What if I'm not invoking a goddess/god's name when doing magick? I have one issue, in that I don't really believe in deities. However, i believe that there is an energy and a power to the universe and I believe in "cosmic" power, if you will, but not a specific deity. Is this a problem because I believe in Magick, I am new to practicing, but I feel awkward because almost every spell I see mentions deities. I've been invoking powers of the universe/cosmos when casting the spells I've cast. Because of this I feel kind of lost in the whole thing and feel as if maybe I'm not doing ir right (couldn't think o a better way to put it). Any advice?
Magic is not a religion. There are atheists, agnostics, and more who practice magic. Deities and spirits are not a requirement by any means, unless following a religion, philosophy, or general belief which includes them.
Some even find it a bit rude when someone just picks a deity with a spell to beg for favors without establishing some sort of relationship first.
Re: Conflicted in my practice By: sylvie189 / Novice
Post # 3 Jun 25, 2020
Witchcraft is not a religion, it's a practice. That's why people from various religious backgrounds can turn to it. You never have to directly involve a deity if that's not something you desire to do when working with magic. Unless you follow a specific religion, your magical workings can be completed separate from religion. That makes your practice "secular." This is a choice many practitioners make and is very common in the witchcraft community.
My path is eclectic. I don't invoke a goddess or god when practicing magick. I invoke them when doing rituals though, so you don't really need to invoke them to do magick.
Re: Conflicted in my practice By: Lark Moderator / Adept
Post # 5 Jun 27, 2020
Since you say you do believe in some form of "cosmic power", you could simply invoke that if you wished rather than calling on a God or Goddess. Just substitute the words "cosmic power" or whatever seems right to you in the place of God or Goddess or one of their names.
Magic is a craft or an art, it is not a religion at all. So if all you are doing are rituals and spells there is no need to invoke a divinity to achieve your goals.
You might want to look into the practice of Chaos magick, not to choose that as a path but for the information that it may provide concerning your conflict. No, you don't have to call upon any deities if that is not your belief.