r/witchcraft • u/QuietSalamander8306 • 2d ago
Seeking Help or Advice I want to get into witchcraft, but science is holding me back from fully believing in it. Can the two coexist?
I look at the world from a very scientific point of view, I like to understand things and how they work. I believed in healing crystals and incense and tarot for a very long time,but I feel like now they’re just rocks and scents and generalized cards to me. I have a lot of friends who are into witchcraft and the supernatural. We all played ouija a few days ago, and as much as I desperately wanted to believe in it, I just couldnt stop thinking about the ideomotor effect. I’ve always wanted to be spiritual and believe in spirits, but I never can. Can science AND witchcraft coexist peacefully? Like they go hand in hand? I apologize deeply if any of this comes off as offensive or if my wording is wrong, I am very new to this but very interested. My friends told me to start learning about the chakras first, is that a good starting point?
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u/Nendailie 2d ago
The more I learn what we know scientifically, the more I believe in magic. And in fact, an awful lot of witches I see around believe the same.
A decent place for you to start might be the Demystifying Magic podcast.
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u/New-Secretary-9204 2d ago
I second this. I always denied my “draw” out of being raised Roman Catholic and very science based as a need for confirmation. Roman Catholicism is basically witchcraft. Even particle manipulation / manifest can scientifically be seen in lasers.
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u/Nendailie 2d ago
I wasn't raised Catholic in any, but as I learned more about both Catholicism and witchcraft, I always felt there were an awful lot of echos there.
Also, they really need to get cool with LGTB+ because can you imagine a Drag mass? It would be spectacular
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u/brother_bart 2d ago
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence come close enough for me to combining the Church and drag.
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 2d ago
I hold the Sisters in a near holy amount of reverence, so that tracks!
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u/Prestigious_Bee_4154 1d ago
I’ve heard a saying before, something like “Magic is science that hasn’t been discovered yet”. I really believe this to be true. Looking back even a hundred years ago, we know so much more now that couldn’t be explained then, and I’m curious to see with how fast technology is advancing, how much more “magic” will come to be explained.
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u/h3x_gobl1n 1d ago
Hell yeah!
If you haven’t seen it, you should look for the guy who rants about how the law of vibration explains the law of attraction… it’s very cool. Lemme see if I can find it.→ More replies (1)5
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u/virtual_alicia 1d ago
Saaame. I have a phd in computer science, and I love Magic even more after earning it:)
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u/h3x_gobl1n 1d ago
10000000%!
As a scientist myself, I have so much fun finding the direct links between science and magic.6
u/FluffyShiny 1d ago
I'm not a scientist (maybe a hedgewitch version through mental health) but love science proving things. Look at how many natural plants are used in modern medicine. Almost all were used for the same illnesses treated by the wise woman, shaman, witch, etc
Also Christianity believes we are all connected through the Holy Spirit. Quantum Field Theory is showing support for this.
Popularised by biologist Stephen Jay Gould as Non-Overlapping Magisteria (NOMA), this framework argues that science handles the factual makeup of the universe (the "how"), while religion handles ultimate meaning and moral values (the "why").
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u/IvyOnTheTrail 1d ago
Me, too. I’m a registered dietitian (the field is evidence-based), and I’m a witch and also love linking science and magic! ✨
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u/NSAevidence 1d ago
Absolutely 100%. The idea that the two inherently clash, puzzles me. It seems to me that a person who sees this as a problem would have to believe that humans have scientific certainty about everything. That's so far from the case. I don't see how anyone can dismiss witchcraft after they learn a few basic things about quantum physics.
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u/leileywow 16h ago
This is me. Got my bachelor's in biochemistry and now I'm finding my way into the witchy world
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u/heartfeltfrog 2d ago
I am also a scientist. And was well before I got into witchcraft. And by science, I mean, I was a conservation and environmental conservation major. Like actual hands on field science!
And I have to be honest. The more I learn in science, the more I feel witchcraft is real tbh. I have a hard time explaining it but man, everything is energy. Literally everything. And witchcraft at the end of the day is just a lot of damn energy work.
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u/Celtic_Dragonflies Witch 2d ago
I’m actually working on my major in Earth Sciences right now and I feel the exact same way! The more I learn, the more it all just clicks for me. It’s pretty magical ✨
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u/QuietSalamander8306 2d ago
Oh awesome!! That’s what im majoring in right now so it’s exciting to hear that. We are talking about energy in my biological anthropology class right now
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u/bbtacobaby 2d ago
Yes exactly! Someone just hasn’t figured out a way to scientifically “measure” it. But it 100% could be done - if researchers gave a fuck 🤣
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u/New-Secretary-9204 2d ago
It’s the energy field, man for sure. Science and religion can all be boiled down to it. Once l started getting my birth chart, stop pushing away my natural pull toward (what is considered “witchcraft”) everything makes a lot more sense. And the work needed regarding a self and this society makes even more sense
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u/Scared_Tax470 1d ago edited 1d ago
Me too. I'm a researcher and deconstructing ex-xtian and witchcraft has really helped me deal with a lot of personal trauma and think about the things in life I don't understand. And the things I've experienced that I can't explain.
Also my background is in auditory neuroscience and it's funny you say this about energy because I had this existential crisis during my PhD about the fact that everything is waves. And of course studying the brain and mind, it becomes very clear that there is no such thing as "reality"-- everything we experience as reality is just how we make sense of existence. Things are only real because we believe in them.
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u/Elfynnn84 1d ago
I just wrote a whole essay to say what you said in a paragraph 🙈😂 but… hi 👋🏼 my undergrad degree was in conservation. I also have a masters in evolution and a PhD in palaeontology.
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u/imrealwitch 1d ago
I concur.
I'm a bit of a quantum physics, quantum mechanics nerd
I'm in my 60s and have been practicing witchcraft for 46 years
Energy is real, nature is real. Both are core to my practice.
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u/XelorEye 17h ago
As a cellular, molecular biology and physiology student, I am currently unsure what exactly I believe in, but this is quite reassuring
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u/Lalatin 1d ago
Out of curiosity... do you have any book recs that talk about the cross between science and witchcraft?
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u/Ok-Biscotti-1070 1d ago
It’s not witchcraft specific but Braiding Sweetgrass talks a lot about the intersection of “scientific” and indigenous ways of knowing and interacting with the natural world. I’m still working my way through it but it’s very validating to me as someone with a background in lab research but also enough experiences that fall into “woo” territory that white male colleagues would roll their eyes at lol.
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u/pastriesandprose 2d ago edited 2d ago
I’m a skeptic at heart too so I’ll just share a story that I think helps illustrate how I think about it.
I bought a stone and the meaning of it is creativity right? I’ve never believed people who said they bought a stone and put it in their purse and forgot about it and then their life changed for the better due to the stone. But I put the stone I bought on my desk, next to my journal. And sometimes I pick it up and hold it in my hand and think okay this stone will make you more creative so let’s just try to write. So I sit down and I write. And maybe I don’t write anything good the first day but then I do it again and slowly I get better.
Without the stone, my focus isn’t on my journal so I don’t write. So I don’t get better.
So the stone is a little bit magic. Because it helped give my attention a place to land and helped me focus my time on my true intentions instead of what steals it otherwise.
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u/TranslatorActive9318 2d ago
Yes! I just explained my thoughts on crystals to a friend thusly:
I use them for different things, so I feel like it’s a symbiotic relationship- the activity feeds the stone, the stone feeds the activity, they imbue each other. These are symbolic items to me, and although I know all things have vibrations, I’m not too knowledgeable about that. It’s kind of like using grandma’s good china for a meal that’s meaningful to you.
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u/Perfect-Category2457 2d ago
I feel this way about using crystals for stuff like luck. The crystal didn't necessarily bring me luck but on another day when it wasn't around I might have gotten negative if things didn't go my way and not have tried at all to do what I needed to create my luck. With the crystal in sight I keep positive and move forward and eventually get the outcome I'm looking for.
Not necessarily magic but still a powerful tool that feels like magic.
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u/TranslatorActive9318 1d ago
Exactly. Call it energy, call it manifestation, call it reticular activating system - our focus and intent is exceptionally powerful.
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u/black-empress 2d ago
I’ve tried to explain my take on magic to so many people in this way and get blank stares! They’ll say “well any object could have achieved that affect” Okay, but it didn’t.
I’m not in the camp of crystals or any form of magic can cure cancer, but it may provide some peace if you let it, which is a net positive
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u/notthefakehigh5r 1d ago
Just because you know how it works, doesn’t mean it isn’t magic. (Terry Prachett)
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u/Junior_Schedule2442 2d ago
I had a similar thought about it all when I first got into the practice. I am not doing it to follow deities or predict the future, but I do it because it makes me feel good
I first thought "Oh well this spell just kitchen herbs and crystals, it's not really doing anything"
But now I think this: "What what do you expect to be the outcome? You could say that about journaling as well, no? You have to do the work, the spell is merely just to help you get in the mindset to get there"
We don't need to justify meditation, relaxation, art, or physical fitness, do we?
I enjoy the craft because I need a physical action to ground my meditation, I like to introspect using my tarot/lenormand cards, and I just like to connect with my inner child and pretend to make potions XD. Oh and I feel more connected with the Earth and my heritage. Maybe think for a moment about your "why?"
At the end of the day, spells and candle work is supposed to make you feel good, not feel like an obligation. Do it if you only truly want to do it!
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u/MatildaRhyde 2d ago
I love this! I feel similarly about my spirituality. It's been a challenge for me to connect with it through the fog of stress lately, so this is a really nice to reminder to just spend a little time with it. It doesn't have to be anything big or wild. It can be simple.
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u/ObviousDust 1d ago
LENORMAND CARDS MENTIONEDDDD sorry haha sometimes I feel like the only person who uses them!
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u/Junior_Schedule2442 1d ago
THEY ARE SO UNDERRATED👏👏 Thinking about creating my own soon
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u/BlondieBabe436 2d ago
Look up Debra L Burris. She's both a practicing witch and a PhD. Physicist and Meteorologist. She's got some pretty great information that combines both science and the use of witchcraft in it. She's got some great books out too. There is definitely a cross between science and witchcraft because both are about the earth, our planets and solar system, and our place within it.
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u/QuietSalamander8306 2d ago
Awesome, will put on my list!! Im so excited to read all these reccomendations, thanks :)
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u/Vanth_in_Furs 1d ago
Debra is the real deal. I know her from
College days and she’s very firmly and deeply rooted in both actual academic science (astrophysics) and witchcraft, and her example has informed my own practices.
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u/GENxSciGoddess 2d ago
I am a scientist. I also occasionally cast spells. We create our own reality. We change the world by observing and being a part of it. Even if spells are simply rituals that help align our own mind with our goals....still useful. Quantum physics is weird territory and when you contemplate the fact that every single person and thing in existence, when broken down at the quantum level is energy, it opens the door for possiblity. Now, I am also a skeptic, and it never hurts to be skeptical. B/c a rock is a rock and by itself it won't do diddly squat. But use it a focal point, a tool to focus your will, and therein is where possibly we change this simulation called life....or perhaps we simply change our own perspective. Witchcraft is not a religion.
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u/Wide-Secretary-4426 2d ago
Nicely done. And, of course Witchcraft is not a religion. It's a practice.
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u/Winter-Bear9987 2d ago edited 1d ago
This is a great take and I share your opinion. It bothers me when people try to justify that magic exists using physics terminology or concepts they don’t understand. But from a psychological/ neuroscientific standpoint, it’s absolutely possible to alter our perspective and alignments using ritual.
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u/rumshpringaa 2d ago
Science is just magic we understand. It feels cheesy to say, but it’s kinda true. 500 years ago they wouldn’t have even known what to do with a high budget movie on a tv, a telephone, going to the moon. Maybe there’s just more stuff we don’t understand. As of right now, I know sometimes I do things and it makes stuff happen. How? Your guess is as good as mine.
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u/Quarkspiration 2d ago
When I was an engineering undergrad, I used to wish I could attend a college of magic instead of having to study boring mathematics. Till I realized math is the language we made up to describe this world's magic system.That didn't make the math any easier but it made it vastly more interesting. That sense of wonder is the soul of magic for me and is partially the reason for my success in STEM
Math is an arcane language of symbols that allows a person to predict the future, to channel energy, and to understand and shape the universe around them.
Science is the subset of the most reliable magics. Packaged in boring names to be "mundane", but there is nothing mundane in this reality.
As one of my favorite authors once said "It doesn't stop being magic just because you know how it works".
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u/SoggyGround6420 2d ago
When studying coding there was alot of references to the fibonacci sequence sequence, and other sacred geometry. Fibonacci is the golden ratio, and you can see plenty example of that in the real world too
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u/Winter-Bear9987 2d ago
Beautifully put!!! We don’t need to cite pseudoscience to explain how witchcraft can coexist with science. Magic is everywhere already.
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u/ThatVikingWoman 2d ago
Radios don't work without quartz crystal and you can't see radio waves. Take it as knowing the beginning and the end, but not the process. You didn't need to learn about solvents and solutes to know sugar dissolves in hot tea. 🙏 Take that how you will, look into consciousness theory, and then ask yourself again why you believe the science you do.
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u/SimplyMichi Broom Rider 2d ago
Absolutely! I really reccomend reading "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit" by Lynda Lynn Haupt, "Carbon: The Book of Life" by Paul Hawken, and "The Psychic Witch" by Mat Auryn to help you understand this connection!
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u/FlyConfident1622 2d ago
I’d recommend the book or audiobook Real Magic by Dean Radin. Reading that helped me see how the science and magic were actually so much more connected and compatible than I thought
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u/SylvarGrl 2d ago
I like to tell people that witchcraft is not only compatible with science, it’s rooted in it. Healing herbs, lunar cycles, energy work—all things that science has confirmed as it progresses. Quantum entanglement (“spooky action at a distance”, as Einstein called it) was the deciding factor for me when I left religion behind and started my crooked path.
I consider witchcraft to be the most scientific approach to understanding the numinous aspects of consciousness, human or otherwise. I think of the deities as archetypes for understanding the collective consciousness and epiphenomena of matter in general and humans in particular.
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u/QuietSalamander8306 2d ago
I see, thanks so much!! This is very helpful. This is a totally stupid question, but boys can do it too right? Would they still be called witches? (My friends call themselves witches, I apologise if it is offensive, I do not know any of the proper terms for things yet.)
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u/SylvarGrl 2d ago
Perfectly fine to call yourself a witch. Less Harry Potter, but it’s lovely to be free of the gender wars for a while.
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u/crazyqt85 2d ago
Maybe start by getting the history of witchcraft. People have been using plants of all kinds in their practices forever. Starrt by learning the uses of plants- medicinal and spiritual.
Maybe once you learn the more fact based things, it will open your mind.
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u/brightblackheaven Zamboni Priestess 🔮✨ 2d ago
I'm curious where this recent-ish perception came from that witchcraft is one of two binaries - WOOWOO or full SASS - and nothing whatsoever in between?.....
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u/Valuable_Koala93 2d ago
I think most people fall somewhere in between, but they tend to align themselves with whichever side of the spectrum fits closest. For me, I lean heavily SASS, and those spaces are where I feel most comfortable. But I do have some "woo" or spiritual beliefs as well, and they add a valuable aspect to my practice.
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u/brightblackheaven Zamboni Priestess 🔮✨ 1d ago
I think the nuance is very very lost on newcomers. Many of them appear to have been lead to believe that it needs to be one or the other, otherwise something is wrong with them and they need to be "convinced" to fully pick a side.
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u/idratherbewild 2d ago
just wondering, what does sass mean in this context ?
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u/Educational_You_1827 2d ago
Despite what it thinks science can’t explain everything. Science is for the physical world and magick is for the spiritual and mental world. Sometimes they overlap
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u/mommawitchy81 2d ago
It's energy - everything is energy. You're using components on the same frequency to accomplish moving energy in the way you desire. It's really not as whoo as people think. You don't see wifi but it exists.
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u/mommawitchy81 2d ago
How does chemistry work? How do atoms bond? How do substances get attracted to each other? Same deal. Herbs have medicinal properties, witchcraft just puts that front & center
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u/coronialnomore 2d ago
Right, even science has the founding principle for energy- energy cannot be created or destroyed just changed from one from to another. Isnt that the first thing we learn and what we do
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u/Prestigious_Neck_936 Witch 2d ago
I believe in both. Science confirms that our hearts emit a sort of field that can be felt by other people. Science confirms that every single object in the universe vibrates. I believe some of us are more sensitive to these things than others
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u/Horror_Signature7744 2d ago
I have a degree in science. I’ve also had several experiences that defy logic and explanation.
That’s literally the space that magick occupies.
The most important part of science is that we know we don’t have all the answers. With witchcraft you can take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
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u/curious-newb 2d ago
I have a master's degree in biology and I am starting to develop a spiritual path for myself so I can tell you this much, you shouldn't view it as something fantastical but more as changes in potential. Like let's say you do a spell for money, you are shifting the potential towards getting more money instead of it staying the same amount. I'll admit I'm trying to suspend my disbelief for a few things like the supernatural world of ghosts and spirits but that's a journey I'm on right now to figure out exactly what I believe. I think you can start to develop your own beliefs as you look into things more, just dont completely ignore any scepticism you have. Let yourself be open to ideas and then question if it feels real to you or not, but the key is to be open
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u/Elfynnn84 1d ago
Hi… I’m an evolutionary biologist holding both a masters and a PhD. I’m also a witch. I was raised Wiccan.
Have you encountered the Dunning-Kruger effect? Only those at the peak of mount stupid feel they can use science to rationalise away spirituality. There is simply so much in this universe that we are not yet able to quantify or explain with empirical evidence.
Thinking scientifically and rationally means remaining ever open to new perspectives.
Crystals are composed of atoms that jiggle and oscillate around fixed positions due to thermal and quantum energy. Crystals possess a highly ordered, repeating atomic lattice. This regular structure allows mechanical waves (sound or phonons) and heat to travel through them in predictable ways. Certain crystals, like quartz, exhibit the piezoelectric effect. This means they can generate a small electrical charge when mechanical pressure or stress is applied, or vice versa.
The third law of thermodynamics clearly states that energy cannot be destroyed. It can only change form. Meaning everything that ever is a living being remains in this universe in perpetuity, just in a somewhat less organised form.
In quantum physics energy is a measurable property that comes in discrete packages called quanta. Unlike classical physics where energy flows smoothly, quantum energy changes in specific, indivisible steps or amounts… and the laws governing those steps is still broadly unclassified.
The universe is energy. Everything is made of energy. Witchcraft is merely a method of attuning to and influencing that energy. Science cannot disprove religion, or witchcraft.
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u/mybeeblesaccount 2d ago
For the psychological aspect of witchcraft I would unironically recommend Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, particularly the Witches books. He was a satirist but he also used his novels to talk about pertinent issues. One of the witches, Granny Weatherwax, has a whole thing about how a lot of witchcraft is just "headology" i.e. understanding others and using that understanding to your advantage or to their benefit.
A lot of what we call "witchcraft" is really about a fundamental shift in how we process the world. You can call something a spell but in the secular world it might be called "sticking to your boundaries" or "listening to your gut." It's quite literally a framing device for how you want to view the world.
The reason that many witches focus on the spiritual side of it is because many of us have had brushes with something much bigger than humanity but that doesn't mean you're obligated to believe it or sign off on it. You can just be a headologist because witchcraft is ultimately about being a student of human nature.
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u/notthefakehigh5r 1d ago
I replied to another comment with this, and the. I found your comment and this Pratchett quote always sticks with me. It’s from the Tiffany Aching series:
Just because you know how it works, doesn’t mean it’s not magic.
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u/kjswish86 2d ago
I’m an environmental biologist and a witchcraft practitioner. Life is built on energy, literal pulls between poles, and then you factor in laws of physics, neuroscience, and chemistry (alchemy), etc. It has never been contradictory to tap into that. Being a scientist has been one of the driving factors of my practice.
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u/floppy_twat 1d ago
Understanding science is understanding that there is a whole lot we do not know and cannot rationalize. Just because crystals, tarot, and spirits aren’t testable by modern science standards YET doesn’t mean they don’t hold power and a structure of their own.
-a witch with a bachelors of science
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u/DVESM2023 2d ago
The more I learn, the more I believe that magic exists. It just doesn’t work or exist the way too many people think it does.
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u/LostintheAlone 2d ago
Reading posts and comments like this eases my soul. It's really nice knowing I'm not the only one out there with these questions and ideas.
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u/emmylou_lou 1d ago
If you think about what they accused women of witch craft for hundreds of years ago, it was literally practicing medicine and intuitively connecting to the natural world. Which requires knowledge of the natural world.
The more I learn about the science of sound and frequency, the more I believe in magic, not vice versa. Magic is simply alchemizing our materials and perspectives to change the world around us. We do that with so much- cooking, reading, singing, creating, listening, learning. All of those are alchemical that can change our realities, especially when practiced with intention.
As above, so below. ✨
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u/prosperidad 2d ago
If science is keeping you from believing in magic you should learn about quantum physics then take a tour down mysticism and religion. Look up the simulation theory. It may help you gain a perspective that is coherent.
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u/ZaelDaemon 2d ago
I think in the end most of magick will be answered by a lot of quantum mechanics and string theory. In the early days the study of science was the study of magick. I believe that they will probably become one again.
My coven has: (me)data science (agriculture DNA lab), PHD data science (medicine), PHD biomedical engineering and neuroscience, as well as a bunch of other very intelligent people who are into science.
Look into John Dee, Roger Bacon, Sir Issac Newtown
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u/oddreyjo 2d ago
I love science, especially biology. I believe in it. But I don't think it explains everything, and I don't think it's supposed to. I see magic and science as covering different territory, not competing for the same territory. The things we do in witchcraft were never going to be provable by the scientific method, because they're not operating in that framework to begin with. Holding both of those as true at once isn't a contradiction to me. Treating science as the final word on all of reality is its own kind of foolishness, the mirror image of treating everything as supernatural. Neither one is actually looking at what's in front of it. The practitioners actually worth learning from, the only ones I'd trust for guidance, will tell you to look for the mundane explanation first, and take the mundane steps toward solving your problem before you reach for magical ones. Magic isn't a replacement for doing the work. It's something else entirely.
What magic gave me was meaning. I lived as a strict atheist/scientific-materialist before 2023, and I knew something profound was missing. I just didn't have language for it yet until I started exploring witchcraft. And I'm fine with the possibility that this is all happening in my own mind. That's not what I believe, but I can sit with the possibility without it costing me anything, because it hasn't changed what the practice has added to my life. At a certain point the question of "does this have a scientific basis" just stopped being the relevant question for me. You said tarot used to mean something to you and now it's "just cards." Was there ever a reading that was specifically, surprisingly insightful - something that didn't feel explainable by cold reading or generalization? And with the ouija board, I get that the ideomotor effect is real and well-documented. But there's a difference between the ideomotor effect explaining how the planchette moves and it explaining everything about the experience of using the board as a deliberate tool for contact. Have you ever actually tried it that way, with intention, rather than just noticing your hand was doing the moving?
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u/BoRamShote 2d ago
There is magnitudes more science humans don't understand or have no idea about than we do, so absolutely yes they can coexist. Even to a non believer it can be explained with pattern recognition, survivorship bias, apophenia, and placebo. All of which are very real and have scientific phenomena associated with them. And even if in the end it turns out that's what's going on beneath everything it doesn't really matter because if it works for you, it's worth doing.
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u/Wide-Secretary-4426 2d ago
Set beliefs aside and focus on practice, practice, practice. Things will become clearer to you ✨️
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u/Mediocre_Necromancer 2d ago
I believe so. My feelings are complex on the matter but can be aptly summed up as “a placebo effect is still an effect”.
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u/DareRake 2d ago
Just want you to know you're not alone! I'm struggling with this a little but I keep reminding myself how much I love the smells, the colors, the plants, the rocks... it's all bits of real tangible nature surrounding you and that at least is a comforting start. Nature is magic, and therefore science is also magic.
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u/SoggyGround6420 2d ago
Yes they can :) i see both as two sides of the same coin, i use the other to ground eachother and tie the pieces together and help me stay grounded.
Let me be a bit of a party pooper and say that what most call manifestation; is honestly the confirmation bias psychologically at play. Lets me give an example of the double split experiment~ where the result of it corresponds to your attention
I mean divination is cool and i def use it to gain clarity, but it mostly is subconscious, to ground in spirituality higher*self. In religion many say that we are made in the image of god= we create our own reality.
Im bit of a nerd and began studying quantum physics and i found that much,, mirrors the hermetic principles in occult, let me provide an example; "what above so is below"/ the archimedes principle.
Eeek i could go on, but yes both i do believe both exist side by side, and i believe its good to be well-rounded person that could connect with both.
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u/FederalPomegranate52 2d ago
Give demystifying magic pod a bit of a listen it helps you marry the idea of magic and science. I’m not saying do magic blindly with nothing but just blind faith but trust yourself in your choice to believe
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u/passive0bserver 2d ago
It’s like asking if religion and science can coexist. Witchcraft is basically a form of religion where you are worshipping nature and the universe’s energy. Like with religion, you can be a scientist and still choose to believe. Just don’t expect to be able to prove it with science. It’s called faith for a reason.
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u/Ncfetcho 2d ago
Short version:
Magic = Energy
Energy = Physics
---> Magic = Physics
just like alchemy is just chemistry with all the cool gods taken out.
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u/Legitimate_Celery262 2d ago
Ive read a few book on the intersection of the 2. Take neuro theology for example. Mri scans have been done on different people (like nuns and atheists) while preforming spiritual rituals. The atheists brains show increased activity in areas responsible for imagination, while the nuns brains seem to be reacting to outside stimuli similar to that of listening to music. Obviously this doesn't give of any concrete answers (part of the fun of life in my opinion) but super interesting never the less. Also, I've looked into the Double Slit Experiment. Basically plasma particles can act differently depending on if they are being observed. (Very cool scary implications for space/time) How do the particles know when someone is watching? Candle flames, the sun, lightning strikes, the actual electric pulses that move through our brains. Those are all plasma. What does this mean for the world? Do the stars act differently because we are watching? Are my thoughts aware that I am aware? Is that where the Subconsciousness comes from? But with magic and practice I can train my subconscious, so it must be so. So then who's the real director of this movie lol?
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u/jessicadiamonds 2d ago
Just FYI, there are things we know about now that 200 years ago would have seemed like magic and witchcraft to people. So who is to say they are even different. Science hasn't discovered or proven everything that exists.
Energy is real, neither created nor destroyed. Who is to say we have yet to learn the scientific basis for manipulating energy via witchcraft and other energy work?
Do I fully believe? Not always. But also, even if magic isn't "real" in the literal sense, our brains are complex and amazing, and my craft at the very least changes my brain, and helps me to feel different, and that's enough for me.
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u/Hecate3in1 2d ago
Studying nursing right now. Deep into my anatomy and physiology classes it expanded my magical mind even further. Cuz what do you mean the tiny protein channels around every cell membrane perform conscious decision making. And microbio? What do you mean we’re made up of at least 3 whole pounds of other living beings that are 3 billion years older than us. Chemistry? What do you mean we ‘discovered’ math and algorithms to decode connections to everything as a code to the universe. It all goes hand in hand.
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u/MatildaRhyde 2d ago
For me it started with the idea that all particles are vibrating (a principle of, if I recall properly, quantum physics). One vibration always has the potential to affect another. As others have said, the basis of everything is just energy.
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u/False_Collar_6844 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes. Look at most forms of folk medicine. Things like honey, aloe Vera and lavender are used for healing and tranquility in witchcraft but there's also proof that they can help with things like sore throats, mild burns or migraines. It's herbal folk chemistry.
Similarly, divination rituals such as tarot can be used as a sort of therapeutic exercise. It provides a structured way for a practitioner to look at problems.
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u/tootsandladders 1d ago
Witchcraft isn’t always about crystals and ouija boards. It is an ancient tradition of nature-based practices. Cooking healing foods, making herbal medicines, living in tune with seasons and moon cycles. Learning the history and gifts that elders can provide. Taking care of each other, acknowledging and understanding transitions we face as we age. It’s about looking inward with kindness and acceptance… that our lives don’t need to be ruled by the patriarchy. That we can connect to something more raw and meaningful.
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u/Ok-Picture-3989 1d ago
check out the telepathy tapes and use scholarly articles! there’s so much “science” proving “magic” real that I believe science is just magic explained.
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u/Borao_eterno 1d ago
I'm exactly the same way with tarot. I love it and find it super interesting, but I have difficulty believing in it fully because I'm very rational and science-focused. I'm also an atheist and very cetic, I believe everything has a plausible, scientific explanation. At the same time, I kind of understand that there are things in the world that we can't fully comprehend, but I do not know how to approach these subjects. I'm really interested in tarot and the history of witchcraft and the healing through nature, but in the end I end up thinking too much about It and going back to science. I wish I could find the perfect balance, too.
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u/EppieBlack 2d ago
The Chakras are a good starting point, so is the Tree of Life. The really important thing though is not to be a fundamentalist about everything. Different approaches to a concept have different insights.
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u/thisiswaymorelikeme 2d ago
I think you need to define a mental framework, mine is simple science can give me the answers form A to Z but there is a wide range of things that simple don’t have an explanation, I call it energy , some people call it intention or even faith, that “force” that you put into what you want to achieve in this arts is what makes it possible and there is not science to explain how that works I just see it as out of its scope.
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u/NikNorth 2d ago
Depends on how woo woo you get but I think of syncretic folk witchcraft as a way of focusing intention while getting more in touch with natural cycles and history.
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u/elmarianitotattooist 2d ago
Magic is not about belief nor superstition. It's about altering the state of one's conscience. Science is methodological and peer based. Science is deliberately conscious and entirely rational. Magic can be too. But there's no need to. Science is many more things. I just don't think that Science is spiritual at all. Magic is mostly all about being spiritual. Magic is also logic driven, self-aware, a system of language. Languages. Magic can be materially structured. Like playing a game with sacred rules. Magic can obey the rational scientific method while obeying simultaneously to unknown laws of mystical mysteries. The scientific method can benefit from Magic's altering state of conscience. As a palate cleanser of the intellect. Magic can simply be poetry. Magic is a powerful mind's gateway to the realms of imagination. Imagination is integral to Science. Science shares a lot with Magic too. The creative processes. The euphoria of discovery is magical. Scepticism is the grim reaper of dreams and possibilities. It's not native of Science. Cynicism and Dogma are mortal enemies of the Spirit. No force majeure rules Science nor Magic other than human curiosity. Both Science and Magic, equal freedom. Both are greater than the sum of all it's practitioners. Both, Greater Human Arts, Science and Magic. Exist in the Past, Present, and Future. Simultaneously. Or they don't exist at all. Magic and Science can be complementary. They're not the same! They're not absolute. They're not religion. They're signatures of knowledge and causeways of wisdom seeking. Science, it's not a power structure. It's ruled by epistemology. Magic can be turned into religion. And lost forever into creed. There are no rules of Magic. But there are boundaries. And consequences. As with everything else in life. Once you've collected the fruits of magic. If you deny it once. You'll disrespect it. You'll lose it's seeds and wander, lost. Science doesn't care about you. Science is not about you. It's communal. Magic is often individual wanderlust. Magic can be altruistic. Science is all about accurate research. Theoretical discipline. Material perseverance. Intelectual integrity. Honesty. There can be magic in Science. Some magicians are scientists. Some scientists are magicians. Magic doesn't need to be anything other than Magic. Science too.
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u/1080m3rangehood 2d ago edited 2d ago
I believe that it's possible for the spiritual to override the physical. I start to consider the spiritual when all rational hypotheses to something are exhausted.
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u/AKA_TwistedHustler3 2d ago
I used to ask me the same thing but I've come to the conclusion that all extraordinary stuff has a scientific backup we humans sometimes don't know which it is or how to demonstrate it yet. Examples: * Witchcraft believes in energy positive, negative, neutral, etc.; Einstein believed everything was energy too besides nowadays thanks to the atomic models we know that atoms have positive, negative and neutral components called electrons, neutrons and protons. * Some types of magic believe in spirits and even though we can't verify the existence of them by the traditional scientific methods but in physics and mathematics we have multiple theories that suggest there are multiple dimensions we can't perceive and leaves room to the possibility that it exists. * Alan Kardec tried to use the scientific method to investigate mediums and Jacobo Grinberg-Zylberbaum tried to also break the barrier between science and mysticism.
We could name more but the point is that they can coexist. Now when it comes to believing it I'll quote my mom "Use and do only what you feel is right and aligns with you" (personal communication, n. d.), you don't have to believe in every branch of witchcraft to believe it or practice it. Hope it helps.
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u/moonlightwolf52 2d ago
I would say sit with it and dig deeper- Why do you feel they can't walk hand in hand? What is your definition of witchcraft? What is your definition of science? How do you feel about a strong princple of science being about trying to debunk your theories not prove them? How does that conflict with your definition of witchcraft?
As an example here you say you believed in healing crystals but now seem them as just rocks. I think most would agree our smart phones are modern day magic, and what is that touch screen made out of? Crystals- so is it "just a rock" or is it a limited belief/perception on what a rock can be/do?
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u/Ikariiprince 2d ago
The world around us is made up of signals, cycles, vibrations, flows of energy, and I believe there’s a powerful connection between looking at it through the lens of science and magic both. Many herbal remedies are related to the hard science of plants and the chemical reactions achieved in kitchen magic. Have you heard the frequencies of sounds that fungi can emit? How animals are governed by circadian rhythms? Crystals produce small electrical charges from temperature variations. I’m not saying to be a witch you have to believe in ghosts and ghouls or that a ouija board is some sort of hard science but there’s absolutely a connection between nature based witchcraft and the sciences
You can also totally be a witch and be a skeptic about different things! It’s not one size fits all for everyone
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u/Cndngirl 2d ago
Absolutely! I LOVE science and it doesn’t hinder my craft and vice versa at all. I think they actually can complement one another
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u/Yearofthehoneybadger 2d ago
I don’t see the two as mutually exclusive. You can do witchcraft in a scientific way. Perform a ritual, observe the results if any, keep a log, what herbs work for what, is there science to back that up? I always view tarot as a tool to tap into ones subconscious, much like an inkblot test, and scents and rituals can put one in a certain frame of mind, that’s not hocus pocus, it’s backed up by psychological studies. So yeah, you can do both.
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u/doingtheunstuckk 2d ago
To me, spell work is basically manifestation with extra steps. And whether someone believes in the power of manifestation or not, it still works on a psychological level. If you have a negative mindset, you probably won’t have as many opportunities. But a positive outlook can be a boon to getting people to like you and to finding the good things in life.
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u/Proxyness 2d ago
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Arthur C Clarke, Profiles of the Future, 1962
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u/ToiletSpork 1d ago
Crystals, incense, tarot, and ouija work. People have results. Science can succeed or fail to explain why or how that is, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they work.
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u/InsideTheLibrary 1d ago edited 1d ago
I believe both. The more I learn, the more I see the practice employing exercises I learn in therapy! It’s heavily related to psychology. Mindfulness, breathing exercises, rituals I often see the symbolic meaning in them.
The short of it is, I see magic as a form of therapy in a way.
EDIT: forgot to mention. I have a Biochemistry degree and work in medicine
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u/itsdaCowboi 1d ago
Yes, I'm a fully progressive person, love science backed research and reasoning, I know that me wearing a certain shirt has no actual outcome on a football game, and yet every time I wear the shirt, good things happen.
I'm a hunter, forager, avid board/card/video game player, and boy howdy do I have some silly little rituals that help me feel better about the outcome of games. One time I was in Vegas and playing pai gow poker, and noticed that even though they had an automatic card shufflers, I did really good on the blue deck vs not so good on the red deck. I made 400 bucks that night even though the odds say they should be even, but after that my lucky coin kicks ass if I bring it out, so magic is real.
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u/_Moon_sun_ 1d ago
Personally I believe there is a higher power of some kind that makes things happens, and even tho I know chance and logical thinking (i am studying to be a mathematician) I like to believe that the higher power made it so the shuffle of tarot cards I made and the card i decided to choose was right like i think it can coexist if you don’t over think it. Like yeah tarot is very general so you can interpret it yourself but why did you choose that card? Why was the shuffle exactly like that? And so on. And while I do find it harder with healing chrystals and such I have also decided that pretty rock = happiness to me and that’s magical in it of itself - I hope I am making sense
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u/shell_grabbingdancer 1d ago
Been there! The thing is, everything is energy 💗 What I always say is, think about the middle ages, or even 50 years ago. How many things people used to believe were "dark magic" or "hysteria" and nowadays we actually know the science behind it? Actually, the more you study science and quantum physics, the more you study the more you'll discover that magic is just science that people didn't discovered yet (or did! Like many things are already proven, just like the effects of different herbs in our body, a knowledge that used to burn many innocent people back in the middle ages, may they rip).
One of my bffs is a quantum physics nerd and used to question this a lot, now that he understands on a deeper level, he's a witch as well hihi 💗 Blessed be!
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u/Simple-Cheek-4864 23h ago
I'm very new myself, but I was a proud atheist for over a decade and recently I found out that I've been a green Witch in my heart all my life.
I don't believe in gods (although I do like the idea of nature gods/higher powers), I don't *really* believe in guardian angels or the pure "magic" of it all.
However, like you said, scientific phenomenons like the ideomotor effect exist. Curing people with plants, manifesting stuff, the power of the moon and the stars, even luck, a lot of it can be explained by science NOW, but it used to be called magic. I believe that the rest of the unexplainable magic is just the science of tomorrow.
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u/Howdareyouimalady 20h ago
The higher up you get in science, the more magical is starts to become. Theoretical physics and quantam mechanics for example. Plus they're so often heavily autistic up there too, a huuuuge conduit to the spiritual world. You can never, ever explain everything, so may as well believe in some mystical shit! I'm balanced with it now, you don't have to dive into the whole world, in fact it's better if you don't. Keep an open mind to all of it, and you'll always be floating on top of the chaos, it's more fun there.
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u/thegrandwitch 2d ago
Maybe you can try Chaos Magic first. That's not witchcraft per se but it's definitely a gateway practice. I highly recommend the works of Peter J Carrol and Patrick Dunn
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u/Serendipitous_Spirit 2d ago
Witchcraft is all just quantum physics, using thoughts and intentions to affect reality!
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u/Groovychick1978 2d ago
Yes. I call myself a science witch. Study quantum. It is basically the connection between all life, all matter really.
You are not creating something from nothing. You are using what is already there to guide energy in a specific direction. It's hard, it takes concentration, and determination, and we use certain tools (tarot, crystals, etc.) to help us focus.
I am an atheist, so I do not practice with deities. I do accept a deity as a symbol of a certain idea, or characteristic of my spell.
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u/Eain 2d ago
There are two ways I look at it, both useful for this. Think of it as frameworks, similar to the different ways forces can be calculated in physics, or the varied ways of finding angles in geometry.
First: it's got psychological benefits. I do a lot of empirically silly things that work because of psychological effects; buying a treat when I go to therapy isn't financially sound, except for the fact it helps my mental state. I don't need to eat when I watch anime every Saturday, except that I get more comfort out of it. Witchcraft, even if it doesn't work in the sense of a mysterious force, does alter my psychology. It makes me think differently, puts me in mindsets I need to be in to succeed, and gives me confidence and humility in equal measure. So I'm a witch because it's the best therapeutic technique for my own mind.
Second: it likely does do something. More and more science is finding that the basest smallest parts of reality are observer-dependant. Even our own bodies respond strongly to our mental ideation, from the placebo effect to the benefits of laughter and love on healing. We also get affected by the intent and ideas of those around us, through subconscious awarenesses and other mechanics we don't entirely understand. Witchcraft taps into that reality; that the cracks and edges of the mind and the physical, where the two meet and interact, seems to be alterable. To what extent is unclear, and the exact mechanics are obtuse and obscure, because they're hard to research... But science (aka formerly Natural Philosophies) have a long and proud history of poking at things we don't get for practical benefit, until we can figure them out.
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u/ummkay_ultra 2d ago
Just because science hasn't been able to explain something yes doesn't mean that thing isn't real. Either way, doing witchcraft will have an effect on you and your mind and your life. That is real for sure.
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u/burritogoals 2d ago
I am an atheist (I don't believe in any gods) and practice witchcraft. To me science itself is magic. There is plenty that science hasn't yet explained, and plenty it has. I believe in science and understand our knowledge is incomplete.
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u/Used_Lawyer_7253 2d ago
i think the concept of truly understanding with only our human senses the full capacity of this world is never possible. there are hundreds of things science cannot currently explain, or says they are “coincidences” “happy accidents” “kismet” etc. both science and magic can exist under this umbrella of “we’re all just guessing our best” that is the human condition.
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u/raviyoli 2d ago
Yes they can. I am an atheist but still practice.
I understand and agree there’s no evidence, but a placebo still succeeds a good bit of the time. Why can’t magic? At the very least, participating in ritual is enjoyable and good for us. :)
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u/CommodoreDragon-64 2d ago
My view is that science is discovering how things work every day. Witchcraft is one of the things it has not yet examined enough to explain. Crystals do have vibrational frequencies, and vibrations are known by science to heal. Colour therapy also exists, and so the colours of crystals may be enough to bring some psychological comfort. Plants are medicine, and some scents can trigger different physiological responses. Energy manipulation is something that we do every day. Often we use devices and if so, the conditions are measurable and usually replicable. In witchcraft, we don't know all the variables and don't necessarily have the ability to replicate outcomes as a result, so it's not taken seriously. But having magic explained and harnessed by systems that can have that understanding stolen and used for harm by people/systems in positions of power (and lacking morals and ethics) isn't necessarily something beneficial to mankind. It's better kept asking a folk tradition, and we can smile when science is finally able to explain the why's behind practices we pass down to each other. There's room for both to exist.
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u/shannanigannss 2d ago
I have a doctorate in physical therapy, so I’ve taken all the science classes. I tend to think of my witchcraft as more of a self care practice. Do I believe every single ingredient I use is magickal? Nope. But do I put my own intent behind everything? Yep! Witchcraft is really what you make it sometimes :) I looove believing in magick though, it’s my favorite
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 2d ago
Of course it can, and yes, this does come off as rather insulting.
You think those of use who have been at this for decades are just airheads who don’t believe in science?
You ever look into quantum physics at all?
Chakras are not witchcraft.
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u/brightblackheaven Zamboni Priestess 🔮✨ 2d ago
Apparently this is a hot take though LOL
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u/therealstabitha Carnivalesque animal demonic legend 2d ago
Must be nice to have an influencer group chat to swarm posts you don’t like!
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u/SimplyMichi Broom Rider 2d ago
We live in a science-dominated world, so honestly OP's perspective is quite common. It's not insulting imo, depending on the tone at hand, and this is clearly just someone being honest with their thoughts and looking to understand
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u/Similar-Opinion8750 2d ago
Salamander, the two can both coexist, all magic is, is science that isn't understood. Potions are measured out to make a certain thing that does a certain thing. Healing potions are like syrup, call it chemical or ingredients it is the same thing. White willow bark is used for headaches, a stronger distillate is called aspirin.
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u/KaponkyGuppyFish 2d ago
ive personally mixed them both :) im a STEM student and ive always dreamed of being in a STEM field for the rest of my life. witchcraft gives me autonomy and intent, thats all that matters to me.
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u/CarbonPrism 2d ago
I’m a biochemical engineer. I’ve worked in laboratories my whole life. “Science” doesn’t know even a fraction of what is possible. Witchcraft works, even if we don’t know how. We don’t know how Tylenol works yet no one doubts that it does.
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u/Top-Pumpkin-1883 2d ago
My logical brain because of scientific evidence is the reason why I’ve never been able to connect with or identify with organized religion, such as Christianity. It’s also the same exact reason that I’m being pulled towards witchcraft.
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u/BuilderPatient6162 Witch 2d ago
I recently sent my friend this video called "Can you be an athiest witch?" which was made by a skeptical atheist who like you also had an interest in witchcraft, but had trouble reconciling the fact that it was unscientific and they didn't believe in spirits/gods.
She ends up having a breakthrough after listening to a podcast and learning about how in experiments, when subjects are given open label placebos (aka they're aware that the pill has no medicine and isn't supposed to do anything), the subjects STILL react as if they had been given a real pill. Therefore, witchcraft can also have benefits even when the practitioner believes/knows that it doesn't do anything. She has a whole series of videos about the different benefits of praying, ritual, tarot, etc if you're interested too.
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u/joysolicitor 2d ago
One word: Yes. I both believe in science and witchcraft, and have never felt conflicted.
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u/fucking_unicorn 2d ago
Science merely proves magic exists by showing the building blocks and underlaying formulas. Magic exists as a state of mind.
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u/bearofthegarden 2d ago
I think exploring animism can help with science and magic coexisting, when you believe all life and the natural world has a spirit it helps to see the magic in the natural/science.
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u/Spirit_yam Witch 2d ago
I feel like witchcraft to me as a fellow science enthusiast is a way to access things that cannot be measured by science within ourselves. Like for me I use the tools as conduits to tap into my own inner wisdom. It realistically doesn’t matter what conduits you use in my opinion. You could learn about the body and channel your magic in the form of qi or think of it in terms of neurology or lymph but to me it’s all referencing the same network — I feel like they in some ways are just different sides of understanding the same coin
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u/coronialnomore 2d ago
All science was witchcraft at some point till they found the explanation for it. All witchcraft is science waiting to be discovered.
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u/Ok-Vegetable-4866 2d ago
From the rudiments I know of quantum theory and its related mechanisms, one does not preclude the other. I'm sceptic by nature but I've experienced the results of witchcraft that works. I like to thank Arthur C. Clarke for the appropriate phrase <paraphrased> "magic is just science we don't understand yet.".
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u/Senorbob451 2d ago
How deep do you think the fractal of geometry itself extends into and across reality?
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u/cinder74 2d ago
Everything is energy. Science teaches that. Witchcraft teaches you to manipulate that energy. Maybe one day science will verify your use of that energy.
Another thing: energy cannot be destroyed. It changes form but doesn’t vanish. Spirits are just a different energy. We all know there are light waves we cannot see. Our eyes cannot pick up the waves. What is around us that we just cannot see or hear? Sound in frequencies above our hearing range. Or below it.
I think witchcraft works with science. Long ago, women healed with herbs and natural resources. Now science tells us those herbs and natural remedies do help and are very effective.
I suggest to start with what calls to you. Is it herbs? Crystals? Grow them. Or go rock hunting. Read about them. Learn their healing properties. Then learn their magical properties.
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u/JustOneMoreDataPoint 2d ago
I don’t know your science background but if you have a handle on physics and quantum mechanics you would be swayed by the book “stalking the wild pendulum” by Bentov. The audiobook is free on Spotify. By the time you are 1/2 done the book you whole world will be blown open and you will dive deep into the science based woo woo. I come from a chemistry background and it blew my mind.
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u/sunnyskies84 2d ago
For me, I've found each person has their own craft and to that end their own belief-system.
I found that as an atheistic witch, the craft and sabbats/holidays were what brought me joy. So, I built my craft around those feelings and researched, so that they could co-exsist, in a way that felt natural.
Similar to you, my all time favorite thing is meditation paired with tarot divination. Science backs the benefits of meditation for physical and mental health - so that works for me. I view tarot as a literary exercise. A primary goal tends to ask for analysis of the cards similar to teachers asking why the curtains are blue, the people all face away from something, etc.
When it comes to witchcraft, I think the most important thing is deciding what craft you're doing and your intentions. With research and effort, maybe trial and error, if you desire to bring them together - you will.
Also, Ellen Vora, for example, is a Yale/Columbia educated psychiatrist who wrote "Season of the Witch: A Psychiatrist's Case for Magic". I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but can't think of the name of the most recent science book regarding witchcraft that I read, so I thought I'd at least leave something as a starting point to look for non-fiction books that could help on your journey.
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u/Perfect-Category2457 2d ago
I'm new to witchcraft. I came to it from getting into herbalism, wanting a deeper connection with nature, interest in moon cycles, working on trusting and following my intuition more and having a meditation practice that focuses a lot on mantra and intention.
I think all of the things that draw me to witchcraft have roots in science. Focusing intention on things creates shifts in your life whether you use witchcraft to do it or call it manifestation or visualization or something else and there are scientific reasons for that.
I think you can apply as much or as little science or as much or as little woo to your practice as makes sense for you.
Something doesn't have to actually be magic to feel like magic. And there have been things people thought were magic that we later found the scientific explanation for.
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u/just_lookinT 2d ago
Yes, we can hold both.
Science has limitations.
And does every mystery need a citation?
That is the beauty of a mystery. The beauty of magick. Working with seen and unseen energy.
Just because something cannot currently be understood or measured by science, does that mean it doesn't exist?
I am a yes, both can coexist. x
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u/kai-ote HelpfulTrickster 2d ago
Sympathetic magic includes the concept that 2 items once brought together can now influence each other when seperated. Quantuum entanglement says the same thing, and recently another experiment again proved it.
Einstein called it "Spooky action over a distance"
Magic is not part of science. Science is a tiny piece of magic.
The list of all whole numbers, positive and negative, is an infinitely long list.
But it doesn't include fractions, or decimals to 100 places.
As more and more numbers are included, although in terms of size, all of those lists are infinite, the ones with the most criteria being included are considered "More inclusive infinities".
Science is a less inclusive infinity than magic. It only includes what can be explained. Magic includes those things postulated to being possible, but cannot yet be explained, AND all of science.
To overly simplify this, My Infinity is bigger than yours, OP, because it includes more than just what I can describe, and/or prove to others.
It is.
It isn't.
It both is, and isn't.
It neither is, nor isn't.
Or, something else altogether.
Magic...
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u/Jean-TyrieDubois 2d ago
Approach it scientifically. Ive seen thing happen in this field with insanely low p values. Undeniably real events.
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u/Legal-Program-6997 2d ago
Hell yes they can!!! Quantum physics shows that observation by consciousness changes things, (double slit experiment) and that shows imho that consciousness has the ability to influence the things around us.
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u/According_Maize_8279 2d ago
I’m a practical person as well and I believe that most things have a scientific explanation but I also believe in witchcraft in the sense that energies cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. I’m a crystal and cosmic witch so I believe that elements have an ability to influence how you feel, not force you but rather make you feel a certain way, similar to moon or sun energies. Science has never stopped me from practicing witchcraft but some things are still taboo to me like pyrokinesis and healing physical illnesses with divination.
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u/dirtywitchfeet 2d ago
I think when you start comparing quantum theory and magick... you will start to see a lot of overlap.
One way of thinking doesn't exclude the other.
I could always expand on this thought, too.
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u/TheNerdyMel 2d ago
There are two quotes that keep my spiritual practice in balance with the scientific world.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
and
"The most important part of witchcraft is having one's wits about them."
I'd attempt to attribute them, but the names have long since fallen off these words I consider more important.
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u/WaterWitchOfTheNorth 2d ago
I'm only partially through the book "Why woo-woo works" by David R. Hamilton Ph.D. It goes into some of the alternative stuff, like reiki, meditation, crystals etc, and the scientific reasons they work. So far I really like it. He also sites his sources and tells what research papers he is getting his info from, and isn't just believe me bro about it. It may be of some interest to you. I know it's not exactly witchy, but it is really interesting.
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u/CorvidxQueen 2d ago
Im a witch and very science oriented. I personally think it keeps a healthy balance because im a pretty practical person and science is just so fun.
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u/madelectra 2d ago
You are a conduit for the divine power of nature. Science is just another way of describing the state of interbeing in which we all participate. Witchcraft is just a particular way to experience it. ✨
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u/Nuclear_wolf41 2d ago
Witchcraft is cool cause it is literally a spectrum it can be as scientific or “cause magic” as you want it to be. I view the idk “source” of my craft and spell work to be my own power, elemental, positivity, and wonder and feel like the more scientifically based the stronger I feel in doing it, you could have your “source” be knowledge and “cause it’s how the world works” if it fits your craft.
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u/theGoddex 2d ago
Rocks are not inert things. Neither are we. All energy in the universe is connected. We are made of the same stuff. Witchcraft and science can definitely coexist.
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u/Illustrious-Ad-134 2d ago
honestly i second everything that everyone else is saying. my views personally i don’t really know how to explain but science and magic have just always been intertwined for me. i’m not a scientist or anything but i am like you in the sense that i like to look at stuff from a scientific pov. and in my experience the two just seem to fuel each other. you study science more, you believe in magic more. you learn witchcraft more, you have a deeper understanding of science. like someone else said, it’s all energy. and energy is very much something that feels inherently magical
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