Sorcery & Witchcraft - is there really a difference?

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Permalink Reply by PMVN on October 23, 2009 at 2:09pm

to me ' sorcery is just another label to add to the heap.As you know ' Magick is Magick no matter what "path" you have chosen.

If anything i am an Occultist because i dont worship no god or anything like that.i work with entitys and deitys but i do not see them in a physical way - i know they are all in the head as is Magick.in my perception "gods" are the different parts of nature which we can invoke for the desired intake of thier propertys ' and when we know these entitys we evoke them to accomplish the main goal(the original desire)

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Permalink Reply by PhoenixFire on November 4, 2009 at 9:21pm

Hi PMVN,
Forgive me for being a newbie but the way you discribe things, since all things are in the head such as magick. "i know they are all in the head as is Magick.in my perception "gods" are the different parts of nature which we can invoke for the desired intake of thier propertys ' and when we know these entitys we evoke them to accomplish the main goal(the original desire)"

Are you saying all answers come from within yourself and the rest of all that "is" would be a nonfactor due to your perception of "what is"? Part of your statement seems contradictory to me. Interesting concept though. Tell me more?

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Permalink Reply by Amber Rose Potter on November 8, 2009 at 9:35pm

In my understanding, I view "the gods" as the elements we work with that are outside our normal human perception. The labels we give them ascribe form to something that would otherwise be formless and incomprehensible to the human mind.

Your question "are you saying all answers come from within yourself and the rest of all this 'is' would be a non factor" is an interesting one. I ascribe to the basic Hermetic principle, "as above, so below." This is a principle of interrelationship and interconnectedness. In essence, I do not believe that any true boundary exists between what we perceive as subjective and what we perceive as objective. Everything that "is," in my belief, is already within yourself. What do you think?

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Permalink Reply by Regan on November 8, 2009 at 11:15pm

uummmm guys, PMVN is no longer with us, so he can not answer your questions.

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Permalink Reply by Brecia Veonne Bloom on November 9, 2009 at 3:21am

...where'd he go?

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Permalink Reply by Wyrd on October 23, 2009 at 2:23pm

I agree with PMVN.
It's a title one chooses to throw upon oneself.
Now that having been said:
"Sorcery: the systematic cultivation of enhanced consciousness or non-

ordinary awareness & its deployment in the world of deeds & objects

to bring about desired results."Hakim Bey

If I were to choose a label,witch wouldn't be it.Not just the fact that modern definition has it linked to everything from folk magic to Wicca to almost specifically female in application.When you think witch isn't the image in your mind almost always female?

Magician to me denotes ceremonial magic with it's qaballah's,theories,and A,B,C, way to do things,and a mystical inclination for contacting the higher self.
I'm not saying that's a bad thing,but I like to be able to think on my feet and apply whatever I'm doing to the situation.

But in answer to the original question no,I don't think there is a difference in praxis,just name.

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Permalink Reply by WiccanVixen on October 23, 2009 at 2:28pm

i do not see many differences. Sorcery was the name given to the craft during medieval times..widely referring to those who practiced in the arts of healing, alchemy (the science of it's time) , and any form of pagan divination or celebration.

The literal source of the word..is interesting.. [Middle English sorser, sorcerer, from Old French sorcier, from Vulgar Latin* sortiārius, from Latin sors, sort-, lot, fortune.]
(noun)

the difference.. (at least to me personally) would be that MANY who were declared "Sorcerers" (or declare themselves as such) are not necessarily pagan. There are groups amongst the gnostic Christian beliefs who recognize themselves as such. They would be offended to be called a witch, or a pagan, but are very comfortable with the term "sorcery".

I am a witch..specifically because my beliefs are of nature, by nature and for nature. HOW i choose to embrace those beliefs..is my choice and my choice alone. I do not believe in God, Satan, heaven, or hell. I DO believe in balance, and natures energies working through us to maintain balance. I believe each of us have a relationship with everything around us, and how we identify those things..determines who we become. I believe names (as we identify deities by), are simply that.. names...a means to identify different energies within nature and their attributes. I do not believe they control our destiny nor our fate as individuals..BUT..i DO believe that by recognizing and respecting them for their placement and balance amongst us, creates a balance within, and a strength and understanding which is priceless. So..that being said..i do not "fit in" amongst the Gardnerian sects, nor any other "popular coven beliefs" I am an eclectic solitary, and very happy to be that way. I DO believe in reinforcement to myself by acknowledging the strength, beauty, growth and death within nature on a daily basis, a dance under the moonlight, a walk along the beach, a quiet moment in a cemetery..all things which allow me to reflect on what is important..and why the cycle of life and nature must be protected and allowed to continue within balance.

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Permalink Reply by Amber Rose Potter on November 8, 2009 at 9:54pm

I really enjoy your post and I agree with much of your belief system. We do have a relationship with everything around us, a relationship that our limited perception often minimizes. The names we ascribe to deity are, just as you stated, only names. They do not literally personify these forces. I do not perceive a conscious and rational god in some distant heaven looking over his children on Earth. But rather, I perceive a grand force of interconnectedness that we are all a part of. This is what we work with when we practice magic.

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Permalink Reply by Sassafras on November 9, 2009 at 1:33pm

Yes! I enjoyed it as well.

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Permalink Reply by Arcane the WhiteRaven on October 23, 2009 at 2:40pm

I consider myself a Sorcerer.
1) I prefer the title to that of witch.
2)when I started out learning witchcraft was defined to me within certain uses and aims. These aims and uses I dont do, usually anyway.

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Permalink Reply by By the Beat of My Own Drum on October 23, 2009 at 5:27pm

I think titles of these sort are used to inflate egos not descriptors of categorization.

I am none of these. I am me....who on a rare occasion will work magic. Hell, I don't even like the magic word....makes me think of card tricks and the like. I do spiritual stuff as I see the need or my spirit/unconsciousness tells me to.

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Permalink Reply by Xoc on October 23, 2009 at 11:26pm

In historical context, in Europe, it seemed that witchcraft was a label for harmful magic. According to the dictionary witchcraft is " the use of sorcery or magic". I then went to the socery page and it says "the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining : necromancy" and the second definition is described as just "magic".

I have to say that's really confusing. Guess there is no difference. Except that some beliefs consider a witch born and a sorcerer can be anyone else.

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