Doubting Wiccans and Other Curiosities
Ah, that most
wonderful time of the year... or is it? At least have fun during this hectic season, and check out what our readers have been asking.
One anonymous reader asked:
Dear Witch Hazel,
I have been having some serious doubts lately, and could use some advice. I have been interested in Wicca for quite some time, and I was raised Christian... so I have always been used to having some sort of deep spiritual relationship with God...
Lately, I feel like I have become disillusioned with Wicca. It doesn’t touch me in the same way it used to. All I ever see anyone interested in is spells, or rituals, or other magic things. It seems like most believe that the gods are mere objects. This bothers me, and I am unsure if that is something I could ever be at peace with. I feel like I am missing something, like there is some core to all of this that no one is telling me about. I understand that we are to become harmonious with nature... but...gr.... I don’t know.
Maybe I am wrong, maybe there is just so much fluff out there and so many insincere people that I am just having a hard time finding what is true. Or maybe this is the wrong religion for me after all. What do you think?
All religion requires some semblance of faith on something unseen and unproven. From time to time we all go through periods of doubt no matter what the religion. This in itself is not a bad thing. Instead, it shows that there is another level waiting for us that we need to seek answers for.
Certainly there is a lot of fluff in Wicca by the fringe element, but it is no different from some of the Christian or Jewish groups with their fringe elements either. Spells are nothing more than a ritualistic form of prayer but that does not make the body and soul of the religion. Sadly, too many get hung up on “spell casting” thinking that it is a means of power over others. Often these types learn the hard way about karma coming back to bite them on the butt.
Casting a circle during Esbats and Sabbats is a major component of Wicca and more often than not, no magick nor spell casting is involved. In most cases, it is an attunement with the energies of the universe.
If you can afford to do so, I would highly suggest seeking out the 3 part video series of The Burning Times available at ladyslipper.org. This series traces the origins of Wicca right down through the present day. No one who views this comes away untouched.
Meditation is also a key component to recharge the batteries to help feel or see the forces around you that most take for granted.
We live in a busy hectic world where finding anything spiritual sometimes seems impossible. Slowing down to watch the clouds move overhead or walking through a wooded area to absorb the life energy of the plants and animals helps to ground and center us. From what you describe, it sounds as though meditation, grounding and centering have not been done in some time.
Statues and images are nothing more than memory triggers to give a representation and reminder of something none of us has seen. Some feel the Goddess energy in the statue representation of the Blessed Mother of the Christian sector. Others find comfort in Kwan Yin, Diana, Venus De Milo, or any number of statues. The statue isn’t the deity, but merely a representation of the universal energy inherent within the lore behind it.
As with any religion, it isn’t the “symbol” that has the power but what it represents to us individually.
Since you have reached this learning plateau, seek out some written works by renown authors in the field from Starhawk, Charlene Spretnack, Margot Adler, Merlin Stone, Silver Ravenwolf to name a few. Take time to meditate and have quiet moments with yourself to help reconnect you into the universal spiral.
Let us know how you are progressing.
Another reader writes:
I’ve been studying and practicing witchcraft and wicca for almost a year. I tried many spells during the past year, and around five of them worked, and they worked mildly. Is this supposed to happen? I really don’t want to give up, but my efforts seem useless. Please help!
Many people seem to expect that spells are something as other worldly as they see in the movies. In fact, it is merely another form of “prayer”, requesting assistance from the Gods. Like any “prayer”, some are answered while others will take a bit longer to manifest themselves.
The thing is, you have been practicing for less than a year, yet went immediately into spell casting. As a novice, there will be some intricate details that could be missed or overlooked without guidance from a coven or a knowledgeable mentor. Check your local occult supply shop for referrals of someone who could go over some of the details that may have been missing from your spells.
Is there a spell or ritual that you know of that involves putting candle wax on your eyes?
It is never wise to use anything on the mucous membranes that could cause permanent damage.
If you must do a ritual requiring something with the eyes, it is best to do so symbolically with a doll or clay image rather than your own eyes. Symbols are just as effective and less harmful.
My husband and I have recently been the target of a “friend’s” hostility (verbal and emotional, not physical). She has admitted that her behavior is not due to anything we have done, it is the results of other difficulties she is having, but she continues to say and do hurtful things. She usually feels bad and apologizes, but I’m very tired of watching my husband’s feelings get trampled. We try to avoid contact, but she is in his department and is a member of our activist group. Can you
recommend a good spell or charm that will help shield him without doing her
any harm? Any suggestions would be most appreciated!
Before resorting to the magickal it is always prudent to go for the practical first. Next time she demonstrates this type of behavior, she will need to be told in no uncertain terms that her actions are unacceptable by whomever is on the receiving end of her tirade. Firmly let her know that further communication is terminated until she learns to comport herself in a more civilized manner. She may have emotional problems from the sound of it, but being a target of her outbursts due to her issues is not your problem.
You can certainly back this up with what I call the black bottle spell. Take a jar, preferably a mason jar used for preserving foods. Write her name on a piece of paper and place it in the jar. Fill the jar almost to the top with black coffee. Tightly seal the lid envisioning that she has moved out of your lives. Then place it in the back of your freezer and simply leave it there.
Next time she also pulls one of these stunts, it may help to use a sage smudge stick to purify your home so that the negativity doesn’t come home to settle in and fester for an indefinate period.
The thought of death runs through my head. Tell me, what does this mean? What does it mean when my friends tell me i seem depressed a lot and that I need to be put on anti-depressant pills?
Since what you describe falls into the confines of psychology, it may not be possible for us to answer with full certainty and without more information.
However, if thoughts of death are pervasive in your life to the point that friends are commenting that you are “depressed” and in need of “anti-depressants,” you might want to seek out a counsellor in your phone book. Depression is never a humorous issue and is often due to chemical imbalances in the brain. Some have felt that St. John’s Wort has been a good herb to help them over a case of depression. If yours seems to be causing you to lose sleep, sleep too much, eat a lot or not at all, there may be something more going on that will require medical attention. If that is the case, don’t delay with seeking out additional help.
Thanks for writing in. Feel free to drop a line to ask your pagan/herbal related questions or share your spiritual progress!
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