Hey Willow!

I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on magic! I’ve been reading and learning (and thinking) about this very topic for a long while, and I’ve been itching at the opportunity to come out and talk about it! So, thank you for bringing it up!

I can tell your beliefs are deeply important to you, and I respect that. As a pagan, I see magic a little differently, and I’d love to offer my perspective in the spirit of open and thoughtful dialogue.

Magic is a tool; it is not inherently good or evil.

First off, I completely agree with you—magic is real. Many people, myself included, have had personal experiences that confirm this. But I don’t believe magic is automatically dark or evil. Magic is a tool, much like fire or medicine—it all depends on how it’s used and by whom.

You mentioned that magic might seem good at first but will always reveal itself as evil. From my experience and studies, that’s not necessarily the case. Many practitioners—especially those who use folk magic, healing rituals, and protection spells—never encounter the kind of darkness you describe. Just as Christianity has seen both incredible kindness and terrible harm (think of the Crusades or the Salem Witch Trials), magic has been used both ethically and irresponsibly. But that doesn’t make the entire practice corrupt—only that individuals must be mindful of their intentions.

Magic vs. Miracles.

You mentioned that miracles come from God while magic comes from demons. That’s an interesting take! But if we look at the Bible, many acts performed by key figures—like Moses parting the Red Sea, the Three Wise Men interpreting omens, or Jesus healing the sick—could be seen as divine magic. Some scholars argue that the line between “magic” and “miracle” is more about religious interpretation than an actual difference in power or source.

Not all witches or pagans worship Satan.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all magic is tied to Satan. However, most pagans—myself included—don’t even believe in Satan, since that’s a Christian concept. Many pagans and Wiccans follow ethical principles, like the Wiccan Rede: “An it harm none, do what ye will.”, which is a guiding philosophy of personal responsibility and respect for others.

Christianity has a complicated relationship with magic.

Early Christianity had a much more nuanced relationship with magic than people often realize. Many early Christians practiced folk magic, using protective charms, invoking saints, and engaging in divination-like rituals. Even today, Christian mysticism includes things like anointing with oil, prayer for protection, and the veneration of relics—practices that could easily be considered magical in other contexts. Historically, the line between faith and magic wasn’t always as clear-cut as it is today.

So, when it comes to early Christian practices, there’s an article titled “Protective Magic on the Byzantine Periphery”, which talks about how early Christians actually used protective magic. They did things like using charms and invoking saints—pretty fascinating stuff!

Then there’s Christian mysticism. The article “Recovering Christian Mysticism” goes into how practices like chanting prayers and lighting candles are central to Christian mysticism. Some people might even see these as magical in nature.

When it comes to the veneration of relics, the Wikipedia page on “Relics” gives a pretty good overview. It talks about how the physical remains or personal belongings of saints are preserved and revered—again, something that might be considered magical in other contexts.

And finally, anointing with oil. There’s a Reddit thread about the “Proper use of anointing oil” where people discuss how it’s used for healing and protection. It even references Mark 6:13, where the disciples anointed the sick and healed them.

(And Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33? That sounds like magic to me!)

Fear of magic was more about power than spirituality.

Much of the fear surrounding magic—especially in the medieval and early modern periods—had less to do with spiritual concerns and more to do with social control. The witch trials weren’t really about stopping evil magic; they were often about silencing women, midwives, healers, and others who didn’t conform to societal norms. Many accused “witches” weren’t even practicing magic—they were just people that authorities wanted to suppress.

Testimonies are powerful—but they are personal.

You referenced Ashley Jones’ testimony, which is absolutely valid for her experience. However, many former Christians have had the opposite journey—feeling restricted by Christianity and finding healing, peace, and empowerment through paganism, Wicca, or other spiritual paths. Personal stories are powerful, but they’re also subjective. Just because one person had a negative experience with magic doesn’t mean that all magic leads to darkness.

The Bible and its historical context.

The Bible does condemn certain forms of magic, but context matters. For example, the passage from Deuteronomy you referenced was written when the Israelites were surrounded by cultures practicing harmful sorcery and even child sacrifice. Yet, the Magi (who practiced astrology) were led to Jesus by a star and weren’t condemned for it. This suggests that not all spiritual practices outside of Christianity are inherently evil.

If you’re interested, here are some articles that explore the history and ethics of magic from different perspectives:

• Magic in the Ancient World
• The Difference Between Magic and Religion
• What is Wicca? A Beginner’s Guide

I totally understand that your beliefs shape how you see magic, just as mine shape my experience and opinion of it. My goal isn’t to change your mind—just to share that magic, in and of itself, is not inherently evil. It’s the intent behind it that truly matters.

Thanks again for this conversation! I really appreciate the chance to have these discussions in a spirit of mutual respect.

Blessings,
~MoniqueThePaganPrincess

P.S. This took me two and a half to three whole hours to read up (some more), write, find links and listen! I hope you reply 😁🤣

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