounds of salt.
Collect the hair, nail clippings or anything of the person upon whom the spell was cast. Consecrate the ground and cover it with a layer of salt to prevent evil from interfering. Pile the Oak wood and light it. Place what ever was collected from the person into water in the cauldron and boil. Add mistletoe and perform an incantation. The spell is reversed.
As with any spell work, it were best to perform the spell inside a cast circle for protection.
TO BREAK A SORCERER'S CURSE
If you feel that a sorcerer or sorceress has placed a magickal curse upon you, your home, or your family, perform this curse-breaking spell just before midnight on the last night of the Full Moon.
Light a new white candle and burn any of the following incense in a fireproof container: cloves, frankincense, hyacinth, lilac, pine or sage.
Hold a lucky rabbit's foot charm over your heart and repeat the following incantation thirteen times:
"With rabbit's foot and magick verse I turn around this wicked curse. As these words of mine are spoken Let this evil spell be broken."
Repeat this spell nightly (using a brand-new candle each time) until the phase of the New Moon. Wrap the leftover wax from the candles in a white piece of cotton and then bury it in the ground in a secret spot where it will remain undisturbed.
TO BREAK A VOODOO CURSE
On a night when the Moon is in a waning phase, take a blood root (a favorite Voodoo root used for breaking all evil spells and hexes) and throw it onto the doorstop of the person who has placed the curse upon you. You will then be released from his or her magickal power and the imprecation will immediately be turned back to the sender of the curse.
A SPELL TO BREAK THE POWERS OF A SPELL
If you believe that a spell has been cast against you, place a large black candle in the cauldron (or a large black bowl). The candles must be tall enough to extend a few inches above the cauldron's rim. Affix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron with warmed beeswax or the drippings of another black candle so that it will not tip over.
Fill the cauldron to the rim with fresh water, without wetting the candle's wick. An inch or two should remain above the water. Deeply breathe, meditate, clear your mind and light the candle. Visualize the suspected spell's power as residing within the candle's flame. Sit in quiet contemplation of the candle and visualize the power flowing and growing within the candle's flame. (Yes, the power against you) As the candle burns down, it's flame will eventually sputter and go out as it contacts the water. As soon as the flame has been extinguished by the water, the spell will be dispersed.
Break your visualization of the spell's power; see it explode into dust, becomin impotent.
Pour the water into a hole in the ground, a lake or stream. Bury the candle. It is done.
TO REMOVE A HEXED / JINXED CONDITION
Although it is relatively rare that someone is truly hexed, it does happen. Also, it is important to note that the mind has a very powerful effect on the body, so if you believe yourself to be hexed, in effect, you are...This spell will remove any hexed or jinxed condition, whether real or imagined.
Fashion a poppet out of white felt or other white material. Stuff the poppet with vetivert herb, and place on your altar. Inscribe your name on a purple candle and annoint the candle with an appropriate oil. Visualize as strongly as possible the hex upon you...feel its power and the strength it has had over you...Now take a handful of garlic powder and sprinkle it over the poppet, while strongly visualizing the hex/jinxed condition being broken. Put as much feeling and emotion into this process as possible...now relax...allow the candle to burn down completely. It is finished...the hex is broken...so mote it be.
TO REVERSE A CURSE
"This spell on me I return to thee, To thee who hast so ill-wished me. So mote it be" (x3)
What are the pros and cons of witchcraft?
- You feel more connected to nature and life. Wicca is a nature religion.
- There can be more believable results than pure faith religions.
- You get more positive about yourself and abilities.
- You get more positive about life and other people.
- You can help people as well as yourself.
- You feel as if you have more control in life and what happens around you.
- You will develop more skills as you go along.
- You feel there is someone or something listening to you and guiding you.
- You get a sense of purpose in your life.
- You get a sense of purpose in life in general
- You're the boss and it's up to you what you do or don't believe.
- It is 'a way of life'- due to having beliefs and actions intertwined in order to 'work'.
- It does take every day practice and dedication to really get good.
- You have to have or develop an ability to believe in more than coincidences. (Although this can also be a pro)
- You have to be able to equalize all your emotions no matter what you want, why you want it, or how much you want it. You cannot do spells based on emotions like anger or jealously.
- You are encouraged to spend much time and effort to improve your wisdom and powers, which...
- Can isolate you from other people, which may cause loneliness. The best way to combat this is to manage your time. Set aside a specific time which you practice, be it before bed, in the middle of the day, or right after you awake, whenever is convenient.
- Can harm your regular work or study, but again, time management is a must.
- May cause disappointment if you do not succeed. However, sometimes the result you are looking for does not come out how you want to. For example, you do a spell to bring love into your life. You expect a lover, but instead you get a puppy.
It is important to remember that Wicca is still a religion and has Gods, Goddesses, rules and need for faith like all religions.
A good deal of the older, more experienced practitioners seem to be less willing to help you along your path. There is a great deal of personal responsibility in the Wiccan religion. However, there are people who don't mind helping someone new to the Craft, giving tips and such. They will not do it for you; each path is different and unique unto the practitioner.
There are a few things that fall in the "both" category.
- You are responsible for your actions. You reap what you sow. If you do a negative spell, you receive negativity. It you do a positive spell, you will receive positive results. This is a very, very important aspect of Wicca.
- Your magickal results will differ. Again, if you do a spell for love, you might get a boyfriend/girlfriend, or you might get something else, like a puppy. The Gods/Universe will give you what you need, but what you need isn't necessarily what you want.
- You are in direct contact with the Gods.This seems to be like a pro, but the con side is that if you mess up, you get the full punishment of your God or Goddess. They will come straight to you, and demand answers.
What are some form of modern witchcraft today?
Witchcraft or the Craft is one of many forms of Paganism.
Paganism is an umbrella term encompassing but not exclusive to:
Asatru/Norse;
Blended as in (Christo-pagan, Judeo-pagan, etc);
Celtic (Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Faerie, Druidism);
Ceremonial Magic (Golden Dawn, Rosicrucian);
Eclectic;
Egyptian;
Esoteric;
Italian/Strega;
Shamanism (North American, South American, European, Asian); Voudoun/Santeria;
Wicca (Gardnerian, Dianic, Alexandrian, Solitary, Family Tradition)
That's a good question. People are scared of witches because of the persecution that has been brought upon us. If you look up information on 'The Burning Times' you will find out so much more than what I can tell you. Or you can just listen to the song 'Burning Times' By Moonstruck. People are also scared of us because we can cast spells. But it is not what most people think. Witches live by an ethical code that forbids us to harm anything. This is called 'The Witches Rede'. It is 26 2-line verses long, but can be summed up into 8 words. An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Much as the above explains why people should not be afraid of witches it does not address the original question.
Fear, in most cases is based in lack of knowledge. Things people have not experienced can be frightening. Often misinformation (deliberate or unintentional) plays a role in peoples' fears.
The very best counter-agent to fear is information. Not the propaganda pushed by any number of faith based sects, or the "scary" stories and images of popular fiction, but from the source.
If you wanted information about the USA, you would not ask the French, nor would you ask a Buddhist to explain Christianity.
Witches do exist, not all of us practice the above stated "Witches Rede". We are very personal in our spiritual paths and trying to force us all under the umberella of the "rede" is again is like asking the pope to explain Christian Science.
I would say the best way to know a witch, or anyone else for that matter, is to analize their behaviour. People who "walk the walk" no matter their chosen spiritual path are the "good guys".
I know of people who claim a faith based spiritual path that in their everyday life behave in ways I consider unethical or just plain dishonest, the going to "sacred space" and being absolved of their wrong doings, does not make them better if they continue to behave the same way.
I also know people who follow several of the accepted (and a few just barely known) spiritual paths that are labled "witches" and "pagans" and "heathens" etc. who are honest, hard working, caring human beings. As I said, it is the behaviour of people that ultimately tells you "what" they are.
In knowing, we transend our fears.
How do you counter witchcraft?
The easiest was is to do a cleansing of yourself and your home. Protection spells, anti-curse/jinx/hex spells, etc. work wonderfully.
Forever. If you're a Christian, how do you think God created everything? By clapping his hands together and everything just sprung from his mind? That's very Zeus-Athena-ish, don't you think? If you have a link to Ancient Egypt, how do you think the pyramids were built? On pure human strength? Not likely. Strengthening spells and potions must have been used.
