CHRISTIAN WITCHCRAFT
...or How To Scare EVERYBODY!...the ultimate eclectic witchery.
by Bo Westcott 18/8/08
Well, maybe the subtitle should be 'How To P*** EVERYBODY Off' instead because both Christians and Witches seem to have a knee jerk reaction to the concept of Christian Witchcraft. Please note that I am talking 'witchcraft' and not 'Wicca' (even though there are Christian Wiccans around).
A minority of christians immediately bring out the gasoline. I get that. That has been going on for a while! I claim my right to freedom of speech and belief in the society in which I live. However, some witches bring out the poppet and pins and go on about the missing 9 million who were dispatched as witches in the 'burning times'! Such incendiary feelings may even be based on misinformation. Not 9 million female witches, but a few hundred thousand people, and cats, of whom a very small percentage (and all the cats) were healers, midwives, cunningmen and witches, who were mainly hanged, sometimes burned and cruelly done away with. The great majority were actually either other christians or poor dull folk with property that someone else wanted. This does NOT justify the horrendous events! But let's not throw baby Jesus out with the bath water!
The new-agers tell us what a world of happiness awaits us when we let go of the past and cease identifying with past trauma. Deepak Chopra says “The past is history, the future is a mystery, the present is a gift.” So to put the past aside and look at exactly what christian witchcraft is, in present times, is the next task.
First, we need to understand that witches are different to Wiccans. Wicca is a religion which includes witchcraft. Witchcraft is a craft which includes a shamanic spirituality. Witches use power to achieve goals, whether healing, weather, protection or other needs met. Power is within and without. Nature provides the witch with many sources of power through the elements, earth, air, fire and water, and all their manifestations. There are also other inner and invisible sources of power and energy. For instance, emotion, thought and spirit. A great urban legend from the 70's still circulates which revolves around the Rolling Stones' concerts. Apparently, as rumour has it, members or entourage of the band were involved in various magickal arts and would set up backstage during a performance to channel the huge energy created by the over-excited audience into various magnum opi (great works of magick). The power of emotion. Rather clever really, though maybe randomly ethical.
Power builds up through repeated emotion, thought and intention. It becomes an actual reservoir on the inner planes which can be drawn upon for spells, healing and meeting needs. As well, there are spiritual beings (angels, power animals and other invisible friends) who will amplify this power and aid the witch in his or her work.
Can you imagine how much energy, power and spiritual amplification is attatched to the godform of Jesus Christ? Not only from the 2,000 odd years of modern mythological history, but also the pagan story of the 'Sun of the God', born on the Winter Solstice (21st December in the northern hemisphere..pretty close to Christmas!). He then dies to give us life, like whatever we harvest to eat dies to give us life, and is born again as the new crop sprouting in spring and the lambs dropping. And it's all pretty jolly miraculous! What witch wouldn't stop and check it out?
A lot of folk practitioners have, and do, use The Psalms, the words of Jesus, the names of Jesus Christ, the Mary's, Moses and others in their spells and rituals. Some are obviously old pagan spells with new names inserted and some are not. Pow Wow (Pennsylvania German magick, see books by John George Hohman), some Hoodoo (see Catherine Yronwode works, and her great website) and lots of ceremonial magick use christian tools and energies very effectively. So it behooves us to sit with the possibilities before we chuck the tanty!
In my experience witchcraft is like Blues music, you never leave it where you found it! So called 'traditions' change and evolve naturally, or they fester and become poisonous. Witchcraft is eclectic by nature (pardon the pun) and any authority is there to be questioned and tested. Power is free and available to all who put in the dedicated effort. It is not bestowed by someone with a big wand, just like it is not bestowed by any church. Initiations are between the witch and Deity, and Deity is a personal experience. If a witch experiences success calling on Jesus or any ascended masters for empowerment, something is working! Keep doing it! Number one rule of witches: Question authority and think for yourself. This is truly the road less travelled!
Christian Witchcraft
Okay, how do you do it? Well, let's choose an example scenario. You want to increase your level of health. Jesus is a pretty good choice as a healling godform! He is all about forgiving and letting go and making things easy. He doesn't do the forgiving by the way, he helps YOU do it. Health issues are often connected with unforgiveness of self or others.
Your Circle or Altar
Have the four directions marked, either on the altar or as a larger circle.
Use your usual correspondences or the ones below. Place the symbolic items in their appropriate quarter. Have a piece of white paper and a gold pen or pencil for your spell. Preferably in the new to full moon period, but if the need is there, do it anytime.
Ask for and imagine a protective sphere of the white light of Christ surrounding you and your workspace. Invite the archangel of each quarter to bless, protect and empower your work starting in the east and moving in a counterclockwise circle. This is for the southern hemiphere.
EAST: air, mind, athame or feather, Archangel Raphael
NORTH: fire, energy, wand or red candle, Archangel Michael
WEST: water, emotion, chalice or glass of water, Archangel Gabriel
SOUTH: earth, physical, pentacle, rock or bowl of soil, Archangel Uriel
In the CENTRE, place of Spirit, a white candle.
Also, if you have a cross, lay it before the candle. The cross represents the union of the God and the Goddess. You may also place your favourite picture of Jesus and /or one of the Mary's here. Light your candles.
Stand in the centre and call on your connection with Spirit (you can call it God or whatever you choose).
Ask for a blessing on yourself and your work. Make the sign of the cross and say either, 'IN THE NAME OF GOD, GODDESS AND DIVINE CHILD' or 'IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, GREAT LOVING HEALER'.
Write your name in the centre of the paper with your gold pen. Then write a short description of how fantastic you feel now that you feel so much better! Yes, put it in the present tense. Around this, draw crosses, saying the words 'IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, GREAT LOVING HEALER' as you make each one. Now write the name JESUS CHRIST in every spare space on the paper, and while you are doing this focus on your affirmation of how fantastic you feel NOW!
When you are ready, fold the paper and hold it between your hands in a prayer position. Breathe in deeply, and on the outbreath say at least seven times 'IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST MY WILL IS DONE, UNDER GRACE IN PERFECT WAYS!'
Now, while still holding the paper, say THE LORD'S PRAYER at least three times. This is the version I prefer:-
OUR FATHER MOTHER GOD WHO ART IN HEAVEN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
THY KINGDOM OF LIGHT LOVE AND JOY COME
THY PERFECT LOVING WILL BE DONE
IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR HIGHEST AND BEST GOOD
AND FORGIVE AND RELEASE US OUR TRESPASSES
AS WE HAVE FORGIVEN AND RELEASED THOSE WHO TRESPASSED AGAINST US
LEAD US IN TRUTH LIGHT AND LOVE
AND KEEP US SAFE AND WELL
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM
THE POWER AND THE GLORY
FOREVER AND EVER
AMEN
AND SO IT IS!
You have now completed the spell, so give thanks to Spirit, to God & Goddess, or Jesus and Mary and any other help you have.
Give thanks to each of the archangels in turn, beginning at the East and moving in a counterclockwise circle again (yes I know some do it differently).
Declare that 'THE CIRCLE IS OPEN BUT UNBROKEN', snuff out your candles.
You may carry your charged spell-paper on you in a pocket, pouch or locket, sleep with it under your pillow, or (my favourite) place it in a small box or cauldron and put it on your altar, or away in a drawer. This is like planting the seed. You can take it out periodically and 'feed/water' it with your breath and the name of Jesus or the Lord's Prayer. Give it at least one moon cycle, but if you want to continue for more, or repeat the ritual, feel free.
Now that wasn't so dramatic was it? There are a few websites dedicated to Christian Witchcraft and Christian Wicca. Some use Wiccan structures with the names changed. Others are a blend of traditions (like the ritual above) and there are rituals that are almost purely christian, just performed by pagans...go figure! So there is, as yet, no 'tradition' of Christian Witchcraft, but it won't be long! In the meantime, experiment with the Jesus energy and explore the pagan roots of the religion, and allow everyone to practise as they choose.