Wow, that is so clever and original! Monsters! Boogeyman! Where do you come up with this stuff?
Sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, demons are just as fictional as the monsters and the boogeymen. I get really tired of people trying to tell me that I worship demons, just because I practice witchcraft. I put demons in the same category as unicorns, trolls, and invisible space aliens. Some people see demons under every rock, in every teacup. Others see fire-breathing dragons living on their roof or trolls stealing their keys. I think it’s all rather silly. Like I said, if you want to believe in demons, then that’s your prerogative. Just don’t expect me to believe in them, too.
May I ask why spells would not fall under the same category of superstitious nonsense, in your eyes?
I realize you meant that as an insult, but that is actually a very good question, so I’ll give you an honest answer. As I see it, superstition is when people believe that the magic lies in the words or actions. “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back” or “break a mirror and have 7 years of bad luck”. When I was young, I always stepped on all the cracks in the sidewalks on my way to school, just to prove the superstition wrong. There are witches who are superstitious, and I know there are Catholics who are superstitious as well.
Most witches realize that the power doesn’t come from the ritual or the spell, but from within. Ritual is just a tool to help you focus your intent. A successful rite will often cause a physical sensation of being “high,” like being literally drunk with power. If I didn’t ground well, it can also leave me physically exhausted for days. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, spells do get results. Superstition doesn’t have any effect at all.
I think anyone who casts spells would like to see a result as well. That’s why casting spells is much dependent upon probability: I would not cast a spell if I know the chances of it happening are very low (though I tried that at times), but I would cast one if there’s a great chance of it happening. A spell is done to make that probable chance greater in your favour then.
If you cast a spell for something that is sure to happen, what is the point of casting at all? If I cast a spell when there is a 100% chance of rain in the forecast, I would feel like I was wasting my time. I guess it depends on how confident you are in your abilities as a caster. Personally, I like a challenge.
So why not just cast lots and lots of spells to make it rain???
Like I said, it’s not my place to end the drought. Drought is a natural occurrence; it’s cyclical, and it’s not my job to change weather patterns on a large scale. Casting rain spells constantly would be both unethical and exhausting. I’m not a God. I’m not all powerful. I know my limits.
Please read no disrespect into this… but if the land is in a drought, and you say a spell for it to rain and it does, in spite of a low probability of rain, isn’t it possible (and likely) that many people are also PRAYING to God for rain for their crops or whatever?
I have no doubt that Christians are praying for rain, too. I know someone who prays for rain every day during the summer. Most often, I sit back and do nothing. It doesn’t rain. When I decide to do something, it usually rains within 24 hours. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or maybe not. You’re free to make your own decision.
Or is it kindof the same thing… except spells are “prayers” to nature spirits or Goddesses?
I do pray, but most of my spellcraft is done through energy work, not prayer.
Just curious… no need to answer if this infringes on your privacy in some way.
