i heard someone say the other day that the reason witchcraft is so popular is partly because it make people feel empowered, and that is why so many women have followed this path over the last 30 years

im interested of what people thoughts are on this and whether people feel empowered by what they do?

Yes, I do believe Witchcraft is empowering as it allows the practitioner to believe in something... Isn't this the case for all religious belief? I am tempted to ask what "empowerment" means as I am sure it's an individual thing, as is Witchcraft itself... So before we can issue a statement like:



we must define the meanings to both "Witchcraft" and "empowerment". I believe that religious belief of whatever nature is a crutch...

Kýrian

well since it wasn't me who said the quote i dont suppose we will ever know what the man meant by witchcraft and empowerment.

but i dont think he meant it negatively

However for the sake of discussion lets assume witchcraft means the practice of spell-craft, herb-lore etc. also lets assume empowerment to mean "An individual's assertion of personal power"

but i dont really want this to be a philosphical discussion, i was just interested in peoples experiences and opinions

er well not a witch (Wiccan or otherwise) but I do find following my path empowering.

I think it is because I am in charge of my own spiritual development and cand decide where I want to take it (although more often than not it takes me)

When it comes to spellcraft, I rarely resort to it, but the fact that its there as a possibility is empowering in itself.

Ofcourse spellcraft neendent be directed at anyone or thing, a working can be used to work through a problem and that in itself is empowering.

Kev

well to expand it even further, do we become religous/spiritual because we have a need to be empowered?

without it would we all be vulnerable and less confident.... prob not

An interesting question, it was raised on another board that does the practice of magic draw those who think themselves weak? I thought it ratrher a blunt way of putting the question but there you go. Does it attract those who 'can't' mundanely, I'm sure if some divine prosecutor lawyer put all who practice magic in the stand there would be parts of our lives where we felt powerless. But that I would say is part of human experience, not a defining point of being that shapes the personality.

is it a control thing then. i suppose the reason i ask this is coz of my personal circumtances.

i have never practiced witchcraft and keep any ritual i do very simple. i just dont feel the need, but i understand some people do and thats great..... life needs variety.

i just am interested in people's desire to practice.

I find what I practice very empowering. To me 'magic' is in many ways about self exploration. In addition, there's an element of trying to influence or control one's environment.

I understand why women take a great deal from 'magic'. What I don't understand is why there are many men who don't. I have met many fellows who would call themselves pagan and are interested in mystery and learning but, for some reason, feel that's exclusively for women. I find that baffling.

id put that down to preconcieved ideas about paganism. its a shame but if a bloke thinks something is a bit girly he is under so much pressure to stear clear of it.

I think people are attracted to spell craft/rituals/witchcraft because it's not so much empowerment, (Although I think that is a part of it) but the fact that one can control their own path as Coz referred to. Once you start to focus your thinking onto something, you are in control of directing your energy to affect a change. I think it's also very calming, especially with ones who meditate. I know with me, I don't over react as much as I used to nor do I worry as much about useless things and meditation/spell work has done that I feel. Although my spell work/rituals are kept at the minimun, used only when I feel the need to get rid of my excess energy or negativity.

Does this make sense? I'm not sure

it does make sense, i meditate all the time and thanks to a great teacher it really works well for me and i dont find it a chore. i suppose intregating spell work in to it works in the same way for other people

You can feel empowered by experiencing your own growth and learning. You can also feel empowered by making other people stop and look at you: 'I'm special cos I'm a witch'. There are other ways to bolster your ego, such as goiing into local politics, playing your stereo full blast in the car and beating up other drivers - I wouldn't think witchcraft is unique in offering an ego-boost, though it offers a much more accessible option for women, maybe.

But the real empowerment comes from your own growth and learning. I think there are lots of ways to achieve this. Are more women attracted to being a witch than a druid or shaman or heathen or whatever? If they are, surely it's because we are all familiar with the image from storybooks and TV.

I think witchcraft develops a person's sense of personal responsibility for their own actions and strengthens their powers of judgement. You take your own life back from any people, powers and institutions that have controlled your mind and choices and become you by accepting responsibility for your own actions. That is very empowering.

So mote it be.

Perhaps its a self sufficiency thing too. Being in control of one's own life and not being dictated to by anyone proclaiming to have all the answers.

The question of whether magic attracts people who are weak or lazy, is a good question if hiddeously generalised. And I would say people who are weak probably won't find much empowerment of success from trying to practise magic, its takes a lot of practise, some natural affinity- although by no means do I adhere to the idea one has to be born a witch - however, with all things, there will be some who are far more capable than others- and a strong sense of responsibility and I would say a strong will too. After all if you hope to affect things magically, you have to utterly believe in what you're doing, be able to concentrate totally on your goal and make it happen! And often "magic" is mundane - to actually change something via magic takes a hell of a lot of effort - how someone who is weak hopes to do this I have no idea.

Similarly those who believe magic is a quick fix will be sorely disappointed. Despite the proliferation of books offering instant magic, (which really peeves me off incidently) spell craft, or anything else within the domain of magic takes a lifetime of study and practise.

What you said.

Magic, like politics, is just another way of influencing yourself, and thus your environment. Just another state of mind.

Was this quoted from a non-pagan source?

Perhaps there's a bigger thread here which has been touched on in other replies.

For people to feel empowered and able to exercise freedom of choice there has to be a balance between power and boundaries. Boundaries laid down by society, mainstream religion,communities, the law, family, this unsaid untouchable social construction of reality we live in. Women have been opressed by society for Ages and IMHO with the introduction of the womens movement in recent decades they have thankfully become less so. Also with the introduction of technology and a more congruent transparent objective to mainstream religion, women are exercising their freedom of choice and choosing a spiritual path which fits with their ideals, a path which compliments their own cycles and one with no dogmatic masculine ethos.

In short, yes Witchcraft is empowering, but so are many things. However I think there are many many more variables to account for.

it was a quote from Ronald Hutton for those of you who are interested and familiar with his work

I think the idea of empowerment is very much a part of our lives now, every alternative therapy seems to be about empowerment. I think people are drawn to wicca becuase it emphasises the female gods, and to magic well, for obvious reasons.
whether it actually empowers or not is a different question. i don't think it does unless you work hard and have some aptitude for it, it's an illusion otherwise.

Everything's an illusion. Just because most people can see it doesn't mean it's real...

If you believe in magick you surely you will feel empowered whether you choose to use it, or not. However having that option can often allow you to face the things that life deals with a different sort of confidence and that has got to be empowering as it changes the way you approach life.

I feel empowered because of my path, I feel empowered because of my choices, I (surprisingly) feel empowered because of my lack of health for it is only when you need to look at the real you and struggle daily with things others take for granted that you can understand the feeling of empowerment that comes with contentment. I am content, I don't need magic and ritual to make me empowered, (that plays a very small part in my path) but I am a witch. I am empowered because I know what I am, who I am and I am content with that. It would make no difference whether I was a witch, high priestess, or a Goddess, I would still feel empowered because to be empowered comes from within.

I wonder if Ronald Hutton was thinking of the rise in the popularity of witchcraft in the 1970's (would explain the 30 years thingy ) when the femist movement in particular came about and Goddess worship reappeared in a new form, being embraced by many as a way of claiming back womanhood. Empowerment is taking control of your own life, for many women in the 1970's this was a first and lets face it, there are still many issues with equality and equal pay now But also in that crossover era hippies, free love and flower power were also empowerment, new age philosophies attract nice people and nutters, so does witchcraft as both seem to go hand in hand in todays society