Reclaiming the Truth:

It’s amusing how topics seem to align themselves in our lives when we need them most. Today, I found myself once again circling back to a subject I’ve often discussed, spirituality, spellcasting, and the relationship between esoterics and God. Despite misconceptions that persist in mainstream religious doctrine, the truth is far more nuanced than the condemnation many are quick to espouse.

This discourse isn’t new. Many people quote scriptures like Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," as a blanket justification to judge, belittle, or even wish harm upon individuals who practice forms of spirituality they neither understand nor respect. However, this interpretation lacks both historical and contextual depth.

Let’s start by unpacking the term “witch.” The word originates from the Old English wiccian or wiah, which is also the linguistic root for modern Wiccan practices. But going even further back, it derives from the Proto-Germanic witos, which means “to see” or “to know.” This linguistic lineage frames a witch not as an evil figure, but as a “seer,” a knower of wisdom and spiritual truths. Yet over time, this knowledge became vilified, particularly when wielded by women.

When Exodus 22:18 is cited, what is often ignored is the context and intent behind the term “witch.” I argue that the scripture refers not to healers, herbalists, prophets, or metaphysical practitioners but to individuals who engage in acts of malice and exploitation. Historical figures like Ghislaine Maxwell or Elizabeth Báthory come to mind, individuals who procured victims for ritualistic abuses or committed acts of vanity-driven cruelty. The “witch” referred to in Exodus, in my view, is this poster child of wickedness, a person who uses manipulation and violence to exert power over others.

The Bible itself supports a more discerning approach. In Mark 9:42, it is written, “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” This scripture speaks directly against those who harm innocents, particularly children. It aligns with the condemnation of acts of predation and exploitation, not against spiritual healers or wise women practicing their craft.

The demonization of women as “witches” served a political and social function. Powerful, wise women, those who embodied Sophia, the biblical spirit of wisdom, posed a threat to patriarchal structures. Proverbs 1:20 speaks of her, “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice.” Yet, as history shows, societies often refused to hear her. Rather than celebrate these women as bearers of divine knowledge, institutions persecuted them to silence inconvenient truths. This historical martyrdom of wise women mirrors the persecution of Yahushua himself, who was crucified for challenging the religious authorities of his time.

Furthermore, many esoteric practices shunned today, such as astrology, the use of incense, and even tarot, are deeply embedded in biblical narratives. Matthew 2:1-2 recounts the Magi, Eastern astronomers and alchemists, who followed a star to Bethlehem to honor the birth of Yahushua. They were practitioners of ancient sciences, mapping the heavens to interpret divine signs. Similarly, Luke 21:25 emphasizes, “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars.” These references highlight that looking to the stars, reading omens, and engaging in celestial observation are not inherently evil but are, in fact, spiritually endorsed acts within scripture.

Yes, there are dark practices, rituals, and entities one can choose to engage with. But this danger lies in intent and misuse of spiritual power, not in the practice itself. Like any tool, spiritual acts can be used for healing or harm. Condemning all forms of metaphysical practice as inherently evil is not only ignorant but hypocritical, especially when the very scriptures used to justify such condemnation also celebrate prophets, alchemists, seers, and miracle-workers.

To those quick to cast stones, I say, if you claim to follow Yahushua’s doctrine, you should also heed his words, “Greater works than these shall you do.” Condemning others for their chosen path of spirituality, without comprehending the depth of biblical teachings, is a disservice not only to them but to your own faith journey. The church’s historical efforts to control, appropriate, and silence spiritual truths have long been a mechanism of subjugation, not divine will.

In conclusion, the war against “witches” was never about rooting out evil. It was about silencing wisdom, suppressing feminine power, and maintaining institutional control. True believers, those who seek to walk in Yahushua’s footsteps, must discern beyond dogma and recognize the spiritual inheritance we all share, a calling not to persecute, but to heal, to see, and to know.