Do Pagan/ Wiccan "spells" really work?

[corvidae]

From my point of view, some spells, whether cast by pagans, wiccans, or actual witches (there used to be a difference, we have kinda lost sight of that) is that some spells work.

There were at one point three distinctions
Pagan ( a religion, not christian, used to bring about ends through the gods)
Sorcery (Doing a certain ritual to obtain the desired effect)
Witchcraft (relying on demons or the devil for supernatural powers)

When someone was killed as a witch, it was for the third, not for the first two.

I do not see how people who believe God can directly effect the world in the form of miracles also believe that Satan (the Prince of this World) can not do that on the domain that God granted him. If you believe in miracles, you must believe in magic too.

That is just my opinion.

 

[bella5110]

Judie K,

I meant because this is a NON-RELIGIOUS forum, :bible1: not a cult forum…:whacky:

 

[Bruised_Reed]

In this article, John Gibson seems to think that they can work:

Most of these rituals were what we
called “prosperity” rituals, because they were aimed at getting money to the participants. I participated fully in these rituals. At this point, I’d like to mention a sinister reality: At times, the devil can use the tactic of giving “gifts” as a lure. During one of these
rituals, I was in need of a couple of thousand dollars to pay bills.
The next day, I was contacted by a gentleman who wanted to purchase two computers that I had for sale.

 

[thechrismyster]

If she claims she’s got a direct connection to those “girls burned as witches in 1692” in Salem, then she better check her connection-- there have never been any witch burnings here. The method of execution was hanging, not burning. It has been my experience that the Wiccans with a victim mentality absolutely LOVE to dwell on the so-called burning times, without knowing anything about it.

and giles corey was pressed to death.

the men always get forgotten.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Even the curch of satan founder Anton LaVey admitted in his writings that all magick and witchcraft is satanic in origin.

Satan, through these methods, attempts to copy the signs and wonderous things of God.

 

[juno24]

and giles corey was pressed to death.

the men always get forgotten.

Absolutely right. I was going to mention that men were accused of being witches as well, but I looked at the clock and realized I was going to be late for work! Poor Giles Corey was pressed to death for NOT pleading guilty.

The whole atmosphere of the Salem Witch trials is a fascinating subject, both religiously and psychologically. I have seen in the few Wiccans I know the propensity to liken their current “persecution” and the supposed lack of religious tolerance towards them to the whole over-blown “Burning Times” of centuries past. Those who are even less knowledgable will bring up their current state of persecution and say they are afraid they will be burned at the stake like the girls in Salem were.

But I realize I am highjackng the thread, so I will stop now.

 

[Scottgun]

If she claims she’s got a direct connection to those “girls burned as witches in 1692” in Salem, then she better check her connection-- there have never been any witch burnings here. The method of execution was hanging, not burning. It has been my experience that the Wiccans with a victim mentality absolutely LOVE to dwell on the so-called burning times, without knowing anything about it.

To be deep in history is to cease to be a pagan?

 

[JudieK]

Sorry- I misspoke. She does often speak of “the burning times,” but I don’t believe she said the Salem girls were burned. I’ve read so much tourist info on Salem it’s all a jumble in my mind.

I’m sorry if I offended any witches in this thread. I thought after the fact that I wasn’t very respectful of other’s beliefs. I still believe that the Catholic Church is right, but I don’t want to be nasty.

 

[Saint_Michael]

All Magick can’t be from the devil, or else the Magi who came when Christ was born were actually devil’s disciples.

That said I don’t believe in magic, witches, warlocks, spells,or really anything else supernatural, I think the Earthly plain is devoid of any and all of this. If it weren’t proving and observing its reality would be possible, which so far it has never been observed.

 

[Milliardo]

Even the curch of satan founder Anton LaVey admitted in his writings that all magick and witchcraft is satanic in origin.

One must also remember that LaVey’s Satanism is Philosophical in nature; his Satan is not an entity, but more of a philosophical force. For LaVey, man is his own Satan, which is to say that man is his own god. Ergo, then for LaVeyan Satansim, magic as Satanic in origin simply means that magic comes from man himself, and not from some cosmic entity.

 

[RCCDefender]

Absolutely right. I was going to mention that men were accused of being witches as well, but I looked at the clock and realized I was going to be late for work! Poor Giles Corey was pressed to death for NOT pleading guilty.

The whole atmosphere of the Salem Witch trials is a fascinating subject, both religiously and psychologically. I have seen in the few Wiccans I know the propensity to liken their current “persecution” and the supposed lack of religious tolerance towards them to the whole over-blown “Burning Times” of centuries past. Those who are even less knowledgable will bring up their current state of persecution and say they are afraid they will be burned at the stake like the girls in Salem were.

But I realize I am highjackng the thread, so I will stop now.

Well, here’s another hijacker…

That’s like the trials for witches where they’d be tied up and thrown into the middle of a lake. If they were innocent, they’d drown but if they floated they were guilty and would be put to death

 

[Sufi]

Yes spells do work. This all started with the Prophet Sulaiman. (King Soloman). When he died the jinn wrote spells in his book and signed his signature.

Since then humans have created voodu, hoodu etc from the book of spells.

 

[Chris_LaRock]

Satan seeks to copy the works of God. Like I have said before, witchcraft/wicca are nothing more than satan attempting to immitate God’s power and works.

 

[lvy]

I’m a witch, and here are some random thoughts I had while reading the thread.

Salem is the fluff capital of the world. Don’t judge all wiccans/pagans/witches based on the what you see in Salem. Laurie Cabot is not very well respected in the Wiccan community.

Spells do work, but they aren’t supernatural. If you hear some young person claim to light a candle from 20 feet away or lift a book by telekinesis, you know they have been watching too much Charmed. Magic tends to be subtle. I doubt that anyone will ever win Randi’s prize because he wants supernatural feats… things that defy natural law. It probably won’t happen. I’ve also found that the greater the need, the greater the results. Magic done for prize money or to show off will usually fail, just because the heartfelt desire isn’t there.

Before weather magic, I actually do watch the Weather Channel. If there is more than a 20% chance of rain, I won’t bother to do a rain spell. I figure that Mother Nature can handle it. If there is a 0 - 10% chance of rain and we severely need rain (especially during the summer months), then I would cast a rain spell. Some people think that weather magic is unethical, and they might be right. I don’t do it nearly as much as I used to, but when things are desperate, I usually go ahead and do it.

If I had to estimate, I’d say that about 80% of my spells work within 24 hours. I don’t invoke gods or spirits, much less demons. I work alone.

 

[exoflare]

Spells do work, but they aren’t supernatural.

So they work on a scientific level? Please explain this.
Ivy:

If I had to estimate, I’d say that about 80% of my spells work within 24 hours. I don’t invoke gods or spirits, much less demons. I work alone.

The spirits don’t need your invitation. You seem to be right where they want you as it is.

 

[exoflare]

In response to the OP, yes they are real. But keep this in mind - that does not mean we should be living in fear of them.

 

[lvy]

So they work on a scientific level? Please explain this.

There are countless different theories of how spells works, but this is mine. I believe that magic works with natural forces, so it can’t defy the laws of nature. I can’t levitate my car with my mind. I can’t turn my ex into a toad. I can’t fly on a broomstick. It works with natural law, not against it. Magic simply increases the probability that something will happen, and as such, can be disregarded as coincidence by skeptics.

The spirits don’t need your invitation. You seem to be right where they want you as it is.

If you believe in demons, that’s your prerogative. I stopped believing in them along with the monsters under my bed and the boogeymen in my closet.

 

[Milliardo]

Before weather magic, I actually do watch the Weather Channel. If there is more than a 20% chance of rain, I won’t bother to do a rain spell. I figure that Mother Nature can handle it. If there is a 0 - 10% chance of rain and we severely need rain (especially during the summer months), then I would cast a rain spell.

That doesn’t seem to sound right; magic works on the premise of probability: it’s effectivity is hinged on that. If there is very little chance for it to happen, then magic won’t work, or if it does work it did randomly. However, the greater the chances of an event happening, the greater the chance it will work. So, a weather magic done with about 10% chance of it happening won’t be as effective as, say, 45% chance of it happening. It’s only logical that one would cast magic if the chances are more favourable for the caster.

I don’t invoke gods or spirits, much less demons. I work alone.

That seems to be quite odd, since even solitary practitioners would invoke the God and Goddess, though again Wiccan practice can be very random, especially for solitary practitioners.

 

[sandmountainsli]

I may be the only person here who has actually had a spell put on them.
A fellow named Sigmund Ivarrson placed a curse on me last year and it has taken alot of prayer to get me through.
Sigmund is a Swede who lives in Japan and claims to be King Sigmund I of England.
He did not like being made fun of.
WP

 

[Saint_Michael]

Ivy you’ve been lied to, rain happens all the time at very sporadic random intervals, you don’t control the weather via spells.