Is Witchcraft a Feminist Issue?
History has not been kind to witchcraft.
But through the past generations, we have come to respect scientific study. But it has become obvious that yesterday’s magic is today’s science. Could it be that witchcraft is considered scary, while science is taught in respected universities? I hate to bring this up, but it is possible that the fact that women practiced witchcraft that scared the common folk.
Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Witch to Live., or Mistranslation?
Of course, we have all heard of the biblical phrase that commands readers not to suffer a witch to live. But many modern scholars believe that was a mistranslation. After all, those words were written thousands of years ago. Nowadays many people admit the injunction was against people who practiced their arts for evil, and not those who tried to help others. Some spell casters were even presented sympathetically in other sections of the bible.
But looking back, we have to ask ourself some questions about the distinction betwee science and witchcraft.
Modern Studies on the Basis of Witchcraft
There is a famous book and video that has been circulating around. It has attracted tons of media attention, and it is all about creative visualization. It is called The Secret. This is simply the art or science of creative visualization, and it was probably thought to be magic in another age.
These days, many witches have written about the mental focus they need to use their power. They use some tools to help them focus, but believe that the better they can focus, the more powerful they are. Modern science actually supports this in research done on positive thinking and the power of placebos.
Herbs are another example. We all know that modern medicine evolved from the ancient herbalists lore. Consider natural painkillers or sleep aids like willow bark and chamomile. How different is brewing a tea than prescribing a pill?
And lots of essential oils are used in spells. But nowadays the art of aromatherapy has been proved effective. Rosemary and orange are stimulating, while mint may be relaxing. Is this the occult, or is it simply using nature to benefit mankind?
Scientists have barely begun to study our minds. We really do not understand our own brains. That should be obvious. But we do realize that our outlook and attitude affect the way our lives turn out.
It might have been called witchcraft in the past, but soon it may be science.
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I find this article to be 50 years out-of-date, rehashing misidentifications which should be scorned, not excused. Witchcraft, Wicce Craft ~ the Craft of the Wise ~ has never been anything but reverence for the earth and the natural abilities of anyone, and everything, versus the abstract ambiguity of man-made religious structure. In essence, the earth does provide everything we need…right down to herbal medications, and the chemical ‘magic’ of terrestrial elements. And, while the New Age (feminist) movement has tried to claim witchcraft as ‘their’ spiritual path, the practices of earth-magic belong to everyone, just as the earth-mother belongs to everyone. In witchcraft…as in all aspects of nature…nothing can survive in perpetuity without balance ~ no matter what foreign philosophy one chooses to follow. The earth-Goddess, the Sun God…either, without the other…provides lifelessness. And, withcraft has always scorned those who forgot the earth, flocking to cities and towns to become lost in the imaginations of Man while rejecting the intelligence of nature…and this includes all those who choose to live at odds with natural balance, and the laws of nature. The “witch” who postulates horror at consuming animal flesh, by trading natural reality for imagined vegetanarianism has not even begun to understand the truth of nature…whether animal, vegetable, or mineral. Posers are posers, whether christian, or wiccan. The laws of Man are left up to interpretation…but the laws of nature can not be circumvented or ignored ~ for long.
M. Dudly, we just edit articles to make sure they are appropriate to this venue. We really don’t claim to be experts on everything we publish, and certainly welcome thoughtful comments like yours! I hope to see more of your thoughts.
Did you read the article? You cannot argue that, historically, female witches were persecuted by society more than men. Male wizards were called wise men. Females were evil. Sure it belongs to everybody, and I just aruge that women have paid for it more than men.