-
Rethinking How Paganism Engages Culture
There’s a common sentiment in the greater pagan community that, “You don’t choose who calls you.” Most pagans are converts (meaning they weren’t raised in the faith they practice now), and many of us feel that we were called by the gods to our current faith. Those callings often come from gods who have little…
-
Pagan Paths: Wicca (Paganism 101 Ch. 11)
Wicca is the big granddaddy of neopagan religions. Most people who are familiar with modern paganism are specifically familiar with Wicca, and will probably assume that you are Wiccan if you tell them you identify as pagan. Thanks to pop culture and a handful of influential authors, Wicca has become the public face of modern…
-
Polytheism (Paganism 101 Ch. 2)
Most pagan religions are polytheistic in nature, meaning they believe in multiple divine beings. This is one of the hardest parts of paganism for outsiders to understand. In a culture where strict monotheism is treated as the norm, it can be difficult to wrap your head around the idea of worshiping more than one god.…
-
What is Samhain, and how is it related to Halloween?
Throughout human history, the end of summer and the beginning of winter has been a sacred time associated with death and preparation for rebirth. It is a time of contemplation, of looking inward, and of letting go of what no longer serves us. It is the darkest time of year — but also the quietest,…
-
Earth-Friendly Witchcraft (Baby Witch Bootcamp, Ch. 34)
Whatever religious or spiritual tradition they identify with, most witches agree that there is something sacred about the natural world. We draw our power from the earth beneath our feet, the sky over our heads, and the air in our lungs. And yet, many of us live in societies that are actively contributing to the…
-
Blood Magic (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 27)
Human blood is one of the most potent sources of magical power. It has strong associations with both life and death, and is a way to inject your own essence into a spell or ritual. Blood is considered sacred in some cultures and taboo in others. Of all the human effects used in magic, blood…
-
Working with Spirits (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 17)
In my last post, I talked about different types of spirits that witches may work with. Today, we’re going to discuss how to approach spirits and establish a working relationship. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and every spirit is different. I encourage you to do your own research beyond this post, especially…
-
Using the Elements in Your Spells (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 8)
In my last post, we talked about correspondences and how they can add power to your spells. As a witch, one form of correspondences that you will probably work with a lot is the four elements. These four (or five, depending on who you ask) elements are the building blocks of the natural world, and…
-
How To Cast Real Spells That Work (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 6)
In her book Wicca for Beginners Thea Sabin says, “When you do a spell, you are telling the universe that you intend to bring about a certain change and you are putting the energy in motion to achieve that end.” A spell is sort of an energetic shove to get things moving in the way…
-
The Ethics of Witchcraft (Baby Witch Bootcamp Ch. 5)
Before you begin practicing witchcraft, it’s a good idea to establish a set of ethical guidelines for your magical practice. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the big ethical debates/controversies within witchy communities. When you’re talking about ethics in witchcraft, it’s kind of impossible to get around Wicca. Even though…
Sam Wise 