What spiritual path are you following?

[Michele]

What type of spiritual path are you on? Or, what religion do you follow?

[April]

I refer to myself as Pagan but I'm pretty much Wiccan. No particular trad, just an eclectic solitary.

Anyone else?

[GracieMae]

I was raised Lutheran but attended the Methodist Church for years. I have dabbled in the Pentacostal faith at one point and even studied with the Jehovas Witness's till I decided that wasn't for me.

Marion attends AWANA and Sunday school at the Baptist Temple.

At this point I consider myself a Christian who studies the Bible at home.

[mom2burgess]

I am Wiccan but I also call myself Pagan. Pretty much the same as monkeymomma, nothing in particular, a bit of everything, solitary

[Lucid]

Eclectic solitary Pagan with some Wiccan influence.

[Desperado]

Roman Catholic

[Taneli]

Agnostic still at this time... but I'm interested in paganism...

[Jai Witch]

I consider myself to be an Eclectic, Solitary Wiccan. :D

[Lobo]

I'm pretty much a pagan. But... Not a wiccan. Though 99% of the population seems to think the terms are interchangable. :confused:

[Mabel]

Christian - no particular denomination :)

[April]

I'm pretty much a pagan. But... Not a wiccan. Though 99% of the population seems to think the terms are interchangable. :confused:

I've noticed that.
A lot of people finally get it when you tell them a Wiccan is to a Pagan what a Baptist or Methodist is to a Christian.

[Sanguine]

Well, I'm an atheist with agnostic tendencies; which isn't so much of a path, more a viewing platform.

I believe that everything has a natural explanation, including gods and other 'supernatural' entities should they exist (hence the agnostic bit). The fun part is working out what the natural explanation is! I do think that there is an awful lot of phenomena that are unexplained by science, but that doesn't mean to say they are unexplainable. I think that the scientific method has the potential to explain everything, the only limit being the human capacity for understanding.

I have researched several Western European pagan and magical traditions, which I find very interesting but have yet to form a concrete opinion on them. I have several family members and friends that are pagan of one denomination or another, and they encourage me to take part in some of their festivals. Living in Cornwall I am constantly reminded of a rich Celtic heritage, which I feel part of.

A question for Solitary Wiccans: How can one be a Solitary Wiccan? It seems like a contradiction of terms to me.

Does anyone here practice witchcraft or magic(k)? I'd be very interested to hear about it.

[Jai Witch]

Does anyone here practice witchcraft or magic(k)?
Yes, I practice witchcraft...but I only do white magick. I do NOT mess with the free will of others.

[April]

A question for Solitary Wiccans: How can one be a Solitary Wiccan? It seems like a contradiction of terms to me.


By doing spellwork, rituals, Sabbat celebrations by yourself rather than with a coven.



Does anyone here practice witchcraft or magic(k)? I'd be very interested to hear about it.

I used to but not so much anymore. With a little one running around, I rarely have the time and space to go through the set-up, the circle casting, etc.

[Jai Witch]

I tried the coven thing...it just didn't work for me. Only I know the true intent of the spell that I am trying to do..and I feel that when you bring others into your spell work, it leaves a dangerous opening for mishaps..meaning that THEIR mind may not be on the spell at hand...and that could mess my spell up. I have never been a follower, I'm more independant and enjoy only having to worry about myself being on time...lol.

[Sanguine]

MonkeyMomma

By doing spellwork, rituals, Sabbat celebrations by yourself rather than with a coven.
I see. Maybe I'm wrong, but in all the Wiccan rituals that I've witnessed or been told of the main emphasis was on the dynamic balance of male and female energies and that this balance is essential to the ritual. As far as I'm aware the dynamic balance of opposite energies, especially male and female, is the central theme of Wicca. How do you account for this in solitary practices? How do you maintain a balance of male and female energy by yourself? Surely the fact that there is only either one male or one female in a Solitary ritual means that the balance of energies is, well, unbalanced. How does one perform the Great Rite by one's self? How can one person embody the God and the Goddess at once?


Jai Witch

Yes, I practice witchcraft...but I only do white magick. I do NOT mess with the free will of others.
How does your magick work?

How do you avoid messing with the free will of others?

[April]

I see. Maybe I'm wrong, but in all the Wiccan rituals that I've witnessed or been told of the main emphasis was on the dynamic balance of male and female energies and that this balance is essential to the ritual. As far as I'm aware the dynamic balance of opposite energies, especially male and female, is the central theme of Wicca. How do you account for this in solitary practices? How do you maintain a balance of male and female energy by yourself? Surely the fact that there is only either one male or one female in a Solitary ritual means that the balance of energies is, well, unbalanced. How does one perform the Great Rite by one's self? How can one person embody the God and the Goddess at once?

Not necessarily. Yes, it's about balance, but you aren't required to have that "balance" of male and female physically present at a ritual. In fact, many traditions are Goddess-based and many covens are female only. And by calling upon the God and the Goddess during ritual, you can achieve that balance of male and female energies.
A lot of people, including myself, believe that both the God and the Goddess are within us. They are within everything and everyone around us.
If you're interested, Scott Cunningham 's book "Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" is very informative.

[Sanguine]

I read one of Scott Cunningham's books. It was a while ago, maybe four or five years, and I can't remember exactly what it was called. Wicca: The Solitary Practitioner’s Guide, or something like that. I don't remember all that much about it, but I do remember being somewhat unimpressed. It seemed to me that the version of Wicca he portrayed didn't bear much resemblance to the Wicca I know. It seemed to be very unbalanced, ignoring the dark side of life, nature and the human spirit. It was all about life and not death, ignoring the fundamental polarity of these two forces that, in the Wicca I know, is as important as the balance of male and female energy.

He also presented a worldview that, to me, is totally unrealistic. A view that nature is essentially nice, ignoring the fact that it can also be harsh, uncaring, bloody and violent. It seems to me that he neglects this sort of balance throughout and so his views are dangerously one sided. He offers nothing on the dark side of the Human psyche, on revealing and confronting inner demons. In the Wicca, I know this too is fundamental. The ideal being to live life as a fully aware, fully alive, human being which means understanding and accepting that reality can be harsh, painful and terrible as well as happy and nice. That was my opinion of Cunningham's book anyway.

It seems to me that this version that Cunningham (and others) portrays is a consequence of the efforts of Wiccans in the 1970s and 80s to convince a concerned and suspicious public that their rapidly growing religion was not about worshipping demons through licentious orgies and human sacrifice. I think that in an effort to portray Wicca as a religion concerned with 'life and light' in order to allay the fears of the general public, many people became attracted to the religion through this PR. It seems that many have never even heard of the 'death and darkness' side of Wicca, which is essential to the central theology.

I was always under the impression that it is required to have both male and female energies physically present in a ritual. The point being to demonstrate the union of male and female both physically and spiritually; the balance of spirituality and physicality is surely just as important as any other. The Great Rite especially. I don't see how the psychodrama can be in any way effective without both male and female being physically present. The whole point being that the High Priest and Priestess embody the God and Goddess and venerate their union spiritually and physically, where all things become one.

I can't say I've ever come across an all female or Goddess only tradition. That to me seems to contradict the basic tenets of balance in Wicca.

[April]

You have a point about many Wiccans and Wiccan authors overcompensating and focusing only on the "tree hugging hippy" aspect of Wicca. But a lot of people really do feel that way about it. It is a very positive religion and many are drawn to that, the fact that there isn't a focus on 'the dark side', no Satan, no Hellfire and Damnation.

You also have to consider that the balance and things that you're talking about stem from the "old" Pagan religions and much of what is being practiced and written about today is Neo-Paganism which started in about the 70's.

I find it odd that you've never heard of Goddess-based traditions. The Dianic Trad is very well-known and one of the largest traditions (aside from Gardnerian) and they're a very feminist group.

[ScorpioQueen]

Pagan...

[Jai Witch]

Quote:
Sanguine

How does your magick work?

How do you avoid messing with the free will of others?

Magick is simple. It's a firm beleif on the intent...allowing yourself to HAVE what you NEED. Seeing that you already have it is the first step to obtaining it.
The answer to your second quetion: I do not cast spells on people. I did that once and it came back to me so fast it made my head spin. I cast only for NEEDS. For example: When my (ex)boyfriend kicked me and my son out, I needed a place that was safe for me and my son to stay. I cast a spell for us to find such a place to stay in until he and I had enough money saved to get our own place. (Yes, it worked.) I did not ask for a spacific person to step forward and help us...I didn't ask for the boyfriend to have a change of heart. Therefore, I didn't interfere with the free will of another human being.

[Sanguine]

MonkeyMomma

You have a point about many Wiccans and Wiccan authors overcompensating and focusing only on the "tree hugging hippy" aspect of Wicca. But a lot of people really do feel that way about it. It is a very positive religion and many are drawn to that, the fact that there isn't a focus on 'the dark side', no Satan, no Hellfire and Damnation.
Wicca is a positive religion but to say there is no focus on the dark side is untrue. As I said before the concept of balance and polarity is central to Wicca and therefore the dark side is just as important as the light. Focus on one without the other is unbalanced. There is the concept of damnation in Wicca. Law 35 of the 161 laws states: "And if any break these laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians."

MonkeyMomma

You also have to consider that the balance and things that you're talking about stem from the "old" Pagan religions and much of what is being practiced and written about today is Neo-Paganism which started in about the 70's.
The concept of balance is central to Wicca as concieved by Gardner in the 1940s. It is a concept that has less to do with old Pagan traditions and is derived more from the magical traditions of the Golden Dawn and the OTO. I agree, much of what is being practiced and written about today is Neo-Paganism that did start in the 70s, but it is not Wicca.

MonkeyMomma

I find it odd that you've never heard of Goddess-based traditions. The Dianic Trad is very well-known and one of the largest traditions (aside from Gardnerian) and they're a very feminist group. No, I've not ever encountered any. I guess it must be an American thing.

Jai Witch

Magick is simple. It's a firm beleif on the intent...allowing yourself to HAVE what you NEED. Seeing that you already have it is the first step to obtaining it.
That's it? No numerology, no geometra, no Qabalah etc? Just believe enough and want it enough and it will happen? How is this different from prayer? I'm not sure what you mean by your second sentence. Are you refering to the thing that you desire or to magick itself?

[April]

There is the concept of damnation in Wicca. Law 35 of the 161 laws states: "And if any break these laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE GODDESS SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians."

Funny, that sounds more like the Bible to me. I don't follow any "161 Laws" or any one book or anyone one "grandfather of Wicca" such as Gardner. One of the good things about Wicca is that there is no set of rules that must be followed, there is no one way, one path. So obviously the research and the readings you have done is very different from what I have found.

P.S. I don't believe in "the hell of the Christians" either.

[Beelzebub]

My name says it all. I express an interest in Satanism.

[Michele]

I am copying this thread to the Religion forum in the debate section for those that wish to debate. For the rest of you, please feel free to answer the post without any debating. If you wish to debate anything more in this thread, jump over to the religion forum in the debate section, I'll copy this thread over there for you all. :)

[madnothing]

i am not trying to be offensive in anything that i say and am very very sorry if what i do, is offensive to anyone.

I am very ignorant about witchcraft and magic and that sort of thing, the only think i hav ever seen to do with that is sabrina the teenage witch, which to me is just make believe.

at the moment i do not know whether actual magic is real or not. i do however think that if i knew more about this sort of stuff that i would believe in it, i was just wondering whether there are people who actually do "spells" and incantations that actually work.. and once again i am very sorry for sounding ignorant (mainly becuase i no am very ignortant about this subject) or offensive.

[Lucid]

i am not trying to be offensive in anything that i say and am very very sorry if what i do, is offensive to anyone.

I am very ignorant about witchcraft and magic and that sort of thing, the only think i hav ever seen to do with that is sabrina the teenage witch, which to me is just make believe.

at the moment i do not know whether actual magic is real or not. i do however think that if i knew more about this sort of stuff that i would believe in it, i was just wondering whether there are people who actually do "spells" and incantations that actually work.. and once again i am very sorry for sounding ignorant (mainly becuase i no am very ignortant about this subject) or offensive.
No offense taken :) , yes there are people who do spells and spells work. But it isn't like Sabrina the teenage witch , or charmed . Or atleast it isn't that way for me .

[April]

I doubt you'll find anyone offended here. :)
Like Lucid said, people *do* do magick and spells and sometimes they do work. Probably the easiest way to explain spells is that it's a souped-up prayer. Some people use tools, some use candles, some spells are more elaborate, some are simple. The main element of a spell is the energy you put into it and some people believe that certain things bring about more energy and increase the chances of your spell working.

[janyburb]

Unlike the movies, you can not cast a spell to instantaneously change the color of your hair, or your cloths.. or unlike the movie The Craft, you cant fill your enimies house with snakes and bugs!

But, you can cast spells to make yourself a better, person.. you can cast spells to bring love into your life, you can cast spells to bring prosperity into your life..

Yes, casting a spell is just like a prayer.. Witch's sometimes call it "prayer with props" for you are taking other objects to lend to the energy of the words of the spoken prayer to make it even that much more powerful. Other objects such as a specific colored candle, stones, crystals, rocks, metals, or tools such as coldrens, athame's, wands... etc..

But, the most basic principle is that energy follows thought.. which is the most purest, basic, reason that Prayer and spells do work!!

[kokopelli]

I am Christian but disillusioned with Christianity, so there's no telling what path I will end up on. Native AMerican spirituality intrigues me, but I would worry about cultural theft if I were to pursue it. :(

[Lucid]

That's a tough one kokopelli. The only thing I can think of would be to find a group and ask how they feel . I've heard some mind ,and others as long as they felt you were genuinly interested do not mind .

[SallyzSoul]

I believe in God...........but, I am also greatly interested in learning Wicca (nature's religion).

[MooMur]

At this point I consider myself a Christian who studies the Bible at home.

That's me too. I don't attend church, but I do read the Bible from time to time.

I was raised to believe in God, but did go thru a period where I didn't believe in anything. Eventually I had a need to believe in something and thought that maybe Wicca would help fill the void, but there was still something missing. It just wasn't right for me.

Being Christian is what feels right to me. With that being said, my daughter doesn't feel that being Christian is right for her and has started exploring Wicca. I totally support her decision to explore and discover what is right for her. I feel that it is important that people do what is best for them, not what others think they should do.