How Many People Here

[shadowsofmypast]

Were a Witch in past life?

I ask the question because I believe I was one.
Maybe because of my abilities or my fascination
of witches in general not scary hollywood, type
of stuff dreamed up to scare little kids.
It's more feeling for a while.
A name popped in my head yesterday
Mallory? I was thinking Ireland at the time.
And the celtic witches . I was reading about.
And there is White Witch, store near me.
I feel drawn to it never went into as of yet.

 

[luling]

I'm fascinated by witches and wiccans (are they the same thing?), but I don't think it has anything to do with past lives in my case; I just find them interesting, whether in history or modern times.


You should definitely check out that shop; maybe you will find something that evokes a memory or feeling. We have such a shop in my town, and the people working there are friendly. I went there to buy a pendant, and ended up browsing for an hour and chatting with the guy working there.

 

[argonne1918]

What do you mean by "witch"? Most people today think all witches are bad. Not all witches practice "black magic". Several of us here belonged to one or more covens in Europe several hundred years ago. Even though we only practiced "white magic" we were persecuted by the "witch hunters". Some were hanged and some were burned at the stake. A few of us managed to stay one step ahead of the witch hunters.

 

[BethC]

I believe I was a witch and/or pagan (Celtic, probably) in one or more past lives.


I practiced Wicca briefly as an adult (dabbled,and was never part of a coven) in this life, and it felt comfortable.


I know I had an adolescent interest in magic, etc, but went to Catholic high school, and the fears and the conflicts obviously crept in. Back then, it was more of a fascination, and I probably wouldn't have had the right frame of mind to practice, anyway.


I posted about how the song/poem The Lady of Shalott really touches me, and I feel very connected to it. I don't have any vivid past life recollections of being a witch, but I have the feeling of being shunned/cursed/persecuted.

 

[kmatjhwy]

Now what do classify as a 'Witch'?


Personally I have been in various lifetimes a shaman, a medicine person, a herbalist, and such with in espicelly some Native American or various Hunter-Gatherer cultures do think.


Now what 'Christian' Europe classified as a 'Witch' sometimes were those who were maybe herbalists, or some which today would be called 'Psychics' and 'Mediums' and such. It was not a pleasent time! And how many people in authority used the persecution of those called a 'Witch' to further their control and authority it seems. And personally it seems in my past lives I was elsewhere during those times.

 

[Ceridwen]

Quite possibly.


But this time round we live in a society that functions (well...in theoryLOL) according to "logic" and that is, by and large, a blessing. In today's society in Western countries people are, basically, left to their own devices as to what they think in this respect. There are advantages to a secular society that simply doesn't believe in anything it cant measure/weigh/etc.LOL


Personally, I don't go into this to any great extent and am only too grateful that personal beliefs are regarded as just that in 21st century Britain by and large (though I do worry that there are people out there who wish to take away our freedom to think/behave whatever - ethical - way we wish to behave in accordance with our beliefs or lack of....).


Personally, I regard it as a huge blessing to be free to have whatever religious/spiritual/etc ideas we have in present day Britain, even if the downside to it is the vast majority of people will give me thoroughly sceptical looks on those times when I am "daft/naïve" enough to come out with an opinion along those lines. It beats the heck out of wondering if I'm in for burning at the stake or some modern day equivalent. Sceptical looks are WAY WAY easier to handle than "Right...you matey are up for the stake (or equivalent)".

 

[Blueheart]

I'm fascinated by witches and wiccans (are they the same thing?)

No, not necessarily. Witches practice a craft, a skill. They may or may not look at the practice spiritually. Those that do, might not even be Pagan. There are Christian witches, Jewish witches, etc.


Wiccans are a specific type of Pagan (which is an umbrella term for a lot of people with varying similar beliefs) who follow Wicca, which holds the belief of a Goddess as well as a God.

 

[Blueheart]

To answer the original question . . . I suppose others thought I was.

 

[Mere Dreamer]

Now what do classify as a 'Witch'?
Personally I have been in various lifetimes a shaman, a medicine person, a herbalist, and such with in espicelly some Native American or various Hunter-Gatherer cultures do think.


Now what 'Christian' Europe classified as a 'Witch' sometimes were those who were maybe herbalists, or some which today would be called 'Psychics' and 'Mediums' and such. It was not a pleasent time! And how many people in authority used the persecution of those called a 'Witch' to further their control and authority it seems. And personally it seems in my past lives I was elsewhere during those times.

That's an interesting point. Activities that garner respect and set you apart as a healer or spiritual leader in one culture are gathered under the blanket condemnation of "witch" in ... I suppose Medieval European Church-influenced consciousness ... though I'm not up on the history of it.


In that case, I would have been considered "a witch" in my goddess life, though I happened to live in a culture that over-valued those traits, rather than attacking me for them.