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I'm curious to know the names that you identify with your particular practices of magick.
I know a lot of different cultures have their own words to represent the magician, and many are unique to specific practices.
There are a lot of those whom identify with the word "Chaote," and I find that interesting, being that I'd never heard the word before coming here.
No one is "wrong" with the names they decide upon sharing.

When I speak on this site, I usually stick to the simple term of "magician," because it's easy, well known and understood, and Bardon uses it so much that it's ingrained in my head. I personally don't identify with such a word, because to those who are uninitiated, it usually refers to stage tricks and sleight-of-hand demonstrations (and while they are cool, and I do learn those things, they are not in the same category as the things discussed here.)
I usually like to refer to myself as a "Mage" when speaking to those who understand magick (though many are still uninitiated). Occasionally I slip in random crap like video-game classes (such as Arcanist, from FF14, for instance), just for the hell of it, and because it sounds cool to people, and intrigues them into what I have to say. Mage, however, is the most well understood term when referring to actual practice, most of the time. I practice too many different styles to narrow it down to any one category (such as the "Alchemist," or "Witch" [herbology & sympathy]), and I feel as though the name "Wizard" is earned, not taken.
If I ever attempt to describe my practice to those who have no understanding of magick whatsoever, I say that I'm an "Artisan of the esoteric Sciences." That usually blows peoples' minds, and I'm satisfied with that.

I know no one really likes to stick themselves with "labels," but that isn't the point in taking on names like these.
So, what words do you identify with best (if any)? If there are none, then why?

Practitioner.

Desecrated wrote:Practitioner.

That's beautiful.

I'm a Witch. There's a lot more to it than just herbs and sympathetic magic.

RoseRed wrote:I'm a Witch. There's a lot more to it than just herbs and sympathetic magic.

I'm curious to know, are you religious at all?
I know there is more to it than those things (as with all paths) but those are the styles of actual practice most commonly used by Wiccans, and most often those others who identify by the term of "Witch." At least, from my readings, that is the case. I don't find many witchcraft books that deal with the "higher" magicks.

RoseRed and "common wiccan" in the same train of thought makes me giggle. [lol]

I usually don't refer to myself as anything, and there's usually a good reason for that. A few spirits have called me something to the effect of "Wizard In Progress," but I usually take that as being a kind way of saying "nice try, kid."



~:Shin:~

I am male and go by Witch.

It is simple, descriptive, and to the point.

High magick exists in my own tradition, it has many elements of Theurgy within it.

Wicca certainly has its fair share of Witches, but it is in no way exclusive to Wicca.

Student.

It's really tough to tell sometimes.

Most of my study is focused on Golden Dawn/Rosicrucian/Hermetic but it seems like there's a certain left-hand path sexual tantra that keeps sort of grabbing me up to snuggle when I'm in tough times. The later is where I've noticed myself getting incredible amounts of very direct magical/energetic feedback while the Rosicrucian and Golden Dawn Paths - fascinating stuff but in a lot of ways they seem like my own occult Catholicism of sorts. I think the GD qabalah, tarot, and astrology will blossom to be intensely useful but I know that the western mystic path is a slow-cook.

One of the things I picked up that might help expedite my movement with respect to the Hermeticism - big thanks to Poke Runyon on this - was recently grabbing a copy of Franz Bardon's 'Universal Master Key' and the Practical Astrology book that Priscilla Costello wrote - mainly that the two books can be used together incredibly well. I remember trying to get to 100 items for each side of my black and white mirrors in the Bardon book just to be utterly dumfounded when it came to the elements - really glad I might have something that might make cognition of those accessible to me as well as a good elective astrology book to learn from.

Poop-o-mancer. But seriously I see myself as an apprentice who is at the very begining.

I don't try to call myself chaote but too often this describe me perfectly.

Sometimes King Solaire of Astora, Son of Star called Sun. [thumbup]

Praise teh Sun \[T]/ [cool]

Haelos wrote:

RoseRed wrote:I'm a Witch. There's a lot more to it than just herbs and sympathetic magic.

I'm curious to know, are you religious at all?
I know there is more to it than those things (as with all paths) but those are the styles of actual practice most commonly used by Wiccans, and most often those others who identify by the term of "Witch." At least, from my readings, that is the case. I don't find many witchcraft books that deal with the "higher" magicks.

I'm a Lineaged Trad Witch and a Priestess. So, yes, you could call me religious but please don't call me Wiccan. I don't claim a religion I don't follow.

Most of the books out there are what I call 'neo-wiccan-esque'.

funny question.

Y'all so proper and structured. [rofl]

Wavemaster, chaos-surfer, torchbringer, flagman, and purse/beerholder to name a few.

Magician works too.

magari wrote:funny question.

Y'all so proper and structured. [rofl]

Wavemaster, chaos-surfer, torchbringer, flagman, and purse/beerholder to name a few.

Ekhem! [yay]

magari wrote:funny question.

Y'all so proper and structured. [rofl]

Wavemaster, chaos-surfer, torchbringer, flagman, and purse/beerholder to name a few.

OMG, I totally use WaveMaster as well. Fuck Magari, I love you so much now.
No one, and I mean NO ONE I've spoken to about practice knows much about The World.

Like a G6

More waves coming at ya
The World is ripe. The surf is massive. Enjoy the ride and be blessed.

I am a Solitary Witch and I am of the Middle Hand path.

Cyberdemon!

Necromancer.

Only one who doesn't call themselves anything?

Stukov wrote:Only one who doesn't call themselves anything?

I don't generally have a *reason* to call myself anything, but it adds convenience when referring to other people and when speaking to those who do not practice.

Magicians or Those Who Know How to Write.