LALLOUZ INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

Their immediate associations with witchcraft are cauldrons, spells, broomsticks and of course, magic! Wicca (and the practice of witchcraft) is in harmony with the moon, its cycles, understanding the seasons, and respecting all forms of planet life.

So why are people so afraid of witches? Originally a witch, or wise woman, was a community’s seer, a healer and shaman, an averter of evil, both of the body in the form of ill health and spirituality. The word only took on a negative meaning with the coming of Christianity, which taught that all gods of the ‘heathens’ were devils. Today, Wicca, despite its increased popularity, is not well enough supported or clearly represented to totally dispel the old fashioned negative stereotypes.

Most western spiritual paths are based on a masculine, paternal god figure. They don’t leave any room for the divine, empowered feminine. Wicca, and those who live within its principles, recognise the perfect balance of nature, both positive and negative, as well as masculine and feminine.

The Goddess is seen as the Mother of all life -- there to guide our birth, light our path and help us through the next or final stage of our journey. One of the most common misconceptions about witchcraft is that it involves devil worship. This stems from an aspect of Wicca’s male deity ‘depicted as the Horned One’... but he is by no means evil!

The horns and cloven hoofs were originally a symbol of his sanctity and affinity with nature, similar to Pan and Dionysus. The Christians then gave these as attributes to the devil, hence portraying witches as satanists. The word ‘witch’ attracts, repels, frightens and fascinates!

Witches can work alone as solitary witches or as pan of a group in a coven. The main rule that all witches should adhere to, is taken from the Wiccan or Pagan Rede stating, “Do as ye will, but harm ye none”. This confirms that witches are not in the business of curses and hexes, but instead ‘healing & protection’ for common good.

Where The World Meets™

They do not refrain from negative acts because they believe they will be punished in an afterlife. They refrain from negatives because they choose to be positive. The “Three Fold Law” reinforces this with the belief that what we send out to others, finds its way back to us... but with its strength multiplied by three!

In Spain, a strong Catholic country, the following of the Craft is still very much a hidden path for many. Each year, more and more learn about the Craft and its teachings. You might be surprised how many were practising this “natural magic” at this year’s La Chispa Festival.

In the holistic healing area, with treatments and natural therapies, many of these were once practised by the very same solitary figures that we still insist on scaring our children with in bedtime stories!

... a good place to learn about the skills of ‘natural healing’, at a Festival promoting working with the natural world around us, rather than against it.

by Samantha-Jane Smith