"Magic is the science and art of causing change to
occur in conformity with Will" ~ Aleister Crowley, 'Magic in Theory and Practice'
And a Witch is anybody who uses magic. A person, male or female - who 'does spells' of any description and/or works with universal energies, is a Witch. As long as they choose to call themselves such, of course. Generally this would not include 'high magic' ritual work, who don't tend to label themselves as anything like 'Witch'. Witchcraft doesn't have to be a religious path (Wicca is at the very least, a spiritual one), though it often runs in tandem with Wiccan or Pagan beliefs.
What are Wiccan or Pagan spiritual/religious beliefs?
In short, and bearing in mind that no two Pagans/Wiccans will believe exactly the same thing...
~ Belief in a Goddess and a God, partnering Forces of the Universe. There are no 'go-betweens' in Wicca or Paganism (or witchcraft for that matter)- all relationship with deity is a personal one. We must figure out for ourselves what deity or the god force means to us, and how to work with it. So if we make mistakes there is no absolution from the priesthood, we pay for them and learn not to do it again. This tends to make most Pagan types quite careful in their actions, and how they are effecting the world around them and other folk in it!
~ Reverence of Nature. Pagans and Wiccans see this world, all its creatures, and everything in the Universe as made of the same stuff as the Gods, therefore all life is sacred. The human body and soul are connected with all life; not separate from, or in any way above, this planet and it's creatures.
~ Personal responsibility, personal set of ethics and morals. Sometimes this includes such laws as The Wiccan Rede ("Eight Words the Witches Rede fulfill, and it harm none, do what ye Will") and The Law of Threefold Return - this states that everything you do comes back to you three times as strong, for good or ill.
You would have to approach a teacher yourself if you were interested in training as a Wiccan, we don't proselytize or look for conversion numbers to our 'one true way'. There is no right way to God/s or religion, just your own way; that which is right for you.Natural Cycles A lot of Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans follow the Wheel of the Year, eight seasonal celebrations or Sabbats (two distinct sets of four each throughout the year) which mirror the changing cycles of the world around us, and ourselves. We also work with moon energies - attuning ourselves to the changes that pull both the tides and our souls within every 28 day period.
Magical Energy We believe that all living things are connected, and all intrinsically part of the same 'Source' material, the stuff of the Universe, a particular Energy; whatever you choose to call it or name it, it's there. Physicists have discovered that every thing in the Universe consists on some level of particles of energy, which have been successfully manipulated, by force of Will alone, in scientific tests - to control the outcome of a given situation. This could be viewed as modern science finally catching up with magic...(and Star Wars?!)
What is Irish Witchcraft?
It's a bit different from your usual Wiccan or general New Age Pagan practices. More mud and daring and blood. Personal connection and relationship with the land, the language and the local Beings is of vital importance.
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