Body & Soul1 min ago
Witchcraft
203 Answers
do you believe in it?
i was gonna make a new account to talk about this so you didnt all think i was mad but the fact that we would have had the same avatar could have been a dead giveaway :P
anyway..... ive always had lucid dreams and often had what people refer to as sleep paralysis but ive always thought there was more to it than your brains awake but your bodies not kind of thing....if there was just the sense of paralysis i could believe it but the sense that something evil is in the room with me makes me believe its more than that... also i had this long before i heard others had it and after reading about it i find it completely weird that people throughout the ages from all different backgrounds and cultures can have the same experience of an evil thing near them
to cut a long story short a fortnight ago i gave someone a personal belonging of mine then later joked he was going to do voodoo on me
since then i have had night terrors a lot worse than ever before.... im not stressed, i dont touch alcohol or any drugs at all.... i spoke with a friend whos alim and he advised me to among other things play a recording of quran while i sleep... i did this for 2 or 3 nights and nothing happened. last night i forgot to put it on and it was back full force
so my question is simple.... do you believe witchcraft exists?
i was gonna make a new account to talk about this so you didnt all think i was mad but the fact that we would have had the same avatar could have been a dead giveaway :P
anyway..... ive always had lucid dreams and often had what people refer to as sleep paralysis but ive always thought there was more to it than your brains awake but your bodies not kind of thing....if there was just the sense of paralysis i could believe it but the sense that something evil is in the room with me makes me believe its more than that... also i had this long before i heard others had it and after reading about it i find it completely weird that people throughout the ages from all different backgrounds and cultures can have the same experience of an evil thing near them
to cut a long story short a fortnight ago i gave someone a personal belonging of mine then later joked he was going to do voodoo on me
since then i have had night terrors a lot worse than ever before.... im not stressed, i dont touch alcohol or any drugs at all.... i spoke with a friend whos alim and he advised me to among other things play a recording of quran while i sleep... i did this for 2 or 3 nights and nothing happened. last night i forgot to put it on and it was back full force
so my question is simple.... do you believe witchcraft exists?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I addressed the subject of the use of the word 'energy' earlier Lazygun- stating very clearly that when the magical community use it it means something entirely different to when scientists or the rest of the population use it. The dictionary definition isn't really helpful to anyone in understanding that, it's just the way it is. It can be as irritating as you like but in context it makes perfect sense to those using it. you use the word in a scientific way, we use it so that it makes sense to us but not you. Perhaps we should have invented a whole different word for it, but we didn't and now it's stuck so it's a bit too late.
With regard to respect, I think everyone ought to be afforded it unless what they suggest harms someone, encourages the intolerance of others or is so dangerous as to potentially merit the behaviour being banned (like the guy who tried to split the atom in his kitchen).
With regard to respect, I think everyone ought to be afforded it unless what they suggest harms someone, encourages the intolerance of others or is so dangerous as to potentially merit the behaviour being banned (like the guy who tried to split the atom in his kitchen).
I don't believe that respect means one has no right to challenge. Debate can be held within a mutal respectful environment. I am on good terms on other forum sites with those who hold creationist beliefs. I find the mental gymnastics required to consider them valid to be a step too far for me, but respect their believe in them.
Social framework via the laws of the land should prevent unacceptable activity by individuals anyway.
Social framework via the laws of the land should prevent unacceptable activity by individuals anyway.
Lazygun - "I would respect an individuals right to hold a belief, and my default position is to be respectful of an individual until word or deed requires a revision of that respect, or course."
Interesting point, and one I agree with. However, in saying I am a Roman Catholic you are quite within your rights to disrespect it, castigate the belief and deride the "church" - it doesn't faze me at all. But does that extend to me as a person?
Interesting point, and one I agree with. However, in saying I am a Roman Catholic you are quite within your rights to disrespect it, castigate the belief and deride the "church" - it doesn't faze me at all. But does that extend to me as a person?
@ Sharingan - I really do wish they would take the time to find a new word, because it would make life a lot easier :)
Too many charlatans use terms like these when offering alternative health treatments, for instance, which can be genuinely dangerous to an individuals health for me to approve of the use of such terms.
I simply cannot respect "Magick" as a valid view of the world. Sorry, but there it is.
@ Octavius. My respect for an individual is predicated upon their words and/ or deeds, and I tend by default to respect individuals and deal with them as they represent themselves. Thinking about it though, and referencing O_Gs last post - I do not think, for instance, that I could retain any respect for an individual who publically espoused Ypung Earth Creationism, for example. Nor do I think I could have an ongoing personal or business relationship with such an individual. Colour me prejudiced, despite my best efforts, I guess.... :)
Too many charlatans use terms like these when offering alternative health treatments, for instance, which can be genuinely dangerous to an individuals health for me to approve of the use of such terms.
I simply cannot respect "Magick" as a valid view of the world. Sorry, but there it is.
@ Octavius. My respect for an individual is predicated upon their words and/ or deeds, and I tend by default to respect individuals and deal with them as they represent themselves. Thinking about it though, and referencing O_Gs last post - I do not think, for instance, that I could retain any respect for an individual who publically espoused Ypung Earth Creationism, for example. Nor do I think I could have an ongoing personal or business relationship with such an individual. Colour me prejudiced, despite my best efforts, I guess.... :)
That's okay Lazygun, it's not an evangelical thing, we don't mind who joins but we certainly don't need to convert anyone to our way of thinking and I'm very happy to have some nice cold blooded scientists about looking after our interests as well:)
I do actually agree with you about the use of the word ' energy'- as it's the one thing that knowledgeable people will always cite against us when discussing magick and it makes it very hard for those of us discussing it sensibly to make a point without being shot down in flames, but it's so widespread I really can't see it happening.
I do actually agree with you about the use of the word ' energy'- as it's the one thing that knowledgeable people will always cite against us when discussing magick and it makes it very hard for those of us discussing it sensibly to make a point without being shot down in flames, but it's so widespread I really can't see it happening.
I don't actually care what anyone is Octavius, as long as they harm no one they can worship whoever or whatever they like. I might not like their structured belief system but I will respect nice people who happen to believe in it. So no I do not disrespect by virtue of association ( however stupid I might think some things are).
If your beliefs, or anyone else's, has no impact on your public life and interactions with others, then it's not really a problem what those beliefs are. That's kind of what I try to think, anyway. It puzzles me that anyone can believe in "magic", and I'd be interested to hear precisely what it is you and your family do believe, but those are ultimately private matters as long as they are kept private.
That sounds horribly restrictive perhaps, but then whenever religion or other unsubstantiated beliefs get involved in politics the results are usually divisive.
That sounds horribly restrictive perhaps, but then whenever religion or other unsubstantiated beliefs get involved in politics the results are usually divisive.
going to answer in bits as i hate not replying to anyone
hi tambo, lol at pink burka, though in a pink cloak i may look like a washed out red riding hood... im guessing you meant niqaab though ;) and lol at your out and about ghost... i guess you listening to music is same as me listening to quran, its calming and the music i used to listen to would have had me bouncing all over the house :)
wildwood ... *I believe that witchcraft is exists.... but it is all a load of hogwash* not sure that makes sense tbh
thats just it booldawg i dont actually believe he can, it was just a joke that he would do it and after that it wasnt on my mind at all.....
lol eddie ;)
no naomi, i gave this person something and i joked to someone he would maybe do it, he doesnt claim to be able to do it or anything, it was just my silly sense of humour. like i said, ive had it before (and without my joking about voodoo) he isnt a follower of voodoo or anything it was just a joke
. Im finding it hard to explain, i think regardless of the personal item this would still have happened... what im trying to say is i think the sleep paralysis is more than the scientific explanation.... i do think its some form of 'evil'
hi old geezer.... thanks for good reply, and the bit about the mind being more complex blah blah is what im getting at here.... this sleep paralysis thing i could believe was just that if people from all different ages/cultures etc didnt get the same sense of evil.... every single report ive read and every single thing ive watched about it all boils down to the same...something not good is there at the time....
*Or more appropriately, Doodoo. ;o)*
for someone who likes to come across as a know it all you just cant help mocking at every available opportunity can you? my nana's always said mockery shows a person in their true colours
hi seb...lol i didnt think you did.... ive had loads of friends over the years who follow wiccan religion, not a single one of them did any of the things you mentioned though i have known people who practised 'dark arts' that did... i went to a wedding ceremony years ago between 2 wiccans... one of the best weddings ive ever attended in my life, it was in the woods and was a lovely evening and if my memory works i think they jumped the besom ;)
hi tambo, lol at pink burka, though in a pink cloak i may look like a washed out red riding hood... im guessing you meant niqaab though ;) and lol at your out and about ghost... i guess you listening to music is same as me listening to quran, its calming and the music i used to listen to would have had me bouncing all over the house :)
wildwood ... *I believe that witchcraft is exists.... but it is all a load of hogwash* not sure that makes sense tbh
thats just it booldawg i dont actually believe he can, it was just a joke that he would do it and after that it wasnt on my mind at all.....
lol eddie ;)
no naomi, i gave this person something and i joked to someone he would maybe do it, he doesnt claim to be able to do it or anything, it was just my silly sense of humour. like i said, ive had it before (and without my joking about voodoo) he isnt a follower of voodoo or anything it was just a joke
. Im finding it hard to explain, i think regardless of the personal item this would still have happened... what im trying to say is i think the sleep paralysis is more than the scientific explanation.... i do think its some form of 'evil'
hi old geezer.... thanks for good reply, and the bit about the mind being more complex blah blah is what im getting at here.... this sleep paralysis thing i could believe was just that if people from all different ages/cultures etc didnt get the same sense of evil.... every single report ive read and every single thing ive watched about it all boils down to the same...something not good is there at the time....
*Or more appropriately, Doodoo. ;o)*
for someone who likes to come across as a know it all you just cant help mocking at every available opportunity can you? my nana's always said mockery shows a person in their true colours
hi seb...lol i didnt think you did.... ive had loads of friends over the years who follow wiccan religion, not a single one of them did any of the things you mentioned though i have known people who practised 'dark arts' that did... i went to a wedding ceremony years ago between 2 wiccans... one of the best weddings ive ever attended in my life, it was in the woods and was a lovely evening and if my memory works i think they jumped the besom ;)
Witches in days of old were often the counsellors and doctors of today. Even today people ask for 'lucky charms'. If a very nervous girl was going on a date she may ask for a trinket to give her luck. Just believing in this Trinket would give her more confidence s therefore would be perceived as magic. No spell can make another human do something they wouldn't normally do. No spell can make you win the lottery (I wish) . On the down side people can manipulate others by casting curses which only work if the person being cursed believes in them. If they are given a trinket to prevent the curse then bingo this obviously worked so is magic.
"i think the sleep paralysis is more than the scientific explanation.... i do think its some form of 'evil'"
I think that the feeling of an evil presence is symptomatic of the sleep paralysis; driven by sudden fear and/or prolonged anxiety. I don't really believe in witchraft in the magical sorcery sense.
I think that the feeling of an evil presence is symptomatic of the sleep paralysis; driven by sudden fear and/or prolonged anxiety. I don't really believe in witchraft in the magical sorcery sense.
Sharingan said /you do have groups, you have Wiccans who loosely follow (Gerald Gardiner's ideas like Seb,//
Do not presume who I follow please, you can't get all of your information from Wikipedia. I am a hedge witch, if you know a little of witches then you would know that any witch who does not belong to a coven is classed as a hedge witch it has nothing to do with herbalism! Secondly only people over the age of 16 are allowed to initiate in Witchcraft so your knowledge, however protracted is at best second hand.
Do not presume who I follow please, you can't get all of your information from Wikipedia. I am a hedge witch, if you know a little of witches then you would know that any witch who does not belong to a coven is classed as a hedge witch it has nothing to do with herbalism! Secondly only people over the age of 16 are allowed to initiate in Witchcraft so your knowledge, however protracted is at best second hand.