Hi Everyone,
I'm having a really wierd day today. For some reason I've been sitting at my computer for about an hour with a strange feeling of needing to get something out of my head and onto the page. Normally I can type it out and feel great relief, but today I can't seem to identify what it is. Has this ever happened to you?
I started this thread in the hope that as I typed I'd naturally steer myself toward talking about it, so that it would be on the page and not in my head anymore.
Until this happens I'm going to talk about witches. I really think that there is so much misunderstanding about them and there are so many people who wouldn't know a witch from a buddhist monk. Of course, the information I'm going to provide relates to the witches that I know.
By "Witch" I mean someone who practises witchcraft. That is the first and foremost definition. We are not talking about an ugly, cackling, evil woman with warts (although some witches do fit that description...LOL). Witches can be male or female. Most witches do not call male witches "warlocks".
There are many people out there who will claim to be a witch, or involved with witchcraft. Here are some ways of identifying those who are bullshitting about it and actually have never done anything except flicked through a "Silver Ravenwolf" book.
* Witches don't tell everyone they are witches within the first 5 seconds of meeting people. In fact, I'm the most "open" witch I know but even then in my "non internet" life I don't mention it unless I'm with people I trust. Only 2 people I work with know of my current beliefs.
* Witches don't wear black all the time.
* Witches don't call themselves "white" or "black". Witchcraft is neither black or white.
* Witches usually know at least something about mythology and various pantheons. They do *not* call on gods/goddesses without knowing something about them. (pseudo witches will chat about talking to Aphrodite about a love spell)
* Witches try sorting out their problems using non-witchcraft methods FIRST and will only resort to using witchcraft when all else has failed or the thing in question is of great importance. As far as healing, all witches I know will visit the doctor first and use positive visualisation to help the healing process (not the other way around).
* Most witches realise that attempting to control someone else is fruitless and dangerous.
* Witches never talk about witchcraft they've performed *unless* they're with other witches (or trusted people) and always once the witchcraft has seen its outcome i.e. you've done it and seen all possible outcomes and talking about it will not disrupt that.
* Not all witches do rituals in the nude. Some covens have a nudity rule but nowadays most allow rituals to be carried out wearing robes. Individual witches may choose to be nude during their own private rites.
* Sex is not "open" between witches - what I mean by that is that sex is performed only between consenting adults and is viewed as sacred. All the witches I know would only have sex with their partner (the one they love). Rituals calling for sexual union are performed symbolically using a chalice and an athame.
I can't think of anything else to say.
Sirona
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