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Wicca is an eclectic religious belief system centering around gods, goddesses, and nature worship. Gary Cantrell, a well known Wiccan author says Wicca is based on "harmony with nature and all aspects of the god and goddess divinity."1 Wiccan practice involves the manipulation of nature through various rituals in attempts to gain power, prestige, love, or whatever else a Wiccan wants. It uses symbols in its ceremonies and follows the calendar in reference to Wiccan festivals. Its roots are in ancient agrarian Celtic Society. It is considered Neo Pagan (based on old European and pre-Christian belief systems). Wicca does not have a structure of clergy and/or congregations. But it does have priests and priestesses which are in leadership positions within covens that have witches. The varying traditions of Wicca have different requirements for attaining the level of priest and priestess. Some of the more common varieties of Wicca are 1734, Alexandrian, Celtic, Dianic, Dicordian, Eclectic, Gardnerian, and Georgian. Wicca is even recognized as a religion in the military.
One of the most common aspects of working theology is the teaching of reincarnation and karma. The purpose of reincarnation is to learn lessons through the various lives. “This process of reincarnation is repeated for numerous lifetimes until a development of the Spirit is reached where the spirit can truly merge with the male and female balanced creator/creatrix entity. We returned to the God and to the Goddess.” Karma is the law of cause and effect that "does not punish nor reward. It is simply a universal law that reacts to causation until disharmony is illuminated."
Wicca does not claim to be the only way but says that all spiritual traditions and paths are valid to those who practice them. It accepts "the fact that all life is sacred, including plant, animal, and human."
Generally, Wiccans do not believe in the existence of a devil (they are not Satan worshippers). They have no orgies or public displays of sexuality in their rituals (though some Wiccan traditions practice nudity and sexuality not open to the public), no bestiality, and no blood sacrifices. They do not practice spells with the intention to harm people. They deny that there are moral absolutes, believe that nature is divine, and seek to be in harmony with the earth/nature.
Is it recognized as a religion by the government? Absolutely.
"Wicca is a bona fide religion, Mr. Barr. It has been recognized by the courts, and legal Wiccan clergy can be found in every state in the United States. We have chaplains in many American and Canadian prisons. Our guiding principle, the Wiccan Rede, admonishes us to harm none."
The Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law
There are two basic codes that the Wiccans live by. First is the Wiccan Rede which states, "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will". This means that a Wiccan is free to use his or her magic as long as it doesn't harm anyone. The second is the Threefold Law which says that all the good you do will return to threefold in this life. Likewise, all the harm you do will return to threefold as well.
The God and Goddess
There is an ultimate life force called "The One," or "The All" from which the male and female aspects of life emerged, i.e., the god and goddess. The Divine, god or goddess, depending on who you are talking to, can have different names. There can even be references to different gods from other theological systems: Hinduism, Egyptian, Buddhism, ancient Greece, Sumerian, Christian, etc. In Wicca it doesn’t really matter what name is given to a person’s concept of God as long as you have one, or two, or more.
One Wiccan might consider God to be self-aware, another may not. It all depends on the angle that an individual Wiccan takes in his or her theological construction of what best works. It is a religion of self design. In Wiccan theology, because god can show different characteristics in different ways to different people, Wiccans can have different and even contradictory conceptions of God. This is not a problem to them because they maintain that it is only the limited aspects of individual perceptions of god that appear contradictory.
“as Wiccans, we acknowledge and worshiped the old gods and goddesses in the form both pleasing to Them and meaningful to us…"
Wicca is attractive for many people who do not desire or appreciate absolute truths. In Wicca, a person is free to discover his or her own "path." In other words, he or she is free to invent a religious system that suits his or her desires.
“If you are just beginning a study of paganism, you may need to evaluate many different traditions or paths before finding the one for which you are looking. Your chosen path in the old religion must be one that is uniquely suited to you as an individual and one that lets you speak to the Lord and Lady in your own fashion.”
It should be obvious that Wicca is a religion of personal preference. In other words, you are free to invent, devise, and develop a religion that suits your personal wants and interests. Furthermore, in Wicca you may attempt to manipulate your surroundings and other individuals through spells and incantations. This combination of developing a religion that suits your personal preferences and trying to influence others is very appealing to a lot of people.
THE WICCA REED
Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.
For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"
Buzz Words
Adept- An individual who through serious study and accomplishments is considered highly proficient in a particular magickal system.
Akashic Records- a giant data base somewhere that can be reached for information on subjects such as past lives, healing, and other magickal/spiritual practices.
Altar- a special, flat surface set aside exclusively for magickal workings or religious acknowledgement.
Amulet- usually considered an object of protection that has been charged to deflect specific negative energies or thought forms.
Ankh- An Egyptian hieroglyphic that is widely used as a symbol for life, love, and reincarnation.
Aradia- A champion Italian goddess sworn to protect her people against the aggression of masculine faith and its persecutors during the reign of medieval terror.
Arcana- The two halves of a Tarot deck. The major Arcana consists of 22 trumps depicting dominant occurrences in our lives. The Minor Arcana consists of 56 suit cards (sometimes called The Lesser Arcana) that assist in fleshing out the trump situations, or indicate smaller occurrences.
Astral- another dimension of reality.
Astral Travel/Projection- The process of separating your astral body from your physical one to accomplish travel in the astral plane or dreamtime.
Athame- A cleansed and consecrated ceremonial knife used in ritual work by witches.
Balefire- In country settings, its function was both magickal and practical. Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnsadh, and Mabon are celebrated where you would see Balefire.
Bane- Bad, evil, destructive.
Banish- Magickally end something or exorcise unwanted entities.
Bi-Location- you use a type of astral projection to travel in everyday reality by retaining the capability to be aware of your present surroundings.
Bind- Magickally restrain something or someone.
Blood of the Moon- A woman’s menstrual cycle. If this cycle occurs over a full or new moon (and you can arrange that) she is far more powerful than any other time of the month, as long as she acknowledges this strength within herself.
Book of Shadows- a relatively new term for the collection of information in book form for a witch’s reference. Also called Grimoire.
Bolline- A curved, white-handled knife used for practical magickal purposes such as cutting.
Charms- can either be an amulet or talisman.
Cone of Power- Psychic energy raised and focused by either an individual or group mind (coven) to achieve a definite purpose.
Cleansing- act of blessing an object or place by instilling it with positive energy.
Coven- A group of 13 or fewer witches that work together in an organized fashion for positive magick endeavors or to perform religious ceremonies.
Days of Power- Sabbats, there are other days throughout the year that can be considered days of power.
Dedication- the dedication of a witch is the process where the individual accepts the Craft as their path, and vows to study and learn all that is necessary to reach adeptship in a given tradition.
Deosil- Clockwise Movement
Divination- the art of using magickal tools and symbols to gather information from the collective unconscious on the nature of people, places, things, and events in the past. Present, and future.
Dowsing- The art/science of using a pendulum or stick to find the actual location of a person, place, or element.
Drawing Down the Moon- a ritual used during the full by witches to empower themselves and unite their essence with a particular deity, usually the goddess.
Earth Magick- a practical form of magick wherein the powers and forces of earth mother are used to conduct magickal workings or celebrations.
Elder- Many Wiccan organizations have a group or board of elders who oversee the operations of the church and its variety of functions.
Elements- usually counted as four: EARTH, AIR, FIRE, And WATER. However, many witches add spirit or AKASHA to this category, as well. Each element has a direction within a magick circle or working:
East-Air
South-Fire
West-Water
North-Earth
Center-Spirit or Akasha
Enchantment- a magickal object that must be kept absolutely secret and hidden from all human eyes and affects a hidden aura. Gems and magickal writing are good items to use for enchantments.
Evocation- Call something out from within.
Familiar- An animal who has a spiritual bond with a witch. Can also be entities that protect your home from the astral.
Fascination- A mental effort to control another animal or persons mind.
Gaea/Gaia- Greek goddess, now meaning Earth Mother or Mother Earth.
Green Man- Another name for the god, as in his kingdom of the forest.
Guardians- guardians of the watchtowers or guardians of the four quarters.
Handfasting- A Wicca or pagan Marriage ceremony.
Initiation- A experience that so transforms the individual that their concept or personal and worldly reality has been altered.
Invocation- To bring something in from without.
Karma- Sanskrit, it means “action” follows the law of cause and effect.
Left Hand Path- A term that points to those people who feel that they are justified in using magick for purposes that are not constructive to other human beings. It is a reference that they are possibly a self-serving individual. Conversely, the Right hand path is considered positive nature.
Macrocosm- The world around us.
Microcosm- The world within us.
Magick-The art and science of focusing your will and emotions to effect light that effects change both in the world around you and the world within you.
Magick Circle- A circular boundary drawn in visionary blue flames or white light that protects the witch from outside forces while conducting ritual magick.
Magickal Systems- Can refer to traditions, denominations, sects, or pantheons.
New Age- Usually refers to mixing metaphysical practices with structured religion.
Pagan/Neopagan- Follower of nature based religion. Neopagan means “ New Pagan”
Pantheon- A collection of group of gods and goddesses in a particular religious or mythical structure.
Pentacle-Worn as a symbol of a witch’s belief and used in magickal working and ceremonies. Pentacles are never worn inverted in the craft.
Priestess- a female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity(ies) and humankind. A High Priestess is the feminine leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of goddess in certain ceremonies.
Priest- a male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity(ies) and humankind. A High Priest is the male leader of a coven or Wiccan organization and plays the role of the god in certain ceremonies.
Reincarnation- The belief that one has lived before in another lifetime.
Ritual- A focused mental/physical ceremony to either honor or thank one’s chosen pantheon, or to perform a specific working or act.
Runes- A set of symbols that are used both in divination and magickal workings.
Scrying –A divination method using specific tools such as a bowl of inked water, a mirror, crystal ball, etc.
Sigil- a magickally oriented seal, sign, glyph, or other device used in a magickal working.
Skyfather- Assigning deification to the sky as a male entity.
Skyclad- it is the act of celebrating or doing a magickal working in the nude.
Spell- Extended mental and emotional energy spoken aloud, written, spoken to oneself, drawn, or even danced.
Spiral- it is the symbol of “coming into being.”
Talisman- An object that has been magickally charged in order to bring something to the bearer.
Tarot Cards- a set of 78 cards, which can carry pictures and symbols, used to connect the diviner with collective unconscious. No one knows the specific origin of the cards, and there are many beautiful decks now on the market.
Tarologist- One who is adept at the art and science of handling the Tarot.
Vision Questing- using astral projection, bi-location, or dreamtime to accomplish a specific goal. Also called Pathworking.
Webweaving- networking with other magickal people through conversation, in writing, or by computer to gather information to mutually assist each party in their studies and goals.
Wheel of the Year- one full cycle of the seasonal year, beginning with the Samhain celebration.
Widdershins-Counterclockwise motion.
Working- the process of using magick to reach a desired positive goal.
There are many types of witches, but me I'm a solitary type..
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Do wiccans believe in spirit guides or automatic writing or do I have the wrong religion?
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I think that answer is yes especially about spirit guides. The notion of a spirit guide appears in many cultures and religions around the world. In pagans,native americans,christians etc Others portray these guides as angels,others as animals or mythological creatures.
Now automatic writing is not a religious element. It belongs in the paranormal phenomenae. Wiccans usually believe in the above but it certainly varies.
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We are who we are
We are attached to the earth. Feel her pulse. Draw energy from her. She nourishes us. To release your energy/will into the universe is natural.
Keep in mind the law of karma.
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I'd really like to know...
I came across a blog of a wiccan, and have wondered this ever since. Do wiccans believe in demons, or demonic possession? -
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Some do, some don't, like Christians.
I think some Wiccans simply want to believe that everything that exists in nature is positive and happy, which I think it's safe to assume is false.
I dabbled quite extensively in Wicca through my teens and early 20's.
Pie
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oh. how about vengeful spirits? or spirit's in gerneral? if wiccans believe in nature, do they believe that everthing in nature has a spirit or soul? -
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You have to understand that Paganism and Wicca are religions characterised by variety,freedom of choice and many eclectic followers. This means that basic beliefs or standards are usually very vague. Each pagan or wiccan usually chooses to incorporate in his fath anything that feels right to him and discards what he doesn't associate with.So it is hard to give an answer for ALL wiccans.
However i can try,based on personal experience and belief,to answer. Wiccans and Pagans certainly do NOT believe in Hell and Satan. This is a constant misconception that we face. But i believe in the existance of spirits and entities,some are benevolent and helpful while others are malevolent and tormented. This belongs to the balance of the world,like not all people are good or bad. I also believe in demons and demonic possession,this is different than believing in Satan.
What you mentioned believing that everything in nature has a spirit is called Animism.It is considered a seperate path thus meaning that some people identify themselves as Animists.This path is very ancient and has been part of many ancient civilisations. And yes i think that wiccans do have this belief.
You are all welcome to post more questions,this is very interesting!
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May 11 10:03 AM 2006
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