Deborah Blake - Modern Witchcraft: Goddess Empowerment for the Kick-Ass Woman

Women today have more opportunities than they ever have. We can aim higher and achieve things that our grandmothers could only dream about. This is a good thing, but good isnt the same as easy. For many of us, having it all means that we live hectic, busy lives, and often spend most of our energy taking care of work, family, and social commitments, with little left over for ourselves.

You cant draw water from an empty well, so it is important to find things that will enrich your body, mind, and soul, energizing you so you can keep moving forward in a positive way. For some women, this means tapping into a spiritual source. But many of us feel little or no connection to the religions we grew up with, which often revolve around a stern patriarchal father-figure God. We long to see ourselves reflected in the eyes of deity, to feel empowered and emboldened by our spiritual practices. We want, in other words, a goddess, not a god.

This may in part explain the explosion in popularity of Wicca and other forms of neo-Paganism, or modern Witchcraft. Some sources say that Wicca is the fastest growing religion in North America. What is it that draws people to Witchcraft, and how does a spiritual path with its roots in ancient beliefs and traditions transform itself into a practice that resonates so deeply with todays modern woman?

There are a number of explanations for the phenomenon. Witchcraft is a nature-based religion at a time when many people feel isolated by technology and yearn to connect with the natural world. As the threats to our environment grow ever more severe, the idea of working with the planet instead of against it is very attractive.

Wicca is also an accepting religion. Unlike the Judeo-Christian faiths that many of us grew up with, Wicca welcomes members regardless of sexual orientation, marital status, gender identification, or lifestyle choices. For many people who never quite fit with the rules and expectations of the more formal religions, finding a spiritual path that welcomes nonconformists comes as a tremendous relief.

While there is no easy way to sum up the differences between traditional religions and modern Witchcraft, you could probably say that Christianity is based upon the concept that your belief in Christ will save you, and Judaism is based on tradition and the laws contained in the Torah. Witchcraft is a more practical andyou should excuse the expressiondown-to-earth religion, in which there is nothing standing between the practitioner and a relationship with deity. Witchcraft has fewer rules and less judgment, and we believe that it empowers us enough that we can save ourselves.

For women, however, the greatest appeal may be the worship of a goddess (or goddesses). No stern patriarchal God here. Instead, Wicca and most other forms of modern Witchcraft embrace deity in both the feminine and the masculine. Suddenly, women can look at the divine and see themselves reflected back. It is empowering, inspiring, freeing, and joyous. Who wouldnt want to be a Witch?

There are many different Witchcraft paths and a multitude of approaches to its practice. But not to worry. This book will guide you on the journey to connecting with the feminine divine both without and within, and open the door to this magical religion that will enlighten, uplift, and energize your life. More than that, though, goddess worship can give women tools to survive and thrive in an ever-more-challenging world.

Many of us are frustrated, frightened, triggered, helpless, and yes, outright enraged at the current state of our cultural environment. Sisters, I feel you. Holy crap, how I feel you. But the best way to move past and beyond these feelings is to embrace our own feminine power. Channel that rage and fear into positive change in your own corner of the planet, and then send it outward. Modern Witchcraft can be both empowering and inspiringits time to take back our spirituality and turn ourselves into kick-ass manifestations of the goddess, right here on Earth.

A few common myths about Witchcraft have persisted throughout the centuries. Some of them started as a kind of propaganda by the Church when it moved into Europe and took over power from the preexisting Pagans, and then were further exaggerated and spread by popular culture, like movies. After all, a wicked Witch is a lot more exciting than the nice herbalist who lives next door. Others are simply misconceptions due to lack of knowledge about how Witchcraft is actually practiced.

Youve probably heard a few of these, and might even believe one or two. Let me tell you why theyre not true.

• Witches worship the devil. Uh, no. The devil is a Christian concept. Most Witches dont even believe in the devil, much less worship him. There are people who refer to themselves as Satanists, but they arent Witches (and also dont worship the devil in the way they are usually portrayed). Part of this misconception might stem from the fact that there is a traditional figure known as the Horned God, usually pictured as a broad-shouldered man with wide spread antlers like a deer or elk, but he is a deity associated with wild animals and the natural world, and has nothing to do with the devil.
• Witches are evil. Im sure there are a few Witches who arent very nice, just as there are unpleasant folks in every other religion. But by and large, were just people, the same as everyone else. I swear, Im not eviljust a little cranky some days.
• Witches sacrifice animals. Maybe a chicken breast for the feast, but otherwise, Witches tend to be animal lovers who collect too many cats and feed the birds in the winter. Any sacrifices placed on the altar are likely to be symbolic, such as a piece of fruit, a loaf of bread, or some flowers.
• Witches cast spells on you to make you do their bidding. If this were true, someone besides me would be cleaning my house. Just saying. Most Witches believe in the importance of free will, which means they only cast spells for themselves, and possibly on behalf of those who have specifically given their permission or asked for help. While in theory it is possible to cast spells on others to influence them (love spells, for instance), there is always a better way to accomplish what you want without risking karmic payback. Most Witches simply dont do it.