Do All Wiccans Practice Magic? Should They?

"no one should practice 'because they are supposed to'. That, to me, wouldn't be a good enough reason" Oh I completely understand what you are saying and I agree that no magick should be done "cause someone said so" but i really do feel though that to get the most out of yourself magick (sometimes alone and sometimes in combo with other things) is a great way to do...BUT to me magick is the same as a Christian praying....attending church has nothign to do with it but if a Christian doesnt pray and talk to their god as well as listen to what he has to say then are they really Christian? See what I'm saying? One of the, if not THE, key components to Christianity is listening to gods words and communicating with him etc....now some do that by goin to church BUT while they are there the method is prayer...With Wicca IMO rather than talking to a god..the purpose of magick (and ritual really as defined by each of us) is to talk to and listen to your true self because IMO we have all the answers already...UGh am I making any sense? LOL man I'm having one of those days LOL

I understand your point. I guess to me there's a difference between tuning in and listening to my higher self and actually putting intent and purpose into a magickal ritual. Ritual to me is like 'church'... 'prayer', on the other hand, happens fluidly and all the time... I often sit with myself and study my astrological transits, or light a candle and do a tarot reading or something similar, but I don't consider these 'magickal rituals'. It's the same as when I have a dream that clarifies something for me... it's part of my daily communication with my higher self. I guess it depends on what constitutes a 'ritual' for the individual. And what we are talking about when we say 'magick' because I think these terms are personally defined by what they mean to each individual person. What I meant by my above post is, I believe someone can share my beliefs but not share my rituals, and who am I to tell them they 'should' practice what I practice? Their prayer may not be my prayer, so to speak. I feel I am practicing magick when the intention is present and I am consciously casting energy for the purpose of positive manifestation... If other's never do this, but share my belief in the powers that be, I guess I think that's okay. To each their own, and to pass judgement on their choice doesn't feel right to me.

I agree. Not practicing magick's like letting some really wonderful talent go to waste in my mind. I can understand those who simply want to be 'spiritual' and don't wish to involve themselves in magick..but I don't think I could ever do that myself. I think though, that what people 'should' do is what feels right to them. If they feel meditating, recording dreams, and simply communing with the Goddess without actually working a full fledged ritual or working a small spell's for them..well kudos for them, and as long as they're happy and it works for them..it's good. To me though, spirituallity and magick go hand in hand. In truth, christians, buddhists, EVERYONE practices magick in some form or another, sometimes a diluted one, but they still practice whether it's a concious thing or not. An example is prayer. *shrugs*

I believe that when we religiously observe - such as through ritual and ritual worship - that we are still engaged in magical action. In thos cases I suspect it to be more theurgical, so, in my book that "still counts" :o)