Witchcraft: Blessed Be or Blasphemy?

Introduction

While witches have been considered satanic by the christian religion, nothing could be farther from the truth. The wiccan religion pre-dates Rome, which in turn pre-dates christianity, so the practices followed by members of the now secretive religion were in effect long before satan even existed. In retrospect, wiccan followers have nothing to do with evil, but instead focus more on nature and the energies contained therein. Most people will automatically condemn witches, remembering the famous trials at Salem, but most are ignorant to what even occured during those times. We rely on facts and records kept by.....get ready for it...the church. Is it possible that records may have been altered for the sake of strengthening it�s own religious hold? Maybe. Those were confusing times. My purpose is not to start an argument, but merely provide insight as to what really entails a modern day witch. People fear what they don�t understand, so read on to understand their beliefs, and maybe we can all live free of religious persecution as we deserve to.

Chapter One: What is a Witch?

A wiccan, or �witch� is someone who focuses on the healing powers of the elements and brings them to bear with full knowledge of the consequences of misuse. The term �witch� was coined in the early 15th century, when a coven was discovered by the zealous catholic church during a ritual fast. The abbots declared the coven members as �confused� not knowing �which spiritual path is which�. For some unknown reason, the tag stuck, and remains till the present day. It seems that all life on the planet is joined by a type of spiritual energy, and an injury is merely an unbalancing of that energy. Thus, by calling on the element out of balance, and controlling it�s usage, the balance can be restored and the injury abated. The elements in question are what all beings posses: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. As all of these clearly possess highly destructive capabilities, practictioners are on constant vigil to keep the chaotic nature of these forces in check. No single witch is focused enough to completely balance these forces, so the members form groups, or covens, to combine efforts and avert potential misbalances. In this way, hurricanes can be dissolved before they form, earthquakes can be squelched, floods can be pushed back, and forest fires can be smothered. Does this sound evil or satanic to you?

Chapter Two: Spiritual Engery?

All life contains 1 or more of the elements, and is bound by the laws those elements govern. For example, a daisy is undoubtedly an earth element, and will therefore burn when presented with too much fire, will drown with too much water, and may be ripped from the ground in a gale. On the same token, water nourishes the daisy, the fiery sun lends warmth and light, and the daisy itself cleans the air we breathe. It�s all about balance. Even the planet itself contains said energies, and at some points the energy coalesces into lines and encircles the globe. These are called �Ley Lines� but are more aptly described as �the veins of the earth�. The amount of spiritual energy contained in a single ley line is construed as �infinite�, even more so where 2 lines intersect, called a nexus. In theory, if a coven were to harness the power of a ley line nexus, ALL disasters could be avoided for the life of the planet. So why do natural disasters occur? Why hasn�t a coven taken to the permanent protection of man? One answer.....respect. All practicitioners are aware of what power can bring, and never subject themselves to any temptation. The amount of power available would take over 500 coven members to direct, and as in all cases, every member may not be in agreeance as to how the power should be used. Even the smallest disharmony in a covens guidance can send an element astray, so they accept the disasters as the will of the earth, and perceive it as balance being restored. Eventually, the element in question will burn itself out, so to speak, and the same goal is achieved without danger of a greater calamity. Once again, proof of the lack of evil.

Chapter Three: Ley What?

Ley lines encircle the earth, but do not always run parallel to each other. They run up, down, sideways, perpindicular, and tend to be jagged rather than straight. It�s interesting to note that many modern structures that stand today are built on ley lines, and for some reason no harm ever befalls these structures. Some of the more famous include the Giza Pyramids, Stonehenge (no surprise there), the Munich Glockenspiel, Big Ben, and the Statue of Liberty. Ever wonder about that? Why build a man made island in the middle of the bay for a monument to perch on rather than place it inside your existing city? There are varied answers, but the reason that stands out? It�s right on top of a Ley Line nexus. That brings me to the sadder side of the most famous ley lines...what happens to an exhausted ley line? Ever see the Grand Canyon? A river couldn�t do that, even given millions of years. So what would happen if all Ley Lines exhausted themselves? The only answer I can think of is Mars. I believe that a structure that comes under attack while standing on top of a line or nexus is imbued with a trace amount of energy from that line or nexus, almost as if the earth is protecting her children. This always seems to be the case, as a town can be decimated by a tornado, yet some buildings are always left unscathed. Hmmm.....

Chapter Four: Coven Dissention

As stated earlier, not all coven members see eye to eye, but this in no sense makes them evil. I can pull instances from the Holy Bible where a samaritan asked Jesus whether they were right in worshipping on high, or whether the israelites were right in worshipping in the valley. Both worshipped the same god, but it was a difference in opinion. It happens. Even in today�s government there are 2 sides to every argument. So why judge all by one persons opinion? I�ve met wife beaters who claimed christianity, and wiccans who would give you the shirt off their back. The reverse is also true. Even though there is a disagreement, the end result is inevitably positive, unless the person in question is deliberately attempting to misdirect the energy. Yes, sadly there are witches who are interested only in self gain. They are more appropiately labeled as heretics, as that�s what all people who stray from thier religion are called. You can�t honestly tell me that EVERY member in a place of power in ALL religions are not interested in self gain. Sorry, but nobody is perfect. I�d call you a liar otherwise.

Chapter Five: Black John

In the late 1600s, something happened in New England. They were called the witch trials, and innocent people were accused of being witches because of personal problems others had with them. But then again, there WERE real witches, they just kept themselves well hidden. Some of them even gathered the courage in 1693, a year after the witch trials occurred, and left Salem.How did the trials really start? How did some of the witches remain undercover and undiscovered in Salem, and the others able to get out? One man is the answer, and his name is Black John.In the beginning, life was peaceful. There were four streets, with an unusually large center section connecting them all. And there were Families that lived on these streets that had a secret. They did magic, and hid it very successfully. Black John lived in a house on the northernmost tip of this area, and he was the elder of the group. The adults were one coven. With him, the total personage of this coven equaled twenty five members. But he was not a good man, oh no.He was dark, and he practiced the black arts when no one was looking. He was the one who really told Reverend Parris that the girls had been practicing witchcraft in the woods, naked - when it had been he himself who had seen them, who had been leading the REAL coven in their rituals. When the trials started, the coven began to become worried. Everyone was looking at everyone. Some thought they would be next. They began to split - twelve on one decision, twelve on another. Black John, being the master manipulator he was, convinced each of them they he was on their side. So when the trials were nearly over, half the coven picked up their things, along with some servant families, and left the town for good.

So what became of Black John? It�s still unclear. Some reports say he was drowned at sea, others say he has conquered death and still lives among us today. I think that�s a bit far-fetched, as no documentation or proof can back that up. The real mystery is why did he begin a persecution against witches, when he himself was a practictioner? He is the Lucifer of witchcraft, what all witches strive NOT to become.

Chapter Six: Who's who in Witchcraft?

While many adolescents tend to rebel against their parents and one day proclaim loudly �I am a Witch!� , it�s a little more intricate than one would believe. It seems that the art of element direction is hereditary, and unless it runs in your family, you are indeed NOT a witch. From personal experience, you can chant and invoke all day long until you are blue in the face and not do anything rather than waste your time. However, I have also witnessed firsthand a witch in practice, and the end result left me breathless. It�s an art, and in art lies beauty. Flames dance and winds play. Sandcastles build themselves, complete with a constantly running moat, even though the moat was otherwise landlocked. Witchcraft cannot be learned, it must be inherited. Though support from the non-gifted (like myself) may be appreciated, it is only support. I was once told that my energy was beneficial to a working coven, but that aside, I could do nothing but watch.

At the time of this writing, I have located a genealogical file which shows a large concentration of witches all living in the same area. For reasons of privacy and anti-ostracization, this area will remain known only to me and the current inhabitants. The original document will be destroyed, and I just hope that I am met with the same open mind that I am struggling so hard to create for them.

Foreword

You see now why witches should not automatically be thrown to the dogs upon discovery. Unfortunately, I have witnessed no miracles from God but rest assured: the day I do I will write in his defense also. All the witches I have met did not strike me as evil, let alone were they caught doing anything suspicious by my trained eye. That is not to say they are ALL good. There�s bound to be a Black John wannabe out there somewhere, but I have yet to meet him. I really pity the day I do, for he would be a dead man walking. It would be the same as throwing a satanist into daily mass in vatican city. Religion is a powerful thing. I just hope I have shed some light on a neigboring religion, and now that you know, stop calling them devil worshippers and get along. If you can�t, then just deal with them, for they are a part of life, just like blondes and brunettes. What happens when you try to remove all the brunettes? Hitler, anyone?

Disclaimer

***This was written only as an aid to the rpg in which it was posted. It was not intended in any way to offend, support, or otherwise give any religion publicity. The above character of Black John belongs to L.J. Smith and Harper Collins publishing, no infringement intended. That being said, I hope you thought it was interesting, it took 3 hours to compile and slap on to a webpage. :P


Intro Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Foreword Disclaimer Home Crowhaven Dawning RPG	Introduction While witches have been considered satanic by the christian religion, nothing could be farther from the truth. The wiccan religion pre-dates Rome, which in turn pre-dates christianity, so the practices followed by members of the now secretive religion were in effect long before satan even existed. In retrospect, wiccan followers have nothing to do with evil, but instead focus more on nature and the energies contained therein. Most people will automatically condemn witches, remembering the famous trials at Salem, but most are ignorant to what even occured during those times. We rely on facts and records kept by.....get ready for it...the church. Is it possible that records may have been altered for the sake of strengthening it�s own religious hold? Maybe. Those were confusing times. My purpose is not to start an argument, but merely provide insight as to what really entails a modern day witch. People fear what they don�t understand, so read on to understand their beliefs, and maybe we can all live free of religious persecution as we deserve to. Chapter One: What is a Witch? A wiccan, or �witch� is someone who focuses on the healing powers of the elements and brings them to bear with full knowledge of the consequences of misuse. The term �witch� was coined in the early 15th century, when a coven was discovered by the zealous catholic church during a ritual fast. The abbots declared the coven members as �confused� not knowing �which spiritual path is which�. For some unknown reason, the tag stuck, and remains till the present day. It seems that all life on the planet is joined by a type of spiritual energy, and an injury is merely an unbalancing of that energy. Thus, by calling on the element out of balance, and controlling it�s usage, the balance can be restored and the injury abated. The elements in question are what all beings posses: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. As all of these clearly possess highly destructive capabilities, practictioners are on constant vigil to keep the chaotic nature of these forces in check. No single witch is focused enough to completely balance these forces, so the members form groups, or covens, to combine efforts and avert potential misbalances. In this way, hurricanes can be dissolved before they form, earthquakes can be squelched, floods can be pushed back, and forest fires can be smothered. Does this sound evil or satanic to you? Chapter Two: Spiritual Engery? All life contains 1 or more of the elements, and is bound by the laws those elements govern. For example, a daisy is undoubtedly an earth element, and will therefore burn when presented with too much fire, will drown with too much water, and may be ripped from the ground in a gale. On the same token, water nourishes the daisy, the fiery sun lends warmth and light, and the daisy itself cleans the air we breathe. It�s all about balance. Even the planet itself contains said energies, and at some points the energy coalesces into lines and encircles the globe. These are called �Ley Lines� but are more aptly described as �the veins of the earth�. The amount of spiritual energy contained in a single ley line is construed as �infinite�, even more so where 2 lines intersect, called a nexus. In theory, if a coven were to harness the power of a ley line nexus, ALL disasters could be avoided for the life of the planet. So why do natural disasters occur? Why hasn�t a coven taken to the permanent protection of man? One answer.....respect. All practicitioners are aware of what power can bring, and never subject themselves to any temptation. The amount of power available would take over 500 coven members to direct, and as in all cases, every member may not be in agreeance as to how the power should be used. Even the smallest disharmony in a covens guidance can send an element astray, so they accept the disasters as the will of the earth, and perceive it as balance being restored. Eventually, the element in question will burn itself out, so to speak, and the same goal is achieved without danger of a greater calamity. Once again, proof of the lack of evil. Chapter Three: Ley What? Ley lines encircle the earth, but do not always run parallel to each other. They run up, down, sideways, perpindicular, and tend to be jagged rather than straight. It�s interesting to note that many modern structures that stand today are built on ley lines, and for some reason no harm ever befalls these structures. Some of the more famous include the Giza Pyramids, Stonehenge (no surprise there), the Munich Glockenspiel, Big Ben, and the Statue of Liberty. Ever wonder about that? Why build a man made island in the middle of the bay for a monument to perch on rather than place it inside your existing city? There are varied answers, but the reason that stands out? It�s right on top of a Ley Line nexus. That brings me to the sadder side of the most famous ley lines...what happens to an exhausted ley line? Ever see the Grand Canyon? A river couldn�t do that, even given millions of years. So what would happen if all Ley Lines exhausted themselves? The only answer I can think of is Mars. I believe that a structure that comes under attack while standing on top of a line or nexus is imbued with a trace amount of energy from that line or nexus, almost as if the earth is protecting her children. This always seems to be the case, as a town can be decimated by a tornado, yet some buildings are always left unscathed. Hmmm..... Chapter Four: Coven Dissention As stated earlier, not all coven members see eye to eye, but this in no sense makes them evil. I can pull instances from the Holy Bible where a samaritan asked Jesus whether they were right in worshipping on high, or whether the israelites were right in worshipping in the valley. Both worshipped the same god, but it was a difference in opinion. It happens. Even in today�s government there are 2 sides to every argument. So why judge all by one persons opinion? I�ve met wife beaters who claimed christianity, and wiccans who would give you the shirt off their back. The reverse is also true. Even though there is a disagreement, the end result is inevitably positive, unless the person in question is deliberately attempting to misdirect the energy. Yes, sadly there are witches who are interested only in self gain. They are more appropiately labeled as heretics, as that�s what all people who stray from thier religion are called. You can�t honestly tell me that EVERY member in a place of power in ALL religions are not interested in self gain. Sorry, but nobody is perfect. I�d call you a liar otherwise. Chapter Five: Black John In the late 1600s, something happened in New England. They were called the witch trials, and innocent people were accused of being witches because of personal problems others had with them. But then again, there WERE real witches, they just kept themselves well hidden. Some of them even gathered the courage in 1693, a year after the witch trials occurred, and left Salem.How did the trials really start? How did some of the witches remain undercover and undiscovered in Salem, and the others able to get out? One man is the answer, and his name is Black John.In the beginning, life was peaceful. There were four streets, with an unusually large center section connecting them all. And there were Families that lived on these streets that had a secret. They did magic, and hid it very successfully. Black John lived in a house on the northernmost tip of this area, and he was the elder of the group. The adults were one coven. With him, the total personage of this coven equaled twenty five members. But he was not a good man, oh no.He was dark, and he practiced the black arts when no one was looking. He was the one who really told Reverend Parris that the girls had been practicing witchcraft in the woods, naked - when it had been he himself who had seen them, who had been leading the REAL coven in their rituals. When the trials started, the coven began to become worried. Everyone was looking at everyone. Some thought they would be next. They began to split - twelve on one decision, twelve on another. Black John, being the master manipulator he was, convinced each of them they he was on their side. So when the trials were nearly over, half the coven picked up their things, along with some servant families, and left the town for good. So what became of Black John? It�s still unclear. Some reports say he was drowned at sea, others say he has conquered death and still lives among us today. I think that�s a bit far-fetched, as no documentation or proof can back that up. The real mystery is why did he begin a persecution against witches, when he himself was a practictioner? He is the Lucifer of witchcraft, what all witches strive NOT to become. Chapter Six: Who's who in Witchcraft? While many adolescents tend to rebel against their parents and one day proclaim loudly �I am a Witch!� , it�s a little more intricate than one would believe. It seems that the art of element direction is hereditary, and unless it runs in your family, you are indeed NOT a witch. From personal experience, you can chant and invoke all day long until you are blue in the face and not do anything rather than waste your time. However, I have also witnessed firsthand a witch in practice, and the end result left me breathless. It�s an art, and in art lies beauty. Flames dance and winds play. Sandcastles build themselves, complete with a constantly running moat, even though the moat was otherwise landlocked. Witchcraft cannot be learned, it must be inherited. Though support from the non-gifted (like myself) may be appreciated, it is only support. I was once told that my energy was beneficial to a working coven, but that aside, I could do nothing but watch. At the time of this writing, I have located a genealogical file which shows a large concentration of witches all living in the same area. For reasons of privacy and anti-ostracization, this area will remain known only to me and the current inhabitants. The original document will be destroyed, and I just hope that I am met with the same open mind that I am struggling so hard to create for them. Foreword You see now why witches should not automatically be thrown to the dogs upon discovery. Unfortunately, I have witnessed no miracles from God but rest assured: the day I do I will write in his defense also. All the witches I have met did not strike me as evil, let alone were they caught doing anything suspicious by my trained eye. That is not to say they are ALL good. There�s bound to be a Black John wannabe out there somewhere, but I have yet to meet him. I really pity the day I do, for he would be a dead man walking. It would be the same as throwing a satanist into daily mass in vatican city. Religion is a powerful thing. I just hope I have shed some light on a neigboring religion, and now that you know, stop calling them devil worshippers and get along. If you can�t, then just deal with them, for they are a part of life, just like blondes and brunettes. What happens when you try to remove all the brunettes? Hitler, anyone? Disclaimer ***This was written only as an aid to the rpg in which it was posted. It was not intended in any way to offend, support, or otherwise give any religion publicity. The above character of Black John belongs to L.J. Smith and Harper Collins publishing, no infringement intended. That being said, I hope you thought it was interesting, it took 3 hours to compile and slap on to a webpage. :P