Misconceptions
Below is information that is believed by most witches, yet it is false and/or inaccurate.
OPEN A WINDOW WHEN YOU SAGE TO LET THE SPIRIT/ENTITY OUT.
When a witch uses sage to expel evil spirits/entities, etc., it is widely believed that the witch must open a window to let it out. If one understands from whence the evil spirit/entity came from, one then understands that it is not necessary to give the spirit/entity access to an exit. Consider this: when negative spirits/entities enter our homes it matters not if a window or door is open. They simply just arrive. They don't need doors or windows to enter. They come from whichever realm they reside into our realm. Believing that a window or door must be opened to let them out is giving them human traits, and they are not human. They did not need an open window or door to enter, they do not need one to be opened to leave. When expelling evil using sage, simply sage and command it to leave. It knows where the exit is.
"IT'S BOTH BECAUSE NATURE IS BOTH."
Wiccans began adapting this phrase into their practice after it was used in the 1996 film "The Craft," when the character "Lirio" says it to the neophyte witches who have come to her shoppe. I say Wiccans specifically because other practitioners of witchcraft do not use the phrase. It is true when Lirio says that nature can be "loving and cruel, all at the same time." However, when referring to witchcraft, it is not always accurate. Magickal power can work in harmony with nature as we know it on this planet Earth. This is when the phrase is most accurate. Yet, magickal power can also be gathered from ethereal realms, which are otherworldly and unearthly. And then the phrase becomes invalid. "There is no such thing as good or bad witchcraft. Only intend and purpose" is a more accurate phrase to adapt because it encompasses both, magick cast via nature and magick cast via the ethereal realms.
ALL WITCHES SAY, "BLESSED BE."
All witches do not say "blessed be." Only Wiccan witches say it. This is because "blessed be" is part of a longer Wiccan blessing called the "Fivefold Kiss," initially used as part of the initiation ceremony in Gardnerian and Alexandrian covens, and now also used as a sort of code for Wiccans to identify/greet each other in everyday life.
WITCHCRAFT HAS TO INCLUDE RELIGION.
Absolutely not. Some practitioners of witchcraft include the worship of gods/goddesses, while others do not. Witchcraft does not depend on the worship of a deity. Witchcraft is the practice of sorcery (spellcasting), and this can be done with or without the inclusion of any deity.
THE TERM "WARLOCK" SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR A MALE WITCH.
There is much confusion about the term "warlock." Many witches feel it has extremely negative connotations. The term "warlock" derives from the Old English "wærloga," which means "deceiver" and "breaker of oaths." Because of its meaning, most witches do not stop to consider what the meaning actually means as it pertains to witchcraft. The term was created by the Christians (not witches) in order to label a male witch as an oath breaker and deceiver. Because it was created by the Christians, the negative meaning of the term "warlock" has absolutely nothing to do with witches. Christians created the term to name those they deemed deceivers, traitors, and breakers of oaths pertaining to the Christian religion, not witchcraft. Warlocks for Christians were men who had betrayed the Christian religion. It has nothing to do with male witches betraying the practice of witchcraft. The mere fact that Christians called male witches "warlocks" emphasizes the loyalty, devotion, and fealty the male witch had toward witchcraft.
Witches hear the word "warlock" and automatically think that it means betrayer of witchcraft. It doesn't, as you can see by the explanation above. Warlocks are not betraying or breaking oaths of witchcraft. In the eyes of the Christians, warlocks are betrayers and breakers of oaths as it pertains to the Christian religion. Witches have nothing to do with the Christian religion. Therefore, "warlock" should not have a negative meaning to witches. Otherwise, witches are in accordance with the Christians and their religion, and that would make no sort of sense at all, would it? Think about this, as well: it was the Christians who also named the female practitioner of witchcraft "witch" to describe the female as a sorceress in league with the devil (who was also a creation of the Christians). "Witch" then, also has negative connotations in the eyes of the Christians. Yet witches are perfectly fine with using the term "witch" without a problem, but will shun the term "war-lock," which means the same shit to the Christians. Warlocks are but male witches who continued to practice witchcraft and refused to adhere to the Christian religion, and so deemed as oath breakers and betrayers of the Christian religion. Witches need to understand this and stop believing that warlocks are betrayers of witches and oath breakers of witchcraft. If female practitioners of witchcraft can embrace the Christian term "witch," let the male practitioner also embrace the term "warlock," for it is the same thing.
WITCHCRAFT SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
This makes absolutely no sense. Of course, witchcraft can and should be used for personal gain. What's the use of being able to work magick if one is not going to use it to improve one's life? Witchcraft can be used for whatever a witch wants, whether it be for healing, improving one's life, cursing an enemy, finding love, protecting oneself and one's family, etc. There is no limit to witchcraft. If you can work it, then work it.
WITCHES CAN'T REALLY CAST CURSES.
Yes. We can. Whether the recipient believes in witchcraft or not is of no consequence. Whether the recipient is aware of the magick cast or not is of no consequence. The magick will work regardless.
When a witch uses sage to expel evil spirits/entities, etc., it is widely believed that the witch must open a window to let it out. If one understands from whence the evil spirit/entity came from, one then understands that it is not necessary to give the spirit/entity access to an exit. Consider this: when negative spirits/entities enter our homes it matters not if a window or door is open. They simply just arrive. They don't need doors or windows to enter. They come from whichever realm they reside into our realm. Believing that a window or door must be opened to let them out is giving them human traits, and they are not human. They did not need an open window or door to enter, they do not need one to be opened to leave. When expelling evil using sage, simply sage and command it to leave. It knows where the exit is.
"IT'S BOTH BECAUSE NATURE IS BOTH."
Wiccans began adapting this phrase into their practice after it was used in the 1996 film "The Craft," when the character "Lirio" says it to the neophyte witches who have come to her shoppe. I say Wiccans specifically because other practitioners of witchcraft do not use the phrase. It is true when Lirio says that nature can be "loving and cruel, all at the same time." However, when referring to witchcraft, it is not always accurate. Magickal power can work in harmony with nature as we know it on this planet Earth. This is when the phrase is most accurate. Yet, magickal power can also be gathered from ethereal realms, which are otherworldly and unearthly. And then the phrase becomes invalid. "There is no such thing as good or bad witchcraft. Only intend and purpose" is a more accurate phrase to adapt because it encompasses both, magick cast via nature and magick cast via the ethereal realms.
ALL WITCHES SAY, "BLESSED BE."
All witches do not say "blessed be." Only Wiccan witches say it. This is because "blessed be" is part of a longer Wiccan blessing called the "Fivefold Kiss," initially used as part of the initiation ceremony in Gardnerian and Alexandrian covens, and now also used as a sort of code for Wiccans to identify/greet each other in everyday life.
WITCHCRAFT HAS TO INCLUDE RELIGION.
Absolutely not. Some practitioners of witchcraft include the worship of gods/goddesses, while others do not. Witchcraft does not depend on the worship of a deity. Witchcraft is the practice of sorcery (spellcasting), and this can be done with or without the inclusion of any deity.
THE TERM "WARLOCK" SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR A MALE WITCH.
There is much confusion about the term "warlock." Many witches feel it has extremely negative connotations. The term "warlock" derives from the Old English "wærloga," which means "deceiver" and "breaker of oaths." Because of its meaning, most witches do not stop to consider what the meaning actually means as it pertains to witchcraft. The term was created by the Christians (not witches) in order to label a male witch as an oath breaker and deceiver. Because it was created by the Christians, the negative meaning of the term "warlock" has absolutely nothing to do with witches. Christians created the term to name those they deemed deceivers, traitors, and breakers of oaths pertaining to the Christian religion, not witchcraft. Warlocks for Christians were men who had betrayed the Christian religion. It has nothing to do with male witches betraying the practice of witchcraft. The mere fact that Christians called male witches "warlocks" emphasizes the loyalty, devotion, and fealty the male witch had toward witchcraft.
Witches hear the word "warlock" and automatically think that it means betrayer of witchcraft. It doesn't, as you can see by the explanation above. Warlocks are not betraying or breaking oaths of witchcraft. In the eyes of the Christians, warlocks are betrayers and breakers of oaths as it pertains to the Christian religion. Witches have nothing to do with the Christian religion. Therefore, "warlock" should not have a negative meaning to witches. Otherwise, witches are in accordance with the Christians and their religion, and that would make no sort of sense at all, would it? Think about this, as well: it was the Christians who also named the female practitioner of witchcraft "witch" to describe the female as a sorceress in league with the devil (who was also a creation of the Christians). "Witch" then, also has negative connotations in the eyes of the Christians. Yet witches are perfectly fine with using the term "witch" without a problem, but will shun the term "war-lock," which means the same shit to the Christians. Warlocks are but male witches who continued to practice witchcraft and refused to adhere to the Christian religion, and so deemed as oath breakers and betrayers of the Christian religion. Witches need to understand this and stop believing that warlocks are betrayers of witches and oath breakers of witchcraft. If female practitioners of witchcraft can embrace the Christian term "witch," let the male practitioner also embrace the term "warlock," for it is the same thing.
WITCHCRAFT SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR PERSONAL GAIN.
This makes absolutely no sense. Of course, witchcraft can and should be used for personal gain. What's the use of being able to work magick if one is not going to use it to improve one's life? Witchcraft can be used for whatever a witch wants, whether it be for healing, improving one's life, cursing an enemy, finding love, protecting oneself and one's family, etc. There is no limit to witchcraft. If you can work it, then work it.
WITCHES CAN'T REALLY CAST CURSES.
Yes. We can. Whether the recipient believes in witchcraft or not is of no consequence. Whether the recipient is aware of the magick cast or not is of no consequence. The magick will work regardless.
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