In a horrible spot in my life. Filled with lost love ones and hardships. I come to your videos as a calming and peaceful escape to my heritage and history. To ground me and remind me to maintain a positive perspective. Thank you. I wish best luck and health on you and yours.
i am not in the wicca religion or any religion, i walk my own magical path. thanks Arith so glad you make these videos many people are deceived into thinking wicca is witchcraft. ..it is not . witchcraft is entirley personal to the witch, i t is ancient way of life and practice which existed before christianity. we need your educational factual videos.
Once again, absolutely brilliant. You say exactly what I have always felt about Wicca and why I feel it to be every bit as constricting as orthodox religions. I wish Religious Education in our schools was delivered in similar ways to those which you Esoterica, Angela’s Symposium, Let’s Talk Religion and Religion for Breakfast use. Always interesting and always valid, I think students would appreciate knowing that there is a whole world of spirituality out there extending beyond the Abrahamic religions (though in no way excluding them). Thank you again
I really appreciated this. It was quite disturbing in as much that your views on wicca are exactly mine. I agree with belladonna70, one should follow their own path. I read somewhere that Gardener once referred to wicca as ‘A new religion for a new age’. Gardener was a man of his time. That can be very limiting and if one limits one’s self they, in time, become historic curiosities. Gardener lost me when I read of his relationship with Crowley. Crowley was a little bit of a trickster, very knowledgeable but I don’t think he was ever fully, trustworthy. I agree that wicca is a religion and has too many rules and is, therefore, dogmatic. However I’m glad their out there as mainstream religious, conservative people and the media focus on them and don’t bother the rest of us ( for the most part ). Truly loved this episode. The truth will set you free - which we all know is misguided. Truth is the rarest of things, one person’s truth is another person’s dogma is, I think, a more realistic view. Just as a side note. I think Gardener was a little bit too obsessed with sex. I think his views on sex are also of his time, and not really relevant to the actual practice of Witchcraft. I think all that nakedness was designed to make the wiccans feel like they were doing something subversive. I’d like to say ‘naughty’, but that might be a little condescending. Blessings to all,❤.
Thanks for the share brother 🤘 appreciate your vibe and wisdom . Just saying this is one of the reasons I subscribed , you bring to table an open and courteous discussions ….. Be well ✝️
First😅😅😅 First of All, *I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAVE A NICE, PEACEFULL AND HEALTHFULL 2025🙏🙏🙏💙❗️* Arith, thanks for your existence 🙏🙏🙏😀💙 You are the MAN. Hugs and best wishes always from Soure Marajó Island Pará Brasil 😊
Hello my friend! Thank you for your well wishes! All the best! Wonderful seasonal celebrations a New Year! Dint forget it's nearly time for the Year Walk / Circumambulation! Best of all!
Love, your hat! It suits you well 🙂Gardner referred to members of his tradition as "the Wica", I believe he meant to use Wica as a plural form to mean witches or the Wise Ones, because, as you already know, and I'm sure Gardner also knew, the old word Wicca, means male witch. He called the religion itself "Witchcraft" and never used the term "Wicca" to describe the religion of Witchcraft. In my opinion, everything got confused and turned around into something else, when "Wicca" hit America in the 60s, and became more eclectic and as you pointed out, more "women related". Thank you for this, you brought up many factors and if people are offended about how you're relating "New Age" well then, let them be offended lol! Always happy to see a new video from you 💜
I used to feel somewhat similar. My views on Wicca were tainted in the 90’s by box office Hollywood films & the tainted portrayals of Witchcraft. I delved into the study & practice of Paganism, studying particularly Europe & the Near East & mystery cults. Then fed up with what i felt to be an almost Protestant Northern European mindset, of individual Paganism that so many were banging on about, I joined an Alexandrian Coven, quite frankly it has been the most Theurgic, liberating, ecstatic, freeing spring board to the Gods, the divine that I could have wished for. As I child I was drawn to pictures of Wiccans in Circle, I turned away, then turned back, I am so glad I did.
Question: several times in your videos it has been said and explained that witchcraft is not religion and has no deal with religion (and I fully agree), is this concept not enough to exclude that every religious form - including Wicca - can define itself as "witchcraft", old or new? Maybe I simplify too much! Happy holidays to you and your loved ones and thanks! 💚🌲❄
Not nessicarily, because no matter how you slice it, witchraft beliefs are so varied, trying to define it in one sentence always seems to leave out some group or another. Calling Wicca not witchcraft doesn't change the fact that I do spells like most other witches. I identify as a witch in that sense of greater community, but my beliefs are Wiccan and when I am talking with other wiccans I can see that we practice the same religion. even if we don't have the same interpretation of deity or similar practices we can usually still agree on what Wicca is and why it's not just another name for a witch. It's a worldview that is not very dogmatic in my experience and has to do with how we view approaching the mysteries. It is not very dogmatic becasue the point of wicca is to go by personal experience of the deities rather than letting someone else define your relationship with the God's. There is a general common ground of worshiping the God and Goddess together and seeing the different faces of the divine as belonging to one God/Goddess, though this isn't even a hard rule, and Dianic wiccans are free to worship just the Goddess and it doesn't undermine that fact that they still practice the same belief valuing direct experiences of the gods over being told what kind of relationship to have. So multiple ways of seeing the gods work but it is a path that is inherently religious. It is most deffinately witchraft too and is the seed that a lot of other modern tradition came from in some ways. The founders of Wicca had their personal dogmas, but they created a framework woth very little restrictions as the few rules there are still emphasize free will as one of the most important and unalterable precepts. Wiccans believe in deep spiritual freedom and often seek to have ecstatic mystical experiences with the gods and not just practice magic like secular forms of whitchraft do. It's not about being a better snobby version of witchraft or any nonsense like that. I see myself just as much a witch as any other. And I really enjoy being part of a community where there are opinions and practices so different than mind but still centered around pagan beliefs and magical practice. I see witchraft like a forest with a complex eco system with species of various age and purpose within the environment. It's not about going between all the plants and figuring out if every species is decidedly part of this forest or not. You simply enter the beautiful forest and walk you path and appreciate all the life around you. Hope this helps understand wiccas place in withcraft a little bit:)
hello, big fan of the channel, as a traditional witch and aspiring heathen. I agree with you that wicca is patriarchal, but have to disagree that a female-only practice that only venerates goddesses is “limiting.” dianics such as myself (though I don’t consider myself dianic WICCAN, only dianic in the sense that I’m woman-centric) choose to only venerate goddesses in part due to the thousands of years of male-centric, male-dominated religions, that more often than not oppressed women. we find the goddess(es) whole unto herself(ves), and find the goddess in a multitude of domains aside from the shoehorned areas of fertility and motherhood so common in mainstream wicca. I’d argue that it’s actually more patriarchal to claim that women are “limited” without the presence of a man or male divinity.
Gardner and Ferrar's "Witches Bible Compleat" is certainly wo rth reading, but I am by no means a Wiccan. My wife was a Traditional Gaelic Witch, and she had very little good to say about Wicca. I practice Chaos Majick, of a sort, but am an Animist spiritually. Great talk, Arith❤
As someone who is Wiccan, I have to disagree on the idea that Wicca is super dogmatic. Perhaps it's because I'd moreso fall under the category of an "Eclectic Wiccan" than Gardnerian or any other variety, but there is little dogma whatsoever to my experience. As far as religions go, Wicca is extremely decentralized and few two Wiccans will share the same exact spiritual views and experiences. There are everything from solitary practitioners to covens, Wiccan monolaters (Dianic), duotheists (most Wiccans), pantheists, etc., and in my case, Wiccan polytheists. The only "dogmas" that I can see potentially argued to exist in Wicca are maybe the Wiccan Rede, ownership of a personal Book of Shadows, and like, maybe the Rule of Three? Although even that last one isn't agreed upon by all Wiccans. And when it comes down to rituals, practice, so on, most Wiccans I see say to simply go off of personal experience since religion and spirituality are personal ordeals. I understand many have their gripes with Wicca, and with how some folks go about their practice I can understand it a bit, but being overly dogmatic? That's one conception of Wicca I unfortunately cannot agree with much at all. (Or perhaps it is fortunate, for me, depending on how you frame it, cuz it speaks to my positive experiences with my Wiccan practice and that I've found the right path for myself)
As another Wiccan I agree, thanks for putting it out there becasue many seek Wicca to escape dogmatic religions and definately aren't like that. Sometimes the criticism comes from forms of witchraft who don't feel as devotional towards the gods or who choose not to work with deity. I respect that and can understand the criticisms too. While the founders of Wicca may have been in some ways dogmatic themselves, they are in a sense just people with flaws like us all. Their aim was to make a blueprint for a variety of witchraft that is simultaneously focused on the divine and spiritual side of magic while not restricting personal choice and freedom. I don't uses every tool the same way as the books suggest becasue Wicca allows you to practice witchraft the way you want, but many of the tools have a place in Wicca and my altar probably isnt too different from many wiccans. The practice emphasizes the importance of personal experience of the mysteries and to physically align yourself with the cycles of nature in some way. And with the idea that the point of walking a path of magic is to become wise and learn how to see your own freedom and hearts desire while being conscious of not getting in the way of others freedom which also entangles you. It is non violent up to a point but we are still free to harm if we wish but after experiencing the mysteries of God/Goddess through Wiccan practice, it's hard to want to cause harm to any life without regard and to resort to violence in order to protect what is sacred, life. Is the only reason to maybe break that rule. But no one in Wiccaville is gonna come and stop me from doing what I want. That's how I interpret 'an it harm none do what you will' its not a restriction but a call to step lightly out of respect but also knowing your will is up to you and no mater what path you take there will always be consequences. So be mindful. Without that deep understanding I can see how others could see it as being dogmatic but as a Wiccan I also disagree and while I could try to judge back I'd rather find common ground most of the time. I only really regret trying to do that with Christians becasue sometimes trying to explain what it's like to be out of the judgment based view of Christianity and in the loving arms of the goddess... It's not some kind of valueless demon cult thing like Christians think, nor is it a rigidly dogmatic witchraft version of Christianity like some witches think just because it is more religious and focused on the gods than some witchraft traditions. I don't believe other forms of witchraft are lesser just different. And I am presonally sorry also for the Wiccans (including myself) may have misused parts of another tradition. In Wicca, it is common to see an inherant unity between many gods and worshiping the different faces of God/Goddess as the firms they apprar to us changes can sometimes be overwhlming to figure out how to make this god happy, so you try looking at practices from those traditions to understant why deity appeared to you as Hekate, or Odin or whoever. Its confusing until you realize, from the point of view of the Wiccan mysteries, all faces of God/Goddess are one in that all religion is an attempt to worship the divine and it has grown and evolded through many cultures telling the story of how mumanity has come to know the divine in so many faces. This isnt an excuse for breaking closed practices or mishandling sacred symbols or practices with irreverance. That isnt reflective of the core values of Wicca which are based off respect and other tradition are right to step in and comment where they feel disrespected. My path means so much to me that I am very inspired to share and put in a good word for Wicca and might start a youtube channel dedicated to wicca soon. It helps a lot when I see many Wiccans saying the same things as me but having totally different practices. It's somehow beautiful and one of those mysteries you experience directly by following the path of Wicca and is hard to explain the sense of both freedom and being in the arms of the divine. Blessed Be!
@@veryaries_Awndreea The core of Wicca in the present and the essence of Wicca at its founding, like what's covered in this video, aren't the same thing. The lack of dogma isn't merely an individual affair, it is plainly a matter of fact that the vast majority of Wiccans are not in any coven, completely decentralized from any major form of dogmatic adherence to some rule-set. Wicca is, at its core, as varied and personal to people as any ancient pagan traditions were. Like I've said, no 1 or 2 Wiccans will have the same viewpoints on their spirituality or even pantheons.
Thank you for your insightful exploration of the subject. I agree that there is no room for dogma in my own personal practice. That said, U do also practice neo-Druidry. Which yes, I am well aware it is a relatively speaking modern movement. But one of the things I like about it is the lack off dogma and the freedom to construct one's individual expression of spirituality, and embrace hedge and folk witchcraft as a big part of my own personal spirituality.
I'm not keen on "modern" religions for myself--you practice what you like. I was Catholic, in which we needed an intermediary to God. I think this undercuts the premise. I do what I want.
Yeah I left Wicca because the leader of what use to be my coven decided to do black magic. So I've just been doing my own thing until about a year ago when Norse paganism came to me in many forms. I'm definitely alot more happier with it since. But wanting to learn more about shamanism because of my personal experiences and where I feel I should be.
Are there more of you and what you believe and practice, Arith? I thank you for explaining all the math and all your explaining, but if there was a way to see you explain these things, in a group setting, from others like you, who explain the same topics, but through their words and perspectives also.
When I left Christianity, I took a class on Wicca and immediately knew that it was not for me. Too many rules based on another mediocre man's design. I needed freedom!
Happy holidays Arith ! Interesting video. I agree with your view on Wicca being a New Age invention, not real ancient European witchcraft. However I do have a remark to make, which is more like a philosophical question 😊 It seems like you completely dislike dogma, since you said it limits individuals in their spiritual freedom, which I agree. But I am asking, is dogma completely a bad thing? I understand dogma (or taboo) is limitative in regards to spiritual freedom but is it not necessary for all human societies to set limits to avoid moral relativism, which could lead to excesses like ritual murder, rape and many other things harmful to individuals and society at large? Are not dogma and taboo necessary for humans to live together?
Hello there! Thank you, and happu holidays to you too! Well, that is a very good question, and I will certainly ponder about it. However, at first glance, looking at animistic societies, taboo is often necessary for the reasons you have pointed out, but most of the cases (when it is taboo related to religious terms), it is often to protect people from the harmful aspects of the spiritual, as well as to maintain the sacredness of some rituals within the community (it reminds me of the case of Old Norse Álfablót, and being a private celebration to respect one's own ancestors, which is why outsiders to the family/community were not welcomed, to avoid disturbing the ancestors), and to teach moral aspects in terms of respecting the living world (which helps in the construction of empathy). But dogma in itself, however, is indeed the politics of the spiritual, in the sense that it does bind the community to an authority, which strives to maintain control and power. This doesn't mean that there isn't dogma within animistic beliefs - as I said, dogma is always a problem in any system of beliefs. I see taboo as something different than dogma, being taboo often used to prevent harm, while dogma is a means of control through the spiritual. In terms of morals, people don't need dogma, people need to question one's actions and their impact upon The Other. People need to learn about empathy, and as soon as empathy starts to play a major role in one's perception, people will soon be able to easily pick the patterns and systems of control that limits people's lives. I will continue to ponder on your question. Thank you my friend.
Thank you Arith for your insight😊 I am still pondering on this topic too. Thanks for expanding on the difference between taboo and dogma. It is interesting. But still, however different, I think that they are quite similar in concept, and the philosophical question on whether they are inherently good or evil is, I believe, hard to answer. I think dogma and taboo are in a grey area. They are not inherently good or evil. It depends if they are created for the common good of the community, or if they are created for evil personal political gain and oppression of the people. The thing is how to make the difference between good dogma and taboo, and evil dogma and taboo? It is like trying to make the difference between good and evil, truth and falsehood. On some topics it might be easy to answer. Stealing and murdering are bad, nobody sane can deny that. But is eating cow evil? or pork? or any meat? All religious and spiritual doctrines don't agree on this.
I've always had a deep connection with nature that came to me naturally as a child, faded in my adolescence and early adulthood, and returned with a vengeance in later years. I've always had an inexplicable desire to wear horns, take on animalistic aspects and even crossdress. I've found over time that these things converge to me, and I wasn't wrong for feeling them, as many cultures throughout history conflated these things, and little bits of them survived through folk tradition if not various religious traditions. Wicca never appealed to me, even with cernunnos and diana as their deities, even if those figures are striking and important to me by their own virtues. I simply don't believe in gods. I believe in 'god/ess' figures representing aspects of our lives and even our ancestors, may they be from thousands of years past or our close progenitors. I think animism is much more appealing. I revere and respect nature for creating everything, including us, but my pseudoshamanism is my human way of merging with nature. I don't need a god for that to be spiritually important to me. I frankly loathe the constant reverence of gods and goddesses. It's exhausting.
Como eu vejo a Wicca kkkk Eles sabiam o que estavam fazendo. Esse culto só a Lua, nós estudamos isso na Astrologia, quando você faz o culto só a Lua você fica lunarizado e muito fácil de ser controlado. Tudo tem que ter um equilíbrio. É claro que eles não vão querer fazer um culto Solar, pk quando trabalhamos nossa energia Solar, nós sabemos quem realmente somos. Agora imagina descontruir pessoas que foram doutrinadas durante anos rsrs. Quando falamos a verdade nos tornamos revolucionários rsrs. Os anos que estão por vir vão trazer toda uma Desconstrução. Não existe problema você descobrir a Verdade, o problema é você saber da verdade e continuar vivendo em uma mentira rsrs. Como você fala no vídeo, você pode ser quem e quiser, acreditar no que quiser, mas não é mais hora de pôr mais nada debaixo do tapete. Gratidão mais uma vez, pk esse povo New Age Affff kkkk
It makes all the difference when the masses follow illusions, therefore people will be easily manipulated and bent to someone else's will. This is also applied to the spiritual. There's no evolution on any level if people are stagnated in the same perception and given the illusion of choice.
I found a Freemason ring in my garden while I was weeding… it literally popped right up at me! Can you PUHLEASE make a video about freemasonry because I truly trust no other source and I’m too overwhelmed to research myself💀🫶✨stay blessed never stressed king
In a horrible spot in my life. Filled with lost love ones and hardships. I come to your videos as a calming and peaceful escape to my heritage and history. To ground me and remind me to maintain a positive perspective. Thank you. I wish best luck and health on you and yours.
Best line: "If you don't like it, that's not my problem!"
😅😅😅
i am not in the wicca religion or any religion, i walk my own magical path. thanks Arith so glad you make these videos many people are deceived into thinking wicca is witchcraft. ..it is not . witchcraft is entirley personal to the witch, i t is ancient way of life and practice which existed before christianity. we need your educational factual videos.
Thank you Arith for sharing your knowledge on these subjects, much appreciated. Be well my friend.
Once again, absolutely brilliant. You say exactly what I have always felt about Wicca and why I feel it to be every bit as constricting as orthodox religions. I wish Religious Education in our schools was delivered in similar ways to those which you Esoterica, Angela’s Symposium, Let’s Talk Religion and Religion for Breakfast use. Always interesting and always valid, I think students would appreciate knowing that there is a whole world of spirituality out there extending beyond the Abrahamic religions (though in no way excluding them). Thank you again
I really appreciated this. It was quite disturbing in as much that your views on wicca are exactly mine. I agree with belladonna70, one should follow their own path.
I read somewhere that Gardener once referred to wicca as ‘A new religion for a new age’.
Gardener was a man of his time. That can be very limiting and if one limits one’s self they, in time, become historic curiosities. Gardener lost me when I read of his relationship with Crowley. Crowley was a little bit of a trickster, very knowledgeable but I don’t think he was ever fully, trustworthy.
I agree that wicca is a religion and has too many rules and is, therefore, dogmatic. However I’m glad their out there as mainstream religious, conservative people and the media focus on them and don’t bother the rest of us ( for the most part ).
Truly loved this episode. The truth will set you free - which we all know is misguided. Truth is the rarest of things, one person’s truth is another person’s dogma is, I think, a more realistic view.
Just as a side note. I think Gardener was a little bit too obsessed with sex. I think his views on sex are also of his time, and not really relevant to the actual practice of Witchcraft. I think all that nakedness was designed to make the wiccans feel like they were doing something subversive. I’d like to say ‘naughty’, but that might be a little condescending.
Blessings to all,❤.
Thanks for the share brother 🤘 appreciate your vibe and wisdom . Just saying this is one of the reasons I subscribed , you bring to table an open and courteous discussions …..
Be well ✝️
First😅😅😅
First of All, *I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAVE A NICE, PEACEFULL AND HEALTHFULL 2025🙏🙏🙏💙❗️*
Arith, thanks for your existence 🙏🙏🙏😀💙
You are the MAN.
Hugs and best wishes always from Soure Marajó Island Pará Brasil 😊
Hello my friend! Thank you for your well wishes! All the best! Wonderful seasonal celebrations a New Year! Dint forget it's nearly time for the Year Walk / Circumambulation! Best of all!
Love, your hat! It suits you well 🙂Gardner referred to members of his tradition as "the Wica", I believe he meant to use Wica as a plural form to mean witches or the Wise Ones, because, as you already know, and I'm sure Gardner also knew, the old word Wicca, means male witch. He called the religion itself "Witchcraft" and never used the term "Wicca" to describe the religion of Witchcraft. In my opinion, everything got confused and turned around into something else, when "Wicca" hit America in the 60s, and became more eclectic and as you pointed out, more "women related". Thank you for this, you brought up many factors and if people are offended about how you're relating "New Age" well then, let them be offended lol! Always happy to see a new video from you 💜
This was very extremely helpful and educational. ❤
I used to feel somewhat similar. My views on Wicca were tainted in the 90’s by box office Hollywood films & the tainted portrayals of Witchcraft. I delved into the study & practice of Paganism, studying particularly Europe & the Near East & mystery cults. Then fed up with what i felt to be an almost Protestant Northern European mindset, of individual Paganism that so many were banging on about, I joined an Alexandrian Coven, quite frankly it has been the most Theurgic, liberating, ecstatic, freeing spring board to the Gods, the divine that I could have wished for. As I child I was drawn to pictures of Wiccans in Circle, I turned away, then turned back, I am so glad I did.
ANOTHER GREAT ONE
Question: several times in your videos it has been said and explained that witchcraft is not religion and has no deal with religion (and I fully agree), is this concept not enough to exclude that every religious form - including Wicca - can define itself as "witchcraft", old or new? Maybe I simplify too much!
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones and thanks! 💚🌲❄
Not nessicarily, because no matter how you slice it, witchraft beliefs are so varied, trying to define it in one sentence always seems to leave out some group or another. Calling Wicca not witchcraft doesn't change the fact that I do spells like most other witches. I identify as a witch in that sense of greater community, but my beliefs are Wiccan and when I am talking with other wiccans I can see that we practice the same religion. even if we don't have the same interpretation of deity or similar practices we can usually still agree on what Wicca is and why it's not just another name for a witch. It's a worldview that is not very dogmatic in my experience and has to do with how we view approaching the mysteries. It is not very dogmatic becasue the point of wicca is to go by personal experience of the deities rather than letting someone else define your relationship with the God's. There is a general common ground of worshiping the God and Goddess together and seeing the different faces of the divine as belonging to one God/Goddess, though this isn't even a hard rule, and Dianic wiccans are free to worship just the Goddess and it doesn't undermine that fact that they still practice the same belief valuing direct experiences of the gods over being told what kind of relationship to have. So multiple ways of seeing the gods work but it is a path that is inherently religious. It is most deffinately witchraft too and is the seed that a lot of other modern tradition came from in some ways. The founders of Wicca had their personal dogmas, but they created a framework woth very little restrictions as the few rules there are still emphasize free will as one of the most important and unalterable precepts. Wiccans believe in deep spiritual freedom and often seek to have ecstatic mystical experiences with the gods and not just practice magic like secular forms of whitchraft do. It's not about being a better snobby version of witchraft or any nonsense like that. I see myself just as much a witch as any other. And I really enjoy being part of a community where there are opinions and practices so different than mind but still centered around pagan beliefs and magical practice. I see witchraft like a forest with a complex eco system with species of various age and purpose within the environment. It's not about going between all the plants and figuring out if every species is decidedly part of this forest or not. You simply enter the beautiful forest and walk you path and appreciate all the life around you. Hope this helps understand wiccas place in withcraft a little bit:)
Blessings.
Thank you for your video.
4 Ullr guy.
Hail Loki 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Gratidão pelo conhecimento sempre💜 Conhecimento é Poder 🔥🔥🔥💜
hello, big fan of the channel, as a traditional witch and aspiring heathen. I agree with you that wicca is patriarchal, but have to disagree that a female-only practice that only venerates goddesses is “limiting.” dianics such as myself (though I don’t consider myself dianic WICCAN, only dianic in the sense that I’m woman-centric) choose to only venerate goddesses in part due to the thousands of years of male-centric, male-dominated religions, that more often than not oppressed women. we find the goddess(es) whole unto herself(ves), and find the goddess in a multitude of domains aside from the shoehorned areas of fertility and motherhood so common in mainstream wicca. I’d argue that it’s actually more patriarchal to claim that women are “limited” without the presence of a man or male divinity.
Lao Tzu referred to dogma as the lowest form of faith
He wasn't wrong :b
Gardner and Ferrar's "Witches Bible Compleat" is certainly wo rth reading, but I am by no means a Wiccan. My wife was a Traditional Gaelic Witch, and she had very little good to say about Wicca. I practice Chaos Majick, of a sort, but am an Animist spiritually. Great talk, Arith❤
Looking handsome as always Arith 😊
TY for this info and I agree.
Thank you! I agree on all points.
Love your stuff kick on love it ❤❤❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤍💯💥
brilliant 💙
Make life bearable.
Great idea!
I would be very interested in your opinion on Ross Nichols and modern Druidry.
As someone who is Wiccan, I have to disagree on the idea that Wicca is super dogmatic. Perhaps it's because I'd moreso fall under the category of an "Eclectic Wiccan" than Gardnerian or any other variety, but there is little dogma whatsoever to my experience. As far as religions go, Wicca is extremely decentralized and few two Wiccans will share the same exact spiritual views and experiences. There are everything from solitary practitioners to covens, Wiccan monolaters (Dianic), duotheists (most Wiccans), pantheists, etc., and in my case, Wiccan polytheists. The only "dogmas" that I can see potentially argued to exist in Wicca are maybe the Wiccan Rede, ownership of a personal Book of Shadows, and like, maybe the Rule of Three? Although even that last one isn't agreed upon by all Wiccans. And when it comes down to rituals, practice, so on, most Wiccans I see say to simply go off of personal experience since religion and spirituality are personal ordeals.
I understand many have their gripes with Wicca, and with how some folks go about their practice I can understand it a bit, but being overly dogmatic? That's one conception of Wicca I unfortunately cannot agree with much at all. (Or perhaps it is fortunate, for me, depending on how you frame it, cuz it speaks to my positive experiences with my Wiccan practice and that I've found the right path for myself)
I think that refers more to old school British Traditional Wicca.
@@kenofken9458 Maybe, but if we're talking Wicca in its entire, grander scope, dogmatism is certainly not one of its traits
As another Wiccan I agree, thanks for putting it out there becasue many seek Wicca to escape dogmatic religions and definately aren't like that. Sometimes the criticism comes from forms of witchraft who don't feel as devotional towards the gods or who choose not to work with deity. I respect that and can understand the criticisms too. While the founders of Wicca may have been in some ways dogmatic themselves, they are in a sense just people with flaws like us all. Their aim was to make a blueprint for a variety of witchraft that is simultaneously focused on the divine and spiritual side of magic while not restricting personal choice and freedom. I don't uses every tool the same way as the books suggest becasue Wicca allows you to practice witchraft the way you want, but many of the tools have a place in Wicca and my altar probably isnt too different from many wiccans. The practice emphasizes the importance of personal experience of the mysteries and to physically align yourself with the cycles of nature in some way. And with the idea that the point of walking a path of magic is to become wise and learn how to see your own freedom and hearts desire while being conscious of not getting in the way of others freedom which also entangles you. It is non violent up to a point but we are still free to harm if we wish but after experiencing the mysteries of God/Goddess through Wiccan practice, it's hard to want to cause harm to any life without regard and to resort to violence in order to protect what is sacred, life. Is the only reason to maybe break that rule. But no one in Wiccaville is gonna come and stop me from doing what I want. That's how I interpret 'an it harm none do what you will' its not a restriction but a call to step lightly out of respect but also knowing your will is up to you and no mater what path you take there will always be consequences. So be mindful. Without that deep understanding I can see how others could see it as being dogmatic but as a Wiccan I also disagree and while I could try to judge back I'd rather find common ground most of the time. I only really regret trying to do that with Christians becasue sometimes trying to explain what it's like to be out of the judgment based view of Christianity and in the loving arms of the goddess... It's not some kind of valueless demon cult thing like Christians think, nor is it a rigidly dogmatic witchraft version of Christianity like some witches think just because it is more religious and focused on the gods than some witchraft traditions. I don't believe other forms of witchraft are lesser just different. And I am presonally sorry also for the Wiccans (including myself) may have misused parts of another tradition. In Wicca, it is common to see an inherant unity between many gods and worshiping the different faces of God/Goddess as the firms they apprar to us changes can sometimes be overwhlming to figure out how to make this god happy, so you try looking at practices from those traditions to understant why deity appeared to you as Hekate, or Odin or whoever. Its confusing until you realize, from the point of view of the Wiccan mysteries, all faces of God/Goddess are one in that all religion is an attempt to worship the divine and it has grown and evolded through many cultures telling the story of how mumanity has come to know the divine in so many faces. This isnt an excuse for breaking closed practices or mishandling sacred symbols or practices with irreverance. That isnt reflective of the core values of Wicca which are based off respect and other tradition are right to step in and comment where they feel disrespected. My path means so much to me that I am very inspired to share and put in a good word for Wicca and might start a youtube channel dedicated to wicca soon. It helps a lot when I see many Wiccans saying the same things as me but having totally different practices. It's somehow beautiful and one of those mysteries you experience directly by following the path of Wicca and is hard to explain the sense of both freedom and being in the arms of the divine. Blessed Be!
He's talking about it's core. Not what individuals decide to do on their own.
@@veryaries_Awndreea The core of Wicca in the present and the essence of Wicca at its founding, like what's covered in this video, aren't the same thing. The lack of dogma isn't merely an individual affair, it is plainly a matter of fact that the vast majority of Wiccans are not in any coven, completely decentralized from any major form of dogmatic adherence to some rule-set. Wicca is, at its core, as varied and personal to people as any ancient pagan traditions were. Like I've said, no 1 or 2 Wiccans will have the same viewpoints on their spirituality or even pantheons.
Forget the topic , got to say I love your hat. I wish I could pull off wearing one...
Arith! So handsome!
Thank you for your insightful exploration of the subject. I agree that there is no room for dogma in my own personal practice. That said, U do also practice neo-Druidry. Which yes, I am well aware it is a relatively speaking modern movement. But one of the things I like about it is the lack off dogma and the freedom to construct one's individual expression of spirituality, and embrace hedge and folk witchcraft as a big part of my own personal spirituality.
Happy holidays :)
Thank you! To you too!
I'm not keen on "modern" religions for myself--you practice what you like. I was Catholic, in which we needed an intermediary to God. I think this undercuts the premise. I do what I want.
Yeah I left Wicca because the leader of what use to be my coven decided to do black magic. So I've just been doing my own thing until about a year ago when Norse paganism came to me in many forms. I'm definitely alot more happier with it since. But wanting to learn more about shamanism because of my personal experiences and where I feel I should be.
Now I'm curious. What did that "black magic" entail and what was it done for?
@Carlos-bz5oo a voodoo doll, it was made to cause a boy who she didn't like what he said some pain because he wouldn't go go with her.
Are there more of you and what you believe and practice, Arith? I thank you for explaining all the math and all your explaining, but if there was a way to see you explain these things, in a group setting, from others like you, who explain the same topics, but through their words and perspectives also.
"it's just for the plot" 😂
When I left Christianity, I took a class on Wicca and immediately knew that it was not for me. Too many rules based on another mediocre man's design. I needed freedom!
Lookin good 👍 nice hat, very dapper.
Happy holidays Arith !
Interesting video. I agree with your view on Wicca being a New Age invention, not real ancient European witchcraft. However I do have a remark to make, which is more like a philosophical question 😊
It seems like you completely dislike dogma, since you said it limits individuals in their spiritual freedom, which I agree.
But I am asking, is dogma completely a bad thing? I understand dogma (or taboo) is limitative in regards to spiritual freedom but is it not necessary for all human societies to set limits to avoid moral relativism, which could lead to excesses like ritual murder, rape and many other things harmful to individuals and society at large?
Are not dogma and taboo necessary for humans to live together?
Hello there! Thank you, and happu holidays to you too!
Well, that is a very good question, and I will certainly ponder about it. However, at first glance, looking at animistic societies, taboo is often necessary for the reasons you have pointed out, but most of the cases (when it is taboo related to religious terms), it is often to protect people from the harmful aspects of the spiritual, as well as to maintain the sacredness of some rituals within the community (it reminds me of the case of Old Norse Álfablót, and being a private celebration to respect one's own ancestors, which is why outsiders to the family/community were not welcomed, to avoid disturbing the ancestors), and to teach moral aspects in terms of respecting the living world (which helps in the construction of empathy). But dogma in itself, however, is indeed the politics of the spiritual, in the sense that it does bind the community to an authority, which strives to maintain control and power. This doesn't mean that there isn't dogma within animistic beliefs - as I said, dogma is always a problem in any system of beliefs. I see taboo as something different than dogma, being taboo often used to prevent harm, while dogma is a means of control through the spiritual. In terms of morals, people don't need dogma, people need to question one's actions and their impact upon The Other. People need to learn about empathy, and as soon as empathy starts to play a major role in one's perception, people will soon be able to easily pick the patterns and systems of control that limits people's lives. I will continue to ponder on your question. Thank you my friend.
Thank you Arith for your insight😊
I am still pondering on this topic too.
Thanks for expanding on the difference between taboo and dogma. It is interesting. But still, however different, I think that they are quite similar in concept, and the philosophical question on whether they are inherently good or evil is, I believe, hard to answer.
I think dogma and taboo are in a grey area. They are not inherently good or evil. It depends if they are created for the common good of the community, or if they are created for evil personal political gain and oppression of the people.
The thing is how to make the difference between good dogma and taboo, and evil dogma and taboo? It is like trying to make the difference between good and evil, truth and falsehood. On some topics it might be easy to answer. Stealing and murdering are bad, nobody sane can deny that. But is eating cow evil? or pork? or any meat? All religious and spiritual doctrines don't agree on this.
Something you didn't touch on and I really dislike is how commercial Wicca is/can be
💚🙏
I've always had a deep connection with nature that came to me naturally as a child, faded in my adolescence and early adulthood, and returned with a vengeance in later years. I've always had an inexplicable desire to wear horns, take on animalistic aspects and even crossdress. I've found over time that these things converge to me, and I wasn't wrong for feeling them, as many cultures throughout history conflated these things, and little bits of them survived through folk tradition if not various religious traditions. Wicca never appealed to me, even with cernunnos and diana as their deities, even if those figures are striking and important to me by their own virtues. I simply don't believe in gods. I believe in 'god/ess' figures representing aspects of our lives and even our ancestors, may they be from thousands of years past or our close progenitors. I think animism is much more appealing. I revere and respect nature for creating everything, including us, but my pseudoshamanism is my human way of merging with nature. I don't need a god for that to be spiritually important to me. I frankly loathe the constant reverence of gods and goddesses. It's exhausting.
Como eu vejo a Wicca kkkk Eles sabiam o que estavam fazendo. Esse culto só a Lua, nós estudamos isso na Astrologia, quando você faz o culto só a Lua você fica lunarizado e muito fácil de ser controlado. Tudo tem que ter um equilíbrio. É claro que eles não vão querer fazer um culto Solar, pk quando trabalhamos nossa energia Solar, nós sabemos quem realmente somos. Agora imagina descontruir pessoas que foram doutrinadas durante anos rsrs. Quando falamos a verdade nos tornamos revolucionários rsrs. Os anos que estão por vir vão trazer toda uma Desconstrução. Não existe problema você descobrir a Verdade, o problema é você saber da verdade e continuar vivendo em uma mentira rsrs. Como você fala no vídeo, você pode ser quem e quiser, acreditar no que quiser, mas não é mais hora de pôr mais nada debaixo do tapete. Gratidão mais uma vez, pk esse povo New Age Affff kkkk
the genesis of Wicca: ✝
Crowley rhymes with holy
All religions come from the minds of man. So what difference does it make.
It makes all the difference when the masses follow illusions, therefore people will be easily manipulated and bent to someone else's will. This is also applied to the spiritual. There's no evolution on any level if people are stagnated in the same perception and given the illusion of choice.
@@ArithHärger very well said
Wicca has become a behive for feminists just looking for a man free zone.
Ask a wiccan to walk your cat. Either you can or you cant...
125th to like
Are you trying to look like a Man in Black? lol (the hat)
I found a Freemason ring in my garden while I was weeding… it literally popped right up at me! Can you PUHLEASE make a video about freemasonry because I truly trust no other source and I’m too overwhelmed to research myself💀🫶✨stay blessed never stressed king