Witchcraft and Magic
We've all heard of the witch, but do witches have a real existence? Yes, they have existed since the dawn of history, and most likely for millenia before. In the Bible, Saul, afraid of the might of the Philistine army, took himself off to be counseled by the Witch of Endor.
In Classical literature we have Homer’s Circe who bewitched men and turned them into swine. Ovid tells us of the Strigae; erotic beings who flew through the air to carry out their murderous deeds. But with such an ancient history, when did the witch first appear? Early mythologies: In Norse mythology we have the Valkyrie; maidens of Odin who flew through the sky and assisted in the outcome of battles, taking slain warriors to Valhalla.
Many theorists believe that witchcraft is a a survival of the cult of Diana, goddess of hunting. English archaeologist Margaret Murray put forward a similar theory in 1921, arguing that the craft traces its roots back to pagan fertility cults.
The Christian image of the Devil is actually an amalgam of god-forms from paganism, such as the Greek Pan and the pagan horned god, sometimes known as Herne the Hunter. The idea no doubt traces itself back to the shaman, usually male, who would dress in the skin of the animal about to be slain; hence the horned god image.
this was so awful even my dead nan is a better host than this whiny old man.
I can't comment on the vampire and werewolf stuff because that does seem rather silly to me but I do believe in magic. Whether you believe science that tell us that we are made up of star dust or mainstream religions like Christianity that tell us that we are made from the earths dirt, everything is connected. And when it comes to magic there has actually been scientific studies that show that a person doing a spell or even a prayer does send out energy and that more people like in a coven does increase the output of energy. Although I only believe what makes sense to me and my understanding of the world I do keep an open mind and I think everyone should. I have found in my experience that atheists and such will just dismiss anything that could be categorised as "religious" and in doing so become just as ignorant as religious people that believe everything in their holy book.
Christians believe that theirs is the only way and all other paths are of the devil.When looking at religious beliefs you have to look at the behaviour and character of the person that will determine if thay have a genuine and real relationship with the divine.
Very misleading title, watching this felt like eating fish, when craving burger.
The documentary is really more about christian beliefs - Satan, vampires, warewolves etc. instead of magic or witchcraft....
I have seen this video, it taught me to be invincible to others.
Writing my thesis on the myths surronding witchcraft. This documentary should change its title, and Im sorry to say; it was cheesy and, for me, a waste of time.
Hey Pagan Priestess just letting you know Witch and Wicca are two different things. Wiccan is a religion. Witchcraft is a craft therefore a practice. I don't practice and I am a Christian, but I'm not a poser. Lol maybe you should do some research on the difference. Mid anyone like myself that is a Christian and says they don't believe in stuff like that has probably never read the bible, because the bible reveals all sorts of things that will blow your mind once you understand it.
I am a witch so is my mum people just don't like the witches and what they believe in so yh
Wouldn't it be wise to understand that this video was intended for people who usually don't have a clue about these subjects and its possible realistic nature in the world? If people are really fascinated by some of the subjects I would then understand them then to take the step of looking them up furthur. It would seem the purpose of these were to enlighten you of the ideas of how things possibly exist in the world. Of course most when talking about witches want to automatically think of wiccan witches because it is probably the closest or newest thing that exist in reality about witches. Granted even reality is subjective as the hypotizing part of the one video would suggest and as many witches would even say. These people are not experts of course but it at least enlightens aspects on these subjects that many wouldn't of even have a clue about.
I have to say Opelson, your comment is a bit ignorant. The are groups of us out there that wish if there is a documentary is done; that it's done correctly and accurately, just like any subject. I have personally studied ancient religions and ancient civilizations as a hobby. Even archaeology done in Jerusalem revealed Pagans, Christians and Jews worshiped in a large Temple in the heart of the city. Not to mention much of the layout of the city dates back to Emperor Herdan. No, many witches were not evil at all. They were the people who the general population used to bring their sick children to because of their understanding of herbs, etc... It was the hierarchy of religious institutions that turned on the Pagans, including people such as Emperor Constantine. Please, if you are going to comment on the subject; take some time to educate yourself on the subject as I have with many beliefs.
cheesy, shallow and crappy.
Neither are particularly good documentaries. They try to address too many topics - werewolves, witches, voodoo and vampires - but can't actually go into any depth on any of the subjects presented. They ended up with a cursory overview of too much. Very disappointing.
Also traditional withccraft will ahve dieties, even tho it is not the forumualted concept by gardner and others that created todays Wicca.
Each group had their names. Structure. Family passed it down. practice, knowledge and ritual passed down, and within themselves.
The Wiccan reed is a new concept. It is absurb to think it is only a 3 fold law. There is no limit to how negitive actions return when unwarrented.
A witch who has a tue path has no need to hex, conqueer, and harm. However if family, people, friends are attacked, they can and will defend and protect what is deemed just.
There is a difference between traditional "Ancient" witchcraft and todays formulated Wicca.
As far as ms. Vampire. True Vampires are not blood drinkers. They absorb and drain life energy, even tho it can be foudn in blood. THe medical condition is very different. She simply is caught up on a concept made popular by myth and movies.
It's interesting how the witches say evil does not exist and Christians made it up. But the concept has been around since the beginning of recorded history as far as I have studied.
What a muddle-headed mess. This is pro-Christian popular propaganda against religions and traditions muddled in with fringe Americana. Crap.
It is such a shame that such garbage is allowed to be made public. There was nothing Witch about any of this only Wicca and no they are not the same despite what you might think. Witches do not meet in covens as they are by nature family oriented. Witches do not believe in harming none, we harm when we feel it is needed. What we set forth will return not just x3 but will come back to us as and when it sees fit to do so. And we do not worship any deity what so ever for we know that we are all creators of the universe and therefor we are all Deity. Witchcraft is as old as mankind, as the first sympathetic magic dates back to over thirty thousand years. So please all you Wiccans out there stop claiming to be what you are not, after all your faith was not invented until the 1950's and yes I did say invented as the history books now prove. if I were to claim kinship to say the Jews who died in the concentration camps without any connection to any Jewish family what so ever. It would be very offencive and wrong to do so, so why do Wiccans do that very thing in respect of the persecutions of my kind. They did not die for their beliefs, they were not tortured into confessions of untruths yet they insist in calling themselves a Witch a tittle they have no rights to.
Sagewitch
What Randy said..
So called witches were probably herbalists and first doctors and nurses. They believed this or that herb would cure ailments. They weren't religious as this wasn't invented until Constantine. Their rituals were labeled as such simply for the concoctions they made... plants believed to harm were made into concoctions or powders that could make sick and kill. So the superstitious church of that time labeled them evil due to lack of knowledge or ignorance. Superstitions are alive and well to this day.
I'm with Gryffindor House!!! F@#$ Slytherin!!!!
Religion - manna for the masses. Sheeple come together!
all man made religion is a load of c@#$...
might as well log in, since I have watched the doc.
you never know, maybe some comments are a-coming.
This is trash. It started out well enough, and the first interview, the first very few minutes, were accurate and true. After that it quickly degenerated into b.s. about vampires, satan and werewolves, which have absolutely nothing to do with the craft of the witch. This is for the most part nothing more than Christian propaganda.
Mik Kit's long rambling dissertation has great merit and holds, in my opinion, some awesome truths, if you read it carefully, (see above).
Anton LeVay said, in the Satanic Bible, (paraphrased from memory), "The Gods of the Old World are the demons of the New World..."
In other words, history is written by the winners, and the Old Gods become devils...
The Horned One in Wicca is an ancient, male fertility diety that long pre-dates christianity. When chistianized Rome conquered Western Europe for the second time, (this time with priests and the whacky christ-y fanatics), they pointed to the horned, cloven hooved, man-beast of the pagans and called it "Satan"
Even as the bible never describes Satan as having horns, a tail, or cloven hooves...
He is most affilliated with Pan, (the All-Father, a predominant religious icon throughout the Old World for centuries), or the more Celtic, Druidic, "Cernunnos" or, simply "Horned One".
Also, in the Greco-Roman, Bachuss (that doesn't look like it is spelled correctly, uh-oh now He will punish me with a nasty hang-over!), the god of wine, dancing, and general curousing in the physical world.
etc. Fun, interesting to study, but generally fruitless, pointless...