Althaea Sebastiani
  • Home
    • Resources
  • Learn Witchcraft
    • Courses >
      • Reviews
    • Books
    • Articles
  • Blog
  • Throwing the Bones
    • Testimonials
  • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ's

One Question

8/14/2014

 
This morning I received a question regarding witchcraft. With that person's permission, I have reproduced the question and my response, in the hope that they may prove insightful for others. While I make no claims to speak for all Pagans nor all witches, for ease of explanation, I did answer in generalities and use "we" a far too many times. For those who may read this and whose practice and worldview as a witch differ, know that I meant no disrespect in this.
If there were just one thing you would want to tell people about yourself or your religion, what would that be?
Before I say anything, let me point out that I welcome any and all questions regarding witchcraft and the religious movement of Paganism. While I cannot speak for all witches nor all Pagans, at this point I have walking this path for longer than I haven't and it truly is the only life I know.

With such a question, my first thought is: would I want to tell anything? Answers are hard won within Witchcraft, and what one has struggled and worked hard for is seldom as appreciated by the one to whom it is freely given. There is wisdom in the experience of getting that knowledge, that experience is the prize.

There is a lot of fear and misinformation of a path that my family and I (that includes five children, all under 9 years old) walk every single day. This is uncalled for. Yes, there are aspects of witchcraft that people who aren't involved with it don’t understand –that’s to be expected. It is not like most people’s experience of religion. Firstly, belief plays no part. One is not a witch because of what they believe, one is a witch because of what they do. This truly is an experiential path –orthopraxic, not orthodoxic. There is no one (nor No One) telling us what to do or how to do. Rather, we are free to make that choice, while being reminded that there are always consequences. It is with that in mind, and knowing that our actions effect others, that we make our choices.

Secondly, most witches are polytheist, we see the world filled with many Gods, Goddesses, and Spirits, though some of may only work with one or two of those Deities. This means we have a vastly different view of the world. That there are many ways of doing things that can all work is something that is deeply understood within our community. Pair that with the freedom of choice that is part of our path, and you can see why none of us have ever tried to convert anyone to our ways -to do so is against everything that we hold sacred. We expect to be treated with the same respect we pay others.

Thirdly, while we do believe in the existence of man different Deities, we do not believe that They are each just another name for the Christian God. They are each Their own entity and being, just as the Christian God is, and They all exist in this world together with us. Our Gods are also not omnipotent. They have limited fields of influence, which makes Them very approachable and makes it so that when They offer Their aid, the results are easily seen. In that regard, we work with Them to create the life that we desire. Science has proven that thought can influence the physical world and that at the most fundamental level, the physical world is made up of energy; is is upon that basic premise that the practice of magic is founded.


Comments are closed.

    Throwing the Bones

    Picture
    Get a Reading

    Stay Connected

    Thank you!

    You have successfully subscribed.

    Feral Witch

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    February 2021
    January 2021
    March 2020
    September 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    June 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010

Picture
all photos and text copyright protected
and may not be used or reproduced, in part or in whole, without express written permission
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Cookie Policy
Disclaimer
  • Home
    • Resources
  • Learn Witchcraft
    • Courses >
      • Reviews
    • Books
    • Articles
  • Blog
  • Throwing the Bones
    • Testimonials
  • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ's