Witchcraft

:Witch redirects here.

Theories of Neopagan witchcraft

Some neopagans believe that witchcraft exists as a way of doing good, and eschew any evil usages (See the Wiccan Rede and the Rule of Three (Wiccan)). Their belief is sometimes very similar to the belief of Christians in prayer, that the Divine will acknowledge and grant answers to a ritual given in a Deity's name. More often, however, modern neopagans believe that the power of witchcraft comes about primarily in the way it acts upon the person, not due to any divine intervention. Many neopagans, though, also believe that witchcraft is a way of working directly with divine forces.

Related Topics:
Wiccan Rede - Rule of Three (Wiccan)

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Many neopagans believe that people are comprised of three selves. The three selves are the Talking Self (the conscious mind), the Younger Self (the unconscious mind) and the Higher Self (the Soul, also called the Divine Self). It is believed that the unconscious (Younger Self) is not capable of speaking or of understanding speech, but understands and responds to symbolism.

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This is similar to the Eastern Christian trichotomy of the Greek words ???? (soma), ???? (psyche), and ???? (nous), wherein the soma is the living body, psyche is the "mind" as we normally use the term, and nous is the faculty capable of apprehending the Divine. It differs from the neopagan model in that it assigns a place for the physical body in and of itself as part of a "whole" human being's spiritual existence.

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Therefore, to many neopagans the power of a ritual is in the way its symbolism speaks to the Younger Self. Psychology and medical research have shown that beliefs have an effect on one's perception of reality, and that beliefs and perception appear to effect behaviorial and other quantifiable physical changes; one well known example is the placebo effect. Some neopagans believe that witchcraft is a way of tapping into those forces. People who call themselves Neopagans are more likely to take this view. People who go by the term Wiccan are more likely to believe in divine action as ultimate cause.

Related Topics:
Placebo effect - Wicca

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Not all Witches (people who practice witchcraft) consider themselves Wiccan or Neopagan, and vice versa.

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