I found this a tricky one to answer as my own personal position in regard to angels is that they play no part at all on my own path. If I'm honest I see angels as belonging to Christianity and that particular religion isn't something I would want to incorporate into who I am and what I do. However I do think its important to be open to the fact that all witches think differently so what I've done is hunt down some links from fellow witches who might provide you with a more constructive approach to blending angels and witchcraft.

The articles all seem to point to my mind to the fact that belief in angels depends very much on how you define the idea of an angel. If you see an angel as a spirit who has passed over then yes, I suppose I do work with angels and so do most witches. Again if your definition of angel agrees with the Wikipedia that they are a: "supernatural being depicted in humanoid form" then yes such a definition could fit with most witches. If you consider an angel to be a deceased family member then again, many many witches work with their departed ancestors. If however you define angel (as I do) as a specific messenger of a monothestic deity then it is unlikely such a concept would be embraced by those following the craft. It is important to note once again that witchcraft is a secular craft and not a religion so it is not impossible that a belief in angels and witchcraft could be harmonised. However I'm going to stick my neck out and tell you that you won't find such a belief in most Trad casters. 

Wiccan Moonsong Angels, Archangels and Ascended Masters
Cyber Witchcraft Angels in Wicca
Pagan Space Angels - can Wiccans believe
Witches Lore - The Angelic Presence
Witchvox - Earth Angels

I've added an article on Christian Witchcraft as well in case it interests you.

Witchvox - Christian Witchcraft

I'm sorry I can't be a bit more specific about how I would personally go about incorporating a belief in angels into my own path but its just so far away from what I actually do that I can't see how the two could work together.

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Angel-in-garden-144395998 (fantasy fairy angel)

QUESTION I don't know how to put into words exactly what I need to know. I have always been searching for a spiritual path that I can fully buy into but it's not easy to find. 
Brought up a Catholic, I soon lapsed in my teenage years, I then was more interested in eastern beliefs, spiritualism and also UFOs, ancient Egyptian and Tibetan beliefs.
I wasn't a nut, just unsatisfied and hard to convince. In the 1980s I was actually baptised into a Pentecostal fellowship, I found them to be real believers and believers that expected things to happen, healings etc. They were very kind strong people, however I still had reservations (which made me feel guilty).


In the 90s I found myself drawn more towards native american beliefs and their way of life.
I suppose this is because from a small child I have always loved nature.
Over the past few years I have been interested in Celtic/Druid/wiccan beliefs and how they are comparable to native american and other old ways.
Anyway, I do have a bit of a problem with deities gods and goddesses. I have tried thinking of them as Archetypes or representations of dualistic powers, but when I feel the need to pray or ask for something I really feel a bit lost. I have been reading some of your thoughts/blogs and can see you are very intelligent and sure of your beliefs. Can the craft be the path I seek? I really need to have a spiritual life that I am comfortable with and one that works. Your thoughts or help would be much appreciated.
Forgot to say, I'm 59 and work in IT.

ANSWER - Your experience of different religions may have been a little frustrating but what it has done is give you a solid foundation of what you believe is necessary for your own personal path. You now know what doesn't work for you which is a significant step toward finding the path that does work for you.

In rejecting both Catholicism and the Pentecostal beliefs you have discovered that a strict religious framework is likely not a path that feels right to you. However, your deep personal interest in Spiritualism and the slightly looser interests such as UFOs suggest you have an open mind and are willing to look for a path that fits more with your own thoughts than the imposed beliefs of others.

So do I believe that the craft could be the right path for you? Yes and I'll explain why. Witchcraft itself is of course a secular path, the religion is as I am sure you are aware Wicca. I'm guessing your reference to worship of the Gods indicates a leaning toward the Wiccan religion. However the fact that you are struggling to establish a relationship with the Gods may be an indication that that part of your path needs to come later and putting some basics in place to establish a core foundation for your beliefs might be the best first step.

In starting a craft path you would be advised to focus on the immediate impact of whether it feels right for you. Think not so much about the ultimate end goals but ask yourself the simpler question – does this satisfy my spirituality on a daily basis? If it works, chances are its worth progressing. If it doesn't work on a day to day basis then it won't be the path that leads to your own self enlightenment.

I think your previous seeking has been looking for a path that ticks all the boxes but unless you are prepared to put in the groundwork and commit to your path before you get the pay off of knowing its the right destination to be travelling towards then you may never progress beyond the seeking stage. It is this commitment and dedication that will help you to create your relationship with the deities as you will have proven your sincerity to communicate with them. I think the craft is worth you exploring because the primary difference between a craft path and a path of conventional religion is the freedom to shape your own way forward. As a Catholic you followed the dictates of others, as a witch/pagan you are creating your own destiny and carving out your own path that works for you. You've spent a lot of time looking for the right path but my advice to you is to go ahead and make that path. Nothing will work better for you than a path you have created for yourself. Paganism and/or the craft will give you the freedom to do exactly that.

P.S You work in IT? I'm keeping your email address in case I need any computer advice!

 Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Wicca-78766258 (avrilfanforever)

QUESTION  -Hi, I love your blog. I'm pretty new to paganism myself (approx. 6 months on/off) and I've been reading around the pagan blogsphere for a while. One of the questions I've had has to do with deity/gods. I don't know how much you yourself work with deities but if you could answer this for me it'd be much appreciated. I've heard stories of certain people working with certain gods and then getting rejected/not really paid attention to and they say its because of their ethnicity. Like certain people with no slavic/viking blood trying to work with the Norse pantheon and getting rejected. Is this true, does your ethnicity have anything to do with which Gods you can work with. I've been looking towards maybe starting a relationship with deities of the Egyptian pantheon but I myself am Hispanic, would a similar thing happen to myself?  


ANSWER I think this question has two definite elements to it – firstly what other people
think and secondly what the Gods think. To tackle the issue of other people first, yes there is a certain amount of elitism with regard to some people being a little "precious" with regard to their own ethnic Gods. But the spirituality of the individual is a personal thing and I'd personally question why anybody would allow the opinions of other people to inflence their own actual or future relationship with the Gods. When it comes to your relationship with the Gods the input and certainly the criticism of other people becomes largely irrelevant. We don't choose our Gods by a logical process we choose them by our intuition of what feels right to us. Nobody has the right to interfere in the very personal choice of what type of worship feels right to any individual.

I think its important to consider what a pantheon actually is. Ultimately no human has empircal knowledge of the true nature of the Gods so every God ever worshipped can only ever be an interpretation of the actuality that lies beyond human comprehension. A pantheon is the vision of the Gods that works best for you. It can never be an absolute as we are simply not capable of grasping the true nature of any God. So if you feel an affinity with the Egyptian Gods, chances are that natural inclination will work better for you than trying to force yourself to work with the Gods recognised by your own nationality who you may not have that natural connection with. 

I'd also consider the fact that many Pagans embrace the idea of reincarnation so I do wonder if affinity with a foreign pantheon may indicate a belief established in a previous life. Its easy to see how a spiritual connection may last through every incarnation. So you may not be Egyptian in this lifetime but it is certainly possible that you were in a previous life .And in my view that suggests not only have you every right to become closer to the Egyptian pantheon but also that you are very likely to be accepted by the Gods of that pantheon. Time to the Gods is different to the time of humans and your specific Hispanic incarnation will be irrelevant to them in comparison with your innate spirituality which has remained consistent through your lifetimes.

The Gods don't mind what structure or choice of symbolism you choose to enhance your connection with them. Like I say a pantheon really just a shortcut to interpretation. What matters is that whatever you choose feels right to you. So yes, go ahead, embrace the path of your intuition and step forward to make your connection with the Gods to whom you feel called. Your sincere efforts will be welcomed.

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Valhalla-251067342

Possibly some do but that motto actually has its roots in Thelemic magic which is very separate from Witchcraft be it Traditional craft or be it Wicca. You'll hear the phrase used more commonly today by those who follow a Satanic path which is again very different to Witchcraft.

The phrase was coined by Aleister Crowley, probably the most famous member of the occult society The Golden Dawn (Late 1800s). Crowley established the philosophy of Thelema which works on the principle that every individual should act in accordance with furthering his fundamental or "true self." The idea is not that if you want to do something you have every right to do it at the expense of everybody else but more that if you allow your actions to be governed by your innate spirituality (your will) and not your base desires or your ego then you will move closer to achieving the full potential of yourself with a view to actualisation of the self. (Think of self actualisation as both the ability to see your own life in perfect perspective and to achieve a clear understanding of your own specific purpose on the earth.).

By the time the phrase had become associated with Satanism (1960s) the meaning had changed slightly. Anton LeVay, author of The Satanic Bible and founder of the Church of Satan wanted to emphasise the importance of the individual in his own right instead of as a being dependent on a belief in deity. The subtext now shifted to the idea of man's autonomy guided by his own will and choice and not through his relationship with the Gods. (It is to be noted that Satanists do not in the strictest sense of the word worship Satan. Satanism, as confirmed on the Church of Satan website is an "athiest philosophy".)

Popular culture has always interpreted the phrase as: "I'll do what I and you can't stop me" but this is too simplistic a view. Certainly there is an element of hedonism involved, particularly in the links with Satanism but fundamentally the phrase is not about fuelling the spontaneous pleasure of the individual, it is about having an awareness of will at the most fundamental level and an understanding that life isn't about day to day sensory experiences but about development of the self. As a witch  I can certainly subscribe to that and in the Crowley sense I could agree this is a principle that guides my path as a witch.

However, I'll be honest the modern colloquial interpretation of do what I want and don't consider anybody else leaves me cold. Rights in my opinion go hand in hand with responsibility. Nobody exists in a vacumn and therefore nobody can apply such selfish thinking without consequences. When the consequences are riding roughshod over the rights of others its time to find a different philosophy.

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Baphomet-51945358 (Maxsamael)

There are many overlaps between the two - both employ methods of divination to foretell the future, bot are likely to have an extensive knowledge of herbs and herbal medicine and both believe in the existence of spirits beyond the physical world.

There are however some fundamental differences of belief. A Shaman believes in the spirits of the natural world, they believe rocks, plants and trees all have a spirit in much the same way a Witch would believe a human or an animal to have a spirit. Shamans use their relationship with the spirits of the natural world as a source of advice and wisdom to help them shape their lives. 

A Shaman will likely practice the entering into alternate states of consciousness in order to communicate more effectively with the world of these spirits. This can be achieved through meditation, herbal ingestion or music and dance. They may also communicate with the spirit world through their dreams. 

I'd say that a Witch works primarily with spirits by calling them into her own environment as opposed to travelling into theirs. This is a fairly broad generalisation as some Witches do "cross the hedge" and in doing so transcend into a world similar to the Shaman. But generally a witch will call upon/conjure/summon/speak with a spirit without altering her own state of consciousness to do so. She will interact with spirits in her world, not theirs.

A Shaman's primary role is one of healing and bringing balance and health to his community. Not so with the Witch. There are Witches who are called to healing but altruism is not a core part of what it is to be a Witch. If you talk to Traditional Witches you will find a clear focus on self interest. The methods of healing also differ. A Shaman believes the source of illness is derived from evil spirits and will focus their healing toward the spirit. A witch is more likely to employ folk knowledge and herbal remedies to tackle the physical cause of the illness and its symptoms. A Shaman may enter the body of the ill to cast out an evil spirit - such a procedure would not be undertaken by the Witch.

Witches in the Wiccan tradition honour a God and Goddess. Again this differs from the Shaman who holds no fixed idea of a governing deity but believes rather that all the spirits within the world have messages and advice to offer. The Shaman looks to nature for learning, a Wiccan will look to her Gods.

A Witch looks to work magic by manipulating the energies of the world around her. The power comes from the intent of the witch. The power of the Shaman comes from the knowledge they gain from the spirits they visit in a trance state. A Witch can choose to work entirely independently of spirit but the spirit world is a much more intrinsic part of Shamanic belief and practice.

This is just a quick overview and I'm no expert on Shamanism which differs greatly from my own personal path. If you are interested I can recommend a couple of books on the subject. Try Plant Spirit Shamanism by Ross Heaven or Shamanic Journeying - a beginner guide by Sandra Ingerman to get you started with reading around the subject.

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Witch-Doctor-67572070 (Head Trauma Pro)

The first thing you need to do is to examine your motivation for becoming a witch. You say you very badly wish to become a Witch but what specifically is it about Witchcraft that attracts you? Are you interested in working with Magic? Craft tradition? Ancestral Heritage? You speak of wanting to be the soul of nature and yes, certainly there is a strong association with nature in the world of the Witch but I sometimes wonder if the modern view of the Witch has become a little too entwined with the stereotype of the meadow dancing hippy. Witchcraft is not solely about nature, it embraces an understanding of an awareness of more than the simple environment in which we live. A witch learns how to understand people, how to manipulate, how to create from nothing and how to fold the fabric of Wyrd to suit her purpose. A Witch learns power, control and discipline through her intellect and her senses. 

If this sounds like what you want then I'm going to give what is for me an unusual piece of advice. I'm going to suggest that you start your knowledge of the craft through book work. Normally I suggest approaching a Witch path through intuition and hands on practice but in your case I'm not sure you understand the basics of what being a witch is all about so a strong foundation of knowledge is essential. If after a book or two you decide that following the path of a Witch is what you definitely want then your enthusiasm and love of nature will be invaluable to you as you continue down that path. The book I am going to recommend you begin with is "A Witch Alone" by Marian Green. I'm specifically recommending this one as it is linked very much to a Witch's relationship with the natural world and I think you will find it suits your outlook.

I'm also providing you with a link to a similar question I answered recently as I think you will benefit from the advice. How do I become a Witch?

As for does being a witch work out... Well I'm doing very nicely thank you!

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Wicca-Eye-115242037 (Ranafroggie)

The crystal Selenite belongs to the family of gypsum minerals. It is a water soluble crystal so I'd suggest you don't wear this one in the bath too often. This solubility however can be put to good use. If you place a piece of Selenite in a bottle of water you can create an ideal calming water for use in spell work. Don't expect the crystal to dissolve too quickly though, mine has been going three months and doesn't look much different from when I started. (It is of course the essence of the crystal you are after and for this purpose you do not need it to fully dissolve...)

Selenite normally comes in long thin pieces - think ready made wands (!) and is in fact excellent for this purpose as many witches will tell you it controls energy very well. In my own opinion Selenite is every bit as versatile as the universally employed Quartz and it is the one crystal I am never without.

Selenite is also a relatively cheap crystal - the piece pictured here only cost me 80p in a New Age shop.

Selenite is best known among for its properties promoting calm, peace and a sense of wellbeing. In sphere form it has a visual connection with the moon and some witches (Wiccans) employ it as a tool in the drawing down the moon ceremony.

Selenite has a powerful association with healing, particularly healing of the mind. Its an ideal crystal to be carried by those suffering from anxiety or stress. 

QUESTION -Can anybody indulge in any sort of curse by transferring intent to any object like gifts ,food, money or other things given directly.... I had an experience once when my neighbour passed me a artifact of Clay... It has caused me misfortune, bad luck, accident...I passed over the thing to my friend who is disbeliever of superstitions and after 3 months he died of bike crash... Is it a true fact ....Curses.... Are they real... I am eager to know more.... Tell me Madam?

ANSWER - Yes, it is possible for intent or ill will to be stored into an object with the intention of doing harm to the recipient. Generally a working involving the energy storing into an object would be referred to as a charm. Charms can be used for both well meaning and baneful magic and in the manner you are suggesting they can be used to hand a person the negativity associated with curse/hex work.

I personally believe that such a curse would be best employed by working in line with the psychological susceptibility of the recipient. That isn't to say the curse wouldn't work in its own right but it is to say that it would be more powerful if the intent of the recipient (the belief that it will work) is employed into the working as well. If I wanted to curse somebody in this nature, I would tell them what I was doing and enable their own belief to work against them.  


On a personal note I charm pebbles to absorb my symptoms when I am unwell. I store these as charmed curse items with the intention of giving to people (if appropriate) to pass my illness and the misery connected with illness on.


The most famous example of an object claimed to be cursed is the Hope Diamond (look it up, its a very interesting tale - I've copied and pasted the history of the diamond from the Wikipedia at the bottom of this question.)

It is important to remember that not everything that happens is due to magic. If you give someone a cursed item and they drop down dead that may be related to the curse but equally it may not be. A witch cannot judge her abilities by the effects of a single spell - it is continuity of results that allows her to consider her methods effective.

Image http://www.deviantart.com/art/Necklace-61499453 (BunnyBob)




The curse history of the Hope Diamond (Copied from Wikipedia)

• Jacques Colet bought the Hope Diamond from Simon Frankel and committed suicide.
  
  

• Prince Ivan Kanitovski bought it from Colet but was killed by Russian revolutionists.
  
  
• Kanitovski loaned it to Mlle Ladue who was "murdered by her sweetheart."
  
  
• Simon Mencharides, who had once sold it to the Turkish sultan, was thrown from a precipice along with his wife and young child.
  
  
• Sultan Hamid gave it to Abu Sabir to "polish" but later Sabir was imprisoned and tortured.
  
  
• Stone guardian Kulub Bey was hanged by a mob in Turkey.
  
  
• A Turkish attendant named Hehver Agha was hanged for having it in his possession.
  
  
• Tavernier, who brought the stone from India to Paris was "torn to pieces by wild dogs in Constantinople."
  
  
• King Louis gave it to Madame de Montespan whom later he abandoned.
  
  
• Nicholas Fouquet, an "Intendant of France", borrowed it temporarily to wear it but was "disgraced and died in prison."
  
  
• A temporary wearer, Princess de Lamballe, was "torn to pieces by a French mob."
  
  
• Jeweler William Fals who recut the stone "died a ruined man."
  
  
• William Fals' son Hendrik stole the jewel from his father and later "committed suicide."
  
  
• Some years (after Hendrik) it was sold to Francis Deaulieu, who died in "misery and want."
  
  

There's quite a few, the internet is full of them. Most of them probably don't work.

The evil eye is popular terminology within witchcraft but the meaning can vary. The definition can be anything from an actual physical stare, designed to frighten or to send negativity toward the object of intent or it can be indicative of more serious magics. The symbolism of the eye suggests that the worker of the spell is constantly watching and this can therefore imply a longevity to the spell.