Magic Vs. Medicine?

Magic vs. Medicine?

People who believe in witchcraft know there are things in this world that science cannot explain. Many witches also believe in the healing power of nature. Because of this, there tends to be a lot of overlap between witchcraft and alternative healing.

Some alternative healing modalities, like herbal supplements, crystals, and essential oils, are incredibly popular with witches because they align so well with a magical worldview. And that can be a beautiful thing. If you find that taking CBD oil or diffusing lavender makes you feel good and gives you a sense of empowerment, then it absolutely has a place in your life.

The problem is that alternative healing (and, by extension, magic as a whole) is often framed as being in competition with conventional medicine. It’s presented as an “either/or” — either you believe in doctors and medicine, or you believe in energy healing and herbal supplements. This is not realistic, and it may even put people in danger.

The irony of this is that the first witches were also the first doctors. In Ancient Egypt, doctors would invoke the gods to imbue medicine with healing power, or curse a disease to make it leave a patient — these approaches were paired with actual medicine. In medieval Europe, witches and cunningfolk were the keepers of medical knowledge and would often serve as healers.

Even today, most pharmaceutical medications are made from naturally occurring ingredients. For example, antibiotics are synthesized from bacteria and fungi. These medications are not less natural than the medicine people used hundreds or thousands of years ago, but they are more refined thanks to modern technology. Rather than trading a natural remedy for an artificial one, you’re often just taking a more effective form of the same substance.

Personally, I like to use magic and alternative remedies to treat symptoms, but use medication to treat the underlying cause of the problem. If I have bronchitis, I might drink echinacea tea and diffuse eucalyptus essential oil, but I’m also going to take a full course of antibiotics to kill the infection.

Likewise, if I’m having a bad mental health day, I might take a bath with lavender or do some energy healing on myself, but I’m also probably going to call my therapist and continue taking my prescribed antidepressants.

Some witches have a lot of resistance to therapy, psychiatric care, and psychoactive medications. I’ve heard every possible argument, from “psychoactive meds lower your vibration/block your psychic abilities/dull your ability to feel energy!” to “if you tell a therapist you believe in magic, they’re going to think you’re crazy!” These arguments are completely false, plain and simple.

I’m a better witch when I’m in therapy and on my meds, because I’m a better person when I’m in therapy and on my meds. I’m better able to focus, set goals, and be aware of my body, which are all important skills in magic. I have no doubt that if I wasn’t doing what I need to do to keep myself stable, my mental health would suffer for it.

Good therapists know the importance of religion and spirituality, and they will respect your beliefs. No matter what your beliefs, a good faith-affirming therapist or counselor is always a good idea.

Your therapist is not going to think you’re crazy if you tell them you can astral travel, or talk about an experience with a pagan deity. What they will do is let you know if your experiences are outside the realm of healthy spirituality, and give you guidance on how to keep yourself safe if this is the case.

The truth is, whether we want to talk about it or not, not everyone who sees angels or talks to fairies is having a genuine spiritual experiences. As many as 63.3% of delusions in schizophrenia patients are religious in nature. If we are going to encourage people to seek out direct experiences of the spiritual, we also need to inform them on how to recognize when those experiences aren’t healthy or are not grounded in reality.

Psychosis refers to any experience that is not grounded in reality, including hallucinations (false sensory experiences) and delusions (false beliefs). Psychosis is not a mental disorder, but can be a symptom of many different disorders. It can also be an isolated incident in someone who may not usually experience breaks from reality.

Som if someone claims to have been visited by Isis, or Cernunnos, or the Virgin Mary, how do we know if they’re describing a genuine spiritual experience or a psychotic episode?

First of all, look at context. If someone claims to see angels or to be the reincarnation of a god immediately after taking drugs, after pulling an all-nighter, or while running a high fever (all potential causes of psychosis), they may be disconnected from reality and may need medical attention. On the other hand, if you know this person to be stable, sober, and well adjusted, they may very well be describing a genuine spiritual encounter.

Second, look at the actual experience. Is it consistent with the person’s existing beliefs? Is it consistent with experiences other people have had within the same belief system? Is this person clearly able to differentiate between this experience and the “real world,” or is the experience taking over their daily life? Answering these questions can help determine whether mental health intervention might be needed.

Finally, as a general rule, if you have an experience that scares you, makes you feel like you are in danger, or makes you feel compelled to hurt yourself or someone else, you should get a second opinion from a trained mental health professional.

As members of the witchcraft community, we have a responsibility to look out for other members of the community — and that includes being willing to say something if we believe someone genuinely needs medical help. Science and spirituality are not opposed, and they can coexist. Being a witch doesn’t mean rejecting science, and believing in science doesn’t mean rejecting magic. A healthy dose of skepticism goes a long way in keeping your magical practice safe, productive, and empowering.

Resources:

The Dream podcast, season two

New World Witchery podcast, “Episode 65 — The Slender Man Discussion”

Inside Schizophrenia podcast, “Psychosis in Schizophrenia”

The Savvy Psychologist podcast, “302 — Chemtrails, Aliens, and Illuminati — The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories”

General magick practitioner names, and titles

General names:

Witch - Meaning a practitioner of witchcraft.

Wicca - Meaning old English word for male practitioner of witchcraft.

Wicce - Meaning old English word for female practitioner of witchcraft .

Occultist - Meaning a practitioner of magick.

Wizard - Meaning wise person, much like Sage, or philosopher.

Sage -Meaning wise person.

Wise Man - Meaning a man that is wise.

Wise Woman - Meaning a woman that is wise.

Wise (gender name here) - Meaning a (gender name here) that is wise.

Magician - Meaning a practitioner of magick.

Mage - Meaning a practitioner of magick.

Magus - Meaning practitioner of magick, or a Zoroastrian priest.

Magickan - Meaning a practitioner of magick.

Magican - Meaning a practitioner of magick.

Magick Practitioner - Meaning practitioner of magick.

Practitioner - Meaning a person actively engaged in an art, discipline, or profession.

Spellcaster - Meaning one who sends out spells, and is a practitioner of magick.

Spell Chanter - Meaning one who sends out spells, and is a practitioner of magick. Does not necessarily have to chant.

Charmer - Meaning a practitioner of magick who cast spells upon entities, and constructs.

Thaumaturge - Meaning one who practices thaumaturgy, or low Magic.

Thaumaturgist - Meaning one who practices thaumaturgy, or low Magic.

Theurge - Meaning one who practices theurgy, or high Magic.

Theurgist - Meaning one who practices theurgy, or high Magic.

Mystic - Meaning a practitioner of mysticism.

Seeker - Meaning one who searches for truth, wisdom, knowledge, and/or enlightenment.

Neophyte - Meaning a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.

Adept - Meaning a person who is well studied, and practiced in a subject, skill, or belief.

Metaworker - Meaning a someone who mostly practices energy work, astral travel, and spirit work.

Skill-based names:

Elementalist - Meaning one who works with the elements.

Enchanter - Meaning magickal practitioner who practices enchantment magick.

Enchantress - Meaning female magickal practitioner who practices enchantment magick.

Sorcerer - Meaning a practitioner who summons forth entities to aid them, or do their bidding.

Sorceress - Meaning a female practitioner who summons forth entities to aid them, or do their bidding.

Summoner - Meaning a practitioner who summons forth entities.

Diviner - Meaning a magickal practitioner that practices divination.

Fortune-teller - Meaning a magickal practitioner that practices fortune telling.

Dowser - Meaning a practitioner who uses the divination practice of dowsing.

Soothsayer - Meaning a person who speaks the truth usually relating to a practitioner of divination.

Exorcist - Meaning a practitioner who casts out, and banishes entities.

Astrologer - Meaning a practitioner of astrology.

Astrologist - Meaning a practitioner of astrology.

Demonologist - Meaning a practitioner of demonology.

Alchemist - Meaning a practitioner of Alchemy.

Empath - Meaning a person who receives emotions from other entities, or constructs.

Oracle - Meaning a practitioner who can Divine prophecies, and the will of the Gods.

Necromancer - Meaning a practitioner of necromancy

Palmist - Meaning a practitioner of palmistry

Palmreader - Meaning a practitioner of palmistry

Ritualist - Meaning a practitioner, or authority on ritual practices, or religious rites.

Scryer - Meaning a practitioner of who divines through the act of scrying

Lightworker - Meaning a new age practitioner that tries to better the world through their spiritual understanding of it.

Spiritworker - Meaning a person who works with spirits.

Conjurer - Meaning a practitioner who calls forth entities.

Psychic - Meaning a person who has extra sensory perception.

Medium - Meaning a person who can communicate with spirits, and ghosts.

Shaman - Meaning a practitioner of shamanism.

Chaote - Meaning a practitioner of chaos Magick.

Root Workers - Meaning a practitioner of rootwork, or hoodoo.

Stage magic names:

Illusionist - Meaning a practitioner of stage magic.

Prestidigitator - Meaning a practitioner of stage magic.

Escapologist- an entertainer specializing in escaping from the confinement of such things as ropes, handcuffs, and chains.

If you have any more names, or titles that you would like added to the list, or if you see anything wrong, tell me about them and I would love to add them and/or fix them.

3K notes View Post

star-comet-witches

4 years ago

Whenever media wants to emphasise how extreme a character’s off-brand drug use is, they always just name-drop a big animal, like “oh, he takes horse tranquilisers”. If you really want to get the point across, I think you should go with an unexpected animal instead. Like, that powder he’s snorting? Its only approved use is treating sexual dysfunction in burrowing owls. We have no idea what it’s doing to him, but it can’t be anything good.

35K notes View Post

star-comet-witches

4 years ago

No Justice, No Peace. Quote from Emiliano Zapata

Art by Liberal Jane

98K notes View Post

star-comet-witches

4 years ago

holy shit indeed

15K notes View Post

star-comet-witches

4 years ago

Magical Names 🔮

What is a Magical Name: A magical name, (AKA a witch name or a craft name) is name chosen or given that a witch to use in their craft. It may be used in a coven, with deities and other entities, or in the ritual setting.

Obtaining a Magical Name: A magical name can be chosen by the witch who will use it, given to them by an entity, or given to them by another witch. Some people may receive a magical name upon initiation if that is their path.

When to Use a Magical Name: The name is used in the craft. Perhaps you use it when performing a spell or a ritual, or you use it when communicating with entities. Some people use their magical name when talking with other witches to hide their identity if it is not safe for them to be open about their practice.

Can You Have More Than One Magical Name?: Yes! You may have a name you use in spellwork, one that a deity has given you, one to talk with other witches, or any other situation. Remember: your craft is your own. However it’s definitely easier to only have one though, and best not to give yourself too many random names.

Finding Your Magickal Name: Here are some questions to get you thinking of name ideas that resonate with you.

~ What’s your favorite animal?

~ When is your birthday? Do you know your Celtic birth month if you are Celtic? Your sun sign? Your Chinese zodiac animal if you are Chinese? What’s your birth stone?

~ What’s your favorite part of nature? Favorite tree? Flower? Crystal? Element?

~ Where were your ancestors from? My family was from the Isle of Skye, and I chose for my name to by Skye because of that.

~ Use baby name websites and look for names with meanings that correspond with you or with something you want in your life (Ex: a name meaning luck, or happiness, or powerful).

~ Sun or moon? Day or Night?

~ Is there a person in mythology or history you look up to?

Remember: YOU DO NOT NEED A MAGICAL NAME. IT IS OPTIONAL. Do not feel any pressure to choose one. Maybe one will come to you in a year, or five, or ten, or maybe never. If you don’t want one, you don’t need one!

489 notes View Post

star-comet-witches

4 years ago

Repeat after me “your grades do not define your intelligence” and never will

- from a student to another student; u got this.

1K notes View Post