| Many people are taking an active interest in | | | | then you will remember Father Karras reading from |
| witchcraft and its practices nowadays. There is a | | | | the Bible while casting holy water on a possessed |
| certain charm to the essence and core of what | | | | child. But we still hold this activity in high esteem, |
| witchcraft is. It means going inside yourself and using | | | | while witchcraft is looked down upon. Are the rituals |
| your deep unlocked potential to bring about change in | | | | actually that far apart, and so fundamentally different |
| the physical reality, with the help of ethereal forces | | | | in their natures? I will leave the answer to you. |
| all around us. | | | | So as I said before, witchcraft, contrary to common |
| There are now spellbooks available online, you can | | | | opinion, is not about evil spells, body parts of frogs, |
| read up on free spells that are available, and think | | | | spiders and bats being mixed together in cauldrons, |
| you have been initiated into this tradition. However, | | | | curses being conjured to change the luck of others, |
| witchcraft and Wicca are much more about your | | | | and so on. What is more important is the mindset - |
| inner world, rather than the outside manifestation in | | | | witchcraft is mostly about harmony and balance, and |
| rituals and spells in the shape of ritualistic objects | | | | this is reflected in many of its symbols. Though it |
| such as candles and so on. That is only what you can | | | | must be said, oddly enough, that cauldrons and |
| see. What you can't see is what the witch, or | | | | broomsticks do play a part in some rituals in |
| practitioner of witchcraft is going through inside | | | | witchcraft. |
| herself or himself. | | | | Some of the common aims which Wicca practitioners |
| So what exactly is Wicca? Truly, Wicca and | | | | aim to achieve with their activities are promoting life |
| witchcraft cannot be distinctly and clearly separated | | | | power or fertility, bringing more love into the world, |
| as two entities - Wicca practitioners use witchcraft | | | | healing others, and reducing negative influences |
| as a ritualistic tool. So it's very common that when | | | | around us. It is a commonly held belief among |
| people first hear about Wicca it tends to be about | | | | Wiccans that magic (or magick, as they spell it) is a |
| the spells and about witches - this is because of the | | | | primal law of nature, as alive as forces like the rays |
| misconceptions surrounding it. What's even more | | | | of the sun or the strength of a gust of wind. |
| important, witchcraft can be defined as a separate | | | | However, when approaching the Wicca culture, it is |
| activity only when it is practiced without the spirit | | | | always important to keep a sense of balance and |
| and the purpose within the Wiccan culture. So things | | | | respect. Wiccans do not make any claims to |
| are quite blurred here. | | | | extraordinary feats like producing great balls of fire |
| Let me give you a specific example. In the Christian | | | | or cursing someone to eternal damnation. When you |
| faith, for centuries and centuries blessings and | | | | are just getting into this culture, treat it with respect |
| exorcisms have been an important part of the | | | | and tread lightly. But you will find in this a very |
| religion. If you have seen the movie The Exorcist, | | | | worthwhile pursuit. |