Wicca is a modern pagan religious movement that emerged in England in the mid-20th century. It is a nature-based spirituality that focuses on the worship of a Goddess and a God, often represented as the triple aspect of the Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone) and the Horned God. Wiccans believe in the existence of supernatural forces and entities and engage in various practices and rituals to connect with them. One aspect of Wiccan supernatural belief is the concept of magic. Wiccans believe in the power of magic to affect change in the material world. Magic is seen as a natural force that can be harnessed through rituals, spells, and the manipulation of energy.
Supernatural: an anthropologist’s account of witchcraft, shamans and magic
The frost-bitten tundra cultures of northern Siberia may not seem to have much to do with those of Mozambique, but put the two side-by-side and there are surprising similarities. Magic and the power of the supernatural play a key role in both cultures, as they do across most societies, says anthropology professor and department chair John Ziker.
“I started fieldwork in Siberia in 1992. In the community where I lived for three years, there are people with reputations for having supernatural powers,” he said. “Some of these people are formally recognized as shamans, some are descended from shamans.”
The shamans he described in this tundra culture traditionally wore heavily-adorned parkas. Ornamented with bronze icons and other culturally-relevant symbols, the parka can weigh about 40 kilograms, or 88 pounds. One culturally relevant symbol are the faces on the shoulders of the parkas: these are faces of ancestors, and their noses are shaped like the bow of a ship for an unexpected reason.
Kosterkin clan ritual in Siberia. Photo by John Ziker
“These faces with long, thin noses help the shaman break through iron waves in order to get to the underworld, where they do battle with some kind of spirit that has taken someone’s soul,” Ziker explained.
Shamans traditionally do important spiritual healing work through such battles. However, in the past, some shamans were accused of doing evil deeds, much like witchcraft accusations in other societies.
More recently, while doing field research in Mozambique, Ziker witnessed contemporary witchcraft accusations. Though it has faded from use in many cultures and societies, accusations of witchcraft are still alive in others.
“It’s really common across sub-Saharan Africa, and fairly common in more traditional societies in other parts of the world as well,” said Ziker. “The people who have the least connections within the community, those are the ones who are more often accused of witchcraft.”
Fertility and protective symbols are painted on side of house in Mozambique. Photo by John Ziker
Ziker explained that witchcraft accusations have served as a political tool geared to maintain the social order, though not always in the way one would expect. Two common social science explanations of witchcraft are the mass hysteria theory and the scapegoat theory.
The mass hysteria theory has been used to explain examples such as the witch killings of the reformation and counter-reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries. During these religious wars, communities demanded magistrates find a reason for their ills, oftentimes demanding and forcing the decisions to condemn community members.
In the scapegoat theory, someone peripheral in the community takes the blame for the problems in the community. This approach has been used to explain incidences such as the Salem witch trials. Both of these theories have significant challenges to overcome in explaining actual witchcraft accusation and prosecution patterns, both historically in the West and cross-culturally.
“While it is interesting that these people are being accused of witchcraft and prosecuted because they’re relatively powerless, ultimately, accusations are aimed to demonstrate to some other group that this group [in power] is willing to go to that extent in order to protect its interests. It’s a statement to people who really do threaten the social order,” said Ziker.
The definition of witchcraft in anthropology covers such accusations of supernatural evil. Ziker often is asked about Wicca and Wiccans, who do not fit this definition. In anthropology, Wicca is viewed as a new religious movement, and consider it using other concepts such as magic, sorcery and sacrifice. Wiccans embrace the identity of witchcraft to create power structures of their own in the face of dominant religions. Researcher Wouter Hanegraaff with the University of Amsterdam refers to this as a “positive antitype.”
Going beyond social typologies, Ziker encouraged researchers to look at the nuances of behavior and individual costs and benefits of cooperative strategies. Wicca, like other new religious movements, uses supernatural claims to create, maintain and expand social relationships.
As an anthropologist, Ziker said that being able to understand the motives and mindset that shape such supernatural beliefs requires using observational methods to analyze various details, ranging from educational levels, to wealth, kinship relations and much more.
“In anthropology, we listen to what people say about what they’re doing, but our main methods are focused on what people are doing,” said Ziker. “And a lot of times we say one thing and do something completely different.”
Magic is seen as a natural force that can be harnessed through rituals, spells, and the manipulation of energy. Wiccans often perform magical rituals, such as casting circles and invoking deities, to create a sacred space and invoke supernatural energies. Wiccan supernatural belief also includes the belief in the existence of spirits and other supernatural entities.
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ANTH 4751: Supernatural-Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: Home
Welcome to the class page for Anthropology 4751. Here you will find resources that are suggested for your research in this class as well as links to required course readings and films. If you need help accessing library resources or doing research, please contact the Anthropology Librarian.
Wiccans believe in the existence of elemental spirits, such as fairies, gnomes, and spirits of the earth, air, fire, and water. They also believe in the existence of spirits of their ancestors and other deceased beings. Many Wiccans engage in practices such as divination and communication with spirits to seek guidance, wisdom, and healing. Another aspect of Wiccan supernatural belief is the recognition of the divine presence in all aspects of nature. Wiccans see the natural world as sacred and imbued with spiritual energy. They believe that the divine is present in plants, animals, rocks, and all other elements of nature. Wiccans often engage in rituals and practices to connect with the divine in nature, such as outdoor ceremonies and working with herbs and crystals. Similarly, Wiccans believe in the power of symbols and correspondences. They believe that certain symbols, colors, and other correspondences have specific energies and meanings. These symbols and correspondences are used in rituals, spells, and other practices to align with and access specific supernatural powers. Overall, Wiccan supernatural belief emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the presence of supernatural forces and entities in the world. Wiccans engage in a variety of practices and rituals to connect with these supernatural forces and tap into their power for personal and spiritual growth..
Reviews for "Exploring the Otherworld: Wiccan Astral Projection and the Supernatural"
1. Sandra - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Wiccan supernatural" as I'm a huge fan of witches and supernatural elements. However, I was quite disappointed with the execution of this book. The plot felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. The characters were also underdeveloped, making it difficult for me to connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was quite average and didn't do justice to the intriguing concept. Overall, "Wiccan supernatural" didn't live up to my expectations and left me wanting more depth and coherence.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Wiccan supernatural" was a complete letdown for me. The storyline was incredibly predictable, and it felt like I had already read this book a hundred times before. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or growth. The dialogue was also quite cheesy and cliché, adding to the overall disappointment. I was hoping for a unique and engaging read, but unfortunately, "Wiccan supernatural" didn't deliver. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh and captivating supernatural story.
3. Emma - 2/5 stars - As an avid reader of supernatural fiction, I was excited to dive into "Wiccan supernatural." However, I found the pacing to be incredibly slow, and the plot lacked originality. The main character came across as whiny and indecisive, which made it hard for me to root for her. The romantic subplot felt forced and didn't add much depth to the overall story. While the concept of witches and magic had potential, "Wiccan supernatural" failed to capture my interest and fell flat in its execution. It left me wanting something with more substance and excitement.
4. Jason - 2.5/5 stars - "Wiccan supernatural" had an intriguing premise, but it failed to fully deliver. The writing style was uninspiring, and the dialogues felt forced and unrealistic. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. While there were some interesting moments, overall, the book didn't leave a lasting impression. I would recommend it only to those who are die-hard fans of the supernatural genre and have exhausted other options.