white/black witch.

yup, me too. :)

Originally Posted by tilia

How do you decide that you are going to be this? Surely you follow a path that is right for you and then, if necessary, you find a label that suits.

In asking how to be a black/white witch it sounds like you see that these labels are perceived in a certain way and it is that perception you want people to have of you.

The question you need to be asking imho is "how do I find out about witchcraft to see if it is right for me?"

Just read a lot, talk to a lot of people and see what fits... worry about the labels later on when you are trying to tell others what path you follow... you may end up finding that neither white or black witch suits at all. You might even find none of the pagan paths suit you.

I'm a newbie to this forum, but not to Wicca or The Craft - and someone else, I think Norseman, that there is no black or white in nature, it simply is. (may not have got his words exact, but that's the gist of it).
There is light and dark in nature. Day and night. Yin and Yang. And while there is good and evil in HUMANS, there is nothing inheritently evil in nature - it simply is. If our sun exploded tomorrow and killed us, that's simply nature, it's not evil.
But getting back to the Craft, or practicing Magick, you might want to put a label on "black" magick if you are doing something to harm someone. Usually it's just better to do a protection rite on yourself to ward off anybody messing with you in the first place.
Also, you need to understand that Wicca is a religion. Witchcraft is a practice - of Magick. Not all Wiccans are witches.
Tilla says it best - "how do I find out about witchcraft to see if it is right for me?" -
"You can do anything you want to do, go where ever you want to go ... it's up to you." - John Denver

Try throwing away everything you know about witches, and read up on herb lore, nature spirits, shamans and the like from europe int eh 1400s-1800s..

Most of what we know of witches is from movies, and the somewhat commercialized "wicca", which really isnt a witch, more of a religion, which is anything then the old ways

Originally Posted by Time

Most of what we know of witches is from movies, and the somewhat commercialized "wicca",

speak for yourself

[Hazel]

Originally Posted by Time

Try throwing away everything you know about witches, and read up on herb lore, nature spirits, shamans and the like from europe int eh 1400s-1800s..

I disagree with this you dont need to throw everything you know about 'witches' away some of it is truth you just need to read up on Wicca and then get rid of the stuff that dosent fit in or seem true anymore!

[norseman]

Not all witches are wiccan, Hazel.

Very true Norseman :) I happen to follow the Rede and therefore I believe that makes me Wiccan.

[norseman]

THE WICCAN REDE

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must, In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.

Live and let live, Fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about to keep the evil spirits out.

To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch, speak little, listen much.

Deosil go by waxing moon, chanting out the witches rune.

Widdershins go by waning moon, chanting out the baneful rune.

When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to her, times two.

When the moon rides at her peak, then your heart’s desire seek.

Head the North wind’s mighty gale, lock the door and drop the sail.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West, departed souls will have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be the Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed you be.

When the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.

When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log, the Horned One rules.

Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree, by the Lady, blessed be.

Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth you’ll know.

When you have a true need, hearken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend, lest ye be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Threefold Law you should, three times bad and three times good. When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.

True is love ever be, lest thy lover’s false to thee.

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil:

An it harm none, do what you will.

THE WITCHES CREDE

Hear now the word of the witches,

The secrets we hid in the night,

When dark was our destiny’s pathway,

That now we bring forth in the light.

Mysterious Water and Fire,

The Earth and the wide-ranging Air,

By hidden quintessence we know them,

And we will keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all nature,

The passing of Winter and Spring, we share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring.

Four times in the year, the Great Sabbat returns,

And witches are seen,

At Lammas and Candelas dancing,

On May Eve and Old Halloween.

When daytime and nightime are equal,

When sun is at greatest and least,

The four lesser Sabbats are summoned,

Again witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are,

Thirteen is the Covens array,

Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,

For each golden year and a day.

The power has passed down the ages,

Each time between woman and man.

Each century unto the other,

Ere time and the ages began.

When drawn is the Magickal circle,

By sword or atheme of power,

The compass between two worlds lies,

In the land of shades of that hour.

Our world has no right to know it,

And the world beyond will tell naught,

The Oldest of Gods are invoked there,

The great work of Magick is wrought.

For two are the mystical pillars,

That stand at the gate of the shrine,

And two are the powers of nature,

The forms and the forces divine.

And do what thou wilt be the challenge,

So be it in love that harms none,

For this is the only commandment,

By Magick of old be it done.

Eight words the Witches Crede fulfil :

If it harms none,

Do what Thou will !


The Crede is of the shape of the athame

ahh I love them both :) SO COOL it's in the shape of an athame!! :)

Well Madness has disappeared...wonder if he/she read any of the replies. Yes, the labeling thing is a quick way to get mind tangled and lose my way. Better just to do what comes naturally. I personally do not wish to perform rituals, recitations, spells or anything someone else made up. It seems monotonous and silly to me. But I do magic. Magic to me...is creating a desired outcome through the sculpting of energy through my imagination. So basically, I just call on Lovin' Goddess...be a vessel for her to work through me, imagine healing, love as colors and shapes and auras ... or the elements when I call them I imagine and re-create color, movement, form, imagery...I use words to help it along. Then I thrust my heart into the sky...or I tense my muscles and let go...or I cry or raise my arms or scream...and I sing too.

Magic is just a wanting...a desire...thrown out there with intent...charged.

Black Magick? Why would I want to do anything to hurt someone else when I'll get the repercussion and wind up hurting myself three times as bad in the end? I'd rather work on getting rid of my resentments towards that person because I'm eating at my peace of mind if I don't.