This essay explores the Western Witchcraft Tradition in connection to the New Age Movement, providing a short history.
In America at least, we know the New Age stereotypes mostly through pop-culture. The stereotype of the new ager is a pyschedelic indulging, positive thinking, vision boarding, crystal loving, strange neo-shaman feminist hippie. Said new ager seems to love everything relating to nature worship, non-duality and Buddhism—all the while not exactly committing to anyone one particular trend or tradition, and usually tiring (in the ADD sense) of any one trend or spiritual practice ... eventually.
Thus, in America typically the subject of spirituality and many other new current ageisms take the form of an all you can eat buffet, where you’re free to pick and choose amongst various callings of world religion, all the while saying they are equal and yet never fully subscribing to any of it. The business of profiting by selling lifestyle trends—not the least of them being crystals—often acts simply as a means of distracting themselves from what could be seen as more archaic forms of traditional witchcraft.
Table of Contents
1. Intro
2. Positive Thinking Movement
3. The Western Witchcraft Tradition
4. Summary
Research Objectives and Themes
This work examines the historical and philosophical intersections between the modern New Age movement, the positive thinking phenomenon in 21st-century American psychology, and traditional Western witchcraft to determine how these ideologies contrast and overlap.
- The historical roots of New Age spirituality and its reliance on older occult traditions.
- The impact of positive thinking and the "law of attraction" on modern American consciousness.
- A comparative analysis of yogic philosophy versus Western magickal practices.
- The evolution of the occult and witchcraft from ancient roots to modern incarnations like Wicca.
- The tension between traditional witchcraft practices and mainstream New Age superficiality.
Excerpt from the Book
The Western Witchcraft Tradition
While the occult literally means hidden in latin, and is commonly related to the overall subject that holds the most interest for those interested in the roots of witchcraft. In Gary Lachman's A Dark Muse: A History of the Occult, a more thorough definition of the term is revealed somewhat sardonically:
“Hidden, secret, esoteric, unknown: these are some dictionary definitions for 'occult.' The word itself has its roots in the Latin occulo, to hide, and is linked to the technical astronomical term 'occultation,' as when one heavenly body obscures or 'occludes' another by passing in front of it. In the popular mind however, 'the occult' is an all-purpose term indicating a variety of things, from Satanism, witchcraft and tabloid horoscopes, to internet psychics and UFOs. Although not entirely incorrect, this catch-all phrase indicates the kind of deterioration language undergoes over time. The occult or 'occultism' is an umbrella term for a number of disciplines and beliefs which are generally agreed to be scientifically invalid and, in practice, worthless...Although the several mystical and religious philosophies that make up the basic world view of occultism reach back to antiquity, the notion of the occult, as we understand it today, stems from relatively more recent times. Babylonian astrology, the Greek mysteries, hermetic philosophy, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, alchemy and other forms of occult thought are millennia old, but it was not until the rise of science in the late 17th century that these and other disciplines related to them became hidden and esoteric in the way they are seen to be today.”[6]
While this is not the place for an in depth account of the practical side of witchcraft, historically, the two most popular incarnations of Wicca (what may be seen as the most popular incarnation of modern witchcraft itself) are called Gardenarian and Alexandrian after Gerald Gardner and Alex Sanders respectively, both of whom are considered the modern founders of Wicca.
Summary of Chapters
1. Intro: This chapter introduces the New Age movement, noting its difficulty to define and its perceived historical relationship with Western witchcraft.
2. Positive Thinking Movement: This chapter explores the origins of positive thinking and the "law of attraction," tracing their influence from New Thought writers to contemporary pop-culture.
3. The Western Witchcraft Tradition: This chapter contrasts traditional witchcraft with Wicca, while examining the role of occultism, magic, and the revival of ancient practices in the modern era.
4. Summary: This section concludes that while modern New Age practices often dilute the deep philosophical roots of older traditions, these traditions remain essential to understanding contemporary spirituality.
Keywords
New Age, witchcraft, positive thinking, occult, Wicca, law of attraction, esotericism, spirituality, magic, Western tradition, consciousness, occultism, rituals, hermetic, manifestation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this work?
The work explores the underlying connections and distinctions between the New Age movement, positive thinking, and the tradition of Western witchcraft.
What are the central themes covered?
Key themes include the history of occultism, the definition of the "New Age," the influence of positive thinking on American psychology, and the practical differences between traditional witchcraft and Wicca.
What is the main goal of this research?
The goal is to provide a better understanding of the New Age movement by contrasting its modern, often superficial, forms with the deeper, archaic ideologies of traditional witchcraft.
Which scientific or analytical methods are used?
The author employs a historical and comparative approach, citing scholarly research and occult texts to analyze the evolution of these spiritual movements.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the roots of the New Age, the origins of the "law of attraction," the philosophy of yogic vs. magickal worldviews, and the structural differences between various modern witchcraft paths.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
New Age, witchcraft, positive thinking, occult, Wicca, and the law of attraction are central to the discourse presented in this document.
How does the author view the "New Age" movement's relationship to ancient tradition?
The author argues that while New Age movements often market themselves as "new," they are actually deeply rooted in older, traditional practices that have been repurposed or, in some cases, diluted.
What is the significance of the "Kybalion" mentioned in the text?
The Kybalion is presented as a significant occult text that details the science of vibration and manifestation, influencing modern concepts of the law of attraction.
How does the author distinguish between Wiccans and traditional witches?
The text suggests differences regarding adherence to holidays, the use of ritual circles, views on group versus self-initiation, and the strictness of moral or ethical codes.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Lopes (Author), 2015, Positive Thinking & Witchcraft. A Brief History of the New Age Movement, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/306547
