Abracadabra
Also spelled abrakadabra and abrahadabra, it is a word that has many ties to the ancient occult.
While the actual origin of the word is unknown, some believe that is was derived from the initials of the Hebraic words Ab, Ben, and ruach a Cadesch which translates as "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Others believe that it was the name of the supreme deity of the Assyrians.
Ephraim Goodman, the world-renowned linguist, declares that the term comes from the Aramaic phrase, Avra Kedavra which translates into "I shall create - as that which i say"
The first written record of the word comes from the third-century physician, Quintus Severus Sammonicus. He was a Gnostic physician to Roman Emperor, Septimius Severus and used the word to treat tertian fever, asthma, and agues.
When written, it is usually seen as:
ABRACADABRA
ABRACADABR
ABRACADAB
ABRACADA
ABRACAD
ABRACA
ABRAC
ABRA
ABR
AB
A
The above configuration is used in banishing.
A
AB
ABR
ABRA
ABRAC
ABRACA
ABRACAD
ABRACADA
ABRACADAB
ABRACADABR
ABRACADABRA
The above configuration is used in invoking.
It is used by conjurers to invoke or banish certain spirits.
It is widely believe that certain evils, including demons would diminsh in the same mannor as the configuration until if finally vanishes.
As a means of protection, the banishing configuration was written on a small piece of parchment and was worn, hanging from the neck on linen thread as an amulet. In the same aspect, this configuration was found on abraxas stones which were also worn as amulets.
Now days, the term is mostly associated with stage magicians when performing.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
20 ghostly facts
1. Spirits that haunt, want your attention.
2. Spirits have absolutely no sense of time.
3. Spirits do not always realize that they are dead. To them, its like they are stuck in an awful nightmare.
4. Spirits can communicate with us in various ways. In dreams, through subliminal thoughts, automatic writing, via the use of a pendulum, and intution. Other, more scientific ways are through white noise and evp.
5. Spirits are sometimes mischevious and always curious.
6. Spirits have a profound sense of smell! They are often attracted to certain scents.
7. Spirits are more active at night. Some people think that this is due to less electronic disturbance and that they are able to produce more energy when not having to compete with varous electric and electronic devices.
In the same sense, you are more likely to experience ghostly disturbances when your house is quiet.
8. Spirits can and often do, manifest. Orbs, streaks of light, mists, dark shadows, shadows within shadows, and blurs within the air are the most common. Full-body appritions are always possible, but are not likely.
9. Most ghostly disturbances are actually residue or risidual haunings. Events that play themselves out over and over again, often without the spirit having any control over it whatsoever.
10. Gostly activity is often more prevalent around children and young adults due to the amount of energy they give off. The higher your personal energy, the more spirits are able to absorb.
11. Spirits often retain memories and emotions of their physical life. And most certainly the memories and emotions associated with the time right before their death.
12. Not all ghosts are "trapped." Some choose to stay within the earthly realm.
13. Spirits retain their personalities.
14. Animals and children are more likely to "see" a ghost.
15. Even the spirits of animals can "haunt."
16. Spirits can often be helpful.
17. Spirits can often be protective of the families they "haunt."
18. Ghosts may actually exist in a state of confusion and not have a clue as to what happened to them, why they are here, why you cannot see or hear them, etc.
19. When spirits are bored, they often cause trouble or become mischevious.
20. Certain locations are vortexes or portals where ghosts/spirits can transport themselves from one realm or place to another.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
2. Spirits have absolutely no sense of time.
3. Spirits do not always realize that they are dead. To them, its like they are stuck in an awful nightmare.
4. Spirits can communicate with us in various ways. In dreams, through subliminal thoughts, automatic writing, via the use of a pendulum, and intution. Other, more scientific ways are through white noise and evp.
5. Spirits are sometimes mischevious and always curious.
6. Spirits have a profound sense of smell! They are often attracted to certain scents.
7. Spirits are more active at night. Some people think that this is due to less electronic disturbance and that they are able to produce more energy when not having to compete with varous electric and electronic devices.
In the same sense, you are more likely to experience ghostly disturbances when your house is quiet.
8. Spirits can and often do, manifest. Orbs, streaks of light, mists, dark shadows, shadows within shadows, and blurs within the air are the most common. Full-body appritions are always possible, but are not likely.
9. Most ghostly disturbances are actually residue or risidual haunings. Events that play themselves out over and over again, often without the spirit having any control over it whatsoever.
10. Gostly activity is often more prevalent around children and young adults due to the amount of energy they give off. The higher your personal energy, the more spirits are able to absorb.
11. Spirits often retain memories and emotions of their physical life. And most certainly the memories and emotions associated with the time right before their death.
12. Not all ghosts are "trapped." Some choose to stay within the earthly realm.
13. Spirits retain their personalities.
14. Animals and children are more likely to "see" a ghost.
15. Even the spirits of animals can "haunt."
16. Spirits can often be helpful.
17. Spirits can often be protective of the families they "haunt."
18. Ghosts may actually exist in a state of confusion and not have a clue as to what happened to them, why they are here, why you cannot see or hear them, etc.
19. When spirits are bored, they often cause trouble or become mischevious.
20. Certain locations are vortexes or portals where ghosts/spirits can transport themselves from one realm or place to another.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Graveyard Dirt
Most people have no idea that there are different types of graveyard dirt and that really, the intention of your spellwork should dictate where your dirt comes from.
The following is a generalized list of the different types of dirt and what its good for.
Abused : Dirt from the grave of a person who was physically or emotionally abused can be useful in giving strength and will to remove either yourself or someone from an abusive situation.
Adolescent (from ages 11 to 19) : This dirt is known to cause and promote inattentiveness and irrisponsible behavior.
In particular, dirt from the graves of those who are ages 17 to 19, make a good additives in spells where you want to promote interest in another person, romantic involvement, romantic gestures, promote sexual attraction, increase lust, and increase sexual appetities.
There is nothing like budding sexuality to bring about all things sexual and romantic.
Cheaters : Dirt from the grave of a cheater works well for bringing about love triangles and promoting urges to cheat.
Child (from ages 2 - 10) : This type of dirt is a wonderful aid when the appearance of child-like innocence is necessary. It also works well for aid in developing new friendships.
Gathering dirt from a poor childs grave for use in spellwork will also aid in acquiring basic necessities (a home, food, etc).
Doctor or Nurse : This dirt can be used either to promote healing or cause illness, depending upon the intent of your casting.
Elderly : This dirt is particularlly useful in situations where wisdom, knowledge, and know-how is necessary.
Executed : The older the dirt, the better in this case. Dirt from the grave of someone who has been executed can be extremely powerful in matters of revenge and causing harm.
Gambler : If you know, for a fact, that the gambler was good, then this dirt can be used to increase luck, better odds, and heighten intuition.
If you are unsure of whether or not the gambler was lucky or not, the dirt can be used to promote someone into taking unnecessary risks.
Infant : Dirt from an infants grave can be useful in spells of fertility, to ensure that someone becomes totally dependant upon you, or when you need to appear indispensible. Also because a baby's vision is somewhat blurry, this dirt can be useful when you need someone to cast a "blind-eye" to something that you're doing
Lawyer / Judge : This dirt should be used to assist in winning court cases, settlements, etc. It is also helpful when injustice is an issue or when you're rights are being voilated.
Mentally Disturbed / Insane : To cause insanity, mental instability, etc.
WARNING: When collecting this dirt, do remember that you're dealing with the spirit of someone who was obviously mentally disturbed.
Murderer / Killer : The older the dirt, the better in this case. Dirt from the grave of someone who has taken human life can be extremely powerful in matters of revenge and causing harm.
WARNING: Do be aware that incorporating this type of dirt into your magickal practices can even cause DEATH!
Murdered : This dirt is very useful in matters of injustice or wrong-doing.
Pet : Dirt from the grave of a personal pet can be useful in matters of the heart, loyalty issues, and protection.
Practitioner of Magick : Literally, dirt from the grave of a practitioner can be used for anything.
Nun / Priest / Pastor : Used in situations where spiritual guidence and spiritual protection are needed. Also used on occasion to convey the appearance of goodness and innocence to the outside world.
Solidier : Used for bravery, strength, quick thinking, and getting someone to obey or follow orders, rules, etc.
Its important to use common sense here. Try to choose a soldier that you think (or know) believed in the kind of cause that you're trying to obtain.
Also, dirt from the graves German soldiers from Hitlers era make great additives for anything occult related as Hitler was into all things occult.
The following is a generalized list of the different types of dirt and what its good for.
Abused : Dirt from the grave of a person who was physically or emotionally abused can be useful in giving strength and will to remove either yourself or someone from an abusive situation.
Adolescent (from ages 11 to 19) : This dirt is known to cause and promote inattentiveness and irrisponsible behavior.
In particular, dirt from the graves of those who are ages 17 to 19, make a good additives in spells where you want to promote interest in another person, romantic involvement, romantic gestures, promote sexual attraction, increase lust, and increase sexual appetities.
There is nothing like budding sexuality to bring about all things sexual and romantic.
Cheaters : Dirt from the grave of a cheater works well for bringing about love triangles and promoting urges to cheat.
Child (from ages 2 - 10) : This type of dirt is a wonderful aid when the appearance of child-like innocence is necessary. It also works well for aid in developing new friendships.
Gathering dirt from a poor childs grave for use in spellwork will also aid in acquiring basic necessities (a home, food, etc).
Doctor or Nurse : This dirt can be used either to promote healing or cause illness, depending upon the intent of your casting.
Elderly : This dirt is particularlly useful in situations where wisdom, knowledge, and know-how is necessary.
Executed : The older the dirt, the better in this case. Dirt from the grave of someone who has been executed can be extremely powerful in matters of revenge and causing harm.
Gambler : If you know, for a fact, that the gambler was good, then this dirt can be used to increase luck, better odds, and heighten intuition.
If you are unsure of whether or not the gambler was lucky or not, the dirt can be used to promote someone into taking unnecessary risks.
Infant : Dirt from an infants grave can be useful in spells of fertility, to ensure that someone becomes totally dependant upon you, or when you need to appear indispensible. Also because a baby's vision is somewhat blurry, this dirt can be useful when you need someone to cast a "blind-eye" to something that you're doing
Lawyer / Judge : This dirt should be used to assist in winning court cases, settlements, etc. It is also helpful when injustice is an issue or when you're rights are being voilated.
Mentally Disturbed / Insane : To cause insanity, mental instability, etc.
WARNING: When collecting this dirt, do remember that you're dealing with the spirit of someone who was obviously mentally disturbed.
Murderer / Killer : The older the dirt, the better in this case. Dirt from the grave of someone who has taken human life can be extremely powerful in matters of revenge and causing harm.
WARNING: Do be aware that incorporating this type of dirt into your magickal practices can even cause DEATH!
Murdered : This dirt is very useful in matters of injustice or wrong-doing.
Pet : Dirt from the grave of a personal pet can be useful in matters of the heart, loyalty issues, and protection.
Practitioner of Magick : Literally, dirt from the grave of a practitioner can be used for anything.
Nun / Priest / Pastor : Used in situations where spiritual guidence and spiritual protection are needed. Also used on occasion to convey the appearance of goodness and innocence to the outside world.
Solidier : Used for bravery, strength, quick thinking, and getting someone to obey or follow orders, rules, etc.
Its important to use common sense here. Try to choose a soldier that you think (or know) believed in the kind of cause that you're trying to obtain.
Also, dirt from the graves German soldiers from Hitlers era make great additives for anything occult related as Hitler was into all things occult.
Caring for your Jewelry Vessels
This has been a subject of debate for a long time in the para/meta community.
Things you can use:
Jewelry polishing clothes
Dish soap and water
Baking soda and water
Things you cannot use:
Harsh chemicals of any kind
Entities do not mind water in the least. A dab of dish soap or baking soda on a wet tooth bush will work wonders.
However, not only can harsh chemicals like bleach, chlorine, ajax, Lysol, and Mr Clean damage the metal and stones of your vessels, the entities do not like it.
Using harsh chemicals will not cause them to leave you permanently, but they will prevent the entity from returning to their vessel until the chemical traces are completely gone!
For some chemicals, this is simply a few days, but for other, more caustic chemicals, this time frame can be months!
Chemicals leave behind a film and this film can prevent your entity from communicating, bonding, and even understanding their human companion. It basically creates a barrier between yourself and them.
If something happens to your vessel, for example, the stone falls out.
If you cannot repair it yourself, don't be afraid to take it to a jeweler.
Make sure you let your companion know that they will be going through the hands of new people in order to repair their vessel. Tell them that its ok that they vacate their vessel until the repair is finished and/or back into your hands.
Following the repair, the most important step is to make sure that they go through a thorough cleansing and recharge so that all of the "foreign" energy signatures are erased from their vessel.
They form a bond with you through your own personal energy and having other long term energy signatures involved can create confusion.
You can also have your vessel resized if need be, using the same steps as above. BUT, do make sure that a resizing is ok with your entity prior to doing so.
Most entities aid in picking out their vessels after the summoning process. They become attached to their vessels, sometimes extremely so. There are some that will simply not allow it.
Entities are intelligent creatures. They realize that sometimes "shit happens" and that they need to adapt so dont be afraid to communicate with them and get their opinion on what they will and will not allow concerning vessels.
Remember, the vessel belongs to you AND them so decisions must be made together.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Things you can use:
Jewelry polishing clothes
Dish soap and water
Baking soda and water
Things you cannot use:
Harsh chemicals of any kind
Entities do not mind water in the least. A dab of dish soap or baking soda on a wet tooth bush will work wonders.
However, not only can harsh chemicals like bleach, chlorine, ajax, Lysol, and Mr Clean damage the metal and stones of your vessels, the entities do not like it.
Using harsh chemicals will not cause them to leave you permanently, but they will prevent the entity from returning to their vessel until the chemical traces are completely gone!
For some chemicals, this is simply a few days, but for other, more caustic chemicals, this time frame can be months!
Chemicals leave behind a film and this film can prevent your entity from communicating, bonding, and even understanding their human companion. It basically creates a barrier between yourself and them.
If something happens to your vessel, for example, the stone falls out.
If you cannot repair it yourself, don't be afraid to take it to a jeweler.
Make sure you let your companion know that they will be going through the hands of new people in order to repair their vessel. Tell them that its ok that they vacate their vessel until the repair is finished and/or back into your hands.
Following the repair, the most important step is to make sure that they go through a thorough cleansing and recharge so that all of the "foreign" energy signatures are erased from their vessel.
They form a bond with you through your own personal energy and having other long term energy signatures involved can create confusion.
You can also have your vessel resized if need be, using the same steps as above. BUT, do make sure that a resizing is ok with your entity prior to doing so.
Most entities aid in picking out their vessels after the summoning process. They become attached to their vessels, sometimes extremely so. There are some that will simply not allow it.
Entities are intelligent creatures. They realize that sometimes "shit happens" and that they need to adapt so dont be afraid to communicate with them and get their opinion on what they will and will not allow concerning vessels.
Remember, the vessel belongs to you AND them so decisions must be made together.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Portal Boxes - What are they?
We often get asked about the history of portal boxes so I thought Id create a little blog about how they came to be.
Back in the time of King Solomon, the only people allowed to have magick of any kind were those in positions of power. Members of the Royal families, Businessmen, Prophets, etc.
Anyone else caught with magick of any kind were either imprisoned or killed.
Conjurers, Seers, Psychics, Magicians, etc were categorized into levels of sorts. Those with great ability and great power were chosen and/or forced to work under the command of royal families.
Others were given permission to work for the commoners as long as they paid a percentage of what they earned to the King.
Those that refused, were imprisoned or killed.
As I’m sure you realize, these royal families were hungry for power. They wanted all of it that they could get. They believed that magick controlled the universe and that the more magick they possessed, the more they could influence and the more powerful they would be.
Even though the Royal families had these conjurers, seers, and magicians, they still felt as if they should have these phenomenal otherworldly abilities themselves. They were Royalty after all, why were they not blessed with these same gifts?
The magicians tried to teach the Royal families how to do the conjuring themselves but the natural ability was just not there. They did not have the knowledge or the energy to do what it takes to bring an entity forth.
One of the biggest obstacles, if you want to call it that, was fasting. The members of the Royal families that wanted the ability of conjuring didn’t feel that they should have to fast in order to bring entities forth. A King, go without eating? Unheard of!
SO…a group of Royal Magicians got together and began a task that would take a lifetime. Over a span of 60 years, this group worked on creating a portable portal that could be opened and closed at will. By the time the box was perfected, many of the original group had passed away. But the remainder of the group continued until their goal was completed.
The first portal box that was ever created was a box made from solid gold. It was heavy and truly, a gargantuan artifact to carry around. Rumor has it, this box is unknowingly, in the hands of the museum of natural history.
Over the years, the portal boxes were perfected even more. Magicians discovered that they could be created out of wood, which was much lighter and easier to carry, as well as easier to conceal. Then sometime during the 1960s, a conjurer who had been studying portal boxes his entire life, discovered that he had created what we now refer to as a binding box…a portal box that automatically puts bindings in place.
That same conjurer also discovered that the mantras to open the portal could be simplified down to 3 or 4 lines and be just as effective as the drawn out rituals that the ancient practitioners created.
Portal boxes were often gifted to or created for spirit dealers who’s age began to affect their ability to conjure. Now days, although they are still rare, they are more commonly seen in the hands of spirit dealers who spend most of their time traveling.
Remember, you get what you pay for. Portal boxes are expensive and take several months to create.
Most range in the $2500 to $5000 mark for white entity portal boxes. The dark entity portal boxes can range anywhere from $3500 to $10000 depending upon their size. Duality boxes, that bring forth both white and dark entities are usually around $4000 to $15000, also depending upon their size.
When contemplating a purchase, you want to look for a larger box, especially if you have plans of becoming a dealer yourself. The larger boxes create larger portals. The ring sized boxes are ok, but wont bring through everything. For the more powerful entities, you will want the larger, jewelry sized boxes.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Back in the time of King Solomon, the only people allowed to have magick of any kind were those in positions of power. Members of the Royal families, Businessmen, Prophets, etc.
Anyone else caught with magick of any kind were either imprisoned or killed.
Conjurers, Seers, Psychics, Magicians, etc were categorized into levels of sorts. Those with great ability and great power were chosen and/or forced to work under the command of royal families.
Others were given permission to work for the commoners as long as they paid a percentage of what they earned to the King.
Those that refused, were imprisoned or killed.
As I’m sure you realize, these royal families were hungry for power. They wanted all of it that they could get. They believed that magick controlled the universe and that the more magick they possessed, the more they could influence and the more powerful they would be.
Even though the Royal families had these conjurers, seers, and magicians, they still felt as if they should have these phenomenal otherworldly abilities themselves. They were Royalty after all, why were they not blessed with these same gifts?
The magicians tried to teach the Royal families how to do the conjuring themselves but the natural ability was just not there. They did not have the knowledge or the energy to do what it takes to bring an entity forth.
One of the biggest obstacles, if you want to call it that, was fasting. The members of the Royal families that wanted the ability of conjuring didn’t feel that they should have to fast in order to bring entities forth. A King, go without eating? Unheard of!
SO…a group of Royal Magicians got together and began a task that would take a lifetime. Over a span of 60 years, this group worked on creating a portable portal that could be opened and closed at will. By the time the box was perfected, many of the original group had passed away. But the remainder of the group continued until their goal was completed.
The first portal box that was ever created was a box made from solid gold. It was heavy and truly, a gargantuan artifact to carry around. Rumor has it, this box is unknowingly, in the hands of the museum of natural history.
Over the years, the portal boxes were perfected even more. Magicians discovered that they could be created out of wood, which was much lighter and easier to carry, as well as easier to conceal. Then sometime during the 1960s, a conjurer who had been studying portal boxes his entire life, discovered that he had created what we now refer to as a binding box…a portal box that automatically puts bindings in place.
That same conjurer also discovered that the mantras to open the portal could be simplified down to 3 or 4 lines and be just as effective as the drawn out rituals that the ancient practitioners created.
Portal boxes were often gifted to or created for spirit dealers who’s age began to affect their ability to conjure. Now days, although they are still rare, they are more commonly seen in the hands of spirit dealers who spend most of their time traveling.
Remember, you get what you pay for. Portal boxes are expensive and take several months to create.
Most range in the $2500 to $5000 mark for white entity portal boxes. The dark entity portal boxes can range anywhere from $3500 to $10000 depending upon their size. Duality boxes, that bring forth both white and dark entities are usually around $4000 to $15000, also depending upon their size.
When contemplating a purchase, you want to look for a larger box, especially if you have plans of becoming a dealer yourself. The larger boxes create larger portals. The ring sized boxes are ok, but wont bring through everything. For the more powerful entities, you will want the larger, jewelry sized boxes.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Understanding Djinn
Djinn are magical beings. Whereas most mortals were formed by the Creator from earth mixed with other elements, Djinn were formed from smoke and fire. In the distant past, the different tribes of Djinn had a lot of interaction with mortals.
The world of the Djinn is an independent and separate world with its own distinct nature and features that are hidden from the world of humans. Djinn and humans have things in common, such as the ability to understand and choose between good and evil. The ability to bear children and have spouses. They can be royalty or a celebrity just as easily as a common Djinn.
They are known by many names: Djinn, Djinni, Jinnie, Jinn, Genie, Afreets, and Jinniyah just to name a few.
There are six major tribes of Djinn. They are: Jinn, Jann, Marid, Shaitan, Ifrit, and the Ghul.
Long before our time, the great Jinn sheikh Al Yazid had a vision of a giant scythe splitting a great Djinni in half. In order to survive, Al Yazid told the Djinn tribes that they must all choose to side with mortals, or against them. The elders of both the Jinn and the Jann chose to aid the side of mortals. However, the Shaitan, Ifrit and the Ghul were all corrupted by the demonic powers and chose to fight against moral interests. The elders of the Marid tribe were very proud creatures and allowed each individual to choose for themselves which they would side with.
Since that time, however, the race of Djinn has evolved.
There were members of each tribe that disagreed with the decisions made by the elders. Members of the Shaitan, Ifrit, and Ghul decided that humans were not as bad as they once thought and therefore, formed sub-tribes befriending humans along the way.
There were those in the Jinn, Jann and Marid tribes that also disagreed, left and formed sub-tribes vowing to go against humans whenever possible.
Tribe no longer dictates whether a Djinn is good or evil.
Djinn are creatures of free will, just as you or I. ALL of the Djinn offered here have always been benevolent and have chosen to lead a life of dignity and respect.
However, the one thing that has not changed is the immense power these beings behold.
Having a Djinn companion is very little, if at all, like the movies portray.
The one part of the fairytale that is true is that these powerful beings were once held prisoner in lamps. Over the many years, this too has changed.
Way back when, the ONLY people allowed to have Djinn in their possession were the rich and powerful. If a commoner was suspected to have a Djinn vessel, a literal army was sent out to kill the beholder and capture the vessel.
After years of brutal murders, conjurers got smart, they began turning everyday pieces of jewelry into vessels for Djinn. It was easier to carry, easier to hide, and easier to deny that a simple stone housed such a powerful entity.
It is possible for an exceptional individual to bind a Djinn to an object or focus. However, this is both extremely difficult and very dangerous. Its extremely difficult to tell if the Djinn is good or evil until after they have already been summoned.
The binding itself is accomplished with a very complex SECRET magical ceremony. The potential for error is huge, and the cost of making a mistake tragic. The few Djinn conjurers left in the world today, have been taught through generational teachings. And very few of these families will teach an outsider the skill because it takes YEARS to master.
Once the Djinn is bound, it may either be active or dormant. An active Djinn will perform acts for the master of the object.
A dormant Djinn simply adds to the enchantment of the object in some substantial way.
Everyone’s experience is different.
Some Djinn will communicate with their human companions through various thought forms…In dreams, visions, strong feelings, intuition, etc. Some people may actually hear whispers or find themselves knowing things without knowing how they know them. As you grow more comfortable with the various communication methods, so will they.
Some people may get to see their Djinn in human form. But this is a rare occurrence and should not automatically be expected. Most likely, you will see them in dreams, as misty manifestations, orbs, streaks of light, or even haze. Remember, they are invisible to humans and will only make themselves known when they are ready…for some, this time is never.
You will however, have tangible evidence that they are present. A Djinn’s presence does not often go unnoticed and one can sense when they are around.
How your wishes come true, depends on the circumstances.
You may feel compelled to purchase a certain lottery ticket from a certain place at a certain time.
You may meet your soul mate in the oddest situation.
You might feel an overwhelming feeling to stop at a casino.
You might find a $100 bill blowing in the wind or lying on the street.
You might yourself being more creative with business ideas.
You may even win a car in a drawing.
You might find that all of a sudden you have a new magical gift (ability to tell the future, read minds, cast more powerful spells etc)
There are so many ways a Djinn can manifest your dreams, making them a reality. But keep in mind, if you think that these things are going to happen with no work on your part, then you are mistaken.
You might have to spend a few of your hard earned dollars before you hit that big jackpot. Don’t expect to win a drawing without signing up.
Having a Djinn is not a novelty. They enjoy companionship and conversation. Although not human, they deserve respect.
Treat them well and you shall reap the rewards.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
The world of the Djinn is an independent and separate world with its own distinct nature and features that are hidden from the world of humans. Djinn and humans have things in common, such as the ability to understand and choose between good and evil. The ability to bear children and have spouses. They can be royalty or a celebrity just as easily as a common Djinn.
They are known by many names: Djinn, Djinni, Jinnie, Jinn, Genie, Afreets, and Jinniyah just to name a few.
There are six major tribes of Djinn. They are: Jinn, Jann, Marid, Shaitan, Ifrit, and the Ghul.
Long before our time, the great Jinn sheikh Al Yazid had a vision of a giant scythe splitting a great Djinni in half. In order to survive, Al Yazid told the Djinn tribes that they must all choose to side with mortals, or against them. The elders of both the Jinn and the Jann chose to aid the side of mortals. However, the Shaitan, Ifrit and the Ghul were all corrupted by the demonic powers and chose to fight against moral interests. The elders of the Marid tribe were very proud creatures and allowed each individual to choose for themselves which they would side with.
Since that time, however, the race of Djinn has evolved.
There were members of each tribe that disagreed with the decisions made by the elders. Members of the Shaitan, Ifrit, and Ghul decided that humans were not as bad as they once thought and therefore, formed sub-tribes befriending humans along the way.
There were those in the Jinn, Jann and Marid tribes that also disagreed, left and formed sub-tribes vowing to go against humans whenever possible.
Tribe no longer dictates whether a Djinn is good or evil.
Djinn are creatures of free will, just as you or I. ALL of the Djinn offered here have always been benevolent and have chosen to lead a life of dignity and respect.
However, the one thing that has not changed is the immense power these beings behold.
Having a Djinn companion is very little, if at all, like the movies portray.
The one part of the fairytale that is true is that these powerful beings were once held prisoner in lamps. Over the many years, this too has changed.
Way back when, the ONLY people allowed to have Djinn in their possession were the rich and powerful. If a commoner was suspected to have a Djinn vessel, a literal army was sent out to kill the beholder and capture the vessel.
After years of brutal murders, conjurers got smart, they began turning everyday pieces of jewelry into vessels for Djinn. It was easier to carry, easier to hide, and easier to deny that a simple stone housed such a powerful entity.
It is possible for an exceptional individual to bind a Djinn to an object or focus. However, this is both extremely difficult and very dangerous. Its extremely difficult to tell if the Djinn is good or evil until after they have already been summoned.
The binding itself is accomplished with a very complex SECRET magical ceremony. The potential for error is huge, and the cost of making a mistake tragic. The few Djinn conjurers left in the world today, have been taught through generational teachings. And very few of these families will teach an outsider the skill because it takes YEARS to master.
Once the Djinn is bound, it may either be active or dormant. An active Djinn will perform acts for the master of the object.
A dormant Djinn simply adds to the enchantment of the object in some substantial way.
Everyone’s experience is different.
Some Djinn will communicate with their human companions through various thought forms…In dreams, visions, strong feelings, intuition, etc. Some people may actually hear whispers or find themselves knowing things without knowing how they know them. As you grow more comfortable with the various communication methods, so will they.
Some people may get to see their Djinn in human form. But this is a rare occurrence and should not automatically be expected. Most likely, you will see them in dreams, as misty manifestations, orbs, streaks of light, or even haze. Remember, they are invisible to humans and will only make themselves known when they are ready…for some, this time is never.
You will however, have tangible evidence that they are present. A Djinn’s presence does not often go unnoticed and one can sense when they are around.
How your wishes come true, depends on the circumstances.
You may feel compelled to purchase a certain lottery ticket from a certain place at a certain time.
You may meet your soul mate in the oddest situation.
You might feel an overwhelming feeling to stop at a casino.
You might find a $100 bill blowing in the wind or lying on the street.
You might yourself being more creative with business ideas.
You may even win a car in a drawing.
You might find that all of a sudden you have a new magical gift (ability to tell the future, read minds, cast more powerful spells etc)
There are so many ways a Djinn can manifest your dreams, making them a reality. But keep in mind, if you think that these things are going to happen with no work on your part, then you are mistaken.
You might have to spend a few of your hard earned dollars before you hit that big jackpot. Don’t expect to win a drawing without signing up.
Having a Djinn is not a novelty. They enjoy companionship and conversation. Although not human, they deserve respect.
Treat them well and you shall reap the rewards.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Blending with your new magickal
Many people believe that upon obtaining a magickal that mysterious and wonderful things should happen immediately. They expect the magick to come into play just like out of the many fantastic fantasy movies we see coming out as of late.
This is not the true way of genuine magickals.
Upon casting and binding magicks to an amulet supernatural energy as well as the imprint of the caster is left behind. Thus being said, when a magickal comes into contact with it's new keeper a bonding of the two seperate sets of energies must occur in order to utilize the magicks laid upon the amulet.
This bonding can take anywhere from three days, to two weeks, or even a full year. It all depends on many variables. Some potential variables are included below:
The number of spells present
The receptiveness of the new keeper
The amount of time the amulet was in transit
The dormant charging days of some rare hard to find amulets
The list of variables could go on forever.
A good rule of thumb about our magickals is that two weeks after it's arrival, your magickal will be acclimated to it's surroundings. Due to the powerful nature of these items, you will want to begin the bonding process immediately.
If you feel faint, light headed, dizzy, or edgy, even irritable while you have the piece on, take it off immediately. Rather than wear it non-stop for the two week period, wear it an hour or so a day, then tuck it back in it's pouch or a charging box for the next session.
Know yourself, and your sensitivities. Go with the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. You are still bonding with the amulet and it is nothing to be worried over or ashamed of if you cannot wear the amulet full time at first. We cast our amulets at the strongest possible potency at the correct time of day, moon phase, as well as planetary alignment when applicable. They are meant to be powerful and well made, so you may notice sensitivity when you are in contact with a True magickal.
We try to list the attributes of each amulet in full. This helps in the bonding process. It gives you, the new keeper, an active role in working with the magickal during bonding.
You can bring more attributes of the spells into play after the two week bonding period simply by sitting quietly and meditating on the attributes that you wish to utilize.
Remember, have fun, keep an open mind, and be prepared for magickal opportunity to unfold.
This is not the true way of genuine magickals.
Upon casting and binding magicks to an amulet supernatural energy as well as the imprint of the caster is left behind. Thus being said, when a magickal comes into contact with it's new keeper a bonding of the two seperate sets of energies must occur in order to utilize the magicks laid upon the amulet.
This bonding can take anywhere from three days, to two weeks, or even a full year. It all depends on many variables. Some potential variables are included below:
The number of spells present
The receptiveness of the new keeper
The amount of time the amulet was in transit
The dormant charging days of some rare hard to find amulets
The list of variables could go on forever.
A good rule of thumb about our magickals is that two weeks after it's arrival, your magickal will be acclimated to it's surroundings. Due to the powerful nature of these items, you will want to begin the bonding process immediately.
If you feel faint, light headed, dizzy, or edgy, even irritable while you have the piece on, take it off immediately. Rather than wear it non-stop for the two week period, wear it an hour or so a day, then tuck it back in it's pouch or a charging box for the next session.
Know yourself, and your sensitivities. Go with the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. You are still bonding with the amulet and it is nothing to be worried over or ashamed of if you cannot wear the amulet full time at first. We cast our amulets at the strongest possible potency at the correct time of day, moon phase, as well as planetary alignment when applicable. They are meant to be powerful and well made, so you may notice sensitivity when you are in contact with a True magickal.
We try to list the attributes of each amulet in full. This helps in the bonding process. It gives you, the new keeper, an active role in working with the magickal during bonding.
You can bring more attributes of the spells into play after the two week bonding period simply by sitting quietly and meditating on the attributes that you wish to utilize.
Remember, have fun, keep an open mind, and be prepared for magickal opportunity to unfold.
Caring for your spirits & Entities
With all spirits, entities and magickals, there will be a period of adjustment when the energies are introduced to a new atmosphere.
This adjustment period usually lasts about 14 days. For some, less sensitive indivduals, this period may be longer. For those who are extemely sensitive to metaphysical energies, there may not be any adjustment period at all.
Things you can do to help this process are:
*Cleansing your home of negative or excess energies before your spirits arrival.
*Meditating with your spirit a few times a week to strengthen the energy merge.
*Wearing and/or carrying the vessel that the energy is housed in as often as possible.
*Communicating with your spirit/entity.
There may be times when you experience light headedness, upset stomach, headaches, hot or cold flashes, mood swings, or general imbalance. These are pretty common side effects when working with new energies. Simply remove the new magickal for the remainder of the day. The following day, work with them periodically, for short amounts of time for as long as it takes for your energies to balance out.
If you find yourself acquiring more than one magickal at a time, work with each one individually for a few weeks to allow for a deeper bond.
Do not use harsh chemicals when wearing or working with any magickal or spirit. Things like Bleach, ammonia, wax strippers, paint thinners, etc. These chemicals can cause the magickal energies to become offset, basically rendering your magickal powerless. Most spirits do not like the residue left behind by such chemicals and will not return to their vessel, leaving you with an empty trinket until the residue is gone.
Using certain fragrances, essential oils, incense, colors, soaps, and candles may also help promote things like bonding, showing appreciation, communications, changes in behavior, etc.
Above all else, treat your spirits with respect. Include them in your day to day activites. Even when there are times that you may feel you arent communicating as well as you would like, make an effort to make them feel like they are an important part of your life.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
This adjustment period usually lasts about 14 days. For some, less sensitive indivduals, this period may be longer. For those who are extemely sensitive to metaphysical energies, there may not be any adjustment period at all.
Things you can do to help this process are:
*Cleansing your home of negative or excess energies before your spirits arrival.
*Meditating with your spirit a few times a week to strengthen the energy merge.
*Wearing and/or carrying the vessel that the energy is housed in as often as possible.
*Communicating with your spirit/entity.
There may be times when you experience light headedness, upset stomach, headaches, hot or cold flashes, mood swings, or general imbalance. These are pretty common side effects when working with new energies. Simply remove the new magickal for the remainder of the day. The following day, work with them periodically, for short amounts of time for as long as it takes for your energies to balance out.
If you find yourself acquiring more than one magickal at a time, work with each one individually for a few weeks to allow for a deeper bond.
Do not use harsh chemicals when wearing or working with any magickal or spirit. Things like Bleach, ammonia, wax strippers, paint thinners, etc. These chemicals can cause the magickal energies to become offset, basically rendering your magickal powerless. Most spirits do not like the residue left behind by such chemicals and will not return to their vessel, leaving you with an empty trinket until the residue is gone.
Using certain fragrances, essential oils, incense, colors, soaps, and candles may also help promote things like bonding, showing appreciation, communications, changes in behavior, etc.
Above all else, treat your spirits with respect. Include them in your day to day activites. Even when there are times that you may feel you arent communicating as well as you would like, make an effort to make them feel like they are an important part of your life.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Djinn
There are so many controversial articles on Djinn floating around on the internet these days. It is very important to know the true facts about this race before getting involved with something you do not understand or have experience with.
There are 6 major tribes of Djinn. They are, Jann, Jinn, Marid, Shaitan, Ifrit, and the Ghul.
Long before our time, the Djinn Lord had a vision of a scythe splitting a Djinn in half. He took this as a sign of the destruction of the Djinn race. In order to survive, he instructed the Djinn that they must either choose to live in peace with the mortals or go against them.
The elders of both the Jinn and the Jann decided to befriend the mortals. The Marids were proud beings and decided to give each Marid the option to do what they wished. However, the Shaitan, Ifrit and the Ghul were totally corrupted by demonic powers and decided to go against the mortals in which ever way they could.
Since that time however, the race of Djinn has evolved. Tribe has nothing to do with whether a Djinn is good or evil. Each tribe is made up of clans. Some clans are belivers and followers of religion and others are not.
They, like us, are creatures of free will. And just like us humans, when their day comes, they will have to answer for their actions.
Having a Djinn within your fold is nothing like the movies portray. This is not Hollywood people.
Contrary to what you may think, you will not wake up one morning to find yourself in a beautiful mansion or a new car in the garage.
However, you may find yourself with an overwhelming urge to pull into a casino, buy a scratch ticket, or even enter a contest. You could find yourself with new opportunities popping up by the dozens. Or perhaps you will receive a raise or a promotion.
BUT
If you think these things will come to you without you having to do your part, you are mistaken.
In order for a Djinn to manifest your desires, the circumstances have to be just right.
You will not find yourself with a large inheritance if no one in your family has passed. You will not win the lottery if you do not play. You, more than likely, will not win on scratch tickets or games of chance every time you play.
When asking for gifts of a magick or psychic nature, please be aware that, yes, you may have to work at them before they come full circle. Other times, the gifts may come so fast that they will be overwhelming at first.
Do not, no matter how much you really want to, wish death unto people that have pissed you off in life.
Think out your wishes and make sure that you are asking for something you really want.
Be sure, when considering the adoption of a Djinn, or any spirit for that matter, that you will keep that entity forever or at least make sure that they are passed on to someone who will treasure them for a lifetime.
It is all too common to find cast off spirits in our line of work. Collecting spirits is a passion, not a phase.
On communicating with your new companion...
Djinn will try to communicate with ther human companions in ways that will work for both parties. Dreams, Subliminal thought, intuition, signs, during meditation, etc. But do keep in mind that there are certain factors that can affect communication.
Your natural abilities, blockages, medications, stress, belief, energy in the household, etc.
Its very important that you work on your communication skills if you sense that there are problems.
Eventually, you will experience a physical manifestation of some sort. Not all Djinn manifest in our realm, but all are capable of it. Light hazes, balls or streaks of light, blurs or shimmers in the air, temperature changes, thickness in the air, shadows, knocks, whispers, footsteps, bells ringing, singing, the heating or cooling of their vessel, color changes in their vessel...these are all things that you may experience at one time or another.
Miracles, although possible, are unlikely. They should not be something that is automatically expected of your Djinn.
Once you decide to bring a Djinn or any entity into your life, do everything in your power to become educated. Read books, look up information online (be aware that not all of this information is reliable), talk to your spirits, try to take photos of them in low light (this may take some time but eventually, you will catch something).
Open yourself to a world you never knew existed. Trust me, your life will never be the same!
www.spiritedenterprise.com
There are 6 major tribes of Djinn. They are, Jann, Jinn, Marid, Shaitan, Ifrit, and the Ghul.
Long before our time, the Djinn Lord had a vision of a scythe splitting a Djinn in half. He took this as a sign of the destruction of the Djinn race. In order to survive, he instructed the Djinn that they must either choose to live in peace with the mortals or go against them.
The elders of both the Jinn and the Jann decided to befriend the mortals. The Marids were proud beings and decided to give each Marid the option to do what they wished. However, the Shaitan, Ifrit and the Ghul were totally corrupted by demonic powers and decided to go against the mortals in which ever way they could.
Since that time however, the race of Djinn has evolved. Tribe has nothing to do with whether a Djinn is good or evil. Each tribe is made up of clans. Some clans are belivers and followers of religion and others are not.
They, like us, are creatures of free will. And just like us humans, when their day comes, they will have to answer for their actions.
Having a Djinn within your fold is nothing like the movies portray. This is not Hollywood people.
Contrary to what you may think, you will not wake up one morning to find yourself in a beautiful mansion or a new car in the garage.
However, you may find yourself with an overwhelming urge to pull into a casino, buy a scratch ticket, or even enter a contest. You could find yourself with new opportunities popping up by the dozens. Or perhaps you will receive a raise or a promotion.
BUT
If you think these things will come to you without you having to do your part, you are mistaken.
In order for a Djinn to manifest your desires, the circumstances have to be just right.
You will not find yourself with a large inheritance if no one in your family has passed. You will not win the lottery if you do not play. You, more than likely, will not win on scratch tickets or games of chance every time you play.
When asking for gifts of a magick or psychic nature, please be aware that, yes, you may have to work at them before they come full circle. Other times, the gifts may come so fast that they will be overwhelming at first.
Do not, no matter how much you really want to, wish death unto people that have pissed you off in life.
Think out your wishes and make sure that you are asking for something you really want.
Be sure, when considering the adoption of a Djinn, or any spirit for that matter, that you will keep that entity forever or at least make sure that they are passed on to someone who will treasure them for a lifetime.
It is all too common to find cast off spirits in our line of work. Collecting spirits is a passion, not a phase.
On communicating with your new companion...
Djinn will try to communicate with ther human companions in ways that will work for both parties. Dreams, Subliminal thought, intuition, signs, during meditation, etc. But do keep in mind that there are certain factors that can affect communication.
Your natural abilities, blockages, medications, stress, belief, energy in the household, etc.
Its very important that you work on your communication skills if you sense that there are problems.
Eventually, you will experience a physical manifestation of some sort. Not all Djinn manifest in our realm, but all are capable of it. Light hazes, balls or streaks of light, blurs or shimmers in the air, temperature changes, thickness in the air, shadows, knocks, whispers, footsteps, bells ringing, singing, the heating or cooling of their vessel, color changes in their vessel...these are all things that you may experience at one time or another.
Miracles, although possible, are unlikely. They should not be something that is automatically expected of your Djinn.
Once you decide to bring a Djinn or any entity into your life, do everything in your power to become educated. Read books, look up information online (be aware that not all of this information is reliable), talk to your spirits, try to take photos of them in low light (this may take some time but eventually, you will catch something).
Open yourself to a world you never knew existed. Trust me, your life will never be the same!
www.spiritedenterprise.com
DRAGONS
Dragons are creatures of diversity. There are those who have chosen the right handed path of purity and goodness and those who have chosen to walk a darker path.
They have always been a very coveted species and especially so in the last century. Much to the dismay of the metaphysical society, many of the old school Dragon collectors are now referred to as Dragon Hoarders. As some of the Dragon Breeds have dwindled during the last several hundred years, Dragon collectors have been brought into the limelight in order to supply the high demand for these entities.
Dragons are held in high regard for their many wonderful characteristics. Their magical aptitude, ability to generate wealth, phenomenal psychic abilities, wisdom, and devotion to the human race can be compared to none.
Working in the Draconic Traditions is not a path for those who are frivolous. Dragons expect devotion, respect, and a permanent place within your heart.
Dragons, with such a vast array of abilities, can pretty much manifest in any way they choose. The most common manifestations are shadows within shadows, changes in air temperature (sometimes to an extreme), shards and streaks of light, blurs or shimmers in the air.
Their most common form of communication is via telepathy but they will adapt to the ways in which their human companion is skilled.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
They have always been a very coveted species and especially so in the last century. Much to the dismay of the metaphysical society, many of the old school Dragon collectors are now referred to as Dragon Hoarders. As some of the Dragon Breeds have dwindled during the last several hundred years, Dragon collectors have been brought into the limelight in order to supply the high demand for these entities.
Dragons are held in high regard for their many wonderful characteristics. Their magical aptitude, ability to generate wealth, phenomenal psychic abilities, wisdom, and devotion to the human race can be compared to none.
Working in the Draconic Traditions is not a path for those who are frivolous. Dragons expect devotion, respect, and a permanent place within your heart.
Dragons, with such a vast array of abilities, can pretty much manifest in any way they choose. The most common manifestations are shadows within shadows, changes in air temperature (sometimes to an extreme), shards and streaks of light, blurs or shimmers in the air.
Their most common form of communication is via telepathy but they will adapt to the ways in which their human companion is skilled.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Being a Keeper of Faeries
Being a fairy keeper for over half my life, I have learned that it is not always as easy as one would think.
I am constantly on the look out for tools of the Fairy Keepers Trade. Potential vessels, scented candles, incense, small stones, nesting boxes, beads and trinkets that I think they may like. It's a never ending task, especially when you have hundreds of little friends to care for.
Being a fairy keeper is a passion. I do not recommend it for the frivolous.
Fairies live everywhere. There are fairies that dwell in lakes, in the sea, in forests, in fields, in trees, in hills, in gardens, in sub-below zero temperatures, you name it!
Like all other creatures, there are good and evil fae.
Those that are good in nature can be extremely devoted to the human race. However, those that are not?well, they can be pretty nasty.
There are literally, hundreds of fairy breeds. For more information on the individual breeds, please refer to our store listings and fairy encyclopedia.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
I am constantly on the look out for tools of the Fairy Keepers Trade. Potential vessels, scented candles, incense, small stones, nesting boxes, beads and trinkets that I think they may like. It's a never ending task, especially when you have hundreds of little friends to care for.
Being a fairy keeper is a passion. I do not recommend it for the frivolous.
Fairies live everywhere. There are fairies that dwell in lakes, in the sea, in forests, in fields, in trees, in hills, in gardens, in sub-below zero temperatures, you name it!
Like all other creatures, there are good and evil fae.
Those that are good in nature can be extremely devoted to the human race. However, those that are not?well, they can be pretty nasty.
There are literally, hundreds of fairy breeds. For more information on the individual breeds, please refer to our store listings and fairy encyclopedia.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Information about our readings
General information about Readings we offer~*
For all of the readings we will need a picture and a full name of the person that we will be doing the reading for. This helps us connect and specify the needs of the individual. If you feel comfortable supplying your birth date, that would be helpful also, but not everyone is comfortable with that.
3 Question Reading~*
Please supply us with three questions you would like answered. Please do not ask dates or direct yes or no questions. Dates mess with the natural alignment of the events foretold. The Sisters of Fate love to play games with people who focus on a specific date and simple answers. If you would prefer dates and times we strongly suggest a good astrologist, though this still leaves room for the Fates to make mischief.
If you are looking to see the sequence of events as they unfold, refer back to your reading like a map. Use the equation, if this happened, then this should be next in order to prepare yourself.
Full Aspect Reading~*
This type of reading requires no questions, but if you would like to supply us with a little insight into your situation and why you are asking for the reading, it will aid us in giving you a more specified, and personal accounting of the 12 aspects as we unfold them.
In Closing~*
Please be advised: If you are having trouble with your reading I. E. Per say you are not liking the negative aspects to a reading you have had from us. Bear in mind that turning the cards is the revealing of a spiritual framework. It is merely a wood and nails frame, not a brick house with a foundation. You are in control of your own destiny. Utilize the reading in order to make conscious changes in your day to day, moment to moment life in order to change the end result following a negative reading. Nothing in this life or the next is written in stone.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
For all of the readings we will need a picture and a full name of the person that we will be doing the reading for. This helps us connect and specify the needs of the individual. If you feel comfortable supplying your birth date, that would be helpful also, but not everyone is comfortable with that.
3 Question Reading~*
Please supply us with three questions you would like answered. Please do not ask dates or direct yes or no questions. Dates mess with the natural alignment of the events foretold. The Sisters of Fate love to play games with people who focus on a specific date and simple answers. If you would prefer dates and times we strongly suggest a good astrologist, though this still leaves room for the Fates to make mischief.
If you are looking to see the sequence of events as they unfold, refer back to your reading like a map. Use the equation, if this happened, then this should be next in order to prepare yourself.
Full Aspect Reading~*
This type of reading requires no questions, but if you would like to supply us with a little insight into your situation and why you are asking for the reading, it will aid us in giving you a more specified, and personal accounting of the 12 aspects as we unfold them.
In Closing~*
Please be advised: If you are having trouble with your reading I. E. Per say you are not liking the negative aspects to a reading you have had from us. Bear in mind that turning the cards is the revealing of a spiritual framework. It is merely a wood and nails frame, not a brick house with a foundation. You are in control of your own destiny. Utilize the reading in order to make conscious changes in your day to day, moment to moment life in order to change the end result following a negative reading. Nothing in this life or the next is written in stone.
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Witch VS Wiccan
Who are we here at Spirited Enterprise?
We are not Wiccan. Some people would define us as Traditional Witches, and although we tend to agree with this, we are a tad bit more. We practice very old school magick. Our spells cannot be found in books nor on websites. Our spells are literally works of art, passed down from generation to generation. Although we do utilize the moon phases, herbs, candles, etc, to boost the energy of our spells, we do not open or close circles nor do we feel it necessary to use the usual Wiccan tools. What we practice is a mixture of traditional witchcraft with a few new age (Wicca) beliefs that have been adapted over the generational teachings.
According to New Age definitions, we are ecletic practitioners.
So what is the difference?
In a world where Witchcraft is growing in every which way, we are beginning to see terms such as Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism being used as universal & interchangeable terms. More and more authors and new practitioners of these traditions are coming to use the terms Witchcraft and Wicca as if they are to mean the same thing when, in fact, they are two very different practices. Before comparing and contrasting the differences let's get the basic definitions.
Paganism
Paganism is an umbrella term that refers to the many wide varying traditions of non-Christian, Islamic, or Jewish religions practiced in the world today. The word originates from the Latin work "paganus" meaning "country dweller" and was often used to reference people that lived outside of the mainstream village society. The term later was used to refer to those that were not Christian during the conversions since they were often the last ones to be reached by missionaries and also often the last ones to willing give in to their attempts to get them to change spiritual beliefs.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a spiritual practice with it's roots based in European practice and dating back to the beginning of man. Most people do not trace back their involvement with Witchcraft past the Middle Ages because of the lack of information that is available in solid form from beyond that time as well as the fact that much of the retrieved information was written by Priests from the Christian church as falsified documents or accounts of what they believed their practices to be. In fact, it was the Christians that gave the word "Witch" and "Witchcraft" to these people and their practices and was not a term that they themselves used. Witchcraft involves the use of magick, although it is not required, and the honoring of Gods, local or land spirits and Ancestors rather than worship.
Wicca
Wicca is a fairly young Pagan religion that is often confused with the religion of Witchcraft. Gerald B. Gardner, a member of a British Witchcraft coven, brought Wicca to the public in 1954. As the religion began to spread through Europe and to America it took on many different forms, spawning off many similar traditions, and taking shape and form by practitioners who began to come out publicly writing books and speaking out about their beliefs. Wicca involves the use of magick and ritual as well as the worship of a God and Goddess. While it is often referred to as a Nature religion, is it very common among urban people that have little to no access to natural places of worship.
Differences in History
While some of Wicca can be said to have roots in Traditional Witchcraft, they are very different from one another. They are especially different in their histories and origins. Wicca is a religion that was formed out of the a combination of fact, fiction, history, philosophy, psychology, and world religions. When Gardner was working with the New Forest Coven in England, he wanted to share his experiences with others, but was unable to for several reasons. At this time, presumed to be about the 1930s, the anti-Witchcraft laws were still in effect in Britain, and there were certain elements of the coven practices that Gardner was not under liberty to divulge.
In 1951 the last of the anti-Witchcraft laws as repealed and Gardner dedicated himself to bringing out a revival of Witchcraft because he felt that it was dying out because of the history and laws against it. It was in 1954 that he would publish his non-fiction book "Witchcraft Today", making him one of the very few people this early on to write factual material about modern Witchcraft practices. Though he had other pieces published be, most notably "High Magic's Aid", these were works of mostly fiction, while he still tossed in some of his actual pieces of worked ritual and magick into the stories.
Gardner was very heavily influenced by other religions and other occultist practices in the creation of his magickal system for Wicca. Most obvious and recognizable is his connection to the OTO, Golden Dawn, Masons, and the practices and teachings of Crowley. Gardner was also fond of many Eastern philosophies and took many forms of meditation as well as his system of karma from their religions. Other notable pieces "borrowed" from other sources include the ritual tools (taken from Kabalistic magick), the directional correspondences and their importance (taken from the Greeks), and the development of many of the "laws" of Wicca (taken from the OTO and Crowley). While others also had a hand in helping develop much of Gardner's work into the tradition that it became, including Doreen Valiente, the eventual work that Gardner did helped others like Alex Sanders go on to create even yes more traditions of Wicca; in this case Alexandrian Wicca.
Traditional Witchcraft has a much older place of origin in history, but unfortunately it is one that we know far less about. What we do know for certain about Traditional Witchcraft has been brought to us through the work or anthropologists, scientists and historians and their discoveries over the years. One of these things that we know through their work is that what we practice as Traditional Witchcraft today is without certain European in origin. Statues of Goddesses, such as the Willendorf Goddess, point to the very early veneration of female deities. Unlike many other forms of Witchcraft traditions, Traditional Witches also put an emphasis on local and regional deities and spirits, as the connection to their land and its Ancestors are a center point of their religion.
Another thing that we have come to learn about Traditional Witches of Europe through historical work, is that they honored and believed in spirits and Gods of the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, as well as Gods of the Sun and Moon. They celebrated their festivals based on the changing of seasons and the migrations and hibernations of animals because they were a hunting and agricultural people. It would only make sense that if you have to live off the land that your spiritual life would meld with that as well. Many of these people felt that by honoring, thanking and appeasing the Gods of the Earth, for example, they would get a more plentiful harvest or a better hunt.
Traditional Witchcraft, unlike Wicca, has no founder. No one lays claim to have created or invented Traditional Witchcraft and no one takes responsibility for bringing it to the public because it was always there. It was something that people always believed and practiced and never had to give it a name because until the time of the Christian invaders, they never had to define themselves from any other religion.
During the time of the original Traditional Witches, the majorities of people were illiterate and were not able to write down what they believed or practiced or how they did anything that they did magickly. This caused the tradition to be an oral one, which would be passed down from generation to generation through stories, and personal one on one teaching. Most of what is claimed to be original writings of these people are either false documents or writings by Christians that were trying to document what they believed was being practiced by these native people.
Differences in Beliefs
Above all else, before moving further, it is important to note that neither Wicca nor Traditional Witchcraft as it is practiced today is the same or "traditional" in the sense of being what our Ancestors would have practiced. The plain fact of the matter is that we really do not know what they practiced or truly what they believed. We have very little solid evidence of their beliefs and magickal practices and have assumed or created the rest. To some people, this is considered to be almost a crime, while others know that like anything else, in order to live and survive, things must evolve; including spiritually and magickal practice. Though some may call themselves Traditional Witches, they are more than likely people that are trying to draw as closely to the noted historical beliefs that we have discovered and are trying to eliminate the many "new age" elements out of their beliefs and practices.
Deities
One of the biggest differences between Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft are the beliefs. The difference in the view and belief of Deities is one of the most notable. In Wicca, a Deity is somehow viewed as being superior than we are. In Traditional Witchcraft, this is not the case. Traditional Witches look at Deities and spirits of the land as having ego and human characters and being no higher than themselves. Also, Traditional Witches do not worship a God and Goddess in the same way that Wiccans do. Traditional Witches rather honor the Gods in the sense that they are aspects of Nature and not higher spiritual beings of Deities in the same way that Wiccans see them. To Wiccans, the God and Goddess are seen as being higher spiritual powers that need to be worshiped through ritual, devotion, and libation. Traditional Witches see the Gods as part of the Universe, hence being part of Nature itself, and call on them in ritual to act more as a focal point rather than an entity to be worshiped. When a Traditional Witches calls on spirits in ritual for the point of aid in work, they will generally call on the help of local or land spirits, since they're more connected to the land than the spirit world. In essence, Traditional Witchcraft is polytheistic and view all spirits, Gods, and animal spirits as being part of one larger whole that is both different and separate from them, but not inferior or superior and therefore not in need of worshipping.
In Traditional Witchcraft, there is a belief in the Spirit World, or Other World. This is where the entities, spirits, and deities called upon in ritual reside. This world is not seen as being separate from our world, but rather a different level of it. Those called in ritual are not being beckoned or summoned from another place really, they rather need to be invoked in order to work with and communicate with them. They are already there, they just need to be awoken.
The Triple Goddess
Another of the differences in beliefs is the idea of a Triple Goddess. This is something that is not found in Traditional Witchcraft. The Goddess is not seen in the forms of Maiden Mother and Crone, but rather as having three functions. Each of these three functions will have something to do with a specific path that one would follow, so the Witch will only follow and honor one of the Goddess's three functions. At other times in their lives, they may find a need to draw from one of the other two functions of their chosen Goddess, but there is always one of the three that is more pronounced and important to them.
The idea of the Triple Goddess, or any Deities seen in three forms or phases, has been traced back to Anatolia (now called Turkey), where in around 7,000 BC a Goddess being worshiped in the triple form of virgin, mother, and hag was found. However, sine this is the only place that this practice was seen, and this was in the Near East and not in Europe, it's not something that is part of Traditional Witchcraft.
The Afterlife
In Wicca, there is a strong belief reincarnation. This is not a belief that is held in Traditional Witchcraft. Like many other beliefs in Wicca, the idea of reincarnation was pulled from other sources, in this case sources like Hindu and Buddhist thought. In Traditional Witchcraft, is it believed that when someone dies, they either return to the land and nature and become one of the spirits of the land, or they travel through the Spirit World before joining with the land spirits.
Differences in Ritual Practices
This is a good place to discuss some of the differences between ritual practices of the Traditional Witch and the Wiccan. While some elements of Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca remain the same, such as when sacred days are observed, there are many part of ritual that are purely Wiccan and not resident in all forms of Witchcraft, especially Traditional Witchcraft. Let's look at these elements individually to get the best comparison of each.
Sacred Days
In Wicca, honoring the Sabbats and Esbats is considered to be essential or almost required in order to follow the religion. The Sabbats in Wicca also are related to a continual mythology that runs through the year and joins each holiday with the one previous. This is not the case with Traditional Witchcraft. Because Traditional Witchcraft is a path that is more in touch with the earth, the holidays are not related to any mythology and are based on the actual changes of the earth. Which deity was mythically slain on a specific day is not important to the Traditional Witch, but the fact that the earth itself is going into a state of cold slumber is, because this will make growing or harvesting of herbs, vegetable, and the like impossible. This is what is honored rather than a story. In Wicca, because of the division most practitioners have with nature because of today's modern society, relating the seasonal shifts to mythology becomes important in order to relate better to the changes taking place. Esbats, however, remain the same throughout both Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca.
The Magick Circle
The casting of the sacred Circle, or magick Circle, is a Wiccan creation taken from ceremonial magick. Traditional Witchcraft, again, because of it's closeness to nature and the surroundings, sees the earth as already being sacred, much like Druid tradition, and do not feel the need to ritually cast a place of sacred boundary for work or ritual. Traditional Witches will often go to a specific place that they feel most connected to in order to do their rituals or work and not feel the need to have to raise energy to consecrate the space. To the Traditional Witch all space and all earth is sacred and all life is ceremony. This makes their ritual structure quite different from Wiccans.
The Watchtowers
Calling the Watchtowers or calling the quarters is another element of Wiccan ritual that is not found in Traditional Witchcraft. The Watchtowers are another piece of Wiccan ritual that is pulled from the Kabalistic magick, though Gardner likely took this right from the OTO. Rather than calling in elementals in this fashion, the Traditional Witch calls in Guardians, spirits of the land that they have some sort of relationship with. This is important, as they are not just random entities called upon for the sake of calling on them, as is often the case in Wiccan ritual.
Guardians can be spirits of the land or Ancestors that the Witch has communicated with or worked with in the past, and whom they know wish to assist and participate in their work. Others will call on spirit guides to act as Guardians. Not all Traditional Witches use Guardians, but those that do choose who they will call on very carefully.
Many people that work in systems other than Wicca who do not have things such as the Watchtowers, view the calling of the Watchtowers to be on par with holding the entities hostage for the ritual because of the way that they are often summoned of "commanded" to be part of the circle and not asked or communicated with previously. In ritual work with the Traditional Witch, there is often no set boundary for the work area, so the spirits and Guardians that are called on for ritual are allowed to roam freely around the person rather than reside in one specific spot.
Elemental Correspondence
Traditional Witches do not have set correspondences as Wiccans do, and often the element that is resident in a directional spot in ritual will change based on where the Witch is holding their ritual. Traditional Witches take this practice from that of their Ancestors. Early Europeans believed that the Gods and spirits inhabited the land itself rather than being part of a separate world. When people in older times traveled they would take the spirits of their Gods and Ancestors with them. When they would do any sort of magickal work or pray to their Gods they would align themselves according the relation of where they were to their Homeland or Homeland of their Gods since this is where they felt that they truly resided. In order to do this, the Witch would look upon the North Star, the traveler's star, and use that as their point of reference. If the Witch happens to be in the Homeland, then the correspondences are no longer needed. This is still done today, where as in Wicca the directions are often predetermined based on the Wiccan tradition one is practicing with.
Self-Initiation vs. Dedication
In Traditional Witchcraft there is no such thing as a Self-Initiation. Wiccans, if practicing solitary, will Initiate themselves onto the Wiccan path. For Traditional Witches, Initiation is granted as a rite of passage and is when the lineage of the Witch is passed on and when secrets of the Craft are given. This is not something that a person studies for over the course of a set frame of time like the year and a day in Wicca. This is something that some Traditional Witches may work towards for many many years and some may never reach that level at all. Certain tasks will need to be completed and certain knowledge will need to be retained, and only then, when the person is actually ready, will they be initiated.
Initiation in Traditional Witchcraft is a formal ritual for the purpose of passing on the lineage. The lineage is the essence of the Witch and therefore this is a ritual that is required to be performed by a Witch that has previously been initiated. In Wicca, Initiation is looked at more as a marking of time spent studying, not always the acknowledgement of what has been learned. Many people that join Wiccan groups or covens will expect to be Initiated after they have studied with the group or teacher for a year and a day, and then every year and a day after that if the group is working with Degree Initiations, another thing that is only used in Wicca. In Traditional Witchcraft there is no hierarchy so there is no need for Degrees of clergy levels. For Traditional Witches, there are only practitioners or coveners and the Priest or Priestess. The Priest or Priestess only receives this title because they are the leaders of a coven, not because they are of a higher position in the Craft than anyone else. It is also important to note that the term High Priest/ess is not used in Traditional Witchcraft as again, this is only used in Wiccan traditions and is most likely another pull from the OTO and ceremonial magick where there were often Kings or Queens appointed to groups.
Dedication is a different type of ritual and is one that the Witch does alone and when they are ready to do so. This is when the Witch will decide to give themselves over to the service of the Gods. Because the relationship between a Witch and their Gods is considered to be highly personal in Traditional Witchcraft, this needs to be a self-dedication, done with only the Witch and the Gods. The ritual is written by the Witch themselves and performed in a place that they feel brings them closest to their Gods and Ancestors. This is different to Wicca where Dedication is considered to be the point where one dedicates themselves to learning about the path of Wicca and not the service to the Gods. This is seen more as a part of a Wiccan Initiation.
Ritual Clothing
In Wicca, it is not uncommon for some groups to work naked, or skyclad. In Traditional Witchcraft this is considered to be extremely rude. For Traditional Witches it is required that the body have some type of covering even if it is pigment or sigils marked on the body. While most Traditional Witches work in the same style of dress that non-skyclad Wiccans work in; robes, street clothes, etc, some will do specific rituals in no physical clothing but will cover themselves completely in body paint, sigils, and wear ritual jewelry. To go before your Gods without any adornment at all is seen as a great insult.
Differences in Ethics and Magick
When looking into Traditional Witchcraft, the differences in the views of ethics and magick are an aspect that a lot of Wiccans have a great amount of disagreement with. In Traditional Witchcraft there is a stress on the responsibility of the Witch, just as there is in Wicca, but that responsibility is looked at more in the way of a responsibility to protect yourself and those close to you in any way you can, even if that means using adverse magick in a way that Wiccan never would. For some of today's modern day Traditional Witches, the way Wiccans will "turn the other cheek" or not get involved in a magickal sense in some situations, is seen as being somewhat of a weakness.
Ethics
There are a lot of different components that can be looked at in a compare and contrast way between Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca. But before looking at those, let's first take a brief glance at what ethics are to the Traditional Witch. Traditional Witches have no code or laws of ethics to live by. The most important factor in using magick is the idea that you will be responsible for your actions. Because in Traditional Witchcraft there is no Wiccan Rede or other moral code, the use of "black magick", hexes, curses, and the like, are not ruled out on principle. In fact, to the Traditional Witch, it is looked at as honorable to do whatever is necessary to protect oneself and ones family in a time when they are facing potential danger on any level. With responsibility being the main focus, the idea in Traditional Witchcraft that there is no good or evil, only your intent, this gives even more of a weight on the shoulders of a Witch considering adverse magick.
The Three Fold Law, Karma, and Return of Energy
In Wicca, there is the belief in the Three Fold Law and the Wiccan Rede. Everything that you do will come back to you three times over, both good and bad. While this is an interesting concept, to the Traditional Witch it is an unnecessary one. In Traditional Witchcraft there is the belief of Return of Energy, which is similar to and based around Newton's Law, saying that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When energy is sent out into the Universe for the purpose of a magickal goal and intent, many things will happen along the way to shape and form that energy. In this time, anything can happen and the energy can change. This may cause the reaction to be greater or lesser than the energy of the intent. Energy is not constant and cannot be measured or anticipated, so the Traditional Witch does not expect a specific type of reaction form his or her magick.
Karma, which is very tied to many of the Wiccan ethics and principles, is something of an Eastern philosophy, and therefore not part of Traditional Witchcraft. In Wicca karma and the Three Fold Law get mixed together and are later considered to be part of what will determine ones rebirth or reincarnation, again, something that is looked at in a very different way to Traditional Witches and in a very Eastern way by Wiccans. In Traditional Witchcraft there is the belief in fate. Everyone has a fate or reason for being and that is what they are working towards and striving for in their lives and everything they do will affect that. Some will reach their fate and others wont, and the reaction to their magickal works affects that. Some people will know what their fate is and will be able to work to reach that goal more effectively through magick, and others will never know what their fate is, thus not knowing how their magick and it's reactions are working with their fate.
Magick
The practice of magick in Traditional Witchcraft is central to the religion. Unlike in Wicca where magick is something that a person may or may not participate in, magick is part of every day life for the Traditional Witch. The magick itself is also quite different. Where in Wicca magick is more ritualistic and requires much pageantry, for the Traditional Witch, magick consists of simple items or none at all. Making a meal is a form of magick, for example, where simple everyday items would be utilized with intent and direction.
Magick for Traditional Witches is very practical and does not have much of the dogma that Wiccan magick has. Where in Wicca is an element to a spell is missing, such as a specific herb or candle color, for example, the Wiccan practitioner might decide not to work the magick until they have all the needed components. However, for the Traditional Witch, these things are not as important, and he or she will continue on without the missing piece or make a substitution of their own means. Most Traditional Witches will rarely use such things though, as they are viewed to be more Wiccan and more on par with ceremonial magick. Traditional Witches will employ the two most powerful tools they have in their magick, their mind and will power. These are the only tools they feel are needed for magick.
Witchcraft is first and foremost a religion. Magick is just a part of that religious system and is not seen as something that needs to be given such attention to in Traditional Witchcraft. The main purpose is to connect with the Gods and the magick, while important, is not the reason for being on the path.
Grimoires and the Book of Shadows
In Wicca, a Book of Shadows, a name used to refer to the time of secrecy in the Craft with regards to magickal material, in used to keep information, spells, rituals, and general musings. In Traditional Witchcraft a Grimoire is used to keep information and learning material and rituals. Where in Wicca the Book of Shadows is used to keep everything in, acting almost as a diary, the Grimoire of Traditional Witchcraft is used solely for keeping learning material and rituals and anything related to those rituals. Information on magick and spells, including the spells themselves, are kept in a separate book.
Grimoires are composed by the person using the book and have historically be written in runes or other magickal alphabets so that outsiders would not be able to understand that material contained in the book. Some people will go so far as to write in pictures or their own created form of symbolism and language so that only they will be able to read the rituals within the book. Unlike in Wicca where a Book of Shadows is shared in a coven or passed down in a family, Grimoires are often not shared and it is not expected that they will be handed down from person to person in a family or coven.
Witch or Wiccan
When looking at the real differences between Wicca and Witchcraft, it's hard to believe that people can think that they are one in the same. It's easy to see how Traditional Witches can become often irritated with Wiccan followers constantly calling themselves Witches. While using the term Witch to describe oneself, many Wiccans are trying to get away from the new age stereotype that has come along with the terms Wicca and Wiccan. However, a Witch is something else entirely. As the path of Witchcraft becomes more or more popular among people searching the Pagan religions, the terms of Wicca and Witchcraft to describe ones religious position will hopefully become more clear in time.
(Adapted from the workings of witchway)
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/
We are not Wiccan. Some people would define us as Traditional Witches, and although we tend to agree with this, we are a tad bit more. We practice very old school magick. Our spells cannot be found in books nor on websites. Our spells are literally works of art, passed down from generation to generation. Although we do utilize the moon phases, herbs, candles, etc, to boost the energy of our spells, we do not open or close circles nor do we feel it necessary to use the usual Wiccan tools. What we practice is a mixture of traditional witchcraft with a few new age (Wicca) beliefs that have been adapted over the generational teachings.
According to New Age definitions, we are ecletic practitioners.
So what is the difference?
In a world where Witchcraft is growing in every which way, we are beginning to see terms such as Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism being used as universal & interchangeable terms. More and more authors and new practitioners of these traditions are coming to use the terms Witchcraft and Wicca as if they are to mean the same thing when, in fact, they are two very different practices. Before comparing and contrasting the differences let's get the basic definitions.
Paganism
Paganism is an umbrella term that refers to the many wide varying traditions of non-Christian, Islamic, or Jewish religions practiced in the world today. The word originates from the Latin work "paganus" meaning "country dweller" and was often used to reference people that lived outside of the mainstream village society. The term later was used to refer to those that were not Christian during the conversions since they were often the last ones to be reached by missionaries and also often the last ones to willing give in to their attempts to get them to change spiritual beliefs.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is a spiritual practice with it's roots based in European practice and dating back to the beginning of man. Most people do not trace back their involvement with Witchcraft past the Middle Ages because of the lack of information that is available in solid form from beyond that time as well as the fact that much of the retrieved information was written by Priests from the Christian church as falsified documents or accounts of what they believed their practices to be. In fact, it was the Christians that gave the word "Witch" and "Witchcraft" to these people and their practices and was not a term that they themselves used. Witchcraft involves the use of magick, although it is not required, and the honoring of Gods, local or land spirits and Ancestors rather than worship.
Wicca
Wicca is a fairly young Pagan religion that is often confused with the religion of Witchcraft. Gerald B. Gardner, a member of a British Witchcraft coven, brought Wicca to the public in 1954. As the religion began to spread through Europe and to America it took on many different forms, spawning off many similar traditions, and taking shape and form by practitioners who began to come out publicly writing books and speaking out about their beliefs. Wicca involves the use of magick and ritual as well as the worship of a God and Goddess. While it is often referred to as a Nature religion, is it very common among urban people that have little to no access to natural places of worship.
Differences in History
While some of Wicca can be said to have roots in Traditional Witchcraft, they are very different from one another. They are especially different in their histories and origins. Wicca is a religion that was formed out of the a combination of fact, fiction, history, philosophy, psychology, and world religions. When Gardner was working with the New Forest Coven in England, he wanted to share his experiences with others, but was unable to for several reasons. At this time, presumed to be about the 1930s, the anti-Witchcraft laws were still in effect in Britain, and there were certain elements of the coven practices that Gardner was not under liberty to divulge.
In 1951 the last of the anti-Witchcraft laws as repealed and Gardner dedicated himself to bringing out a revival of Witchcraft because he felt that it was dying out because of the history and laws against it. It was in 1954 that he would publish his non-fiction book "Witchcraft Today", making him one of the very few people this early on to write factual material about modern Witchcraft practices. Though he had other pieces published be, most notably "High Magic's Aid", these were works of mostly fiction, while he still tossed in some of his actual pieces of worked ritual and magick into the stories.
Gardner was very heavily influenced by other religions and other occultist practices in the creation of his magickal system for Wicca. Most obvious and recognizable is his connection to the OTO, Golden Dawn, Masons, and the practices and teachings of Crowley. Gardner was also fond of many Eastern philosophies and took many forms of meditation as well as his system of karma from their religions. Other notable pieces "borrowed" from other sources include the ritual tools (taken from Kabalistic magick), the directional correspondences and their importance (taken from the Greeks), and the development of many of the "laws" of Wicca (taken from the OTO and Crowley). While others also had a hand in helping develop much of Gardner's work into the tradition that it became, including Doreen Valiente, the eventual work that Gardner did helped others like Alex Sanders go on to create even yes more traditions of Wicca; in this case Alexandrian Wicca.
Traditional Witchcraft has a much older place of origin in history, but unfortunately it is one that we know far less about. What we do know for certain about Traditional Witchcraft has been brought to us through the work or anthropologists, scientists and historians and their discoveries over the years. One of these things that we know through their work is that what we practice as Traditional Witchcraft today is without certain European in origin. Statues of Goddesses, such as the Willendorf Goddess, point to the very early veneration of female deities. Unlike many other forms of Witchcraft traditions, Traditional Witches also put an emphasis on local and regional deities and spirits, as the connection to their land and its Ancestors are a center point of their religion.
Another thing that we have come to learn about Traditional Witches of Europe through historical work, is that they honored and believed in spirits and Gods of the elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, as well as Gods of the Sun and Moon. They celebrated their festivals based on the changing of seasons and the migrations and hibernations of animals because they were a hunting and agricultural people. It would only make sense that if you have to live off the land that your spiritual life would meld with that as well. Many of these people felt that by honoring, thanking and appeasing the Gods of the Earth, for example, they would get a more plentiful harvest or a better hunt.
Traditional Witchcraft, unlike Wicca, has no founder. No one lays claim to have created or invented Traditional Witchcraft and no one takes responsibility for bringing it to the public because it was always there. It was something that people always believed and practiced and never had to give it a name because until the time of the Christian invaders, they never had to define themselves from any other religion.
During the time of the original Traditional Witches, the majorities of people were illiterate and were not able to write down what they believed or practiced or how they did anything that they did magickly. This caused the tradition to be an oral one, which would be passed down from generation to generation through stories, and personal one on one teaching. Most of what is claimed to be original writings of these people are either false documents or writings by Christians that were trying to document what they believed was being practiced by these native people.
Differences in Beliefs
Above all else, before moving further, it is important to note that neither Wicca nor Traditional Witchcraft as it is practiced today is the same or "traditional" in the sense of being what our Ancestors would have practiced. The plain fact of the matter is that we really do not know what they practiced or truly what they believed. We have very little solid evidence of their beliefs and magickal practices and have assumed or created the rest. To some people, this is considered to be almost a crime, while others know that like anything else, in order to live and survive, things must evolve; including spiritually and magickal practice. Though some may call themselves Traditional Witches, they are more than likely people that are trying to draw as closely to the noted historical beliefs that we have discovered and are trying to eliminate the many "new age" elements out of their beliefs and practices.
Deities
One of the biggest differences between Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft are the beliefs. The difference in the view and belief of Deities is one of the most notable. In Wicca, a Deity is somehow viewed as being superior than we are. In Traditional Witchcraft, this is not the case. Traditional Witches look at Deities and spirits of the land as having ego and human characters and being no higher than themselves. Also, Traditional Witches do not worship a God and Goddess in the same way that Wiccans do. Traditional Witches rather honor the Gods in the sense that they are aspects of Nature and not higher spiritual beings of Deities in the same way that Wiccans see them. To Wiccans, the God and Goddess are seen as being higher spiritual powers that need to be worshiped through ritual, devotion, and libation. Traditional Witches see the Gods as part of the Universe, hence being part of Nature itself, and call on them in ritual to act more as a focal point rather than an entity to be worshiped. When a Traditional Witches calls on spirits in ritual for the point of aid in work, they will generally call on the help of local or land spirits, since they're more connected to the land than the spirit world. In essence, Traditional Witchcraft is polytheistic and view all spirits, Gods, and animal spirits as being part of one larger whole that is both different and separate from them, but not inferior or superior and therefore not in need of worshipping.
In Traditional Witchcraft, there is a belief in the Spirit World, or Other World. This is where the entities, spirits, and deities called upon in ritual reside. This world is not seen as being separate from our world, but rather a different level of it. Those called in ritual are not being beckoned or summoned from another place really, they rather need to be invoked in order to work with and communicate with them. They are already there, they just need to be awoken.
The Triple Goddess
Another of the differences in beliefs is the idea of a Triple Goddess. This is something that is not found in Traditional Witchcraft. The Goddess is not seen in the forms of Maiden Mother and Crone, but rather as having three functions. Each of these three functions will have something to do with a specific path that one would follow, so the Witch will only follow and honor one of the Goddess's three functions. At other times in their lives, they may find a need to draw from one of the other two functions of their chosen Goddess, but there is always one of the three that is more pronounced and important to them.
The idea of the Triple Goddess, or any Deities seen in three forms or phases, has been traced back to Anatolia (now called Turkey), where in around 7,000 BC a Goddess being worshiped in the triple form of virgin, mother, and hag was found. However, sine this is the only place that this practice was seen, and this was in the Near East and not in Europe, it's not something that is part of Traditional Witchcraft.
The Afterlife
In Wicca, there is a strong belief reincarnation. This is not a belief that is held in Traditional Witchcraft. Like many other beliefs in Wicca, the idea of reincarnation was pulled from other sources, in this case sources like Hindu and Buddhist thought. In Traditional Witchcraft, is it believed that when someone dies, they either return to the land and nature and become one of the spirits of the land, or they travel through the Spirit World before joining with the land spirits.
Differences in Ritual Practices
This is a good place to discuss some of the differences between ritual practices of the Traditional Witch and the Wiccan. While some elements of Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca remain the same, such as when sacred days are observed, there are many part of ritual that are purely Wiccan and not resident in all forms of Witchcraft, especially Traditional Witchcraft. Let's look at these elements individually to get the best comparison of each.
Sacred Days
In Wicca, honoring the Sabbats and Esbats is considered to be essential or almost required in order to follow the religion. The Sabbats in Wicca also are related to a continual mythology that runs through the year and joins each holiday with the one previous. This is not the case with Traditional Witchcraft. Because Traditional Witchcraft is a path that is more in touch with the earth, the holidays are not related to any mythology and are based on the actual changes of the earth. Which deity was mythically slain on a specific day is not important to the Traditional Witch, but the fact that the earth itself is going into a state of cold slumber is, because this will make growing or harvesting of herbs, vegetable, and the like impossible. This is what is honored rather than a story. In Wicca, because of the division most practitioners have with nature because of today's modern society, relating the seasonal shifts to mythology becomes important in order to relate better to the changes taking place. Esbats, however, remain the same throughout both Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca.
The Magick Circle
The casting of the sacred Circle, or magick Circle, is a Wiccan creation taken from ceremonial magick. Traditional Witchcraft, again, because of it's closeness to nature and the surroundings, sees the earth as already being sacred, much like Druid tradition, and do not feel the need to ritually cast a place of sacred boundary for work or ritual. Traditional Witches will often go to a specific place that they feel most connected to in order to do their rituals or work and not feel the need to have to raise energy to consecrate the space. To the Traditional Witch all space and all earth is sacred and all life is ceremony. This makes their ritual structure quite different from Wiccans.
The Watchtowers
Calling the Watchtowers or calling the quarters is another element of Wiccan ritual that is not found in Traditional Witchcraft. The Watchtowers are another piece of Wiccan ritual that is pulled from the Kabalistic magick, though Gardner likely took this right from the OTO. Rather than calling in elementals in this fashion, the Traditional Witch calls in Guardians, spirits of the land that they have some sort of relationship with. This is important, as they are not just random entities called upon for the sake of calling on them, as is often the case in Wiccan ritual.
Guardians can be spirits of the land or Ancestors that the Witch has communicated with or worked with in the past, and whom they know wish to assist and participate in their work. Others will call on spirit guides to act as Guardians. Not all Traditional Witches use Guardians, but those that do choose who they will call on very carefully.
Many people that work in systems other than Wicca who do not have things such as the Watchtowers, view the calling of the Watchtowers to be on par with holding the entities hostage for the ritual because of the way that they are often summoned of "commanded" to be part of the circle and not asked or communicated with previously. In ritual work with the Traditional Witch, there is often no set boundary for the work area, so the spirits and Guardians that are called on for ritual are allowed to roam freely around the person rather than reside in one specific spot.
Elemental Correspondence
Traditional Witches do not have set correspondences as Wiccans do, and often the element that is resident in a directional spot in ritual will change based on where the Witch is holding their ritual. Traditional Witches take this practice from that of their Ancestors. Early Europeans believed that the Gods and spirits inhabited the land itself rather than being part of a separate world. When people in older times traveled they would take the spirits of their Gods and Ancestors with them. When they would do any sort of magickal work or pray to their Gods they would align themselves according the relation of where they were to their Homeland or Homeland of their Gods since this is where they felt that they truly resided. In order to do this, the Witch would look upon the North Star, the traveler's star, and use that as their point of reference. If the Witch happens to be in the Homeland, then the correspondences are no longer needed. This is still done today, where as in Wicca the directions are often predetermined based on the Wiccan tradition one is practicing with.
Self-Initiation vs. Dedication
In Traditional Witchcraft there is no such thing as a Self-Initiation. Wiccans, if practicing solitary, will Initiate themselves onto the Wiccan path. For Traditional Witches, Initiation is granted as a rite of passage and is when the lineage of the Witch is passed on and when secrets of the Craft are given. This is not something that a person studies for over the course of a set frame of time like the year and a day in Wicca. This is something that some Traditional Witches may work towards for many many years and some may never reach that level at all. Certain tasks will need to be completed and certain knowledge will need to be retained, and only then, when the person is actually ready, will they be initiated.
Initiation in Traditional Witchcraft is a formal ritual for the purpose of passing on the lineage. The lineage is the essence of the Witch and therefore this is a ritual that is required to be performed by a Witch that has previously been initiated. In Wicca, Initiation is looked at more as a marking of time spent studying, not always the acknowledgement of what has been learned. Many people that join Wiccan groups or covens will expect to be Initiated after they have studied with the group or teacher for a year and a day, and then every year and a day after that if the group is working with Degree Initiations, another thing that is only used in Wicca. In Traditional Witchcraft there is no hierarchy so there is no need for Degrees of clergy levels. For Traditional Witches, there are only practitioners or coveners and the Priest or Priestess. The Priest or Priestess only receives this title because they are the leaders of a coven, not because they are of a higher position in the Craft than anyone else. It is also important to note that the term High Priest/ess is not used in Traditional Witchcraft as again, this is only used in Wiccan traditions and is most likely another pull from the OTO and ceremonial magick where there were often Kings or Queens appointed to groups.
Dedication is a different type of ritual and is one that the Witch does alone and when they are ready to do so. This is when the Witch will decide to give themselves over to the service of the Gods. Because the relationship between a Witch and their Gods is considered to be highly personal in Traditional Witchcraft, this needs to be a self-dedication, done with only the Witch and the Gods. The ritual is written by the Witch themselves and performed in a place that they feel brings them closest to their Gods and Ancestors. This is different to Wicca where Dedication is considered to be the point where one dedicates themselves to learning about the path of Wicca and not the service to the Gods. This is seen more as a part of a Wiccan Initiation.
Ritual Clothing
In Wicca, it is not uncommon for some groups to work naked, or skyclad. In Traditional Witchcraft this is considered to be extremely rude. For Traditional Witches it is required that the body have some type of covering even if it is pigment or sigils marked on the body. While most Traditional Witches work in the same style of dress that non-skyclad Wiccans work in; robes, street clothes, etc, some will do specific rituals in no physical clothing but will cover themselves completely in body paint, sigils, and wear ritual jewelry. To go before your Gods without any adornment at all is seen as a great insult.
Differences in Ethics and Magick
When looking into Traditional Witchcraft, the differences in the views of ethics and magick are an aspect that a lot of Wiccans have a great amount of disagreement with. In Traditional Witchcraft there is a stress on the responsibility of the Witch, just as there is in Wicca, but that responsibility is looked at more in the way of a responsibility to protect yourself and those close to you in any way you can, even if that means using adverse magick in a way that Wiccan never would. For some of today's modern day Traditional Witches, the way Wiccans will "turn the other cheek" or not get involved in a magickal sense in some situations, is seen as being somewhat of a weakness.
Ethics
There are a lot of different components that can be looked at in a compare and contrast way between Traditional Witchcraft and Wicca. But before looking at those, let's first take a brief glance at what ethics are to the Traditional Witch. Traditional Witches have no code or laws of ethics to live by. The most important factor in using magick is the idea that you will be responsible for your actions. Because in Traditional Witchcraft there is no Wiccan Rede or other moral code, the use of "black magick", hexes, curses, and the like, are not ruled out on principle. In fact, to the Traditional Witch, it is looked at as honorable to do whatever is necessary to protect oneself and ones family in a time when they are facing potential danger on any level. With responsibility being the main focus, the idea in Traditional Witchcraft that there is no good or evil, only your intent, this gives even more of a weight on the shoulders of a Witch considering adverse magick.
The Three Fold Law, Karma, and Return of Energy
In Wicca, there is the belief in the Three Fold Law and the Wiccan Rede. Everything that you do will come back to you three times over, both good and bad. While this is an interesting concept, to the Traditional Witch it is an unnecessary one. In Traditional Witchcraft there is the belief of Return of Energy, which is similar to and based around Newton's Law, saying that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When energy is sent out into the Universe for the purpose of a magickal goal and intent, many things will happen along the way to shape and form that energy. In this time, anything can happen and the energy can change. This may cause the reaction to be greater or lesser than the energy of the intent. Energy is not constant and cannot be measured or anticipated, so the Traditional Witch does not expect a specific type of reaction form his or her magick.
Karma, which is very tied to many of the Wiccan ethics and principles, is something of an Eastern philosophy, and therefore not part of Traditional Witchcraft. In Wicca karma and the Three Fold Law get mixed together and are later considered to be part of what will determine ones rebirth or reincarnation, again, something that is looked at in a very different way to Traditional Witches and in a very Eastern way by Wiccans. In Traditional Witchcraft there is the belief in fate. Everyone has a fate or reason for being and that is what they are working towards and striving for in their lives and everything they do will affect that. Some will reach their fate and others wont, and the reaction to their magickal works affects that. Some people will know what their fate is and will be able to work to reach that goal more effectively through magick, and others will never know what their fate is, thus not knowing how their magick and it's reactions are working with their fate.
Magick
The practice of magick in Traditional Witchcraft is central to the religion. Unlike in Wicca where magick is something that a person may or may not participate in, magick is part of every day life for the Traditional Witch. The magick itself is also quite different. Where in Wicca magick is more ritualistic and requires much pageantry, for the Traditional Witch, magick consists of simple items or none at all. Making a meal is a form of magick, for example, where simple everyday items would be utilized with intent and direction.
Magick for Traditional Witches is very practical and does not have much of the dogma that Wiccan magick has. Where in Wicca is an element to a spell is missing, such as a specific herb or candle color, for example, the Wiccan practitioner might decide not to work the magick until they have all the needed components. However, for the Traditional Witch, these things are not as important, and he or she will continue on without the missing piece or make a substitution of their own means. Most Traditional Witches will rarely use such things though, as they are viewed to be more Wiccan and more on par with ceremonial magick. Traditional Witches will employ the two most powerful tools they have in their magick, their mind and will power. These are the only tools they feel are needed for magick.
Witchcraft is first and foremost a religion. Magick is just a part of that religious system and is not seen as something that needs to be given such attention to in Traditional Witchcraft. The main purpose is to connect with the Gods and the magick, while important, is not the reason for being on the path.
Grimoires and the Book of Shadows
In Wicca, a Book of Shadows, a name used to refer to the time of secrecy in the Craft with regards to magickal material, in used to keep information, spells, rituals, and general musings. In Traditional Witchcraft a Grimoire is used to keep information and learning material and rituals. Where in Wicca the Book of Shadows is used to keep everything in, acting almost as a diary, the Grimoire of Traditional Witchcraft is used solely for keeping learning material and rituals and anything related to those rituals. Information on magick and spells, including the spells themselves, are kept in a separate book.
Grimoires are composed by the person using the book and have historically be written in runes or other magickal alphabets so that outsiders would not be able to understand that material contained in the book. Some people will go so far as to write in pictures or their own created form of symbolism and language so that only they will be able to read the rituals within the book. Unlike in Wicca where a Book of Shadows is shared in a coven or passed down in a family, Grimoires are often not shared and it is not expected that they will be handed down from person to person in a family or coven.
Witch or Wiccan
When looking at the real differences between Wicca and Witchcraft, it's hard to believe that people can think that they are one in the same. It's easy to see how Traditional Witches can become often irritated with Wiccan followers constantly calling themselves Witches. While using the term Witch to describe oneself, many Wiccans are trying to get away from the new age stereotype that has come along with the terms Wicca and Wiccan. However, a Witch is something else entirely. As the path of Witchcraft becomes more or more popular among people searching the Pagan religions, the terms of Wicca and Witchcraft to describe ones religious position will hopefully become more clear in time.
(Adapted from the workings of witchway)
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