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Witchcraft Exposed

Witchcraft Exposed. It is not a woman riding on a broom. Definition of a witch.

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Witchcraft Exposed

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  1. Witchcraft Exposed It is not a woman riding on a broom

  2. Definition of a witch • Wicca:   A modern Pagan religion with spiritual roots in the earliest expressions of reverence for nature. Some major identifying motifs are: reverence for both the Goddess and God; acceptance of reincarnation and magick; ritual observance of astronomical and agricultural phenomena; and the use of magickal circles for ritual purposes.Witch:   A practitioner of folk magick, particularly that kind relating to herbs, stones, colors, wells, rivers, etc. It is used by some Wiccans to describe themselves. This term has nothing to do with Satanism.Witchcraft:   The craft of the witch - magick, especially magick utilizing personal power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colors, and other natural objects. This belief system also has nothing to do with Satanism.

  3. What it is • Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things • It acknowledge the cycles of nature, the lunar phases and the seasons that celebrate their spirituality and to worship the divine.   It is a belief system that allows the Witch to work with, not in submission to deities with the intent of living in harmony and achieving balance with all things.

  4. Witchcraft: a trinity of nature A witch strives to gain knowledge of and use the natural remedies placed on this earth by the divine for their benefit instead of using synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary. Wiccan believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things.   In the trees, rain, flowers, the sea, in each other and all of natures creatures.  The Goddess and God are seen as a manifestation of the feminine and masculine forces of nature. Each having unique characteristics that when combined result in the harmonious creation of life.

  5. Unholy trinity • The Supreme Creative Force:The One is the all encompassing unity of all things which exist. This includes that which is manifest to our limited awareness and understanding as well as that which is not. The One is infinite to a point that the human mind simply cannot comprehend its vastness. • It really matters little whether we associate with the divine as the "Father, Son and Holy Ghost" or "The One, Goddess and God." Ultimately, the concept is the same.

  6. Symbols in Witchcraft • Pentagram and pentacle - A 5-pointed star used for protection, spells, conjuring, etc. • The Ankh - Egyptian cross-like symbol with a loop at the top associated with the worship of Isis. • The Crescent Moon - A symbol of the Goddess also used in Islam. • Crystals - believed to contain healing and spiritual properties.  Crystals are also used by many other new age cults.

  7. Sin, Salvation, does not exist • in Wicca there is a lack of belief in a need for forgiveness or salvation.  To the witch, there is no sin therefore no need for forgiveness.  • There is no need for salvation, as there is nothing to be saved from.  • Wiccan Rede" which states "And it harm none, do as ye will".  Basically, as long as you don't hurt anyone, anything goes.

  8. Endless rebirth • whatever you do will come back to you three-fold, so it pays to be careful.  • Witches do not believe in a heaven or hell and will usually espouse the concept of karma and endless reincarnation.  • Others believe in reincarnation until enlightenment, or endless rebirth until such time as the person is enlightened enough to pass on to some other existence. 

  9. Blending in Humanism • Wiccans fit very well into the humanist religion that has become so widespread in modern society.  As with other humanist religions everything goes as long as it doesn't oppose their claim to being god/godess or hold them accountable to a higher power.  • To them it is intolerant to believe in an absolute truth and they will often take it as an insult to be told there is evil in the world and we all sin. 

  10. Worship of Nature • Wiccan learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons • teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others.  This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth.Wiccan also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water which combine to manifest all creation.   From these four elements they obtain insight to the rhythms of nature and understand they are also the rhythms of their own lives.

  11. What they do not believe • They say that they do not worship Satan or consort with Demons.   ”Satan is a Christian creation and they can keep him”. do not sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate the basic tenant of "Harm None.“ • There is no need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or supernatural powers.   We draw our energy from within, our personal relationship with the divine and nature.

  12. The Law of Three • Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Three which states that whatever we send out into our world shall return to us three fold either good or bane.   With this in mind, a "True Witch" would hesitate in doing magick to harm or manipulate another

  13. Beliefs and Doctrines • View of time is Cyclical • Afterlife Reincarnation is until you reach Summerland • Type of theism Polytheism (many gods) or pantheism (god/gods are part of nature) • Ultimate reality "The All" or "The One," an unknowable Supreme Being

  14. Male\Female:baal and Asherah • Deities The Goddess and her consort, the horned god; various other pagan deities like Diana, Thor, Zeus, etc. • Venerated male figures The God; Adonis, Apollo, Dionysus, Odin, Osiris, Pan, Thor, Zeus, etc.

  15. Rituals and Practices • Assembled worshippers called Coven • Place of worship Outdoors • Regular rituals Prayer, casting a circle, Drawing Down the Moon, reciting spells, dancing, singing, sharing cakes and wine or beer • Special rituals Initation, handfasting (marriage) • Regular worship days 13 Esbats (full moons) each year • Major holidays Samhain, Beltane, equinoxes, solstices

  16. Worship • Q. Who do Witches Worship? • There is a single power defined as the One or All, which is composed of everything it has ever created. This supreme energy force does not rule over the Universe, it IS the Universe. Since most find it difficult to talk to or call upon a faceless mass of Divine energy, this supreme power is personified into male and female aspects as the Goddess and God. • like Astarte, Isis, Odin, Pan, Dianna, Cernunnos, etc., when invoking the Goddess and God. In the end, it is a personal preference and what a Witch uses depends on what "feels" right for them individually.

  17. Clothes • If Wicca and Witchcraft are not evil, why do you wear black robes? • This is another baseless superstition and Witches wear clothing and robes of every color. Black is the combination of all colors and all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. It is known that black is a very good conductor of energy, therefore wearing black simply helps Witches absorb natural energy to increase the power of their thought forms

  18. Book of Shadows • If Witches don't have a bible, what do you use? • Most modern Witches keep a Book of Shadows, (BOS) or Grimoire, which is more like an individuals workbook, journal, or diary, meaningful to the person who keeps it. This book contains rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc. Covens almost always keep a similar group book. I am not exactly sure how the name "Book of Shadows" came to be, but I would assume that this also ties into the Burning Times when the church set out to eliminate all texts along with the followers of the old ways. The writings that existed were more than likely were taken into the shadows and hidden with the survivors.

  19. Spells • Do Witches cast spells? • Some do and some don't. Spellwork should never be the focus of following this path and those who seek our ways only for this purpose are very misguided. A spell is a ritual formula, or series of steps, to direct psychic energy to accomplish a desired end. This energy is drawn from the Earth with the aid of elementals, concentrated and sent out into the world to achieve a positive goal. Since Witchcraft teaches that whatever one sends out is returned threefold, Witches are very careful to never send out harmful energy carelessly. The Christian word for this is "Prayer". The only real difference is that Witches also invoke the aid of spirit guides, familiars or other elemental energies to add strength to the process as well as using ritual tools

  20. Is there a Devil? • Do Witches worship the devil? • No. Satan, or the Devil, has absolutely no place in Wicca or Witchcraft. The worship of Satan is the practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy, rather than a Pagan religion. The Goddess and God of the Witches are in no way connected to Satanic practices. Satan, or the Devil, is a Christian creation and they are more than welcome to keep him. • Mat 25:41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

  21. Summerland • How do Witches view death? • Many Witches believe in reincarnation and the Summerland. After passing over, Summerland is where the spirit awaits to be returned into a new physical form. We do not believe in an absolute Heaven or Hell where the spirit spends eternity as reward or punishment for ones earthly actions.

  22. Part two is coming • The Christianity versus Witchcraft • How is it affecting the world of today? • What the Bible says...

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