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The Science of Witchcraft
Written by Bonnie White   
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 10:00
History has not been kind to witchcraft. But through the past generations, we have come to respect scientific study. But it has become obvious that yesterday's magic is today's science. Could it be that witchcraft is considered scary, while science is taught in respected universities? I hate to bring this up, but it is possible that the fact that women practiced witchcraft that scared the common folk.
by BonnieWhite


History has not been kind to witchcraft. But through the past generations, we have come to respect scientific study. But it has become obvious that yesterday's magic is today's science. Could it be that witchcraft is considered scary, while science is taught in respected universities? I hate to bring this up, but it is possible that the fact that women practiced witchcraft that scared the common folk.

Of course, we have all heard of the biblical phrase that commands readers not to suffer a witch to live. But many modern scholars believe that was a mistranslation. After all, those words were written thousands of years ago. Nowadays many people admit the injunction was against people who practiced their arts for evil, and not those who tried to help others. Some spell casters were even presented sympathetically in other sections of the bible.

Consider The Secret book and video. It has become a media sensation with famous people endorsing it on TV. This concept, creative visualization, is not new though. It is probably the basis of ancient rituals and incantations.

These days, many witches have written about the mental focus they need to use their power. They use some tools to help them focus, but believe that the better they can focus, the more powerful they are. Modern science actually supports this in research done on positive thinking and the power of placebos.

Herbs are another example. We all know that modern medicine evolved from the ancient herbalists lore. Consider natural painkillers or sleep aids like willow bark and chamomile. How different is brewing a tea than prescribing a pill?

Fragrant oil are also used in spells. Aromatherapy has been studied, and even scientists agree there is substance to this use. While rosemary may make us more lively, mint may tend to relax us. Is this witchcraft? Maybe, but it is also using natural plants to affect our moods and bodies. This is hardly different than drinking a cup of coffee to wake up or a warm glass of milk to fall asleep.

Scientists are just barely beginning to study the power of our minds. We can barely understand how our own grey matter works! But it is hard to dispute the power of thought and outlook in our lives.

The ancients may have called it magic, but tomorrow we may take it for granted as common science.

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