In the early 20th century, the character of Charlie Chan emerged as a prominent figure in detective fiction. Created by writer Earl Derr Biggers, Chan was a Chinese-American detective who used his intellect and wisdom to solve crimes. One of the most intriguing cases that Chan encountered was "The Curse of Black Magic." "The Curse of Black Magic" was a captivating mystery that took place in a small village plagued by a series of peculiar events and unexplained deaths. The villagers believed that the tragedies were a result of black magic and an ancient curse that had been cast upon them. As word of this mysterious curse spread, the fear and paranoia among the villagers began to grow.
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.
As word of this mysterious curse spread, the fear and paranoia among the villagers began to grow. They sought the help of Charlie Chan, who agreed to investigate the matter and solve the mystery behind the alleged black magic. Chan, known for his calm and collected demeanor, approached the case with his usual keen eye for detail.
“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.
He meticulously analyzed the evidence, interviewed the villagers, and examined the crime scenes. Each piece of information he gathered slowly revealed a complex web of deceit and manipulation. Throughout the investigation, Chan encountered a variety of interesting characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. He relied on his ability to see beyond the surface and used his knowledge of human nature to uncover the truth. As the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, Chan discovered that the curse of black magic was merely a cover-up for a series of interconnected crimes. Greed, jealousy, and revenge were the real driving forces behind the bizarre events unfolding in the village. In the end, Chan managed to bring the true culprits to justice, resolving the mystery and dispelling the villagers' fears of black magic. "The Curse of Black Magic" proved to be yet another triumph for the brilliant detective, showcasing his ability to solve even the most complex and supernatural-sounding cases. This particular case was a testament to Charlie Chan's unique investigative skills and his uncanny ability to navigate through seemingly supernatural elements. It highlighted his belief in rationality and his unwavering dedication to solving mysteries, no matter how baffling they may initially appear. "The Curse of Black Magic" stands as one of Charlie Chan's most memorable cases, leaving a lasting impression on readers and solidifying his place as one of the most iconic characters in detective fiction. The story serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most perplexing mysteries have the most logical explanations..
Reviews for "The Mystical Curse: Charlie Chan's Confrontation with Black Magic"
1. Jennifer - 2/5 stars - I found "Charlie Chan and the Curse of Black Magic" to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on unnecessary details and not enough on developing the plot. The dialogue was also clunky and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to become invested in the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this film to others.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I have to say that "Charlie Chan and the Curse of Black Magic" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, leaving me scratching my head more than anything. The acting was subpar, with no real standout performances. The special effects were also subpar, often looking fake and cheesy. I struggled to find anything redeeming about this film and would highly advise others to avoid it at all costs.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Charlie Chan and the Curse of Black Magic" considering its interesting premise, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was slow and dragged on, making it difficult to maintain my interest throughout the film. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, leaving me feeling indifferent towards their fates. Additionally, the resolution of the plot felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I found this movie to be unengaging and would not recommend it to others looking for an enjoyable viewing experience.
4. Michael - 2/5 stars - I was disappointed by "Charlie Chan and the Curse of Black Magic." The film had potential with its interesting concept, but it failed to deliver on its promises. The plot felt convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. The acting was mediocre at best, with no performances standing out. The special effects were also lackluster, often looking cheap and unimpressive. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied by this film and would advise others to look elsewhere for a more enjoyable movie-watching experience.