What do you want to ask a Pagan? Fill out the form below or submit your question online.
Do Pagans practice magic?
Great question! I would like to remind readers that I do not speak for all Pagans. I will try to give the best answer based on my knowledge and experience.
Paganism is nature-based, often polytheistic, and honors the sacred feminine. There is a wide variety of beliefs and practices under the Pagan umbrella. The shortest answer to your question is that not all Pagans practice magic, and not all those who practice magic are Pagan. For some, magic is simply a skillset unrelated to their spiritual beliefs. For others, magic is part of their religious practice.
To best answer your question, I tried to find a universal definition of magic from a legitimate source. There doesn’t seem to be one. One opinion is that each individual needs to determine what magic is to them, which seems like a non-answer to me. The widest definition of magic I encountered included following superstitions, making wishes, and praying. Basically, anything one might believe changes one’s circumstances. However, another definition differentiates between prayer and magic by saying that prayer is calling on a Higher Power and magic is relying on one’s own power. Regardless of how one defines magic, I would like to remind readers that many Pagans believe in “harming none,” which would be defined as not casting spells on someone against their will. So, contrary to what pop culture may portray, most Pagans would not cast curses or even love spells.
I hope this answers your question, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn some things, myself.
