Unlikely Sorcery for Skeptical Witches Magic has long been associated with mystery and enchantment, conjuring images of spellbooks, mystical potions, and broomstick rides under the moonlit sky. Yet, for some witches, skepticism may arise when faced with the idea of sorcery. The notion of harnessing unseen forces and casting spells may seem far-fetched or even absurd to those who value logic and evidence. However, the realm of magic is not limited to the realms of fantasy and make-believe. Unlikely sorcery exists, offering a different approach to the mystical arts that can resonate with skeptical witches. By embracing unconventional practices and reframing traditional notions of witchcraft, skeptics can find a path that aligns with their inclination towards critical thinking and rationality.
Naturalistic witchcraft is therefore generally a predominantly earth-based kind of witchcraft, and may revolve around getting in touch with the non-human world, and connecting with things like the land, animals, plants, or the elements.
Naturalistic witchcraft is founded in naturalism , which is essentially the belief that there is nothing that exists beyond the physical, material world. However, naturalistic witchcraft is more likely to be grounded in the physical and practical properties of things such as plants and herbs than in their symbolic properties, and therefore may be less interested in the magical correspondences associated with these elements than other forms of witchcraft.
By embracing unconventional practices and reframing traditional notions of witchcraft, skeptics can find a path that aligns with their inclination towards critical thinking and rationality. One aspect of unlikely sorcery involves delving into the realms of psychology and neuroscience. Borrowing principles from these fields, witches can explore the power of the mind in shaping reality.
“Skeptical Witchcraft”: What Is It & How To Do It!
As contemporary witchcraft becomes increasingly popular in today’s society, we’re beginning to see more divergent paths, diverse beliefs, and different ways of “doing witchcraft.” As each of us come to the craft, we bring with us a range of worldviews and our own unique ways of perceiving and engaging with the world.
Witchcraft is in many ways a highly personal practice, largely based on individual experience. As such, there are as many ways to “be a witch” as there are witches—it is very unlikely that any two practitioners’ practices will look the same.
While I’m not necessarily a huge fan of labels, they can be helpful for finding like-minded people, and for finding one’s place within a given tradition or community. In attempting to define my own personal flavour of witchcraft, I’ve come to find that the term “skeptical witchcraft” fits rather nicely, and is a fairly apt means of describing what it is I mean when I refer to myself a witch.
As I’ve written about at considerable length on this blog, though I am enamoured with the world of magic and spirits that most contemporary witchcraft is wrapped up with, I don’t necessarily always believe in the reality of these things. I consider myself to be a fairly rational, scientifically-minded person, and most of the time, have a hard time accepting that anything I do in the form of a ritual, spell, enchantment, or any other form of magic-making will be able to alter objective reality in a tangible way. I also don’t really believe in the supernatural or the spiritual “otherworld,” and therefore generally find it difficult to fully accept the existence of deities, spirits, and other such entities.
Yet while I don’t necessarily always believe in such things—in the more magical or, for lack of a better term, “woo woo” aspects of witchcraft—witchcraft is nonetheless still a hugely important part of my life. As it is, my craft merely a form of witchcraft that is more skeptical than more “traditional” understandings of the craft.
The Skeptical Witch
I recently decided to take the plunge and finally do something that I’ve been thinking about doing for a while now, and that is to start a YouTube channel! While I love blogging, and writing will always be my number one passion, I’m also really inspired by the witchy and Pagan community on YouTube, and am excited to potentially start joining some of the conversations there!
I decided to go with the name “The Skeptical Witch,” partly because I didn’t want to use my real name, and partly because it describes where I’m planning to go with the channel, and the kind of content I’m hoping to produce.
It’s cringey and awkward, and there are way too many “uhm”s and “kind of”s in there, but this is my first time trying anything like this, so I’m trying to go easy on myself! I also apologize for the poor quality… I only realized after I finished editing that parts of the video are out of focus!
If you like the kind of content that I post on this blog, particularly the content that relates to skeptical witchcraft and belief, then you might also enjoy the kind of videos I’m hoping to make going forward!
Three Ways of Doing “Skeptical Witchcraft”
So, in this video I go over what I see as being the three main ways of doing “skeptical witchcraft,” and what it might mean for someone to be a skeptical witch. I’m sure that there are plenty more ways than I’ve listed here, but hopefully gives you a good foundation for what skeptical witchcraft might look like, if that’s something you’re interested in.
Briefly, I’ll reiterate these three ways here (in case the video was too cringey to bare!)
1. Naturalistic Witchcraft
Naturalistic witchcraft is founded in naturalism, which is essentially the belief that there is nothing that exists beyond the physical, material world. It is the understanding that there is no spiritual otherworld, no supernatural realm, and no divine or spiritual beings that are any way separate from the material world.
However, despite being grounded in the physical and the tangible, naturalism can still be spiritual, in the sense that nature itself may inspire us with awe and reverence. In other words, nature is understood to be sacred in and of itself, without the need for otherworldly spirits or deities.
Naturalistic witchcraft is therefore generally a predominantly earth-based kind of witchcraft, and may revolve around getting in touch with the non-human world, and connecting with things like the land, animals, plants, or the elements.
This kind of witchcraft can overlap significantly with green witchcraft, which focuses on plants and herbs, or perhaps kitchen witchcraft, which is also inspired by ingredients gifted from the Earth that we use to nourish ourselves.
However, naturalistic witchcraft is more likely to be grounded in the physical and practical properties of things such as plants and herbs than in their symbolic properties, and therefore may be less interested in the magical correspondences associated with these elements than other forms of witchcraft. Practitioners may be more inclined towards their scientifically-determined properties, or their role in traditional medicine, rather than their occult associations.
Naturalistic witchcraft is largely about connecting with the Earth as it is, as we can know it, and is therefore not at all incompatible with a scientific understanding of the world.
2. Psychological Witchcraft
Psychological witchcraft is that which uses the craft primarily for inner transformation, rather than in an attempt to influence external realities. It extends from the psychological model of magick (for a refresher on the models of magick, check out my post on the topic), which posits that magic occurs predominantly in the mind of the practitioner, and is caused by using things such as symbols, metaphors, and correspondences to tap into the unconscious.
From the psychological perspective, witchcraft is about causing changes within our own minds, rather than within the wider world, so that we may be likely to act in accordance with our goals and intentions.
It is based on the notion that because reality is shaped so fundamentally by our perception of it, by changing our perception, we can in turn alter reality.
The placebo effect also falls under the category of psychological witchcraft—the idea that spells, rituals, and whatever else we may do by means of the craft may cause us to feel the benefits them, without necessarily causing any “real,” objective change. The change that occurs is all in the mind… which, I would say, is in a way very “real” indeed.
3. Chaos-Based or “Fluid” Witchcraft
I wasn’t sure what to call this third form of skeptical witchcraft, as it isn’t necessarily chaos magic per-say, but it is based on its philosophies and principles. This is also the form of skeptical witchcraft that I am most fond of, and that I essentially have been practicing since before I even really knew what chaos magic was.
Chaos-based witchcraft is based on the foundation that belief is fluid, rather than static, and can change depending on context and need.
Chaos magic itself is a way of practicing magic that is fundamentally results based—essentially, it doesn’t matter how you get the results, all that matters is that you do. As such, it’s not focused on explaining how magic works, or providing a rational for its practice.
Explanations don’t matter, experience does.”
Paul Hine, Condensed Chaos: An Introduction to Chaos Magic
Like chaos magic, my flavour of chaos-based witchcraft is centred around experience. It takes belief to be a tool that that can be used to give rise to certain magical or transformative experiences. It can mean treating spirits, deities, energies, and the “otherworld” AS IF they were real, regardless of what I might believe outside of my magical practice, or outside of the ritual context.
For me, doing this kind of witchcraft means being able to move from one paradigm to another, to shift between worldviews, and, for a time, to be able to let go of my rational mind, and take a break from my scientifically-informed understanding of the world.
(If you’re interested in my thoughts on belief, check out this post I wrote on the subject).
Finding Balance
As I’ve always said (and will continue to say!) witchcraft is about finding what works for YOU. There is ultimately no right or wrong way of doing witchcraft—there is only your experience of it.
And if you find that more “skeptical” kinds of witchcraft work for you—great! If not, also great!
I just want to make it clear that I mean no disrespect or shade in any way to Pagans and witches who do follow more traditional paths, or who do genuinely believe in things like magic, spirits, deities, and whatever else we may not be able to see or know through science-based perspectives.
Obviously, there is a very significant part of me that is enamoured with this more enchanted, magical way of seeing the world, and that absolutely loves the myths and folktales and occult mysteries that are so intimately tied to Pagan witchcraft.
Ultimately, for me, my own witchcraft is very much about finding a sense of balance, a kind of harmony or synthesis, between my scientific, rational worldviews, and the spiritual, magical dimensions that I feel so drawn towards.
Because even though I am a skeptic, I also always have been—and probably always will be—a true believer.
Thank you for reading, and if you watched the video, thank you for that as well! Hopefully my videos will improve as I get used to this new format, and get over the initial learning curve! If you like what I have to say on this blog, then I would be so grateful if you could also give me a like or a follow on YouTube as well, and if you want semi-regular updates on blog, YouTube, and general witchy life stuff, please sign up for my newsletters!
This kind of witchcraft can overlap significantly with green witchcraft, which focuses on plants and herbs, or perhaps kitchen witchcraft, which is also inspired by ingredients gifted from the Earth that we use to nourish ourselves.
By understanding the mechanisms behind placebo effects, visualization techniques, and the influence of beliefs on personal outcomes, skeptical witches can incorporate evidence-based practices into their craft. In doing so, they can tap into the latent potential of the mind and amplify their intentions without compromising their skepticism. Another avenue for skeptical witches lies in adopting a more experimental and exploratory mindset. Rather than blindly adhering to rigid rituals and prescribed methods, they can approach magic as a laboratory for personal growth and self-discovery. By testing out different techniques, observing the outcomes, and fine-tuning their approach, witches can engage in a process of trial and error that aligns with their skeptical nature. This empirical approach fosters a deeper understanding of one's own power and allows for a more nuanced understanding of the forces at play. Additionally, unlikely sorcery encourages witches to cultivate an awareness of the natural world and embrace eco-friendly practices. Drawing inspiration from herbalism, sustainable living, and environmental activism, skeptical witches can forge a connection with the Earth and its cycles. By grounding their craft in tangible, ethical practices, they can find solace in the tangible effects of their actions, further bolstering their belief in the efficacy of their magical pursuits. In conclusion, unlikely sorcery offers a path for skeptical witches to engage with magic while maintaining their commitment to evidence-based reasoning. By incorporating principles from psychology, adopting an experimental mindset, and embracing eco-friendly practices, witches can tap into their personal power and forge a connection with the mystical arts that aligns with their skepticism. In doing so, they can find a balance between rationality and enchantment, discovering the potential for magic in the everyday world..
Reviews for "Magic Reimagined: Unlikely Practices for the Skeptical Witch"
1. John - 2/5 - Although I was intrigued by the idea of a book that combines sorcery and skepticism, I found "Unlikely Sorcery for Skeptical Witches" to be a disappointment. The writing style was confusing and hard to follow, making it difficult to grasp the concepts being presented. Additionally, the author seemed more interested in pushing their own beliefs and ideas rather than providing clear guidance for skeptical witches. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book.
2. Mary - 3/5 - As a skeptical witch, I was excited to dive into "Unlikely Sorcery for Skeptical Witches" and explore new perspectives. However, the book fell short of my expectations. While it did offer some interesting ideas and approaches, it lacked cohesion and at times felt disjointed. The author seemed to jump between various topics without providing a clear structure, leaving me feeling confused and overwhelmed. In the end, I didn't find the book to be very helpful in my journey as a skeptical witch.
3. David - 2/5 - "Unlikely Sorcery for Skeptical Witches" was not what I was looking for as a skeptical witch. The book seemed to focus more on promoting New Age ideas rather than providing practical techniques or advice. The prose was overly flowery and poetic, making it difficult for me to connect with the material. I was hoping for a more grounded and evidence-based approach, but instead, I found myself lost in esoteric metaphors and abstract concepts. Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my needs as a skeptical witch.