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Hello (Hola)-
I have an opinion that I'd like to see how others feel about;
(Granted, I will not doubt that it has already been stated)
Firstly, I appologise for my spelling, and secondly I appologise IF this offends any one. (I don't appologise for my opinion, I only feel sorry that someone would find it offensive).
I came up (and by "came up" I only mean that as far as I know, this is an original thought in which no one placed in my mind with their own opinions. I'm quite confident that I am far from the first person to come up with this theory.....) with this theory, that all forms of magick, and mysticism, are in fact the same. Witchraft, Druidism, Demonology, Necromancy, Enochian, Shamanism, Voodoo, Santeria, and countless, litrely, countless, more.....
They are all part of a phenomena, that many call magick. They all are used to attain a certain goal, be it self impowerment, self enlightenment, healing, destruction, or simple entertainment. They are all different means to accomplishe a specific goal.
In addition to these "Styles", we have the laws that follow, one example is karma.
(I know I'm oversimplifying it, but please bear with me)
Many people are born with "talents", such as empathy, and clairevoyance; others need to work at it. But in the end we end up with a "Skill". A "Skill" which is used through the manipulation of certain energies. Now, with the aid, of certain Deities, and other spirits, we attain assistance in our goal to manipulate the energies. My point is that we don't NEED the Deities, in order to accomplish our goals....

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ROFL ;)

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Nothing wrong with adding a k in magick. :) Really, does the spelling of the word matter? I think not, unless it's completely misspelled to the point that you don't even grasp the concept of "magic" from the word ...

Have a nice day :)

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I know, I was only speaking of the possibility, not whether or not it shall be done. But it wold seem that we already agree. (At least to a certain point).

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I agree with your understanding.. Have you ever read "Practical Magic for the Solitary witch" by Nancy B. Watson?
I liked her approach to witchcraft in general

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no no no we don't need Deities or assistance to accomplish goals, it is a matter of taping into the powers, or energy that is, we are all already connected by this, and using it as a conduit to effect what ever change on person or thing what ever we desire, what or who ever I feel like effecting, good or bad
why would you need anything other then your self. your focus and your own will.
everything is already in place to be used by the ones that know how and poses the ability.

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Ehh, interesting theory - I don't agree though. Anyone who digs up bones or binds the soul to the world should be executed; period, I despise Necromancy. Shamanism is not the same as Demonology, they serve two different purposes and are two different animals.

Magick comes with Discipline, discipline is ones ability to control themselves.

Personally I think magick is an ability to do this arts, not the art themselves.

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OK! I think you have a point and that is also valid. I am thinking I like the thought of a deity or higher power personally , but I think the very act of believing in ones magic ? or magick makes it happen ....:) or not! It can go either way if you asked me... I am a fairy loving unicorn chasing nut though>>. Smiles to you.

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This should be deleted - what a waste of space and a stupid LONG ass question I say. Oh and if you think that way then why the fuck you on this site or are you a closet Christian...Of course you needs deities to aid you and as for spirits you do not use them to aid you. You can use daemons to aid you too and you can also use them in healing rituals too - GOSH this was a waste of time *falls asleep* !!!

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My 2 cents (or since this is a Recession, you can have them for just 1 cent):

Magic(k): Hate the K--seems like when it is used in the spelling of Magic, it is trying to hide the word Magic. I mean, if you are going to practice it, use the word.

For example, if the state gives you a license to drive, you are a Driver. Even if you are a crappy one making a vain attempt at it (i.e. an illusion that you are a Driver) we still call you a Driver (and add some discriptive adjectives to the noun).

We don't then hide the fact we practice good driving techniques by saying we practice Driverk. So if you are practicing Magic-be proud of it and use the word--don't hide in some broomcloset by adding the K to it.

Now, from a religious standpoint I am Wiccan (Alexandrian to be exact) and we practice Magic as a way to connect to our religious philosophies, and ask the God and Goddess to add their energy to ours if they wish to amplify the energy going into the Magic that is being performed. Add ceremonies to it and you have Wicca.

But I also perform magic without asking Them for their energy because I don't need it for the particular spell I am working on. So in that sense, it is lay magic.

I have heard it said that:

If you practice Magic without the help of the God/Goddess, you are practicing witchcraft.
If you practice Magic with the help of the God/Goddess of your choice, you are a Witch.
If you add a healthy dose of religion when you practice Magic, that is Wicca.

Makes perfect sense to me.

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what if your not wiccan...don't like or agree with the word witch...and therefore witchcraft?
Why should your labels apply to someone else...as far as I know...these are not text book answers...unless the text book is wiccan.

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If we didn't have labels, how would you identify anything? I couldn't call you by your nationality, your sex (so how could I be polite and call you Mr, Ms, or Mrs?), I couldn't refer to anything related to you or even your name, since it is all a label.

Now if you are discussion the words and the etymological use of them, if you practice magic you are a witch. That is the English word for it.

Check out the Oxford American Dictionery, 10th edition; the Oxford English Dictionary, 11th edition; Funk and Wagnells American English, 10th Edition; www.etymonline.com, “A Derivative Dictionary of the English Language” by George Lemon, “Origins: A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English” by Eric Partridge, and “The Roots of English” by Eugene Cotter for the defination of witch and witchcraft.

Not just Wiccan text books -it is English.

Why not take the word that you are and own it, make it a good word instead? Is it a Chrisitan holdover of what they refer to the word as meaning?

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Morin Drenn,
Seems you chose a very LARGE topic to assimilate into a very small space! LOL! And yes, generally speaking, I agree with you, though even that being said, understandings of terms are NOT universal. Going by the "spirit" of the post rather than the "letter"...um, yeah! LOL! I know what you mean.
The only thing I MIGHT add is that concept of "laws"...seems to me that even those are born of our own making. Just as we may accomplish our goals with or without deities? We may avail ourselves of energies without fear or constraint of "laws" should we deign to do so. Even THOSE are constructs of our own making. (eish! don't get me started on karma! LOL!)
I've no issues with spelling...magick with a "k" looks pleasant and has an "old world" flair to it...I give spelling such no particular importance...but I spell catalogue, colour, and theatre that way simply because I choose to do so. Each to his own!
For an initial post? Seems you've made interesting observations!
F&W!

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