Magic and Witchcraft

The belief in and use of magic is one of the things that distinguishes Paganism from most other religions. While many religions do believe in spell and charms, most believe that it can only be performed or created by a rare few highly trained individuals. Pagans believe that anyone can use this powerful tool.

How Spells Work

Most people think of spells in terms of what to do to cast them. They see it like a recipe: do this and that happens. It is true that what is done during a spell does help to make things happen, especially in group magic. While the outward form of a spell does matter somewhat, it is desire and will of the caster that is the true source of a spell's power. Most spells fail for one of several reasons:

• The caster doesn't have a clear goal in mind
• One of the most important parts of casting a spell is having a very clear goal in mind. This goal must be something the caster can clearly visualize while casting the spell.
• The caster focus on the process rather than the goal itself during casting
• If you are not comfortable with the process you are using to cast the spell, you will have a hard time keeping the goal in mind.
• The caster focuses too much on the method of achieving their goal rather than the goal itself
• The power released will always find the easiest way to accomplish the goal it is set. By focusing on only one or two ways of obtaining your goal, you can prevent the best way from occurring.
• The person the spell is cast on sabotages the spell in some way, undoing the energy put into the spell
• Spells can only work within the rules of the rest of the world. Weight loss spells, for example, won't work if the recipient eats too much and doesn't exercise. It can also fail is the recipient is constantly sending out energy that says they are overweight.
• The goal is simply not attainable at the time
• Sometimes the goal of a spell cannot be accomplished. This can be because the situation will not allow the desired outcome, or the desired outcome would conflict with conditions placed on the spell.

Like most other things in life, Spellcasting is a skill. It must be developed over time with practice. Some people are born with more talent than others, but with practice anyone can become better at it. There are some skills that need to be developed before casting spells. You must be able to visualize, focus your attention on a single thought for long periods, and be able to keep yourself grounded and protected while manipulating spiritual energies. Fortunately, these are all skills that can be learned with a little practice.

More details about Visualization -->

The Ground,Center, Shield Protection Spell -->

Types of Magic

Most Pagans follow some form of Witchcraft, although some groups use Ceremonial Magic as well. The main differences between the various types of witchcraft is the amount of flexibility in the rituals. Spellcraft is the generic term for the way in which a spell is prepared and cast. Witchcraft is the general term for earth-based spellcraft, often practiced alone or in small groups. Ceremonial Magic is performed in larger groups, and tend to draw heavily on Egyptian Mythology.

There are many varients of Witchcraft. Folk Magic is comprised of simple spells, charms and amulets, cast or made simply and quickly for small effects. Traditional Witchcraft is comprised of rituals taken from old Books of Shadows. Both tend to draw on the traditions and cultures of pre-christian Europe. Modern witchcraft combines the aspect of these two methods with modern materials to create new rituals to achieve the same effects. Kitchen Witchcraft can mean either spellwork performed during traditional kitchen tasks (for example, enchanting food for health while preparing it), or a type of improvisational spell casting that adapts the materials on hand for the task that needs to be accomplished.

More about Witchcraft -->

Related Practices

There are several practuices related to magic that have survived into the modern day. Some of these have religious beliefs attached to them, some are purely magical systems. Although most pagans do not practice these in their complete form, many study them in order to deepen their understanding of spellcraft and the universe in general.

Kabbalah (also spelled Kabala, Cabala and Qabala) is a practice based on ancient Jewish legend and ritual. It is used to reach a deeper understanding of Jewish beliefs. Santeria is a blend of West African and Native American traditions that has been integrated with Catholicism. Enochian Magic, practiced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, is ceremonial in nature. It drawn on biblical passages as well as medieval manuscripts said to be channeled from Angels.

Alchemy began as an exploration of how various items interacted with each other. It sought to understand the world through breaking down items into their simplest components. This practice, popular in Medieval and Renaissance times, has largely been replaced today by the various sciences. The mystical aspects of Alchemy are still practiced by a few rare individuals.

Many alternative healing methods rely on principles similar to those used in spellcraft. Aromatherapy, for example, uses little understood means to change mood and sometimes even treat diseases. It relies on the effect of the aromas of various essential oils have on the human body. Healing by touch is another alternative healing method that is gaining popularity. Practitioners of healing by touch systems learn methods of effecting the energy flow in their patient's body. This often involves shifting Chi and/or cleansing the Chakras. Some of the systems of healing by touch include Quantum Touch, Healing Touch, Chios Healing and Reiki.

Magical Tools and Correspondeces

Magical Herbs -->

Using Color in Spells -->

Using Crystal Power -->

Magical Supplies

Regardless of the method used, the spellcraft generally requires some form of supplies. In addition to their ritual tools, Pagans make use of various candles, herbs, crystals, incense and oils in their spells. Some spells are even performed using only candles, crystals or herbs combined with the Pagan's desire and will. There are many sources for these supplies, both online and in most cities.

There is some debate about the nature of the supplies used in spell casting. Some say that only natural materials can be used. Some say that only "virgin" materials (one that have never been used for any other purpose) are allowed. Some say that manufactured crystals have no power, since they have never been a part of the Earth. Others say that the power of crystals comes from the crystalline form, so it makes no difference. The bottom line is that the best materials are the ones that resonate with you, regardless of how anyone else feels about it. You should be sure to try various types of materials to see which you like best.

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