Do you believe in magic? If so, why, and if not, why not?

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   home witchposted 12 years ago

   I'm starting this forum because I had asked this question in the questions section and it got taken off because there was so much discussion going on. I'm sorry - I didn't realise it would raise so much debate. But because it did, I was wondering what people thought of this topic in depth. Please, do let me know.
   
   I've been a practising Wiccan for about 18 years on and off. More off when I was young because I grew up in Sri Lanka and it was just not possible to do this kind of thing there. But now that I live in the UK, it is much easier to learn and grow as a practising witch. So I do believe in magic. I'm just really interested in understanding why other people do or don't.

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      pennyofheavenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I see magic...is that the same thing as believing?

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      Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      ____________________
      We all have the ability to use the natural forces to transform ourselves and the world around us.
      The reason I KNOW, is because I've done it many times.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes I believe it's real.  Yes, it's a subject of much debate, and always will be.
      
      
      Why I don't practice it---
      
      Witchcraft is bad.  Satan cannot fight Satan.
      
      There's no such thing as a "white witch".  People use that definition to manipulate and twist reality into something they want to see happen.  It's, at best, silly, whether it's the so-called "harmless" stuff like "Bewitched" or, in-between, "Charmed" and "Harry Potter", or, at worst, the deeper dark stuff that people delve into.
      
      Please look for the better path.

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         Woman Of Courageposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Brenda, You are absolutely right. I don't need anything which belongs to Satan.

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            luvpassionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Define that please...belongs to Satan. The belief in magic?

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               Woman Of Courageposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Hi luvpassion, I believe magic is real. Magic is witchcraft. The power which is used when a person performs magic does not come from God. No one has the natural ability to move objects around tables and so forth.

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                  Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  _________
                  Oh my goodness, moving things around on tables. You've watched Bewitched haven't you?

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                     Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     "Bewitched"?  What a crock!  Now, "I dream of Jeanie" was real magic!  Geesh, everyone knows that!
                     
                     
                     
                                                      
                     
                     
                     
                     P.S.-the lizard avatar made you look smarter!

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                        Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        _________________
                        Bewitched is real, and don't say it isn't.
                        
                        The Gecko avatar..I wasn't feeling myself, but..
                        I ate a snickers bar.

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                           Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           You misspelled bikers!

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                     Woman Of Courageposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes I have watched Bewitched. Sorry, I don't think you clearly understood my posts. The power of witchcraft comes from Satan which is bad. You have the right to respectfully disagree. I have kindly answered the two questions of this thread topic. Love and blessings to you!

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                        Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        I thought you said god created everything! Make up your mind!

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                        Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        _________
                        Yes, I admit, it's ME that's too dumb to know what someone is saying. But since you are God's child, you'll forgive me, won't you?

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                           Woman Of Courageposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                           Deborah, God has forgiven me. I will forgive also.

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                              Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                              ____________________
                              You're serious!?

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         Reality Bytesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, the Right Hand Path is much more peaceful.

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   kirstenblogposted 12 years ago

   I really think with something like this it might be wise to define magic. I imagine most people think of Harry Potter style magic when they think of magic. For that sort of magic, no I don't believe. Tried a spell to make me stop smoking, didn't do a darned thing to stop my addition to the baccy. If the harry potter style magic is not what you are referring to you probably need to clearly define what magic is to you

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      pennyofheavenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm thinking that too. I somehow don't thing she is referring to the magic I am referring to...

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      Lisa HWposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think my thoughts on "magic" is along the lines with kirstenblogs's and pennyofheaven's:    Actually, I decided to turn my response into a quick little Hub instead of posting here.  The question was just kind of a pleasant thing to think about on this "freezing cold" and blustery (very magic-less) Monday morning.

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         kirstenblogposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Lisa, what a cool idea! I think I shall have to go read your hub now!

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   waynetposted 12 years ago

   I believe in magic! Just when you find out that it's about smoke and mirrors, then it ruins the believability!
   
   Once tried to make my dog disappear and it didn't work! bah humbug to magic now!

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   Deborah Sextonposted 12 years ago

   Yes, when the "Christian" accidentally manifests something, they call it a healing or a miracle, and say God did it.
   But if anyone else does, it is evil and of the devil.
   
   You know, "holier than thou"

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Don't whine, Deborah.  It's God who is Holier than thou, Holier than I, Holier than anyone.
      
      You either want witchcraft or you want the power of God.
      
      Make up your mind.

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         Deborah Sextonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         ________________
         I have Elohyim (God to you) and I don't practice witchcraft.
         But the bible doesn't teach what you think it does about witchcraft.
         
         You give too much power to your devil. ALL power is Elohyim's.
         
         Judge yourself..not others.
         If you concern yourself with God, you may be able to draw close....

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      paarsurreyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think this is the reality of most of the Christian miracles, perhaps.
      
      You have described it in a good way.

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   luvpassionposted 12 years ago

   I agree with Deb...you will receive many answers to this question. Some will say if you don't believe it isn't real. Some will say yes they do, but it is the tool of the devil/evil/Skypuppet.
   
   Others will say latent powers of the mind. The truth is people practice magic all the time without even knowing it. Have you ever made a birthday wish? Crossed your fingers or knocked on wood for luck?
   
   If you practice, don't expect to get it right the first time. Keep a record of what you've tried in a book. Practice...practice remember when you learned to ride a bike.
   
   My grandmother could do the most amazing things to help people and she didn't do it for money because she already had it.
   
   Also remember the rule of three.
   
   Blessed Be

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   Brenda Durhamposted 12 years ago

   Hi Teri.
   How are things in the "Land of Oz" where I used to roam?  Everyone still the same-o, same-o I imagine?

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      luvpassionposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Brenda hope you are well.

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         Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I am not exactly well, no.
         But I am exquisitely Blessed, praise God!

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   iantoPFposted 12 years ago

   I find these discussions really interesting because of the many different views on this kind of subject.
   Some personal points to let you know where I'm coming from;
   First I am not a Christian, I'm a pretty down to earth kind of guy and the notion of worshipping a god who was tortured to death is way too freaky for me and so is the notion of "Devil"  or some god of evil. Second, every belief has a lie in it, I don't "Believe" in the religious sense. Third is that I have seen and experienced enough that I do not consider anything impossible.
   Magic is real, mostly we experience it as Luck or Coincidence. Real Magic allows that luck and coincidence to come into our lives by intent. Are there spells to move an object from one place to another? Yes, but what happens is that someone or something will come along and move it by normal means. Are there potions to make someone fall in love with you? Yes! but the use of those chemicals is considered date rape and has consequences. Can you throw fireballs? Why should you when all you have to do is pick up a can of hair spray, light it and you'll have a continous flame.
   Magic is all around us if you live your life a certain way then your life will be filled with Magic and the magic never ends.

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   Reality Bytesposted 12 years ago

   I believe that Majick is real.
   
   Change your mind, change the world!
   
   Magic is slight of hand trickery.

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   Stacie Lposted 12 years ago

   i wouldn't link magic with witchcraft or belonged to the wiccan religion

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      Reality Bytesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Not all Wiccans/Pagans practice Witchcraft, those that do practice Magick!
      
      Magic is a stage show and is all tricks.

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    Shadesbreathposted 12 years ago

    Magic is just another word used to describe what can't be explained by standard answers.  Different people(s) define the origin of the magic, like Brenda says it's from God or the Devil, other people's religions credit it to spirits or ancestors or all sorts of things.
    
    When believers in a give magical system (Christianity, Islam, nature spirits, witchcraft, sorcery, ancestor intervention, psychic power, etc.) want a certain outcome - say that a loved one to survive an illness or injury - they focus their hopes and desires on that outcome using the rituals of their belief system (prayer, seance, dance, totem/spell making, etc.).  If the loved one survives, the magic worked and has proven itself.  If the loved one dies, the magic did not work.  However, failure does not disprove, because reasons can always be given for why it failed: The ritual was done wrong, God had other plans, etc.
    
    So, by this reasoning, magic is real in that it has been proven to be successful by those who believe positive outcomes are the result of magic rather than random chance--"God smiled on us" as opposed to "we got lucky."
    
    As always, magic vs chance becomes a matter of personal choice, desire and faith. You have to die to find out for sure.

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    Reality Bytesposted 12 years ago

    Magick, is defined as "the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will", including both "mundane" acts of will as well as ritual magic.

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       Shadesbreathposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Deities and spirits can make magic too.  So an act of God is him using magic.

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    Jeff Berndtposted 12 years ago

    I believe in 'sufficiently advanced technology.' Does that count?

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