Questions
So, ewigweibliche posted some questions in her blog and they made me start thinking of long enough answers that I decided to reply here instead of in a comment over there. Woo.
What is your definition of a witch?
A witch is someone who practices non-ceremonial magic -- herb magic, say, or candle magic. Magic which doesn't require lots of preparation and liturgy. A witch's craft is as much psychology as it is moving energy around (though really, isn't psychology just another way of moving energy around?).
Is one born a witch, or does one become a witch? Is it innate, or through training?
I think that like any activity, witchcraft is something one can have a knack for. But I also think that, like any activity, witchcraft is something one can be trained in. I'm of the opinion that (barring some sort of learning disability) just about anyone who really applies themselves can attain some level of competence at witchcraft, the same way just about anyone who really applies themselves can learn to do math, for example. Maybe not calculus, but at least 2 + 2 = 4 sort of math.
Must a witch believe in deity in some form?
Nope. I'm of the opinion espoused in the Discworld books: that most witches don't believe in gods the way they don't believe in rocks or the postman -- they know they exist. Heh. But seriously, no, witchcraft doesn't require religion. It may involve it, but it doesn't require it. I know a lot of people use the words "witchcraft" and "Wicca" interchangeably, but I don't -- to me, Wicca is a religion and witchcraft is its own thing.
Can men be witches? Or are they something else? How important is being a woman to your understanding of the witch?
I use "witch" as a non-gendered term, the way I do "dude" or "pal."
Must a witch be pagan?
Nope. See above: witchcraft isn't a religion.
What is magic?
I'm fond of the definition "magic is the act of causing change in conformity with Will," but it's a bit broad. By that definition, picking up a glass with your hand is magic, provided it is your Will to pick it up.
I see magic as the manipulation of coincidence through an act of Will. If I sit down and do a small ritual to get a job, that's magic. Filling out job applications is not magic -- but it's also necessary for the magic to work. (At least, generally. The first job spell I did resulted in me running into someone I knew who got me the job without an application.)
Does a person have to believe in deity in some form to practice it?
Nope. It helps, in my opinion, but it's not necessary.
Is there such a thing as white magic or black magic?
Hmmm, this is an interesting question. For starters, it depends on how you define "white magic" and "black magic." Victor Anderson said white magic is poetry; black magic is anything that works. Most people define "white magic" as good, healing, helpful magic and "black magic" as evil, destructive, harmful magic. Me, I think magic is a tool, and thus not inherently good or evil. It's how you use it that's good or bad. So if "black magic" and "white magic" mean good/bad magic, no, I don't think there is such a thing.
Is magic a skill, a craft, a science? All or neither?
Magic can be approached as all of the above. Ceremonial magicians, I think, place more emphasis on the science of it, with a great deal of emphasis placed upon preparation and tools. For folks who do hedge-witchery, say, it's more of a craft. Either approach requires skill, however.
The magic I do is certainly all three to some extent. It's a skill in that I've been practicing it for a long time and have gotten the hang of it to some extent. It's a craft in that it involves things like painting and other subjective, artistic efforts. It's a science in that I base my decisions on past experimentation, like picking spells that have worked in the past.
Is magic mundane or for ritual use only?
That's like asking whether, say, knives are for mundane or ritual use only. One can use a knife in a ritual context (say, to cast a circle) or to chop lettuce for a salad. I do ritual both in circle and out of it, myself.
Do you consider yourself a witch? Why or why not?
I do consider myself a witch, yes. I fit the definition (see above) and I rather like the word.
Do you practice magic? How so?
I do. I am particularly partial to candle magic (there's a spell from Urban Primative I can adapt to almost any situation), but I also use charms/amulets -- for example, I have a hematite bracelet I've charged up to be a grounding aid, and I wear it in stressful situations, and I gave a protective ring to a cousin who was deployed to Afghanistan (he's back home now, safe and sound, thank the gods!).
What is your definition of a witch?
A witch is someone who practices non-ceremonial magic -- herb magic, say, or candle magic. Magic which doesn't require lots of preparation and liturgy. A witch's craft is as much psychology as it is moving energy around (though really, isn't psychology just another way of moving energy around?).
Is one born a witch, or does one become a witch? Is it innate, or through training?
I think that like any activity, witchcraft is something one can have a knack for. But I also think that, like any activity, witchcraft is something one can be trained in. I'm of the opinion that (barring some sort of learning disability) just about anyone who really applies themselves can attain some level of competence at witchcraft, the same way just about anyone who really applies themselves can learn to do math, for example. Maybe not calculus, but at least 2 + 2 = 4 sort of math.
Must a witch believe in deity in some form?
Nope. I'm of the opinion espoused in the Discworld books: that most witches don't believe in gods the way they don't believe in rocks or the postman -- they know they exist. Heh. But seriously, no, witchcraft doesn't require religion. It may involve it, but it doesn't require it. I know a lot of people use the words "witchcraft" and "Wicca" interchangeably, but I don't -- to me, Wicca is a religion and witchcraft is its own thing.
Can men be witches? Or are they something else? How important is being a woman to your understanding of the witch?
I use "witch" as a non-gendered term, the way I do "dude" or "pal."
Must a witch be pagan?
Nope. See above: witchcraft isn't a religion.
What is magic?
I'm fond of the definition "magic is the act of causing change in conformity with Will," but it's a bit broad. By that definition, picking up a glass with your hand is magic, provided it is your Will to pick it up.
I see magic as the manipulation of coincidence through an act of Will. If I sit down and do a small ritual to get a job, that's magic. Filling out job applications is not magic -- but it's also necessary for the magic to work. (At least, generally. The first job spell I did resulted in me running into someone I knew who got me the job without an application.)
Does a person have to believe in deity in some form to practice it?
Nope. It helps, in my opinion, but it's not necessary.
Is there such a thing as white magic or black magic?
Hmmm, this is an interesting question. For starters, it depends on how you define "white magic" and "black magic." Victor Anderson said white magic is poetry; black magic is anything that works. Most people define "white magic" as good, healing, helpful magic and "black magic" as evil, destructive, harmful magic. Me, I think magic is a tool, and thus not inherently good or evil. It's how you use it that's good or bad. So if "black magic" and "white magic" mean good/bad magic, no, I don't think there is such a thing.
Is magic a skill, a craft, a science? All or neither?
Magic can be approached as all of the above. Ceremonial magicians, I think, place more emphasis on the science of it, with a great deal of emphasis placed upon preparation and tools. For folks who do hedge-witchery, say, it's more of a craft. Either approach requires skill, however.
The magic I do is certainly all three to some extent. It's a skill in that I've been practicing it for a long time and have gotten the hang of it to some extent. It's a craft in that it involves things like painting and other subjective, artistic efforts. It's a science in that I base my decisions on past experimentation, like picking spells that have worked in the past.
Is magic mundane or for ritual use only?
That's like asking whether, say, knives are for mundane or ritual use only. One can use a knife in a ritual context (say, to cast a circle) or to chop lettuce for a salad. I do ritual both in circle and out of it, myself.
Do you consider yourself a witch? Why or why not?
I do consider myself a witch, yes. I fit the definition (see above) and I rather like the word.
Do you practice magic? How so?
I do. I am particularly partial to candle magic (there's a spell from Urban Primative I can adapt to almost any situation), but I also use charms/amulets -- for example, I have a hematite bracelet I've charged up to be a grounding aid, and I wear it in stressful situations, and I gave a protective ring to a cousin who was deployed to Afghanistan (he's back home now, safe and sound, thank the gods!).