Fate

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

Fate, also known as providence, destiny, or doom is a belief that the course of events are to some degree determined, or predetermined; it is based on a belief that there is a partially or wholly fixed natural order in the world. Such may be ordained by god(s) (see The Fates, Norns, Parcae, Moirae and Weird Sisters), by spirit, human action, or other cause.

The spectrum of belief as to how much is fated varies greatly between individuals, groups, cultures and so forth. Some believe it to be wholly inevitable (fatalistic), some believe it to be avoidable (as in making one's own fate), and many more fall somewhere between.

One's fate is their lot in life; lot coming from the Anglo-Saxon hlot, meaning 'portion' or 'choice'. The word 'fate' comes from the Latin fatum, meaning 'what has been spoken'; it is the past participle of fari, meaning 'to speak'.

See also Orlog and Predestination.