Misconceptions

The topic of witch craft vs. new age has come up in a lot of conversations I have been having lately. I feel that there is a common misunderstanding among people who aren't as knowledgeable when it comes to the topic of new age practices. I use herbal remedies instead of going to the doctor. I believe that people have gifts of "reading" others; by aura, hands, feet, and energy. These are gifts that certain people have been given to help others on their journey. Herbal remedies are not "potions", and reading someone's energy is not witch craft.

This is witch craft according to wikipedia:
Witchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers. Witchcraft can refer to the use of such powers in order to inflict harm or damage upon members of a community or their property. The concept of witchcraft is normally treated as a cultural ideology, a means of explaining human misfortune by blaming it either on a supernatural entity or a known person in the community.

I think people's fear of practices out of the structured norm of society keep them from benefiting from these wonderful gifts and tools that we are given as individuals. It wasn't long ago that people lived without modern medicine; people used herbs (plants and flowers from the earth) to treat their bodies. Why not use what nature has given us instead of relying on synthetic imperfect materials that "the man" wants us to rely on. Also, having the ability to read other people is a gift from God. In my patriarchal blessing it talks about this gift. It is not witch craft. There is such a thing as witch craft, but this is not it.

If you want to get out of your "habitual patterns rooted in fear" as Pema Chodron calls them; read the book, "The Places That Scare you". It is not necessarily about this specifically, but freeing yourself from fear, and opening your heart to accept yourself and others for who they are.