Hello, I am Yin Witch and I am making this forum thread to dispell false knowledge I have about certain practices in Wicca, High magick, and Folk magick.
First I would like to point out that I have based my practices and principles on experience and have not studied in a traditional way-- Meaning I haven'tsat down and read.
I would prefer to get information from those who have experienced first hand and practiced Wicca, Folk magic, and High magic.
First Question: What is Wicca and how do you practice it?
Second Question: What is folk magic and what are some examples?
Third Question: What is the definition of high magic and what are the practices?>
I would really appreciate it if some if not all these questions were answered by someone in the Spellcaster coven.
1) Wicca is a neo-pagan religion created in the UK in the 1940's and is based on believed pre-Christian beliefs. Within Wicca is ideals of dualism and the worship of the male and female as well as the following of the Wiccan rede.
I would suggest reading information posted in forums under the Wicca tab to learn more.
2) Folk magick is not one singular thing, but is instead a collective name for many different practices that are not ceremonial and are instead magick practiced by common people.
3) As far as I known high magick is ceremonial magick, it involves the utilization of greater energies and beings such as deities, spirits, elements, etc. It is often done in a highly ceremonial manner, often done in a specific way depending on your tradition.
1. Wicca is an earth based religion popularized by Gerald Gardner [he claims he didn't invent it, some say he did, some do not, personally I don't care because it's what you get out of it that matters] after that, you need to specify on the path, Wicca has spiralled out of control as times gone on [i'd say it was the 90's when it really exploded into what it is today] British Traditional Wicca is probably the most accurate form you'll find [but it's like the Catholicism of Pagan paths, and it's oathbound so you can't really learn anything without being initiated to a coven] starting with Gardner there was Doreen Valiente who basically wrote the book on Wicca [she wrote many of the famous Wiccan chants, she 'fixed' Gardners first Book of Shadows] Alexander Sanderson [who left and formed Alexandrian Wicca] and Raymond Buckland [who brought Wicca to America and founded Seax Wicca] we also have Dianic Wicca [focusing on the feminine and basically denouncing the masculine which contradicts Wiccans belief in balance in male and female energies but whatever] Fae Wicca [wicca but with faeries] Draconic Wicca [wicca with Dragons] and a slew of others [at this point you can theoretically put any word I front of Wicca and there's a good chance a handful of people practice it] today, most are Eclectic Wiccans [solitaries who follow their own form of Wicca] personally I began my Pagan path with Raymond Bucklands Wicca for Life, and was Sean Wiccan for about 4-5 years, then was Eclectic for 2, and now identify as Pagan [Threefold Law and Rede never fully sat with me, and while I now define the Law as energy effecting your mind, body and spirit, I don't see it as a law to be feared. Sometimes a curse can heal, or a blessing can be a disaster]
2. Folk Magick is things like Kitchen Witchcraft or herbal remedies, practical and simple ways to add some magick into your life. As with Wicca though there's many branches.
3. I've heard 2 definitions, high magick being ceremonial in nature [so in a way British Traditional Wicca rtiuals] or more powerful magick calling on ancient energies [and most would claim Wicca is a form of 'low Magick' as it called on nature and the followers only wish to heal people] personally I don't use terms like 'high magick' or 'ceremonial magick' magick is just magick. Not black or what, good or evil, right or wrong [and that's why most label me as a Grey Witch despite me telling them I don't put colour to magick lol]
Hope these answers were helpful, unfortunately I'm no longer a Spellcasters member, but I was for several years, so hopefully that's good enough?
