Countless stories in traditional folklore all over the world has some type of magic wielder as a character. Humans are obsessed with creatures who can bend the rules of the natural world through unbelievable powers. A human who could control these powers was known as a witch in most cases, although some traditions like to claim witches to only be women or have a different term for a man who uses magic like a wizard or sorcerer. However, these ancient legends were warped over time with the spread of the religions of Abraham—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For a long period of time, if someone could even be remotely linked to the use of “magic,” the religious establishment would quickly torture a confession from that person before killing them. The ancient pagan religions that had multiple gods and goddesses as well as a link to nature were forgotten and given up as the heretical past of ancestors. However, over the past century, the strict and brutal treatment of followers of these old religions by the dominant religious faction has inspired a curiosity and even a resurgence of the pagan belief system. Just like with every other religion though, there are schisms, sects, and multiple factions with this growth in the ancient uses of magic and belief in nature deities. The one binding foundation of these new, resurgence of pagans is that they all subscribe to a belief in magic and their ability to harness magic with certain rituals and spells after a great deal of practice. They are all witches. Continue Reading
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