@ Mefiante: It’s a learning experience. Wicca is an experiential religion. What I experience and learn allows me to evaluate what I want from the experience. Basically I get the opportunity to decide for myself what works for me and what doesn’t, what to believe and what not to, and the best part is that nobody else gets to judge me for it.
@ ingwe: That debate was settled in the first part of the discussion on the other thread as far as I can tell.
@ Faerie: “How do you contain supernatural properties in order to add it to a mixture? What do you generally perscribe such potions for? Illness for example?” The way I think of it is the substances, herbs, etc contain symbolic properties and also energies - while you’re creating the mixture, you also infuse it with your own energy - call it will or intent - in order to achieve the goal you are setting for the mixture. Actually, the more I get into this, the more it looks like a kind of “programing”, and magick more like influencing or “hacking” the system.
“I understand the use of symbolism of colours, however, please explain the HOW and to WHAT PURPOSE (possibly give me some examples - I’ve got a flat head when it comes to these things)” Gold and green for example you would use in prosperity spells or to attract wealth, white is for protection and healing or for settling a dispute and bringing peace. Black is one that a lot of people misconstrue with black magick and “dark arts” - actually black is a “one size fits all” because it is a mix of all other colors, so can be used for any purpose.
“Sorry, but this just sounds like a load of hogwash to me. Why not just have a braai with all the trimmings and talk about the state of the garden?” Belief is subjective, you don’t have to like it anymore than you might agree with some folks standing in church waving their little hands in the air. Some folks see religion as chicken soup for the soul - well, some folks like their soup with croutons, others with noodles. Some like tomato, others butternut. It would be a boring old world if we all just stuck to hearty beef now wouldn’t it?
“why is it rewarding - in what sense CAN it be rewarding? What is the attraction to this, believing that a pack of cards can foresee/tell your future and guide you in your life is preposterous to say the least?” - It’s rewarding because it helps me find insight into my past, current and future situations. Often I have made decisions based on this insight and that has been the reward. Yes, I believe in free will - which is why readings are subjective. If for example you are told you will be involved in a fight at a party within the next month or so, then whatever you do after the reading may change this scenario and you can avoid it.
@ Mefiante: Yup
There is plenty of info on Wicca and magick online… I’m not exactly an encyclopedia on it… yet