~ Black Witchcraft: An Interview With Illean Draegan ~
by Eric Raben
Illean is a black witch. Over a boiled cup of steaming brew
she deigned to answer my questions.
What exactly is "black witchcraft"?
'Black Witchcraft is a Left-Hand Path tradition. Contrary to
the Margaret Murray inspired and Gerald Gardner codified
schools of Right-Hand Path 'Wicca' and 'White Witches', "White
witchcraft" was not a pre-christian survivalist folk religion.
The millions put to death in the Inquisition and other
religious intolerances were mainly outsiders, old women,
'uncontrolled' or young temptress women.
Modern white witchcraft was invented this century. The imagery
of witchcraft from the past does attract people, such as
myself, who consider themselves "Gothic witches" or black
witches.
'Many people are attracted to White Witchcraft because it has
put on a face of political correctness. Persons who have
'cosmic ecological feelings' seem attracted to white
witchcraft because it is seemingly takes the disaffected 'do-
gooders' some kind of emotional fulfilment. Hippies with
mythology is a good term to use. So white witches will spout
reams of how everyone is a part of the Goddess / Nature etc.
'Black Witchcraft is not the 'enemy' of white witchcraft, or
any religion much as some white witches would like us to be,
so they can justify themselves with an enemy, much like the
Christians do with Satan.
'Black Witchcraft is Self-based. It emphasises pragmatic
selfishness, independence and striving in the face of all else
to achieve one's Will. Gothic witchcraft has an emphasis on
the archaic traditions of diabolism, veneficia {poisoning /
cursing - although I stress that this is aesthetic only - I
don't poison anyone in the medical sense. Cursing however is
another matter}.
What about Satanism?
'Witches and Warlocks (male versions of witches) are
frequently equated with Satanists. Black Witches do consider
Satan as significant in their philosophies. The legacy of
Satan and Satanic institutions such as the Church of Satan
{who once had the degrees Witch / Warlock } are very
important. The ceremonies in the Satanic Bible are based on
three of humankind's prime motivations: sex, vengeance and
guidance. These forms of ritual are easily adapted into the
black witches' magical work.
'Some black witches are Satanists, that is they believe that
Satan / Prince of Darkness exists as an entity, and seek to
honour this entity. Satan is however, only one of a number of
aspects of the Prince of Darkness that black witches honour.
Some witches find inspiration in Northern traditions,
honouring the shadowy aspects of Freyja {with her Seithr
traditions} and Odin, others choose Gypsy }who in some
traditions believe that they are children of Lucifer} and
Basque traditions. Other hideous witches side with The Hooded
One of a Lovecraft story. The Temple of Set is an example of a
tradition / school that investigates the many aspects of the
Prince of Darkness, and I respect Setians.
'Black Witchcraft is a synthetic tradition, with inspirations
from a number of cultures. Witches are traditionally seen as
outsiders, and even today hundreds of people are murdered as
suspected witches by the paranoid superstitious. This outsider
status is a part of our source of power, because in going
outside of a cultural milieu, we are no longer enchained by its
expectations, which may help us shape the life we wish to lead.
'I am currently researching the Gothic traditions, which for
me involves the lore of the pre-Christian Germanic tribes,
together with what could be called Germanticism, - Gothic
romanticism, taking inspiration from the Gothic literary and
neo-cultural traditions. Rune Magic and Galdra is interesting
in this approach, but I am more drawn towards the 'shamanic'
or Seithr traditions as I mentioned.
Magic and Witchcraft
'Witchcraft is often associated with the curse or cure aspects
of magic: the wizened hag that can cure illnesses, produce
Aphrodisiacs and strike stone dead those who cross her. The
traditional western views of witches portray them in many ways
as the "shamans" of medieval life.
'Cursing is as old as humanity. Malevolence is an aspect well
versed to the Witch. Curses *do* work, and not just on the
stone age incredulous. Curses are dangerous work, and not to
be cast without ethical justification. This requires
detachment and mature judgment. Not just because someone has
made you angry.
Curses should be the last resort, presaged by more social
forms such as demands for apology etc. They are an acceptable
means of avoiding physical harm, if used judiciously.
Personally, I have found very few cases that have required
curses. With the concentration of hate and the creative use of
malevolent energy towards the cursed, peace of mind is
restored. The cited by LaVey is of the
essence. When to curse and how to curse are vital. Like all
magical arts this requires sensitivity and practice.
'Curing is a harder art to learn than cursing. I have found
that it is best to help thyself, rather than waste your
efforts on skeptics. It is important to understand the
physical processes of life, and natural healing and then to
augment it. This can only go so far, and I am not recommending
forsaking the best in Western medicine and trying every fringe
remedy that passes your way. Many acceptable methods were once
denounced as quack remedies, and many medical researchers are
investigating folk and old-wives tales remedies of many
cultures - and often getting results.
Prevention is better than cure, as the cliche goes. Look after
yourself - diet, exercise and mental state all contribute to
health problems and remedies.
'The magical operations performed by witches might be re-
creations of Walpurgisnacht, complete with dancing backwards
{try it - its fun!}, and the usual magical things such as
conversing with demons and attracting familiars. We don't
stand inside circles afraid of these demons though - for we
are there kin and friends [they also add atmosphere].
Witchcraft spans a broad base of magical operations: limited
only by the ingenuity and need of its practitioners:
demonology, shamanism, and investigating reality {divination}
make up some aspects of our Work.
'The carnal emphasis of witches is similar to the appeal of
shamanism, lycanthropy and vampirism: in the Left-Hand Path
the whole psyche is exulted, not just the rational side
[although we do this too] but the beastial, the latent and the
terrible is not something to be shunned, but explored with the
detachment that black magic alone fosters.
Witches Tomes: Sources for witchcraft.
Anton LaVey: Satanic Bible. Overturns hypocritical notions of
white witches, a pragmatic approach to magic.
Anton LaVey: The Satanic Witch. Using Lesser magic in society.
A *Very* important book. Useful for Warlocks too, with
some tinkering.
Huson, Paul: Mastering Witchcraft. Myths are a bit jumbled:
e.g. mixing Hellenistic Diana, Hebrew /Sumerian Nephilim
and Celts. Practical sections good, with a lot of tinkering.
Elliot Rose: A Razor for a Goat. University of Toronto Press, 1962.
This book is still to be found in shops specializing in
mythological studies. It is a good book for debunking
the Gardnerian / Murray thesis. With more authentic data,
and an honest look at the roots of witchcraft, the tree
of knowledge will bloom.
Mircea Eliade: Shamanism. Useful for the shamanic aspects of the witch.
Stephen E. Flowers: Lords of the Left-Hand Path. The *best* survey of
the Left-Hand Path traditions. Available from Runa-Raven
Press P.O.Box 557 Smithville, TX 78957 USA.
{See review in The Ninth Night Vol. 1 #1.}
Interview (c) Ninth Night. 1996.
excerpted from
THE NINTH NIGHT: A JOURNAL OF BLACK MAGIC & THE LEFT-HAND PATH
Vol. 1, Issue 2, January 1997 ce {AeS XXXII}
Fr. NN
P.O. Box 666
Northbridge NSW 2063
AUSTRALIA
