There is a difference between magic and magick and that distinction was brought about by Aleister Crowley when he added the K to the end of the more traditional spelling. Magick without the K now, for the better part denotes stage magic and parlor tricks, though the two words are still rather interchangeable. Witchcraft gets no such separation, though I’d bet many-a-Wiccan would love for there to be one.
I watch the web for the term “witchcraft” and often search news sites for current events that revolve around the word. Excluding the gaming circles I find there is a 50/50 mix between the more standard “Wiccan” witchcraft and the standard practice of magick in general.
During the ‘burning times’ any suspect of practicing magick was considered Witchcraft, and even today, such generalizations still hold pretty true. Countries from around the world have witchcraft laws which encompass any act of magick or spell casting.
Even the dictionary gives a broad definition, though takes it a step further by saying that it’s an evil act, and again, I bet many a witch would disagree. Webster says that Witches even talk to the devil, though with all of the self proclaimed witches that I know, not one of them has bothered with such Christian trappings such as Satan or even demons. Good spirits and bad spirits yes, but the devil, well, not unless they also call upon God, and he certainly has no place in the tenants of most witches.
I think that when Wicca was brought about they picked too broad of a term. A word all too often associated with evil. A title that has simply caused too much controversy and that has caused more problems, then solutions.
Should the “good witches” of the western world keep such a title? I really don’t know, but I can say that I rarely use the word for fear of being stoned (with rocks silly) or worse, burned at the stake. I would honestly rather be called a “Wizard” and get snickered at because of the popularity of Harry Potter. Or a Mage and get poked fun of because of Dungeons And Dragons. At least those words don’t hurt as much…
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February 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
This is an excellent point! Wicca revivalists like Scott Cunningham waste a great deal of inkspace trying to divorce modern witches from the stigma of Satanism…when in fact, well-documented (though spectacularized) medieval Dark rites did exist which were directed against the Church and often secretly carried out at night by priests and parishioners. These are distinct from nature paganism, although the “evil” of the participants is a judgment imposed by the Church being so attacked.
The distinction is in the orientation of the pentacle…demonic magic points two cones upward, like horns, while the pagan pentacle sports a single horn.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:48 am
I do tend to disagree on the meanings of the pentacle.
If you look at most people that use the single point down, they are using a more humanist based magick, where as those using the single point up tend to call upon the divine.
If you take the meaning of that single point (Chi/energy) and it very likely represents where the power of that energy comes from.
Pagans == Power of the divine
Satanists (etc) == Power of the Self
Next time you use magick that called upon you inner energies, try flipping your star. You may notice a huge difference in the effectiveness of the ritual.