Some questions about Wiccans

[Publisher]

Wicca has become extremely eccelctic since its early days in the 1940s, so every Wiccan is a bit different depending on his/her tradition. The one thing all Wiccans generally have in common is that their religion is based on the Wiccan Rede: 'An ye harm none, do as ye will. This is based on a longer poetic version of the Rede, but it’s basically their version of the Golden Rule – do whatever you want, as long as you don’t harm anybody.

Because of that, Wiccans don’t believe in cursing people, or using any form of coercive or controlling magic. In fact, Wiccans also tend to believe in the Threefold Law, which states that whatever you do comes back to you times three. Based on that belief, it wouldn’t be wise for a Wiccan to cast an evil spell, because that evil would eventually return to them three times worse.

From a Wiccan perspective, magic doesn’t come from the devil, and it doesn’t involve working with demons. **In fact, Wiccans don’t even believe in the devil. The way they see the Dvine is that our ultimate source is unknowable – beyond human comprehension. In order to understand the Divine, they worship it in the form of the God and Goddess, often focusing on a particular pantheon, or a particular God and Goddess from ancient pagan religions for whom they have an affinity. ** Magic, for them, comes ultimately from the power of the Divine, and permeates all of reality, so that you can utilise the power innate in rocks and herbs, as well as the power within yourself. But for them, that all has its origin in the Divine.

I’m willing to bet she just wants to hang out and see what you’ve been up to since your class together. I wouldn’t read anymore into it than that. I doubt she has a problem with your religion… most Wiccans have a “live and let live” attitude. In fact, in the longer version of the Wiccan Rede, it says just that: Live and let live; fairly take and fairly give. I’m sure she just wants to get to know you again… If she starts bashing your religion, or trying to convert you to hers, then she’s not being a very good Wiccan. And you can always ask politely for her to be more respectful of your beliefs, as you would respect hers – if it comes to that, of course.

Good insight friend,. The Wiccan friends I am acquainted with do not discuss with “outsiders” which God/Goddess they honor…it’s a private matter…one they share with the members of their covens…neither do they share their “magical names” with any outside their coven…they seek to preserve the sacred in doing so.

 

[Lokabrenna]

I’ll just echo what others have said: you don’t have to worry about curses. Most Wiccans don’t cast curses (and the ones that do will tell you the rest are misinterpreting the Rede). Hel, my tradition has no qualms about cursing people, and I don’t go around cursing people for fun, nor would I curse anyone simply for being a Christian, that’s just silly. Lots of Christians like to think that Pagans have nothing better to do than to sit around cackling and flinging curses around like they’re going out of style, but the truth is that most of us have more productive ways to spend our time, like honouring our deities or caring for our communities. Curses are a LAST RESORT. You wouldn’t burn your lawn to kill one weed, and you wouldn’t curse someone just for looking at you funny or for being a particular religion or for spilling a drink on your shirt.

 

[kempo1]

Everyone souds a little too cumbyya to me about the issue. You never said you were going to meet her to evangelize, so my opinion is be cautious. If you are discerning the priesthood why surround yourself with things that are against God. Shouldnt you suround yourself with Godly people. You can bet if she is not christian she lives an unchristian lifestyle. Now i know this will make some here mad but i call it like i see it. And i am not trying to be judgemental but i am sure her lifesty,e and yours are very different. What you find sinful she may not. I think if you are having feelings like you claim, maybe the Holy Spirit is telling you what to do. Personally if i felt the way you do i would not fool with her. My 2cents!!!

 

[creole54]

I agree, you don’t have anything to worry about - you have the power of Christ on your side. If you like this person and would enjoy having dinner and conversing with her as a friend, I’d say go ahead and do it. If the opportunity to evangelize presents itself, take it. But don’t accept her invitation just as an opportunity to witness to her.

My little sister & her husband are wiccan. A couple of years ago they invited me to visit them for a week so I could see their new home. They’re both very sweet people and wouldn’t deliberately hurt anyone. But all the same, I was a little bit scared since I would be sleeping under their roof for several days. I packed my Bible and a rosary and slept with that rosary in my hand every night. I probably didn’t need it, but I felt better having it.

The subject of religion never once came up and we had a wonderful visit.

 

[Publisher]

I agree, you don’t have anything to worry about - you have the power of Christ on your side. If you like this person and would enjoy having dinner and conversing with her as a friend, I’d say go ahead and do it. If the opportunity to evangelize presents itself, take it. But don’t accept her invitation just as an opportunity to witness to her.

My little sister & her husband are wiccan. A couple of years ago they invited me to visit them for a week so I could see their new home. They’re both very sweet people and wouldn’t deliberately hurt anyone. But all the same, I was a little bit scared since I would be sleeping under their roof for several days. I packed my Bible and a rosary and slept with that rosary in my hand every night. I probably didn’t need it, but I felt better having it.

The subject of religion never once came up and we had a wonderful visit.

Friend, I’m not picking on you…just wanted to make a point…for a Wiccan…you were pracicing “magic” by using your “talismans” to “protect” you from any “malevolent spirits”…your Bible and rosary were those “talismans” which you “charged” to protect you…

Of course, “you” wouldn’t think of using “magic”…but your Wiccan relatives would have considered it so.

 

[Hunter24]

An old classmate recently expressed interest in hanging out, and asked if I would like to grab dinner here in a couple weeks. I find it a little odd, since she’s in her late 30s, and I’m in my early 20s. We got along pretty well in our class.

She is Wiccan. I’m pretty sure she knows I’m a practicing Catholic. I post some Catholic things on Facebook from time to time. If we hang out, religion is bound to come up (Since I’m currently considering if not the priesthood, something in theology) So I was wondering if there is anything I should know about Wicca. for example, what they believe, and why they believe it. Like if their faith is even based on anything.

Another question I have is regards to their use of magic. Its my understanding that magic in real life doesn’t involve colorful light, as seen in movies and video games. (However, talking to some of my Native American friends, it seems that shape-shifting on the reservations is real, along with some other scary stuff.) Its also my understanding although magic is forbidden by God, (utilizing the powers of demons?) that Wiccans are set on not using magic to harm people.

I don’t want to be racist, but I admit my ignorance to witchcraft. I find it odd that she wants to hang out with me now, after about 3 or 4 years since our class. (also the age difference is interesting) My first thoughts are (I always think of the worst possible scenario) what if she wants to hang out, because seeing my Facebook posts, she knows I’m getting more into my faith, and she wants to put some sort of curse on me.I never took her to be malicious, and she’s a nice person. I feel that thought is mostly my own ignorance. Besides, she may just want to hang out, because we got along in our art class, and wants to catch up with old friends.

Can Wiccans do curses on people? Should I be cautious? Or am I simply being unnecessarily prejudice? I know there are a few Wiccans on this forum. Please forgive me if I sound racist.I admit my ignorance, which is why I’m asking this question.

I also thought, that this could be a good opportunity to evangelize. This is why I want to know at least the basics of what they believe, that way I can intelligently speak on the subject. (I think this might be important in general, because I’m noticing rise in Wicca, as well as seeing New Age ideas more openly in the mainstream.

Hello!

Well id guess i, being Wiccan, am in a good position to answer these haha.

Its very difficult to know the exact details of her beliefs because Wicca is a very broad religion, if you know her particular tradition that would be more descriptive but that can be a personal thing for her. Basicly the main tenants excepted by all Wiccans is they believe in the God and Goddess who are the divine masculine and divine feminine. Most often we will also include pre-christian dietys (Zeus,Thor, Ra, Venus, ect.) as we believe they are parts of or faces of the God and Goddess, much like Hinduism.

As for the magic, 99.9% of Wiccans use spells solely for healing, luck, inner peace, ect. Wiccans almost universaly use “white” magic exclusively (note i say almost, because every religion has a few people who dont follow its rules, 99.9% of christians dont kill ppl). Wiccans believe that whatever you put out comes back 3 fold, so a unprovoked curse will hurt you more than the one you curse.

Also, if she is a real Wiccan she wont try to evangelize, that is very frowned apon as we believe people should find their own path.

 

[manualman]

Friend, I’m not picking on you…just wanted to make a point…for a Wiccan…you were pracicing “magic” by using your “talismans” to “protect” you from any “malevolent spirits”…your Bible and rosary were those “talismans” which you “charged” to protect you…

Of course, “you” wouldn’t think of using “magic”…but your Wiccan relatives would have considered it so.

Not necessarily! If one depends on the objects themselves, then yes it is a superstition condemned by christian belief. But if the presence of the bible and rosary are physical reminders of the person’s faith in Christ then they function as sacramentals. The power isn’t inherent to the object, they are merely physical reminders of the omnipotence of God.

I forget which vampire story it was that actually did a nice job of illustrating this (a Stephen King, maybe?). A potential victim held back the vampire with a crucifix, but for some reason was unable (can’t recall details) to bring that cross into another room where the vampire proceeded to claim another victim. After the vampire killed off that other victim, he returned and had the courtesy to explain “It was not that object that protected you, but the One in whom you believed that protected you. Had you stood between me and (the killed character, X) without that flimsy prop, but with that faith in your heart I could not have overcome you. But now, since you did nothing to protect X from me, that simple prop no longer has any power over me.” Said vampire then kills the victim!

See the difference? Magic is an attempt to manipulate supernatural forces to do OUR bidding. Real faith is reliance on a supernatural God who loves us and a trust the He’ll provide what we really need in life. Sacramentals can help focus that faith and reliance on God, but not replace it.

As for the OP, make sure you’ve cleared your conscience in confession, receive the Eucharist often and go be Christ to all you meet: cougars included!

 

[Publisher]

Not necessarily! If one depends on the objects themselves, then yes it is a superstition condemned by christian belief. But if the presence of the bible and rosary are physical reminders of the person’s faith in Christ then they function as sacramentals. The power isn’t inherent to the object, they are merely physical reminders of the omnipotence of God.

I forget which vampire story it was that actually did a nice job of illustrating this (a Stephen King, maybe?). A potential victim held back the vampire with a crucifix, but for some reason was unable (can’t recall details) to bring that cross into another room where the vampire proceeded to claim another victim. After the vampire killed off that other victim, he returned and had the courtesy to explain “It was not that object that protected you, but the One in whom you believed that protected you. Had you stood between me and (the killed character, X) without that flimsy prop, but with that faith in your heart I could not have overcome you. But now, since you did nothing to protect X from me, that simple prop no longer has any power over me.” Said vampire then kills the victim!

See the difference? Magic is an attempt to manipulate supernatural forces to do OUR bidding. Real faith is reliance on a supernatural God who loves us and a trust the He’ll provide what we really need in life. Sacramentals can help focus that faith and reliance on God, but not replace it.

As for the OP, make sure you’ve cleared your conscience in confession, receive the Eucharist often and go be Christ to all you meet: cougars included!

You have provided a “Christiian” understanding and distanced yourself from the “magic”…from a Wiccan standpoint…it’s the same…it’s the 'intention"…the “though form” which takes place in the mind that “protects”…not necessarily the object…but just as Catholics accept certain “sacramentals” and receiving a “blessing” from your priest…so do Wiccans use “sacramentals”…my Wiccan friends call them “tools”.

The “forces” are natual…not supernatural as even the Gods are :natural". In Wicca, at least in the tradition my friends belong to, there is no distinction between the “natural” and “supernatural”.

 

[IgnatianPhilo]

Wannabe Pagans who don’t actually want to believe in the Icky pagan stuff. No Sacrificing of various animals so as to appeal to the gods. No Embracing of the pagan way of life which was very much different than our modern Christian inspired would we live in now. Just dance in the forest and worship the earth mother.

I might be strawmanning here but Wiccans are nothing but wannabees in my opinion.

 

[Hunter24]

You have provided a “Christiian” understanding and distanced yourself from the “magic”…from a Wiccan standpoint…it’s the same…it’s the 'intention"…the “though form” which takes place in the mind that “protects”…not necessarily the object…but just as Catholics accept certain “sacramentals” and receiving a “blessing” from your priest…so do Wiccans use “sacramentals”…my Wiccan friends call them “tools”.

The “forces” are natual…not supernatural as even the Gods are :natural". In Wicca, at least in the tradition my friends belong to, there is no distinction between the “natural” and “supernatural”.

This is all pretty accurate. also, the use of magic is talked about as though everything its used for is devious and evil, we are “doing our evil bidding” or “using magic to get what we want”. The vast majority of magic is just for healing, luck, ect. and its not about a lack of faith in the gods, often the gods are called apon for help. because Wicca has no destinction between natural and supernatural we would see no difference between getting a bottle of medicine and casting a spell to help with whatever ales you. Is getting a bottle of medicine a act of distrust in God? no, its taking care of ones self. Im not saying Christians should use magic, for heavens sake dont, your religion forbids it, but it is not some greedy act or act of distrust, atleast in the Wiccan context.

 

[Lokabrenna]

Wannabe Pagans who don’t actually want to believe in the Icky pagan stuff.

You’d be surprised.

No Sacrificing of various animals so as to appeal to the gods.

Actually, there are Pagans who raise their own animals and ritually slaughter them (eating them afterwards). It’s just not something the mainstream media reports on.

No Embracing of the pagan way of life which was very much different than our modern Christian inspired would we live in now. Just dance in the forest and worship the earth mother.

I take it you’ve never heard of homesteading? It’s popular among Heathens. I take it you wouldn’t want to go back to practicing Christianity in house churches (before Christianity was institutionalized) or the Byzantine Empire, or even the High Middle Ages, why should Pagan religions be static? Even without the influence of the British, the traditions collectively known as “Hinduism” have gone through many changes over thousands of years, and they weren’t “interrupted” by Christianity. There’s no reason Pagan traditions can’t change or adapt. So what if it’s not “exactly how our ancestors did it”? The point is not to exactly replicate the craptastic conditions that our ancestors faced every day, the point is to interact with the deities and spirits that call to us, and Hel, if Freyja tells me she would like a martini with an olive, I’m not going to argue with her about the historical accuracy of the offering, I’m going to give her a martini with an olive!

Every religion changes with the times, no exceptions.