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Lazaris: A Question on Magick and Wicca
What part do you see things like Witchcraft, ritual magick, and Wicca playing in the coming years as part of this New Age?
Many of the concepts of ceremonial magick and traditional magick—magick with a `k' as it is appropriately spelled (to separate it from the Amazing Randy sort of magic)—and the various forms of Witchcraft and Druidic study have, unfortunately, had bad press. Many people, sadly even people within metaphysics, think that such people as Witches, magicians, and Druidic priests somehow represent the evil and dark side of things.
It is very sad. In the future, as people continue opening their minds and their consciousness, many times they will tap into a part of themselves that at one time was involved in such activities. Therefore, then they will open their hearts, allowing further understanding and appreciation.
Magick, Witchcraft, Druidic studies and other forms of occult activity—as they allow themselves to come more into the light, gently, slowly, not forcing themselves, but gently and slowing coming into the light—will indeed be more and more accepted. They will not necessarily be accepted "instead of," but accepted "also as."
This does not mean that people would give up their more traditional approaches to spirituality. Rather, they may encompass or expand to incorporate certain understandings of Wicca, certain understandings of magick, and certain understandings of the Druidic studies. Despite the uninformed fear of the consensus reality, these activities have historically been very positive and an integral part of an evolving spiritual movement.
In World War II, millions of Jews and Russians were exterminated. That holocaust of life had no justification. Throughout history there have been Witches who have experienced the same sort of humiliation, the same sort of degradation, the same sort of pain, the same sort of destruction. Without the outcry of human compassion that accompanied the holocaust of World War II, they have held strong. They persisted and prevailed. The Witches, the magicians and others of these cultures provide a backbone of all spirituality.
Metaphysics has been popular and has been unpopular throughout history. It comes and goes in waves of energy. In the early 1900s you are aware of all the mediums, the seances, the ectoplasmic manifestation, the trumpets and all the trappings of spirituality that were "the rage." It died away and went away.
Then there was the upsurge of what we call the National Enquirer Psychics, who would come out with their annual and biannual predictions. Their popularity would surge and then fall away.
Now there is a tremendous movement of spirituality that we suggest is not going to fall away. Much to the chagrin, we're sure, of certain Fundamentalists, we suggest that a New Spirituality is finally born.
But throughout it all, throughout all history, in favorable times and in unfavorable times, there have been the Witches and there have been the magicians who have, in their private way, in their very special way, in their very personal and loving way, kept metaphysics and spirituality alive. They have kept the candle burning, kept the light in the window. A great deal is owed to them, and a great deal of honor and appreciation is due those who are truly of the tradition.
Admittedly there are the fringe groups. There are those, similarly, who hop on the bandwagon—the beasts that come along with the beauty, we would suppose.
The true tradition is something to be honored and valued. It will come more into the light, and people will realize, "Oh, is that what you mean by Witchcraft? I thought it was old women with cackling voices and warts upon their noses. I thought it was princes into frogs and vice versa. I thought you meant evil black magic."
When people see the truth and the beauty, there will be more of a gentle embracing and gentle accepting. Witchcraft has never asked for anything more. Both have simply asked to be allowed to coexist in a reality. And such coexistence will be more and more allowed over the next many years. | 
