Hmmm. Still no cheap jokes cracked at Melania's expense?
HARRY POTTER? Where is he when we need him most? The only thing missing from this visit to the world of witchcraft is the hissing serpent of he whose name shall not be uttered. Volde--you get the idea. Illusions of witchery are a great way to sell lots of overpriced, ugly makeup and disguises as well as improving the bottom lines of boutiques that specialize in hitching up to witchcraft. I do wonder, though, where the Trumpenstein Monster gets his orange hair and makeup. Could there be an official White House Witching Consultant?
Perhaps humans just find comfort in ritual for aesthetic reasons along with a desire to explain and control the unexplainable and uncontrollable. Such practices obviously go back to our earliest ancestors. The danger comes when we see our beliefs as the only acceptable ones.
12
All these witches and not one of them thought to cast a summon votes spell for the Witch Queen.
I mean, whats up with that? Summon Votes is only a 5 lvl spell in Dungeons and Dragons so someone should have been able to cast it : |
6
Where can I buy a Trump voo-doo doll, complete with gold plated pins???
Excellent Holiday Gift.
10
While you're there, you might want to read Psalm 14:1, "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Also, in Psalm 109, David is praying to God for justice against "wicked and deceitful men" who have "spoken against me with lying tongues," who "repay me evil for good and hatred for my friendship," and who "attack me without cause." Satan has been misconstruing the word of God since the Garden of Eden, and the Occult is his playground. Whether in ignorance or in purposeful rebellion, you dabble in dark arts at your own peril.
11
Now THAT's funny. Lefty witches use verses straight from the Bible to carry out occult threats against an enemy.
This may have been the first time some people cruising through here have read a verse in a long while.
8
God only knows you would not want to culturally appropriate someone else's voodoo or mojo. Hilarious.
10
Magic, like other supernatural beliefs, is an attempt to reduce stress by asserting control over parts of life that are actually uncontrollable.
If you were a farmer who lived by a river 3,000 years ago and your ability to feed your family depended on whether the rains would flood the river enough to irrigate your fields, then your situation was rather stressful. It could certainly make you feel better about your situation if you believed that the river was a god whose actions could be influenced by prayer and sacrifice. In that case, there was at least a chance that by doing the right thing you could produce the outcome you needed. You could assert control over the situation.
Today people in developed countries need not worry about famine if there is less rain than usual, but there are still plenty of important things that are outside any individual's control. Accidents. Disease. Terrorism. War. So there is still a place, at least for some, for belief in supernatural forces that can be influenced by our actions and allow us to control the uncontrollable. And there probably always will be.
4
Strange number of negative comments about witches and pagans. What ever happened to diversity? Live-and-let-live?
What really struck me was the monthly hex: that Trump should fail totally and that, in the end, no harm should be done.
First, it's one of the only sensible things I've heard since Trump was elected. And second, after ten months it's a great summary of exactly what's happened.
Can anyone tell me more? I'd like to light a few candles myself. Maybe we all should.
2
"Just under the surface of American culture, something furious is brewing."
Instead of putting hexes on Trump, they should rally themselves and their friends to fight the orange-haired devil who terrorizes us all.
We need active, engaged citizens, with or without broomsticks.
7
Undeniably, the fascination with the unseen is an obsession higher thinking things can't seem to shake. Which explains why one never sees a squirrel trying to put on a pointed hat. And they never look sad either.
Guess the incantations went awry last Fall, eh my pretties? But you crones keep at it; perhaps you'll change your sow's ear politics into silk purses. But we doubt it. We don't doubt the effect you had on the premier witch, y'know, the one knocked from her broom last November? Yah. That one.
2
This article focuses on the most sensational and least representative form of pagan spirituality. Most Wiccan and pagan literature emphasizes the sole commandment “ let it harm none”. The line about binding spells alludes to this truth, but both the title and the Lede emphasize curses and hexes to draw in readers. This article does not live up to the New York Times reputation for solid journalism backed up by substantial research. Standards should not be lowered just because the subject matter is unconventional.
4
What a waste! Instead of engaging in obscure rituals, these witches and other occultists could be engaging in political action. They say they follow their occult practices because they feel powerless? Well they are indeed powerless because they don't use the power available to them through political involvement - - a fine example of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
8
Is this column an overture for a run for a the Senate? Like that woman who ran in Delaware several years ago. Maybe she was ahead of her time. Or maybe the whole thing is a dumb idea. As I recall, the last witch lost.
I don't believe in the occult and such nonsense. That being said, every time Trump's face appears on TV, before rushing to switch the channel, I begin shouting expletives at my set. For sure, my neighbors believe that a crazy person is living next door. I would counter: Just a very anxious and concerned citizen.
6
And they shall be lead into the darkness and they shall worship the Beast. Keep those spell coming.
I come from a culture that understood such things as "the Right Handed path" versus "the Left Handed path" in spirituality, including Yoga. The Left Handed Path, of occultism with some mysticism, is not for everyone. It is the kind of path that that allows meditation in graveyards, congregation of nude people at night chanting in the woods or some remote places, etc. But great thinkers and mature honest occultists knew that those who take such a path, with values, restraint and humility, and that too at a young age, and get intoxicated by its intense raw power, can bring great destruction to society and themselves. Thy don't correct the wrong, or bring good order to existing chaos...they add to the chaos in selfish ways.
These immature occultists, or so called occultists, direct their anger and angst, many times, at the wrong people...sometimes even over petty grievances. Such stupid petty immature impulsive occultists never confront the rich oligarchs, dictators, powerful devious people. They hit out, unfortunately, at others in their own circles or near their circles for petty reasons and with petty vendetta in mind.
Even Wiccans give the title of the "Witch" to mostly wise older women, and women with experience, expertise, self awareness, a balance between the mind and the body, and one who practice occultism with restraint and humility.
Immature and glamour seeking experimentation into occultism ultimately leads to gas chambers for others or for themselves.
6
The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. Those who are revile this president would do better to be indifferent, because he thrives on attention of any kind, and will wither without it.
8
I see no difference between this and any religion. They are all boo fests meant to part thinking from reason, all serving to profit some wizard behind the curtain.
6
Most spells, both curses and blessings, do not require magic. They simply have to trick the subject's emotions and intellect into a conflict, or unwind such a conflict, whether it is the result of an intentionally cast spell, or just some mental confusion.
And if you think that tricking your emotions into conflict with your intellect is unique to witches, I suggest you study advertising, propaganda, and the recent election. Any witch that helps unwind those spells is OK by me.
3
Rather than practicing witchcraft, why not try making art? It's the closest thing to a meaningful life one can ever have. You're constantly engaging the universe and both its problems and its magnificence. And it all comes out of your own soul. Plus you create something that is everlasting and bears the mark of your character. Casting spells and hexes might be fun for a while, but, like religion, it is ultimately meaningless.
3
My husband was getting irritated with me because I was doing a 'thing' for a friend. He intimated that what I was doing was nonsense because it wasn't based on science. I said, "Honey, no belief system is based on science." End of conversation.
5
Now is no more the season of the witch than any other time and sitting in on a "class called 'Witchcraft 101: Curses, Hexes and Jinxes,' at Catland, a fashionable occult boutique in Bushwick, Brooklyn." hardly qualifies the author to make anything but the thin gruel she cooks up here.
The witches of old, the crones who lived on the edge between village and forest, were healers, herbalists, wise elders who often told the unvarnished and often unwelcome truth. Their skill and acumen had more to do with an earthly understanding rather than an occult one, but people enslaved to familiar control systems, religious, societal, political, were suspicious of those who existed outside them. While they revered the crones for their skills in good times, they blamed them for the bad. Many were burned at the stake.
There was and is no 'magic' in any of it and taking a class in curses, hexes, and jinxes at a fashionable occult boutique will no more gird your loins during times of social crisis than a stiff martini with your gal pals.
True witches live among you, hidden in plain sight. Some of us even eschew the coven, preferring the freedom and truth of solitude to yet another joining in the latest version of what witches are supposed to be. This particular version peddled by a fashionable occult boutique is nothing but harmless fun and I would hope those who pay good money know that and aren't thinking they have bought an agency.
16
More people who never got over their teenage years acting out.
14
You know, "witch" is just another word for an outspoken older woman with no makeup and an ironic sense of humor, and, back in the day, some knowledge of herbs and childbirth. An intimidating sort, then as now.
38
As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans ch. 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." To the extent that the columnists of the NYT wish to dabble in spirituality, as a Christian I will respond forthrightly. God created this world and everything that is, seen or unseen, including each of us. Goldberg's flirtation with witchcraft is foolish. God created space, time, matter and energy. God created and maintains the natural law which governs our world, both our exterior world and our interior, spiritual lives and values. God raised Jesus from the dead to be our Savior. I don't usually use the comments section of a NYT op-ed to preach a sermon, but this column merits such a response. As John the Baptist said, with great feeling: 'Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.'
8
Geez, sort of a sad story about woo, woo land, " a supernatural technology for taking care of yourself when no one else will?". Humm?
Do atheists actually get involved in something like this because they are unfulfilled? We don't even believe in the Easter Bunny?
Beliefs are problematic in this country and everything else is fake news! Doesn't look good, does it?
1
The devil's best tricks is convincing people he doesn't exist. With no devil, there's no evil. So actual evil can easily be perceived as good. Now they have Stockholm Syndrome.
6
What a perfect description of the mechanics of the entire trump administration!
The GOP's leading devil convinces millions of voters he doesn't exist, allowing each devilish minion to proceed with the evil intent details of turning the U.S. into the Land of Mordor.
1
There is a huge uptick in classic Paganism and occult around the world. To put it simply, the religion of Atheism and Modern Humanism is Metaphysical Naturalism - blind faith in a self-creating universe, and in self-aggregating, self-improving life. This faith determines an adherent's beliefs regarding origins, daily decision making and thoughts on morality. That is the very ~essence~ of religion. It boils down to worship of the Cosmos as original cause and Humanity as it's currently highest known expression. Now consider it - a mystically self-creating natural world, and mystical "power of the soul", and "will to power". That's the essence of Paganism. And all of this goes right along with Hegel, Nietzsche, Darwin, Marx... It all boils down to, "Hath [the Christian] God really said...", and, "Ye shall be as God, knowing [creating, determining] good and evil..." That's also, by the way, why so many philosophical conjectures pose as modern science these days. Panspermia, universe out of nothing, Phyletic Gradualism, strong anthropic principle, infinite multiverse- all of these exist to explain ~away~ what we observe, not to support what we observe. They go diametrically against the scientific method- testable hypothesis, experimentation, observation, proof. Now, back to Cumbey, here book is ~brilliant~, it is a down to earth explanation of how paganism has integrated itself into modern life, popular culture and Leftist one-world agiprop.
3
The only thing witches can actually conjure up, is psychosis. Vulnerable people, those who are easily manipulated, are very much at risk when witchcraft is promoted.
8
The same can be said of all religions.
6
The author is right about one thing: 'something furious is brewing...' step outside your comfort zone and listen carefully.
3
Last sentence--Maybe the something furious brewing just under the surface is because these people seem to be living in their parent's basement. Get a life.
Pure fantasy. A waste of time and energy. If they really want to make a difference, there are plenty of tangible ways to do so. Wasting time on hexes is time taken away from actively resisting.
"...because occultism often gains currency during times of social crisis."
I agree with that because most people live with varying levels of anxiety in their lives, some with more anxiety than others depending on the country, culture, and times.
I actually think that this underlying anxiety is what drives many people to believe in religion. That statement will certainly be controversial, which is OK, but it explains a lot. Similar to belief in the occult, belief in omniscient, omnipotent beings who can and sometimes do exert influence on events and on outcomes of what we wish for is a soothing, comforting, psychological balm for anxious people.
Not everyone needs religion to comfort themselves, but many do. All the other stuff – the organization of a church, establishment of rituals, key references to supposed historical events and actions, and ongoing attendance at services to constantly reinforce the beliefs and form bonds with the religious community are all subsequent to this fundamental psychological need for an ongoing form of comfort in daily life.
Many things associated with religions are good: community with others and their support when needed, the good that many churches do, and the inherent goodness in many of the teachings are valuable and have contributed to establishment of civilizations despite the bad that has sometimes been done in the name of religion throughout history.
But religion, like mysticism, is only one response to a complex world.
4
I like the curses. Keep up the good work!
3
Season of the Witch? No. It’s the Season of the Charlatan, a full-year phenomenon in the land of the easily duped.
The strong explore, be it through science, art, helping others or simply living in an open and mindful way. Agnosticism and atheism are their natural systems of belief.
The weak look for certainty, and they turn to evangelicanism and witchcraft. Guns for the men and wands for the women. Easy prey for the unscrupulous.
7
Folks who are feeling impotent and unnerved by what they see happening around them would be better served by political organization and action than by casting hexes as atomized individuals. Strength lies in numbers (collective action), not magic.
4
The one who speaks does not know.
The one who knows does not speak.
7
I would like to point out that the Devil is a Christian concept, not a pagan one, and only became associated with "witches" because of the Catholic Church's persecution. There is nothing inherently more unbelievable in the spiritualism of pagans and that of the various brands of Christianity. One man's magic is another woman's miracle.
17
It’s interesting that all the examples you give are for malevolent purpose—nothing for love, fertility, health, or prosperity.
7
Sally Quinn recently regaled C-Span viewers with tales of having so successfully hexed various D.C. entities she was forced to give up the practice out of fear of the karmic repercussions. Alas and alack she won't be hexing Donald J.Trump.
1
Just have to say that these Millennial's are playing with fire... I feel bad for them, as in true practice of the craft, what you send out will come back to you three fold. Never curse nor hex someone, unless you intend to reap the rewards of the negativity that will build and grow to epic proportions to rebound back onto you. Be prepared for your own crises, woes, and bad luck.
6
In the Gospel of John (v. 3:19) it says Light (Jesus) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
These witches, and all who reject God's son Jesus, love darkness and are evil. Satan and demons, who are behind all witchcraft and the occult, are very real and they are deceiving many millions who are going to spend eternity in hell. It is true, as Ms. Bracciale states, there is a spiritual vacuum in all of us that needs to be filled and people try to fill it with so many worldly things and false religions including Wicca, but only a relationship with the God of the Bible through His son Jesus Christ will ever satisfy this need. Jesus Christ is a free gift from God the father--all you have to do is ask and it will be given to you. Only with Jesus comes forgiveness and eternal life.
4
Hello, witch here. I’m unlikely to change your mind, so this is more a clarification for others reading. None of the witches and pagans I know reject Jesus or love Satan. We just have a different religion (and, okay, sometimes a proclivity for wearing black). My boyfriend is a Christian and we talk theology together. I go to church with him on Easter and he attends seasonal pagan celebrations with me. My childhood best friend is a Presbyterian minister. I’m attending her church wedding next week, and don’t even feel weird about it...
Y’all, hate’s a helluva drug. Careful where you spread it.
15
Cannot imagine an article more frivolous and irrelevant than this. We are barely 3 days removed from a sequel to 9/11 and you are writing about witches?"Je n'en reviens pas!" An ISIS zealot, but are all ISIS adherents not zealots, ran down 8 people on a boardwalk in lower Manhattan in a rental van, and you are so easily able to switch from that outrage to a silly column,anti Christian in my view and obviously anti Trump, about milennials and their attraction for the occult? Its as if you had a phobia against Islamophobia, and were fearful of writing about the mass murderer because, in your analysis, it would provoke outrage against other Muslims, which would never be the case!Am sure that on a personal level you are a kind,altruistic person who maybe volunteers at the local animal shelter, and have perhaps rescued a 4 legged sentient creature or two. but your columns are weak. Recall your piece about FEMA's "inadequate efforts" in P.R. after Irma. Other enterprising reporters went down there, including a team of photojournalists from Times newspaper, to find out for themselves, but you preferred to be judgemental from afar.My suggestion, Ms Goldberg, no offense intended, is to be topical, and show "git" as in "git up and go!"
2
This is a very helpful piece, and I think a number of the comments so far are not getting the point. Goldberg is providing some helpful sociology and social psychology to our understanding of our current political state of affairs, and I say: this sort of analysis is long overdue. Someone here referenced "Fantasyland" and there are other writings coming out that do that too. Sometimes I think the Trump phenomenon, as utterly awful and terrifying as it is, has done us the favor of forcing us to see ourselves--our collective body politic making up what America is--as we really are. The old bundling of people into this or that economic or social bracket, to be pandered to by politicians, and triangulated when politically essential allies were in direct conflict with each other--is not helpful or accurate. Not that the raging hordes at Trump rallies reflect all of us. But we are seeing our underbelly. It's not pretty. It took generations to get here, from the civil war to this moment. That war was never settled. Well, now it is in all of our faces, which seems to me like an inevitable step on the path to a decisive, national repudiation of white supremacy, and the entire culture the confederacy stood for.
But I digress. Goldberg has spoken to the wrenching sense of chaos and loss for things people can't even identify, without the comfort of traditional religion. We have to face the fallout from that too.
5
America is not as divided as those fostering division would have us believe. I highly recommend "Unlikely Bedfellows: What a Sanders Supporter Learned from a Donald Trump Rally" by Jonathan Huff at Independent Voter Network. Having heard only the dividers' descriptions of the "raging hordes" you refer to, he was astounded to learn firsthand that they don't exist and are not as portrayed in the media. He is not a Trump supporter but offers a fair assessment of who he found Trump's supporters to actually be and why they deserve respect and not derision.
2
Casting spells is nice and all, but do they vote?!
27
Reminds me of the story of the Buddha, who met a disciple that spent years learning to levitate through meditation. "To what point?" was the Buddha's response. Then he met a yogi by a river, who'd spent most of his life learning to walk on water. In pity Buddha said, "And to think that you could have crossed the river more easily by giving the ferryman a small coin."
2
Shared beliefs are a foundation for collective action. My coven (comprised of young women and a few men) and most other covens I know are politically active. We vote. We also demonstrate, donate, and volunteer as a group—in concert with a network of other covens across the US and Europe. We have also strategized with UU Churches, Indigenous American groups, and Jewish groups when appropriate. Most of my political engagement is directly tied to my magical and religious practice.
3
Yes, and rally and protest and call our 'representatives' and work against gerrymandering and work the polls for our candidates and celebrates our communites.
1
Fascination with witchcraft, especially in the modern age, is a symptom of social and spiritual irresponsibility. Those who dabble in the occult rarely realize, at least in the beginning, how dangerous it is. They aren't told of the true cost of the actions and they aren't convinced that there is an accounting for what they are doing - both here and hereafter.
Consequences of any action, spiritual or physical, are the inevitable result of behavior. Many have said that occult practices signify a civilization in decline, but don't tell why. The why is an ardent wish to accomplish something a little tricky without any sort of consequence or responsibility. This is entirely false.
There IS and accounting and there WILL BE consequences. Always have been and always will be. THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID.
and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...
4
Catholics, Baptist, Mormons, Evangelists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam, and all other religions, along with these alleged wiccas, belong to the same nonsensical brew of magical thinking. I used to be a believer, and I am now a committed atheist. I am not unfulfilled by my atheism, but I have found it to be truly liberating. I am not beholden to some mythical supernatural creature, who must tell me who to love, how to love, what to eat, what to wear, when I should work, when I shouldn't work, etcetera, etcetera. I now understand that I am just another cog in this planet, and I can view my fellow-creatures as just deserving of life as I am, since we are all products of the same evolutionary process, being essential to not only the history of this Earth, but it's future as well.
1
The only witches that exist are imaginary. See Joe McCarthy and lives he ruined for no reason.
Today's imaginary witches are immigrants, people of color, and of course various women. The usual suspects. They are conjured up as an excuse to do whatever the White House wants, like looting our national treasury for the sake of billionaires.
This same column could probably have also been written about any of the other superstitions people have (i.e., Christianity, Muhammad-ism, Judaism, Buddhism, etc.). Facts don't soothe the soul. People will always invent the world the really want to live in.
1
This article is both interesting and depressing. A sign of the times, but likely fleeting as every time before. I would guess that most that venture down this path find nothing of true value. The "witches" may chant King David's curse towards his enemies, but this is how Psalm 109 starts. "My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues." Psalm 109:1-2. Later in the passage: "But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your LOVE, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me," Psalm 109:21-22. "Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing LOVE. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it. While they may curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice. May your accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy to save their lives from those who would condemn him," Psalm 109:26-31 (NIV). This passage is not a curse, but a complaint that is given to the court of heaven and an appeal to the righteousness of God. I would encourage "witches" to focus on the ENTIRE passage, and not piece meal what they want. Maybe, they will find truth.
4
A major practical problem with witches placing a hex upon President Trump is that Trump appears to have allies in Saudi Arabia. Although Saudi Arabia is, needless to say, an Islamic country, the people there -- before their adoption of Monotheism -- had contact with genii. What if the Saudis can summons the genii to protect Trump from the witches' hex and spells?
3
I can see a number of the excellent NY Times commenters may not truly understand the Wiccan and neo-Pagan movements. Occult witchcraft, as generally - and often mistakenly - understood does have a negative connotation, but Wicca and neo-Paganism are primarily based on very positive principles, not unlike the earth-centered Native American traditions and religions. For an excellent presentation of this movement, I recommend Scott Cunningham's enlightening book "Wicca."
12
This occult trend can be regarded metaphorically as part of the all-out resistance and opposition to everything trump. As in WWII, this is total war, not just to defeat an enemy but to create an indelible example of him.
3
“They just use thoughts and prayers, and we know what those are worth,” Bracciale said with contempt. “With us, there’s structure around it, there is a methodology behind it.”
Hilarious. Apparently (Mr./Ms.?) Bracciale has never been to a Catholic church. News flash: Mass definitely has a structure and methodology. Organized religions do that.
And hexes and spells are no more effective than thoughts and prayers -- they really amount to the same thing. Direct action tends to be more effective than either.
2
I would have guessed Brooklyn millennials were just looking for something social to do that doesn't involve alcohol or food. For a generation raised on Harry Potter books, a curiosity about witchcraft doesn't seem all that surprising. Added bonus, you probably find fewer creepy old men than in a climbing gym. The political aspect might be unique to this shop. Although, millennials are relatively political in general so maybe not.
In any event, my experience with people who explore alternative religions doesn't seem to match Bracciale's description. They aren't looking to fill some gaping hole in their existence. I'd describe their involvement as casual spirituality. These friends generally approach the subject matter like a hobby or social event with a philosophical element. Various types of yoga or martial arts aren't too far off. There are probably better examples out there.
However, when push comes to shove there is very little strict observation. People tend to take what works for them and leave the rest. You can decide whether or not you want to check your politics at the door. Again, this is my experience watching similar things play out.
4
In "Anti-fragile," Nassim Nicholas Taleb advises atheists and agnostics that anything which has survived a long time in human culture--such as religion--is serving an important function. I found this true after leaving the religion I was raised in (when asked my faith, I'd tell people I was a Recovering Catholic).
This being the late 70's, paganism, particularly Wicca, with it's feminist bent and nature mysticism was an easy draw. Wiccan rituals are (or were then) surprisingly similar to Catholic ones, and the wine was less precious and more abundant. Eventually though, Wicca too came to feel like chanting to a void.
These days, the Buddhist precept that we take each moment for what it is and not distract ourselves with illusions of control fits best. This does not mean sitting by passively as we watch harmful actions set in motion! It does mean making sure our actions don't add to the avalanche. Though I do admit that "trusting the moment" has been harder to do since November 9, 2016! Good thing I long since gave away all my old Wiccan books. Many days I too, have been tempted to start throwing hexes (or at least objects at the television).
1
Witches are the ultimate oppressed minority--they were burned first. They still cry out as the ruling class and police state fiddle while Earth burns. Nothing has changed. Everything has changed.
1
Every month, thousands of devoted Christians, join together to Break, Block and Dismantle all Satanic spells placed on Trump and his administration: “So that he may spectacularly succeed. That he may Make America Great Again in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power and authority of His shed blood. No spells cast will take hold, no evil will touch the Trump family and corruption will continue to be exposed and mocked in the streets, in the mighty name of JESUS.
5
"...the Washington writer and hostess Sally Quinn just published a book in which she boasts about hexing the renowned magazine editor Clay Felker, my former journalism professor, before his death from cancer."
Wait, what?
You can't just roll in a grenade like that and run away from it like in Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein!
Tell me more!
9
It would be funny if the law took her nonsense seriously and charged her.
It costs $22 to attend this course. A fool and his money are soon parted. Incidentally, the article mentions the use of the Book of Psalms. My guess is that they don't look at the Book of Proverbs, which has lots of verses mentioning fools and their attempts to gain power without putting in work or effort. To be fair, the Trump chumps probably never read Proverbs, either.
1
This Trump supporter, like many I know, reads the Bible regularly. I go through the Old and New Testaments once a year, and Psalms and Proverbs more than once a year. Proverbs is one of my favorite books.
Among so many other things I have learned, is that the Bible is filled with accounts of God using flawed men for His purposes. Moses killed a man, Noah was a drunk, Saul - who became Paul - persecuted Christians, King David was an adulterer and had his good friend killed, etc. Trump's abrasive style does not preclude his being used by God. The Bible says that those in leadership - and governments - are established by God. That means both Obama and Trump were put in by God's will. I'll leave it to you to figure out which was a warning and/or judgment and which was in response to His people's repentance and fervent prayers that our land be healed in accordance with His instructions.
1
I get it- I do. We did it in the 60s for the same reasons. We also threw the IChing about 5 times a day. Anything that would give us the courage to get through a few days. Just be careful of cults- they are dangerous because they replace your mind with orders from the cult leaders- I consider the GOP a big cult.
This article was well worth writing-
3
In the green valley where I am staying, a professional driver and historian told me that one of his passengers was a witch and belonged to a covenant (not to be confused with a convent). The only real witch I have heard of, was a British woman called Sybil Leek and when she came to America, she switched to astrology and was popular on T.V.
Early at dawn I called the fire department because of a possible gas leak, and two men showed up in the dark, took one look at my long hair, the broom I was holding and the black cat who adopted me, and they took a step back.
My idea of 'Black Magic' is a box of chocolates that tells you what you are going to get when you choose from a variety. This is contrary to what Forest Gump was told by his mother and her philosophy about life.
Would this American be welcoming if a witch showed up at the front door with a potion of spells to place on our Halloween President and this Administration. I might ask if she had a day-time job. 'Witchcraft' was a cantankerous pony of mine with an attitude problem and she never missed an opportunity to bolt.
'Whatever makes you happy' from a colleague on a long humanitarian mission to the Sudan, and neither of us need a spell to tell us that something is wrong with our Country. 'It's crazy out there' is what she says, and what's even crazier is that these dispersed Republicans and this president are probably going to get elected again.
Taking up religion/alcohol/drug/chocolate (put your jones here) is easy. Life is difficult and complex. I suppose we all need some sort of outlet.
2
according to folklore, most demons or spirits cant cross large expanses of water and must reside within a host to cross it. When America was colonized, The spirit of demons was near neal as most who came were Christians which overcame the spirits of the Natives. But now after years of immigration from non Christian nations, demonic spirits have been brought to America, thus we are having a growing paganistic movement.
America is falling and becoming a habitation of demons and hateful spirits.
OK. This was all done to much better effect in Rosemary's Baby. When I want witches, I don't want the faux, millennial, hipster types - I want the real thing: Warts, toads, black magic... All these witches give me are a trendy occult boutique and feckless Trump curses (and I hear more "powerful" ones in the NY Times comment sections). Step your game up, witches. And if you need more meaning in your life, go see the Catskills fall foliage, or fish for salmon and steelhead on Great Lakes tributaries like I do - very spiritual.
21
Witches kits are available on Amazon.
2
Secularism and “new atheism” wasn’t enough so she found I’d necessary to conjure up a demon haunted world of witches and bogus medieval spiritualism? Not helpful.
Witch hunts get extra dicey when you start finding witches. The only actual spells cast are those that trick the brain into an illusion of having control.
1
Of course, it's the "witches" as the dark feminine that gets blamed for "chaos" when it's so clear from Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly, Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump among others that it's really the dark male vampires. Witches are clearly not the problem even though men always try to burn them at the stake. Please put away the broomstick, leave "Catland" and watch out for "things that go bump in the night." It's not so much the feline cats, but the dirty dogs to be wary of. So Michelle, please remember that "It's the warlocks, stupid!"
3
“Every month, thousands of witches, neo-pagans and other magic practitioners virtually join together to cast a binding spell on Trump: “ So that he may fail utterly...”
Nothing new for the GOP “warlocks” like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, who began trying to cause “toil and trouble” for the Obama presidency from day one, whatever the cost to the country. Despite all the Republican spells and potions (“eye of Newt Gingrich”?) they were unable to stop Obama from being a two term president, but now that they are in power our “Sorcerers” in Congress have lost control of their “apprentice” Trump and we may not get out of this alive. A Pox and a Hex on all of them!
It's used to be funny to watch shallow stupid people condemn those things which they can't or don't care to understand.
But now it's science which is being condemned and people in positions of power who are the ignoramuses.
The republican party has pushed it's own voodoo for decades.
For the GOP, the season of the witch has morphed into decades. Hillary Clinton as the ultimate witch who the GOP have wanted to burn at the stake since at least the 1990's. Given her 'witchy' powers and foul reach, Clinton has magically been responsible for almost every ill (as defined by the GOP) of American government, society and culture. According to Trump, her chants and spells were instrumental in founding ISIS. Just another example of how her spiritual prowess has grown worldwide.
The distraught Americans were asked, told and willingly followed the GOP witch hunt all the way into the town square. This week the cry to get the pitchforks out went up anew!!! Sebastian Gorka is standing next to the pyre with a lighted match apparently so fervently do the GOP want you to fear The Witch.
What is the point of highlighting the offensive tail end of a group here? To campaign for Trump? This is some sort of rare, fringe group being made extremely prominent and associated, by you, with New York and liberals.
Using the Bible as a spellbook to cast curses is going to be seen as blasphemy by most Christians, and for pretty good reason. This article will ring around the right wing chamber for years, with the message that Brooklyners are the other, the ones who mock and profane the sacred. Is your message that New Yorkers nod and laugh at all this? Count me out.
Would you publish something mocking Islam and Muslims in a similar way? Probably not since liberal orthodoxy is currently to avoid any critique of either the religion or its adherants, but laughing at Christians in global print is still just fine.
Written by a liberal atheist.
6
And what do we burn, apart from witches?
--MORE WITCHES!!!
Monty Python & The Holy Grail
1
As the remains of Science disappear in the rear-view mirror, our society is reverting back to a simpler and more comforting time. Witches and Warlocks.
Why bother doing all of the hard work of mobilizing and voting to change what you don't like when you can simply cast a spell?
Why find scientific alternatives to atmospheric pollution when you can simply 'drill baby drill?'
Why protect yourself or your children with vaccines when the internet says that the vaccine will make you sick?
Why be mindful of recent history when Nazis march in our cities and our imbecile in Chief and his sycophants salute them?
Soon we will again be living in grass huts and praying to the gods for rain. The age of Trump has arrived. All ye who enter might as well abandon any pretenses that we will retain hundreds of years of social and scientific progress against this onslaught of ignorance and filth.
2
I experienced that in microcosm with a former, that's former girlfriend. She came from a horrible evangelical background in the south, and experienced incest as a child. She had to reject the Baptist background, but became crazy with occultism. Too weird for this liberal. I got out quickly.
2
"as the discoveries of Charles Darwin undermined faith in Christian creation stories"
And what, pray tell, are the "Christian creation stories"?
Americans will sell anything and Americans will buy anything. Looks like witchcraft sold in the guise of spirituality is something else that has been monetized and advertised in glossy magazine photos. All this does is create a larger spritual vacuum.
2
A feeling of powerless generally leads to a variety of superstitious beliefs. At least hexing little don has one feeling in control for at least a little while. At the same time, it can drain off the energy needed to stick ourselves out there and RESIST!
Witchcraft is forbidden in the bible because it is real. Its a warning to stay far away from it or it will come back on you. I'm sorry millenials feel so disenfranchised and rebellious. Every generation has its rebellion. we had the 60's hippy movement and drugs and sex. It backfired too.
4
Did anyone see former Delaware Republican candidate for Senate Christine O’Donnell at Catland?
1
Trumps two very best traits:
His Age
His physical condition
It's all so confusing:
Social media is a godsend (2012)
Social media is wicked (2016
Russia is benign, despite GOP/Romney scare-mongering (2012)
Russia is our mortal enemy and must be met with war (2016)
Rationalism and Atheism are the ticket
Spiritualism is the ticket
"We can only hope that when your head stops spinning, Master Will, that it's facing the right way..."
1
More votes for Trump and Republicans after the this column. Keep it coming Michelle!
3
Interesting thoughts when relating them to our current extraordinary stupidity in accepting Trumpism as the new normal. Occultism, however irrelevant it is to anybody willing to keep a critical mind, subject to the facts of science...while not taking ourselves too seriously, seems to gain ground as a desperate measure to make sense of having a jerk dictating not only our self-worth but telling us when to jump and applaud his nonsense as if it were the dogma truth; the latter demanding suspension of reason (which is what makes us human). If you look at theistic religion, a make-believe human creation of a god at our image, one can readily see the need we have, partly out of ignorance (willful?), part out of being indoctrinated since infancy, but also the 'nee' we seem to want to keep 'the mysterious' within reach...when our anguished stress becomes intolerable (our current situation). Let as not forget, however, that Trump may not be the main 'evil' culprit causing our despair; after all, it was 'us' that chose him...instead of his however imperfect but down to earth opponent, Hillary Clinton. Oh well, Einstein already told us that stupidity was in ample supply. And Pogo as well: "we found the enemy, and it is Us".
Seems like it was after all a mistake to give us women the vote.
That sadly seems the conclusion the article would like us to draw
2
None of this is surprising since there seems to be a popular movement to reject Western Civilization. After all, according to the Hey Hey Ho Ho, Western Civ has got to go crowd, all of society's ills can be traced to the ascendency of European thought brought to us from the Greeks thru the Enlightenment. Witchcraft and magic are easy to believe in. Aristotle's rhetoric, the scientific method, and physics are just so hard, and who cares about reasoning anymore since feelings are all that matter. We even have magic words nowadays that cannot be spoken, but only alluded to. Just like in the Middle Ages people are shouting down speakers and banning books with dangerous ideas. People can assign fault to whomever their prejudices demand, but we are living in an anti intellectual age, and I think it is because observed reality does not comport with current political thought; therefore, since current political thought cannot possibly be wrong, objective reality must be. Only magic can change that.
5
Let's hope they move from chanting on to voting.
156
They would if Bernie was on the ticket, you see.
2
This is officially pathetic. And bizarre. And depressing. The lunatic fringe of the Democratic Party is resorting to spells, hexes and curses to turn things around. Not political outreach. Not new policies. Not new leadership. But witchcraft. How did it get to this? If this is all we have then it's time to run for the hills. It's over. Please tell me we can do better than this.
4
Wow, the NY times cannot resist attacking Donald Trump in any and every article. Its become a sickness that I suspect will destroy the publication. Tying a pop cultural interest in "witchcraft" to Trump really highlights how desperate and hysterical they have become. FAKE NEWS, all the way.
If they could find a way to blame Trump for the weather ( the last section of credible "news" in the paper ) they would....and dont think we wont see that at some point.
4
It's ironic that the more information we have, the more ignorant we become.
1
witches 101,really !
yeah,that will work.
I am sure Trump is
shaking in his boots.
what a waste of space
in the paper of record.
1
Now if all of these witches would get out and vote that could make all of the difference. That would be a real "spell"
1
“When a big crisis is happening, then maybe you feel powerless to do anything through whatever tangible means are available to you....”
There is a way to feel less powerless. Don't cast a spell, cast a vote.
4
Oh goody. A rise in witchcraft, occultism and spiritualism. As if our mainline religions haven't done enough harm already.
3
Sorry, but reading this reminded me less of a brewing storm and more of powerful witch-to-be Willow's description of her first college Wicca meeting:
WILLOW: Talk, all talk. Blah blah Gaia Blah, blah, moon, menstral lifeforce power thingy. You know after a couple of sessions I was hoping we would get into something real but...
BUFFY: No actual witches in your witch group?
WILLOW: No, bunch of wanna-blessed-be's. You know nowadays every girl with a Henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the dark ones.
2
WARNING: Never speak a prayer or an incantation that you would not want spoken to, for, or against yourself.
So, God bless Donald Trump and his administration.
God bless the United States of America.
God bless the world.
God is Love.
4
Buffalo Springfield redux. First God was God. Then reason was God. Then industrialization was God. Then science was God. Then Marx was God. Then CEOs were God. Agreed circumstances have brought us to the next search for God. It's time we stop, look, hear that sound, everyone knows what's going down.
1
This is a dangerous article. As a few other commenters note, these people are playing with forces beyond their full comprehension. It's like handing a loaded gun to a child.
I was a Theology scholarship student for 2-1/2 years, before the hypocrisy chased me out. Even within that program there were people practicing the occult. Every one of them came to a bad end. Every. Single. One.
You think you can control these forces. You cannot. They trick you into thinking you are their master, but you are not. The devil--or whatever is this extra-dimension force beyond our 3-D world--is a genius when it comes to manipulating the human condition, and what begins as fun and good and progressive never ends that way.
You want to tap into the "next world"? Just try prayer. Sincere prayer. You don't need a coven or a congregation for a hotline to God. God loves us and offers a 1-on-1 relationship if you want and ask for it.
The one thing this article gets right is that "under the surface of American culture, something furious is brewing." I would suggest that, should you pray, one thing you ask for is wise discernment to figure out what to do when that furious bubble finally pops. Good luck and God bless.
6
You should feel sorry for people who actually ascribe substance to this sort of supernatural nonsense, especially if they seek to harm others with it. They are just hurting themselves, psychologically. Let's hope it ends there.
“Witches are everywhere these days.” Really? Where, exactly, are they all hiding out? In these hole-in-the-wall occult shops? Some solid statistical research results indicating their actual numbers would be welcome accompanying an article like this one.
1
LOL I wonder if the same demographic fell for "hope," "change," and "free health insurance?"
2
I am from the US home of the occult spin off, voodoo. I am writing about Louisiana, specifically the French Quarter in New Orleans. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time there understands what I am writing about.
Whether one believes in this ritual or not (probably the latter; myself included), please know this is a very old practice here: This practice dates back hundreds of years (in New Orleans).
Although most of the "practitioners" of this ritual are (like most palm and/or tarot card readers are charlatans, there are a select few in New Orleans who people swear are the real thing. Right or wrong, believers or not; I think I should submit this comment, as it has been a part of my life which at the very least, is worth me sharing this. Thank you.
1
Evolution was witnessed long before Darwin and what Darwin brought to the table was the mechanism. The mechanism for evolution is boring but its discovery was a major eureka moment. Jefferson was after all a plant breeder and developer of more reliable commercial plants. Nineteenth century littéralisme was and is the new witchcraft.
America was founded by scientists who saw nothing supernatural in the affairs of man. Americans' inalienable rights are locked in the enlightenment discovery we are free from devine interference and magic. What is wrong is America has been swept away by a belief the problems are in the stars not in ourselves.
America is no longer America it is a country of people cowering in their caves imagining all kinds of demons waiting for them in the darkness.
My fear is that the men with the lanterns have become the enemy and fear is much stronger than truth.
3
Mary Todd Lincoln held seances in an attempt to reconnect with her youngest son who died in the White House, an event she never really recovered from. Hers was a desperate act of grief not intended to bring about change in a time of national crisis. It’s interesting to note that in yesterday’s NYT edition there was a picture of a white nationalist devoutly praying on one knee at a rally in Tennessee(like that act was going to make all his racist, conservative dreams come true)and juxtaposed to this article, it’s a testament of the unhappy nation we have become that we are grasping at every metaphysical straw available to find a reality we will accept. Prayer or spell, which works for you? And do either really make a difference other than making you feel better?
1
This story is not so unusual if you examine christian mythology.
Much of it sounds like a horror movie.
Drinking blood (vampires), and eating of the character Jesus' body (cannibalism),
the dead coming back to life (zombies), the crucifix (voodoo doll).
There is even a genuine medical term called "occult blood" which is used in the christian religion.
Yet, in this modern age, is what most people in this country believe in.
Always remember that religion gives people faith, because it has no evidence.
2
In the final analysis, everyone tries to cope in some fashion with a situation beyond his or her control, when that situation causes deep personal distress. The personal pain in daily life is very real, even if the coping mechanism seems either self-destructive or bizarre to the observer.
Donald Trump has caused great harm to ordinary Americans. Through his proposed tax bill, his attempted destruction of healthcare options and his reckless international brinksmanship, he promises to do even more harm.
Moreover, by his tweets and remarks, President Trump seems to enjoy doing harm. It is very difficult for anyone to believe that he is that ignorant.
The witches are not crazy. They’re just trying to cope.
1
To every action is a reaction. Or perhaps to every reaction is an action. I personally do not buy into witchcraft, but if this is what it takes to console oneself or feel that something should be done to assuage or at best eliminate the amorality rampant in the Trump White House, so be it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And, after all, Glinda of Oz was a "good" witch.
I'm sure the "Christian-Right" will jump all over the "Season of the Witch." But here is the deal: These witches are true to themselves, and have their own moral compasses, so to speak. The ideology of those written about here is not based on exploitation or lies. In their own way, they are reaching out and trying to help everyone in the search for justice and freedom. And which of the two, this group or the Trump Christians (an oxymoron, indeed), can honestly answer in a positive sense the most profound of all Biblical statements? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2
Well, it's worth a try. :-)
33
The late L. Ron Hubbard once said that the best scam in America would be to invent a religion. Then he did precisely that.
But we live in a rational universe, run by cause and effect. And while every answer Science gives us opens us up to a million more unanswered questions, you don't get there with ritual, chants, eye of newt and wing of bat.
Doesn't every child wish there was some magic way to get something? My son, when he was little, thought if he tossed an ice cube outside and did a "snow dance", he'd have a snow day from school...it worked, but only on the nights we were either having or about to have a blizzard.
Perhaps these folks should cast their spells for Congress to do its duty to carry out their oath to protect and defend the Constitution, particularly Article II, Section 4:
"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
The day Trump took office, he violated Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 8, the so-called Emoluments Clause:
"And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
2
I believe the preferred descriptor is Wicca, perhaps to avoid the burden the term Witchcraft carries . . . I noted references, for example, to devil and such in the comments. For me, Wicca is centered on a reverence for nature. Spell casting certainly is an element but one can ascribe to Wicca and not cast spells, certainly not ones aimed at hurting or undermining another person. Wicca can be practiced alone; membership in a coven is not a requirement. And there most certainly is an ethical code, or rede, as there are deities. It's a quite beautiful, gentle path, one quite different from the public imagination.
24
Wicca is a specific school of witchcraft. I belong to a Progressive coven of self-identified witches who are not Wiccan (though the practices overlap). Paganism is vast and varied. Many of us choose to reappropriate the term “witch” precisely because of its baggage.
2
Wicca is to witchcraft what methodist is to christian. To lump all witches under the title of wiccan can be insulting to the many, many witches who aren’t wiccan.
1
Wicca is only one form of practice of the craft. There are many thousands of different types of practices spanning all over the world. Wicca is relatively young in the overall picture.
If a Wiccan says they are a Wiccan, cool.
If a Witch says they are a Witch, they may or may not be a Wiccan.
4
Did you research the subject before writing on this class? There are estimated 1 million "neopagans" in the U.S., which encompasses many groups (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism_in_the_United_States). In general, we believe in a version of the Golden Rule, which discourages the kind of acts described in the article. I don't think those in this story are representative of the larger movement. Much as it pains me to say it, there also exists a substantial pro Trump contingent.
7
Surge of occultism and conspiracy theories are well documented signs of society in trouble, where people feel powerless and adrift and moral values lost their meaning. Not surprising because there are profound changes in our society and the world and a total lack of even appearance of moral values in politics.
6
Yes, all brought on by the disastrous 8 years of Obama.
2
People like myself have done a very bad job of explaining to others what people like myself are really like. Life is a mix of certainty and uncertainty. We expect the sun to appear in the morning and to disappear at night--until we go to the Arctic or Antarctic regions where night and morning appear differently. And in spite of what we "know," we still say the sun rises and sets. We depend on certainty to a real extent: we couldn't function if we took every step in fear that the earth would open and swallow us. But scientists keep pushing the limits of knowledge. How old do we say H. sapiens is this week? Will the universe expand forever, or will it contract? Some who resort to magic in one of its many forms need reassurance that all is well and sufficiently reliable and permanent to keep them safe. People like me are comfortable with changes in this kind of knowledge, until something robs me of an ocular photo-chemical and I see the world in greenish hues, or until the earth opens and swallows me.
25
Why should one put his faith in science when it teeters on such shaky ground? Science has never answered such profound questions as to the origin and impetus of Creation, man’s purpose in an endless universe, or the survival of personal consciousness after bodily death, a perfect vacuum for the occult to fill.
Religion does fill the nagging hole in the human spirit that deepens as civilization becomes more sophisticated and cynical. While God shouldn’t be considered a heavenly wishing well, some inexplicable things have been “conjured up” though group prayer which I have witnessed personally.
Obviously there is always a rationalization for the impossible. However, just the simple fact that the sun rises every morning, and the Earth continues to function as a peerless system despite the abuse of man, hints at the possibility that behind everything in existence is a Great Designer that fashions order from chaos and hope from despair.
No, the designer does not wear pants or sit on a golden throne, but to discount design in favor of pure exponential happenstance suggests a greater ignorance than the distrust of science.
@bkrisinger
You are setting up a straw man in your assumption that science is trying, and failing, to explain the non-material world. It is not. It investigates the physical world--nothing more.
History shows that humans often tend to assume supernatural causes of things that are not yet understood. Once science explained thunderstorms, for example, we realized that lightening is not a fire bolt from Zeus, and that thunder is not the sound of some god's anger (or the angels bowling).
As for me, I demand credible evidence before I believe anything.
1
In. Brigadoon, the beautiful classic musical this line remains potent: "we have witches where I come from, too. We spell it differently."
With apologies to JK Rowley and Hogwarts, currently it is those of the second spelling calling for our serious attention.
4
An excellent article. The author has tapped into the zeitgeist: an anxiety that calls for extreme measures. Women are experiencing extreme anxiety and powerlessness. And not just women alone. The times are challenging for many reasons, it is not just Trump and his cohorts.
"The world that the eighteenth-century individual thought he could conquer and transform by reason and science has in fact taken shape, but is is a monstrous one." --Albert Camus.
That, plus everything being de-materialized and disappearing in the cloud makes people look for alternative realities that may work. Witchcraft is not a good choice and will never work.
It is better to reason, act, and will to bring about better outcomes than those we are experiencing today.
1
Thoughts from a practicing, coven-card-holding witch
1. Witchcraft works, for the same reasons that religion in general works. (You don’t have to be religious to acknowledge that it has a range of social and psychological utilities. “Skeptics’” avoidance of this point is a weak point in their position.) Many self-identifying witches are also pagan; for us, witchcraft is a religious practice.
2. The coven I belong to is among other things a political unit. (This is not unusual.) We have a formal charter, which includes activist goals. As a result of our spiritual practices, we channel our will into political actions ranging from demonstrating and contacting elected officials, to getting our hands dirty with environmental cleanup efforts.
None of this is mutually exclusive with reason, though it doesn’t proceed from the premise that humans are (or should be) primarily rational creatures. (I needn’t gesture too far for evidence of humans’ fundamental irrationality.) Witches choose to work with our whole beings, not just our prefrontal cortex. Sometimes the methods look silly. So what.
True to the article, my coven is mostly young women (25-40). We are also professors, social workers, and therapists. We approach our practice with a voracious interest in history, and an open mind. (I personally majored in Religious Studies as an undergrad, now am pursuing a PhD in another field.)
Thanks for reading. Wishing all a blessed day—
63
and even better to pray to God !!
3
There are two types of Magick, the low type or practical magick which tries to create a material desired outcome from a spell, and the high form which believes that the entire universe as perceived is but a projection of what is within each of us. Most people are only aware of the low type which tends to work among superstitious and less educated peoples whose "belief' that a curse or spell can affect them or another and brings about the success of the 'spell' much like the placebo effect with its scientifically documented effectiveness. High magick is akin to the spiritual practice of monks or ascetics that spend their lives & energies doing "magick rituals' whose results are generally perceived within ones own consciousness. In practicing this form of magick one comes to regard the outward universe and life's experiences as symbolic of inner processes that gradually purify and nourish the inner being and in the process raise the level of ones consciousness and increase ones's empathy and connection to creation and all of the living beings within it. In this form of magickal practice the ritual and the outcome are all part of the whole, which is to say that it all takes place within us and the results lead to higher consciousness whether the experience is perceived as positive or negative. In a Universe of polarities there is no absolute good or evil but simply the perception of two different energy states that work together to create the whole.
14
Is it Occult or just Cult? Maybe not cult, but just a non-productive way to spend a lot of time doing something that does not substantially improve an individual's lifestyle/bank account/living conditions. I thought Harry Potter was over, and that kids who are serious about getting real, top level jobs in The Workplace (around the world), choose to study for their Literacy Standardized Test Scores, and not memorize cartoon-like spells.
7
Why would you assume these things are in conflict?
I came of age in the pagan community in the 80's and 90's. Good times! Your ridiculous stereotyping aside, this only helped me as I did the tech career thing (and the stock option thing) and otherwise settled into a productive adult life. These days, I'm finishing up a doctorate in neurobiology (tech opens entertaining possibilities for one's further career) and I've accepted a position designing squishy robots based in part on my research.
The younger folks might not have the luck to be born into the booming economy of the nineties, but that's surely not based on their spiritual choices!
1
Trump is lucky to have such enemies.
This along with solid economic growth is confirmation that Trump will be re-elected.
17
A majority of Americans oppose Trump. It is the duty of decent, patriotic Americans to save our republic from destruction by Trump's doomsday cult.
2
Perhaps NYT should verify user locations, if not names, after all...
3
If you misinterpreted Ms. Goldberg's column as supporting witchcraft, just remember that witches are female. Warlocks are male.
Could this be a subtle way to undermine the female sex?
2
This is not accurate.
Witches are witches...they are male or female or non-conforming.
Warlocks are terms used in fictions.
1
This level of silly leaves me speechless.
52
On the other hand, The Witch Hunt in Mass. should never be forgotten, nor the mass hysteria it engendered. Another dark time in our history where persecution took place and can be witnessed in 'The Crucibles'. There is a theory that the rye crop was contaminated, the bread eaten by the poor, leading to hallucinations similar to L.S.D.
4
One would have thought that Trump’s tweets would offer sufficient purchase for Opinion that one wouldn’t need to journey to Brooklyn, of all places (sorry, stu), to participate in the explorations of a coven of witches. But, then, I see that one purpose of “Catland” is to hex Trump, so that explains Michelle’s presence, in NYT editorial absentia.
What is brewing beneath the surface of American culture, while indeed furious, isn’t “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” It’s a second term for the hexed, compelled by what may be a too-heated economy threatening.
3
It’s beyond unfortunate that Ms. Goldberg sweeps all spiritual beliefs ranging from New Age to witchcraft into the same grouping.
While these systems all believe in an unseen world, they have very different beliefs and practices.
-New Age is a loose collection of beliefs that includes angels, life after death and, frequently, reincarnation.
-Theosophy was an antecedent of New Age thought that emphasized the survival of the soul after death.
-Spiritualism formerly embraced the physical manifestation of the departed soul, through seances, table-tapping, ouija boards and the like; today, it has largely been superseded by psychic communications with the dead.
Witchcraft is an outlier. Unlike New Age, Theosophy and spiritualism— which emphasize the necessity of upright conduct and eschew evil— witchcraft believes in and channels the power of Satan.
It is abhorrent to confuse witchcraft with other metaphysical belief systems.
4
Not all-- probably not even most-- witchcraft has anything to do with Satan. You've seen too many horror movies. Most modern-day "witches" are actually hoping to make at best, the world and at least, their own lives/family's lives/friends' lives better, not worse. It is unfortunate, I think, that the primary example of modern-day witchcraft in this article is people trying to hex Trump-- which is an evil thing to do. Hexes= black magic, period. Even if you're hexing someone who is "bad."
By contrast, most witches actually try to use magic to help themselves or others. They might, for instance, employ a spell or mix some combination of ingredients in hopes of alleviating a relative's illness, or to give themselves better chances of getting a job for which they are interviewing in a few days. Such acts have nothing whatsoever to do with "Satan," or evil.
4
What is abhorrent is to claim that Wicca doesn't have a metaphysical belief system. Wicca has absolutely nothing to do with Satan. Satan is a character from the Abrahamic religions, which came into existence several millennia after Wicca. Conflating Satan with witchcraft was at first a strategy of Abrahamic religions' followers to discredit pagans who wouldn't fall in line with the Abrahamic deity/religion du jour. Nowadays asserting this relationship between Wicca and Satan is just Hollywood reductionism. If you look up the etymology of witchcraft you will learn that it came from the Anglo-Saxon wiccecraft meaning "craft of the wise."
Don't malign something you are clearly not familiar with just because you saw it in a movie or you're familiar with as an urban myth. There is no such thing as black magic --another Hollywood fairytale. There are 2 types of practices and they are distinguished by their main commandments. One practice's commandment is "Do what you will, bringing harm to none." The other practice's commandment is "Do what you will." Nothing whatsoever to do with Satan.
2
As an aggressive atheist, I'm always disturbed by people who believe that magic is real. If the purpose of a religion is to provide a positive impulse in the life of the practitioner, I'm all for it. Once it becomes something a person believes is real, no matter the lack of evidence to the contrary, then I check out. I ask anyone to show me the tangible result of a magic spell that couldn't be achieved by mundane means or chance. A turkey sandwich magically appearing in front of me that wasn't placed there by a server; that would do it.
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Dear Ms Goldberg,
Now, I know this is all in good fun for Halloween and that we should defend female empowerment and sexuality in the context of recent scandals, but I think you are treading on dangerous ground today. I am a big fan of your research in yoga and a practitioner myself, but what is this constant need for "spirituality"? Of course Dawkins and company are shrill and mostly miss the point. People are right to reject them. But only a sober materialism is going to get us through the many crises we are facing. Your column touches on the deep dangers posed by romanticism. And we know how that turned out...
"Réenchanter le monde; c'est Daech."
3
Suave.
1
I don't think witchcraft every really left us. It simply infiltrated other religions and took different forms. With the limitations of existing religious institutions we can probably expect to see more of it.
19
Possible topics for the next serious column:
1. The pervasive and lazy use of the word "meddling" instead of the
accurate description, which is sabotage.
2. What must have been apparent to Comey and the FBI about the ties to Russia between Trump and the individuals on his team before the election.
3. What must have been apparent to Homeland Security regarding
social media and the Russian sabotage.
4. The pervasive expression of determination to "never let this happen
again". As if this time doesn't count.
5. The very strange kind of loyalty oath taken by those who say they don't
want to relitigate the last election. Why not?
It was not legitimate. It was not won fair and square.
It was crooked, like the entire administration. It was and is an imposition
by a foreign and hostile power.
It IS a crime.
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The fix was in.
Brazile finally came out and said it, and then Warren added her voice.
The most important line in this piece of writing is the last one..because something furious *is* brewing. And it is coming close to hitting critical mass.
The pot was on the fire already simmering - this administration has ramped up the flames and stirred it to the boiling point. The current situation is unstable and cannot stand.
60
Ellen: better a controlled explosion than an uncontrolled one. Do you have confidence that there are enough level-headed well-informed Americans to pick up the pieces and stitch together a new republic, or are we in for a long winter of chaos?
6
I'm with you, Oldmadding. Apologies to Dylan Thomas, but I too insist we rage, rage against the dying of the FIGHT.
3
I've just finished Kurt Anderson's "Fantasyland-How America Went Haywire". This essay is particularly and timely.
During America's 500 year history, belief in religion and the supernatural has waxed and waned. In the last 50 years of the 20th Century, belief in supernatural beings took us to the point where we now see a denial of science, as well as reason and rationality.
There is little difference between believing in religion, whether it be the "Abrahamic" faiths or Pagan beliefs. Worshiping a supernatural, invisible "God" is not unlike believing in witchcraft and worshiping a supernatural, invisible "Devil"; they are simply reflections of each other and their believers' Fantasyland.
It would be nice to return to clear thinking, logic, and reason, but it won't happen until the masses of America wake up from the mesmerization of religion and the demagogue politicians who prey on spellbound believers.
Unfortunately, I doubt the Scopes Monkey Trial would have a different outcome if it was held in the Bible Belt in 2018.
83
This current administration and the upper percent worship money. Self centered greed is the enemy.
1
As always, the danger of the illusion of control is that the magician ends up being not the controller but the controlled. Other powers, if you believe they exist, are not interested in being controlled by you, but they would be quite happy to let you think so for the time being.
8
"It might seem strange for people who reject monotheism to chant Bible verses, but Bracciale often uses the Book of Psalms as a spellbook."
There is a long history of the Book of Psalms as well as other biblical books (of the Old Testament) being used for spells and the like by those involved in witchcraft and the occult.
I find it amusing though that none of these users of Psalms for explicitly non-biblical use or study all ignore Exodus 22:17 (in the Masoretic Hebrew Bible; in other versions this is often 22:18): “Do not allow a sorceress to live."
Now that is irony.
14
Trump has made progressives so deranged that they are now resorting to witchcraft and magical spells to obstruct him! Maybe the most incredible part of this column is the mention that today's occultists, though willing to put an evil curse or hex on a politician they don't like, still remain wary of "cultural appropriation" when carrying out their witchcraft! There's no need for satire anymore.
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Is it really so much stranger than praying that the almighty strike down and kill Obama?
3
R.P.:
Yes, how "deranged" of us to want to save our republic from this wannabe dictator and his corrupt, racist cronies.
As a longtime fan of Martin Gardner, James Randi and Carl Sagan, I could very easily try and debunk the power of the occult. But I am also a longtime fan of Colin Wilson and John Keel, and someone with more than a bit of occult experience. So let me assure your readers that it exists and that, for reasons either psychological or metaphysical, it is exceedingly dangerous. Do not lay curses, do not attempt to contact spirits, do not get near Ouija boards. I am a rational man, but I have seen things.
20
Couldn't agree more Michael. I like to consider myself a rational person, grounded in scientific understanding with a curiosity for that which we do not yet know or comprehend but I also believe, just as science struggles to answer the really big questions about our universe and our place in it, there are parts of our world that we don't yet scientifically understand which could very well be the impetus of these types of unexplained occurrences one might attribute to rituals like the ones this article describes and those you've referenced in your comment.
We exist in and can only perceive 4 dimensions (3 spatial + 1 time), however, who is to say that there aren't extra dimensions and we simply are scientifically incapable at the moment of perceiving them? String theory relies on/predicts 10 dimensions of space-time. One might then rebut by saying this is only a theory and can't be proven but let me offer this in defense: 2500 years ago, man "knew" the earth was flat and several thousand years ago, mankind thought the earth was the center of the universe.
My point is, there is much we don't know and understand today so we should tread carefully when engaging with unknown/unseen forces of nature.
We don't need magic, escapism, and a lucky rabbit's foot for women to feel powerful. We need direct voices that do not fear speaking truth to power. We need a collective, a true sisterhood. I would prefer a Cult of Wonder Woman instead of witchcraft. For me, witchcraft has the odor of passive-aggressiveness that turns me off. I prefer my justice served straight up, I like my conversations direct, and my challenges met head-on.
One of the glaring issues we as women have to face is the competition between ourselves that society (we included) perpetuate. I was telling a female colleague the other day about my experience with unwanted sexual comments in the office. A project manager we both work with always jokes about me being his "work-wife" or if I do something nice for him he says, "stop I'm married." Both comments make me uncomfortable a. I am happily married to a gorgeous bodybuilder, b. I am 20 years younger than this man, c. I am a beautiful young woman and he is a middle age bald loser. After sharing this intimate detail about my work struggles the female colleague says to me in a huffy, semi-jealous tone, "Well, He doesn't do that to me?" The tone made it clear, she took the fact that this man sexually harasses me, instead of her, as a commentary on her looks. As long as women are "vying" for sexual harassment we live in a sick world, and the perpetrators win.
41
It is a shame that skepticism about religion begat credulousness about something equally bogus. The point is that we should assert the primacy of reason and behave in rational ways.
The whole problem with Trump is that he rejects reality. Opposing Trump by embracing the unreality of occultism is pure defeatism. You do not win the fight against nonsense with more nonsense.
52
Witchcraft is probably not the best way to fight Trump, given that it doesn't work, but these people are desperate for a voice, as Trump is trying to mute all voices in society that do not agree with him.
22
Sure, just the other day Trump was shouting down speakers on some college campus.
1
The rise of theosophy is less an understanding of a parallel occult world than a reaction to perceived powerlessness in the current realm for both the right and the left although at different times. As fear increasingly drives us into our separate spaces, the ascension of an ausländer like Obama/Trump drives us to seek extremes for surcease.
2
I enjoyed the historical perspective provided by the column but it tells us nothing of how we might go about solving our oroblems. Submersion in occultism and spirituality is not helpful. My guess is is that people who take this course want to be told what to do.They need a white knight.
6
Just goes to show how little man/womankind has developed over the centuries. "Witchcraft" is pretty much anything that happens that we can's suss out a logical explanation for. Those who are able to discern this are often touted as witches. Those, like the leader of the event Gail attended are poseurs, just like the hundreds of fortune tellers hawking their "gifts" for a hefty fee paid by people who want or need answers to the unanswerable.
Our lives belong to us to mold within the confines of the environments we inhabit. Sometimes they are filled with options, sometimes not. The true "magic" of witching is the creative thought personified. And I've got to say, we would be culturally less fulfilled without our dash of pointed hats, flying brooms and "double double boil and trouble". I LOVE Halloween!
1
Is this any different than the 'thoughts and prayers' given after every shooting in America? So one adds ingredients, like the witches in Macbeth, and stirs the bubbling brew and that is supposed to make the difference? I'd like to believe that good witches could do something about getting rid of Trump or helping Mueller find evidence to do so but I don't believe in that any more than I believe in the prayers. Humans are susceptible to magic and wishes and prayers; I appreciate your pointing out that in times of crisis we turn to it. I remember, as a young child, fervently wishing that Peter Pan was real, that I really could, someday, fly to Never-Never Land. Witches are no different. But there is no Never-Never Land. There is no Here After. There is only the Here and the Now and our struggles within that space.
56
The difference is one is petitioning, and the other is commanding. One leads to humility and empathy, the other to arrogance and callousness.
1
As I explained to a friend once, "Witchcraft is just praying with props."
1
As I started reading this story, I was relieved that, for once, Ms. Goldberg, could layoff the hysterical Trump bashing and write something original, interesting and funny. Halfway through, I felt it coming like a spell. And there it was. More insane, over the top Trump bashing that has made the NY Times a very predictable and boring paper. It’s like a witch who really believes her own hocus pocus.
17
Peter Lewis:
You have to wonder that with all these witches casting spells against Trump, well, where were they *before* the election? He looked pretty scary then, didn't he? Maybe they're still busy perfecting their techniques, hoping for better luck in the future?
I didn't get a lot out of the BuzzFeed article linked to this op-ed. Are there any published refereed journal articles relating to this phenomenon at present? Whatever the motivations of these witches, they still represent less than 1% of the U.S. population. Should we be concerned by that?
If these witches want better results, they should spend less time in covens and at the east sides of trees at midnight and more time in the voting booths.
29
@Peter Lewis:
Yes, how "hysterical" of us to try and save our republic from a criminally corrupt and illegitimate regime.
2
Sort of like a Stephen Colbert opening monologue.
1
One of the hardest things for me to accept about Trumpism is its embrace by the Christian right. It never ceases to amaze that some of the most fervent believers think this monster is some sort of Messiah.
As for magic, it goes hand in hand with ignorance and political crisis--the fall of Rome, the Middle Ages, and the despair that rose up between the end of WWI and WWII.
I think we all seek meaning in life, a sort of one plus one equals two paradigm that offers us a semblance of order. For many it's an organized religion, for others the provability of science. Both help explain, and tolerate, the inexplicable.
But neither paradigm fits today's America where up is down and down is up. Despite his documented immorality, Trump is praised by the Christian right, and as for science, the man symbolizes ignorance and conspiracy-mongering.
If millennials are turning to witchcraft, they're going to lose a lot more than the money they shell out for classes in the occult. They're going to lose valuable time--the time to figure out how to thrive in this post-truth world. How I hate the term "post-truth"--something is either true or it isn't).
Because isn't magic just escapism? Isn't distraction the last thing we should indulge in when we feel helpless?
I just don't see how spells and hexes are going to make me feel better about the mess in Washington or the seemingly quick, easy takeover of the American belief system.
148
Knowing that you participated in the mess should be a great consolation Christine. As our beloved senator, Liz Warren tells us, the democratic party's primary elections were rigged. Kindly contemplate your role in it.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2017/11/02/elizabeth-warren-say...
4
Thanks for the comment. We need to stay focused on TRUTH and FACTS. This is not 1984!!
3
This is the Nu-Left. This superstitious stuff goes hand-in-hand with anti-vaccine and anti-nuclear stances, similarly based in willful ignorance.
3