Sorry if you have already answered this, but why is there a 'k' in magic?

Why bother?

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Anonymous wrote:Why do Wiccaans refer to themselves as witches? I don't see how believing in a spiritual duality and feeling a connection with nature makes one a "witch". How do Wiccaans even know what witches are? Honestly, why choose such an in your face and loaded term?

Not all Wiccans practice magick, but those who do call ourselves witches. We know what witches are because we come from a long line of Pagan religions. I personally have a huge fascination with earth based religion history.

We choose that term because we don't care about its connotation to you. It's the most apt descriptor, your comfort or inconvenience be damned.

I seriously doubt that practitioners of ancient Pagan religions referred to themselves as witches. Perhaps it's a term Wiccaans only use to describe those who engage in spells, but again why even refer to the Wiccaan version of prayers as being spells?

That is an incredibly specific semantics question that I have no control over. I refer to spells as spells because the word for casting magick in English is 'spell'.

Why do Christians refer to the ritual of eating Jesus's flesh and blood Communion? Why is the Passover feast in Judaism referred to as a seder?

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Anonymous wrote:Why do Wiccaans refer to themselves as witches? I don't see how believing in a spiritual duality and feeling a connection with nature makes one a "witch". How do Wiccaans even know what witches are? Honestly, why choose such an in your face and loaded term?

Not all Wiccans practice magick, but those who do call ourselves witches. We know what witches are because we come from a long line of Pagan religions. I personally have a huge fascination with earth based religion history.

We choose that term because we don't care about its connotation to you. It's the most apt descriptor, your comfort or inconvenience be damned.

I seriously doubt that practitioners of ancient Pagan religions referred to themselves as witches. Perhaps it's a term Wiccaans only use to describe those who engage in spells, but again why even refer to the Wiccaan version of prayers as being spells?

Anonymous wrote:Why do Wiccaans refer to themselves as witches? I don't see how believing in a spiritual duality and feeling a connection with nature makes one a "witch". How do Wiccaans even know what witches are? Honestly, why choose such an in your face and loaded term?

Not all Wiccans practice magick, but those who do call ourselves witches. We know what witches are because we come from a long line of Pagan religions. I personally have a huge fascination with earth based religion history.

We choose that term because we don't care about its connotation to you. It's the most apt descriptor, your comfort or inconvenience be damned.

Why do Wiccaans refer to themselves as witches? I don't see how believing in a spiritual duality and feeling a connection with nature makes one a "witch". How do Wiccaans even know what witches are? Honestly, why choose such an in your face and loaded term?

Agreed. Perhaps OP can explain how evil fits into it all, please? I know it's there, I know not to mess with it.. but it's not something I can put into words.

After some searching, perhaps this explains it if you're interested in reading and trying to understand, PP.

http://religionnerd.com/2011/02/28/a-wiccan-perspe...l-and-all-that-biblical-stuff/

I believe that everything I do is based off of making choices. I don't believe that anybody is inherently good or inherently evil; instead, the choices that they make are either good or bad.

Everybody is capable of making bad or evil choices and so people need to consciously work hard to make good choices.

Great thread! I'm inspired by you, OP.

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Anonymous wrote:This is so interesting, OP. I was not raised religiously in the slightest but now want to learn more about being Wiccan.

One of the great things about earth based religions is its lack of creed. You have the freedom to step away from organized religion and realize that at its very core, everything on this earth is connected and that it needs to be embraced, nurtured, and celebrated.

Oh, really now! EVERYTHING is connected and it needs to be embraced, nurtured and celebrated? No, thank you. Evil is not connected to good, my friend, and evil in no way needs to be embraced, nurtured or celebrated.

Evil is connected, simply by trying to out-do good IMO.

I may be wrong and OP please correct me, but I think by "everything" the reference is to earth itself.

I can't put my thoughts into words, but I realize that evil isn't included in the embracing, nurturing and celebrating the way the earth is.

Wiccans are not evil, and don't celebrate evil.

You can't put the thought into words, because it's an absurd thought. "Evil" may not be included, but Someone (God) has to define evil -- otherwise, we would be all living like OP -- defining for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. What a nightmare that would be.

And this is why Christians and other people of the book are terrifying. Do you seriously mean to say that you can't define good and evil for yourself? You are so out of control that you don't recognize good for yourself and would do evil without the fear of eternal punishment? You have ZERO control over your own actions? What kind of monster are you?

Agreed. Perhaps OP can explain how evil fits into it all, please? I know it's there, I know not to mess with it.. but it's not something I can put into words.

After some searching, perhaps this explains it if you're interested in reading and trying to understand, PP.

http://religionnerd.com/2011/02/28/a-wiccan-perspective-on-satan-evil-and-all-that-biblical-stuff/

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so interesting, OP. I was not raised religiously in the slightest but now want to learn more about being Wiccan.

One of the great things about earth based religions is its lack of creed. You have the freedom to step away from organized religion and realize that at its very core, everything on this earth is connected and that it needs to be embraced, nurtured, and celebrated.

Oh, really now! EVERYTHING is connected and it needs to be embraced, nurtured and celebrated? No, thank you. Evil is not connected to good, my friend, and evil in no way needs to be embraced, nurtured or celebrated.

Evil is connected, simply by trying to out-do good IMO.

I may be wrong and OP please correct me, but I think by "everything" the reference is to earth itself.

I can't put my thoughts into words, but I realize that evil isn't included in the embracing, nurturing and celebrating the way the earth is.

Wiccans are not evil, and don't celebrate evil.

You can't put the thought into words, because it's an absurd thought. "Evil" may not be included, but Someone (God) has to define evil -- otherwise, we would be all living like OP -- defining for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. What a nightmare that would be.

And this is why Christians and other people of the book are terrifying. Do you seriously mean to say that you can't define good and evil for yourself? You are so out of control that you don't recognize good for yourself and would do evil without the fear of eternal punishment? You have ZERO control over your own actions? What kind of monster are you?

As for one example: You do realize that there are many people who think that pedaphilia is just fine, just another alternative lifestyle and who are you to determine what is sexually appropriate for other people? Your naivety is astounding.

You mean like youth pastors and Catholic priests?

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Anonymous wrote:This is so interesting, OP. I was not raised religiously in the slightest but now want to learn more about being Wiccan.

One of the great things about earth based religions is its lack of creed. You have the freedom to step away from organized religion and realize that at its very core, everything on this earth is connected and that it needs to be embraced, nurtured, and celebrated.

Oh, really now! EVERYTHING is connected and it needs to be embraced, nurtured and celebrated? No, thank you. Evil is not connected to good, my friend, and evil in no way needs to be embraced, nurtured or celebrated.

Evil is connected, simply by trying to out-do good IMO.

I may be wrong and OP please correct me, but I think by "everything" the reference is to earth itself.

I can't put my thoughts into words, but I realize that evil isn't included in the embracing, nurturing and celebrating the way the earth is.

Wiccans are not evil, and don't celebrate evil.

You can't put the thought into words, because it's an absurd thought. "Evil" may not be included, but Someone (God) has to define evil -- otherwise, we would be all living like OP -- defining for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. What a nightmare that would be.

And this is why Christians and other people of the book are terrifying. Do you seriously mean to say that you can't define good and evil for yourself? You are so out of control that you don't recognize good for yourself and would do evil without the fear of eternal punishment? You have ZERO control over your own actions? What kind of monster are you?

As for one example: You do realize that there are many people who think that pedaphilia is just fine, just another alternative lifestyle and who are you to determine what is sexually appropriate for other people? Your naivety is astounding.

And everyone around them recognizes that it's harmful. Wiccans don't practice "Do what thou wilt." They practice "And it harm none, do what thou wilt."

OP here again.

To the people reading this thread, please don't be mad at the other posters who are simply asking questions like I invited them to do. They may be speaking out of a place of malice or simply out of ignorance and responding with equal hostility is not at all in the spirit and energy that is necessary to spread that knowledge I'm trying to give.

You can't put the thought into words, because it's an absurd thought. "Evil" may not be included, but Someone (God) has to define evil -- otherwise, we would be all living like OP -- defining for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. What a nightmare that would be.

OP here.

A world where everybody lived like me and defined for ourselves what is right and what is wrong would be beautiful. There would be harmony as we would all realize that treating each other poorly is wrong. We would live side by side, hand by hand, helping each other to grow and thrive. We would revere and take care of our planet and all of its inhabitants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is so interesting, OP. I was not raised religiously in the slightest but now want to learn more about being Wiccan.

One of the great things about earth based religions is its lack of creed. You have the freedom to step away from organized religion and realize that at its very core, everything on this earth is connected and that it needs to be embraced, nurtured, and celebrated.

Oh, really now! EVERYTHING is connected and it needs to be embraced, nurtured and celebrated? No, thank you. Evil is not connected to good, my friend, and evil in no way needs to be embraced, nurtured or celebrated.

There's an up, there's a down; there's a left, there's a right; there's light, there's darkness; there's good, and there's evil. Yes, everything is connected.

What I was referring to with everything needs to be nurtured was more about the earth itself. I believe, along the lines of those who practice the Shinto religion of Japan, that every living this has a spirit and is miraculously magnificent. I know that I am kin with every soul on this earth so I must love and respect my brethren.

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Anonymous wrote:Does your first name being with the letter "E"? Would you say if it did?

Hi OP. I'm Wiccan too! I think your thread is great! PP, my name starts with 'E' but nobody knows I'm Wiccan (not even my spouse). I don't think anyone would ever guess. I've been Wiccan since childhood.

OP, how old are you?

Why wouldn't you tell your husband?