Wicca, Witchcraft etc
 

So...does anyone practice Wicca or Witchcraft? If so, what do u do? Do u dabble in the black arts or white arts...if u dont believe in Wicca, Witchcraft...post...we want to hear from u all.

To a certain extent, I believe in magic, although I look on it more as pseudoscience - it's mostly down to things like telepathy and psychosomasis. When it comes down to it, most paranormal activity can be explained like that.

However, I do know several people who claim to practise wicca, and it's mostly a load of bullshit, practised by pompous idiots who want to feel superior in some way. While I do believe in magic to a certain extent, I find all the ritual that people feel the need to ascribe to it quite pointless and distasteful. If you believe in it strongly enough, it'll happen, gemstones or no gemstones...

In English, a couple of girls did their orals about a friend of theirs who, with them, tried some magic on her hamster.

Very strange story...

The people I know don't practice Wiccan for religious reasons. They don't really believe it, they just do it because it's "cool"... *shudders*

Danny has an excellent point, especially where Wicca is concerned. It's getting VERY hard to distinguish between those who are actually learned on the history and traditions of Wicca, and the sixteen year-old teen angst crowd that have made it seem like some kind of superiority fix. If you get past the fassion and trendiness of it, though, there's a very deep and philisophically engaging background to Wicca. I myself really don't know much about it, but you can usually find a good site on the web somewhere. Again, you have to wade through some crap, but the information is out there.
And, on a seperate note, I really don't think that one has to "believe" in a religion to reap it's benefits. Just learning about them is often enough. Wicca literally translates to "learned one", and they were the first ones in the Western world to discover that things like Garlic and Ginger could help treat disease and extend your lifespan considerably. Of course, this was contrary to the church's gospel during the dark ages, so they were branded heritics, and the medical implications of these things weren't "really discovered" for a few hundred years by modern scientists.

Ah yes, this would be the church whose best cure for madness was to crack the skull open to let the demon escape? ;)

I like the idea of magic, but I think it's best left for fiction. You can create excellent stories that deal with magic and witchcraft.

I have a large black-leather book called Voodoo Sorcery Grimoire. It has all kinds of spells in it, from simple love potions (in which ejaculatory fluids are an ingredient) to spells that claim they have the potential to result in an enemies death. I've never cast any, as I don't believe they'd work.

Wow, Sydney, you seem to be the well-read fellow. You own your own Grimoire, I noticed your quote is from Amphigorey, and your avatar is a snippet of Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights". Good picks.
Anyway, now that I'm done boot-licking- I agree that literal magic should generally be left to fiction, seeing as the times have cast a harsh light on what was once thought to be mystical. Things like prisms and magnets, which were once considered magical, are now explained scientically, so to base your entire theology off of Dungeons and Dragons type stuff, especially if you're only doing it for the hip factor, is kind of dumb. However, like Danny said, there are a few things that are generally considered to be magic, but may very well have scientific merit, like telekinesis and clairvoyance. I forget where it comes from, but somebody once defined magic as "any science that is sufficiently advanced as to surpass the known laws of a people" or something very similar to that. Really, the line between science and magic is very transient, so it's hard to say anything all-encomposing on either subject. I suppose it's a matter of personel opinion. Where do you draw the border at?

Oooohhh...Sydney...could you send me that Death spell plz. I once tried a spell...on like this peep...he got hit by a car...it amused me for a while. But im not into Wicca cos of the religious side, jus 4 the magick. That may sound sad but still, and i dont go around telling people i do spells...that'd make me go down further on the status ladder so i stay well away. Instead i say i dabble...alth0 i ant dun a spell in aaaages. The last 1 i did was 2 make me and my best frend b frends again...it worked...yey!!

I remember hearing the quote "Any science that is distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced." It's a different quote from yours, but seems to follow on...

I believe that, ultimately, Science can by definition explain everything, but not as we currently know it. Science has been changing continuously for centuries, and it would be arrogant of us to think we're absolutely right now, as some scientists seem to believe...

Strange that I would find something like this here, since I just decided to practice witchcraft (mwoahahahahaaa!). All I need is to cleanse myself and then I'll go for it! I have friends to help me, too bad I'm too young to find a "real" teacher...

It will be interesting.

Well put.

I've learned that my father practices Wiccen, but not until recently. The last time I visited (back when he still lived in South Carolina. I think he's in Oregon now...), I wondered why he had so many old-looking books, and he had oil candles all over the place. And he really like incenses, too. I don't think that he keeps his Christmas tree up all year round for that reason, though. Anyways, I agree with Danny. I think that there are people who really HAVE esp and/or telepathy. However, I also belive that maybe TWO (based on probability) of all of the people who come out and claim it really do have that gift. I think that Wiccen and Witchcraft is just the wishful thinking that comstant rituals and silly poems will give them these "ledgendary" gifts. But publicity stunts and TV shows have pretty much dampened the whole thought of "ESP". Sort of like what happenned with the word "parallel universes", which I also believe exist by the googles and googles.

well if atempting to sumon a demon counts then yes. i did think it worked though, since that night doors have been opening by them sealvs, and strage happenings have been about. if ya'ask me.......i think its watching me 24/7.

Ur f*cked...then again, wot Demon did u summon? U can get certain types...u r truly in shit if u summoned one of the powerful ones...like a 'Legion' Demon (Who...in my game, come out of Hell, take over the persons life and become a Lawyer, Taxman or Judge.)

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Dan's quote from Carl Saagan?

Two what? Two percent? Two permille? Two out of ten?

I don't remember. That name rings a bell, but I couldn't be sure...

well i sumoned, acording to the book, the Kilan Demon. A anchint demon who was sumoned to torment all whomb his master wishs. Well apperntly it is a powerful one, cuse its screw'n wit my head!

No such thing as a Kilan Demon, stop being such a freak Rat and shut up about what u have been 'Summoning' in ur head. Cos Demons are not given names unless they have been in the bible.

Rat,PLEASE tell me this is a morbid joke you are springing on Jacob. Otherwise you have issues

"Joke" is too strong a word, really. "Obvious Lie" would probably be closer to the mark...

Why is this guy lying about demons? This topic is so skrewed up.