What is magick? According to Anton Lavey, it is "The change in situations or events in accordance with one's will, which would, using normally accepted methods, be unchangeable." (Lavey, Anton 61) Magick is the art and science of manifesting your personal desires, be they for good or ill, threw the chanling out emotion, intuition, and intent. Simple, and to the point.
On a deeper level, magick is a tool to help with humans deal with there insecurities and anxiety, as magick (and witchcraft) have been used to either gain control of one's situation or is used as a scapegoat to blame on one's misfortunes. It is a tool to help one rationalize and understand what he or she can not explain.
So, what is witchcraft? Is it a religion? Is it a practice? Or is it simply just another term for magick? The truth is the term witchcraft is different for everyone. For some witchcraft is the practical application of magick that can be applied to anyone, regardless of there spiritual beliefs/upbringing. For others, witchcraft is a religion in of itself, about honoring the natural world living in harmony with it. But for me, witchcraft is more than that. Witchcraft for me is a lifestyle. Witchcraft is about nonconformity, self-empowerment and as put by Black Phillip in Robert Eggers movie ''The VVitch" living life deliciously.
I would like to stress that I still do incorporate unity with nature in this way of living. If anything that is one of the most prominent features in witchcraft for me. Being in tune with the natural world. Walking in the footsteps of the "beast."
One more thing. No matter how you view witchcraft, whether a religion, practice or lifestyle, witchcraft, and witches has historically been terms used(either by the witch themselves or the people around them) to describe individuals who were different from the rest of society in some way, whether it be mentally, spiritually or physically. Witches were people who were strange and miss understood by the masses, which in my mind would make witchcraft simply there personal practices/way of living of said people. Keep in mind that this is all just my personal opinion and you can take it or leave it.
This concludes my article on my personal thoughts on the topic of witchcraft and magick. Feel free to comment below on your personal thoughts and feelings on the subject as I would love to hear your opinion.
SOURCES:
Lavey, Anton "The Satanic Bible" Avon Books1964
Eggers, Robbert ''The VVitch", Pulse Films, Scythia films 2015