Exploring Wicca

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Exploring Wicca

• By Paige Lysaght
• Religion 100

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• "When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she
  or he follows an earth or nature religion, one
  that sees the divine manifest in all creation.
  The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth
  is our temple, its plants and creatures our
  partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is
  both male and female, a mother Goddess and father
  God, who together created all that is, was, or
  will be. We respect life, cherish the free will
  of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of
  all creation."
• -Edain McCoy

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The Basics
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Origins

• The modern form of Wicca was founded in 1954 by
  Gerald B. Gardner, a British civil servant who
  published a number of books on the subject.
  Though it is still considered a new religion,
  many of its traditions and practices are drawn
  from the Old Religion (pre-Christianity
  paganism). Additionally, Wicca falls under the
  umbrella category of Neo-Paganism, which includes
  a number of other recent religious movements.

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Demographics

• It is difficult to determine how many Wiccan
  followers there are, as many practice in private
  or do not draw attention to their beliefs.
• It is estimated that there are 1-3 million
  followers, with the highest concentrations in the
  United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

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Organizational Structure

• Wicca is not a particularly structured religion.
  Many Wiccans, known as solitaries, practice
  alone, and thus are in complete control of the
  way they practice and do much of their learning
  through personal research. Although they may do
  the majority of their work alone, they may still
  become involved in community events. Other
  Wiccans are members of covens. They interact
  directly with other members of The Craft, and
  thus are able to learn on a one-on-one basis.
  Regardless of which method is selected, it tends
  to be fairly informal.

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Beliefs
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• There is no distinct set of beliefs in the Wiccan
  religion. It is frequently adapted to suit
  personal ideals and lifestyles, and there is no
  single official doctrine that dictates how one
  should behave. However, certain aspects are
  consistently practiced and can generally be
  attributed to Wicca.

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Nature

• Wiccans act with appreciation and reverence
  towards nature, searching for the divinity in all
  things.
• Wiccans learn from nature, and honor the
  different cycles of the sun, moon, and seasons.

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The Wiccan Rede

• Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, which states An
  ye harm none, do what ye will. It is a strong
  guidepost for daily life, rituals, and
  spellcasting.

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The Threefold Law

• Some Wiccans acknowledge the Threefold Law,
  which states that a persons deeds will return to
  him or her three times over.

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Reincarnation

• Though this isnt always the case, many Wiccans
  believe in reincarnation. They do not accept the
  heaven/hell theory. Instead, some believe that
  souls are only reborn until they have learned all
  of lifes lessons, after which they go to the
  Summerlands, a place of eternal rest. Others
  believe the soul is constantly reborn. Still
  others do not believe in reincarnation at all.

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Divine Beings

• Most Wiccans worship two major deities, a Goddess
  and a God. They believe that these figures are
  equally balanced, and that the spirit of these
  figures is embodied in everything that exists.
  Some Wiccans worship individual gods and
  goddesses as well, but its up to the individual.
  Essentially

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• There is a single power defined as the One or
  All, which is composed of everything it has ever
  created. This supreme energy force does not rule
  over the Universe, it IS the Universe. Since most
  find it difficult to talk to or call upon a
  faceless mass of Divine energy, this supreme
  power is personified into male and female aspects
  as the Goddess and God.
• Wicca.com

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The Goddess

• The Goddess is celebrated in three forms
  (reflecting three stages of life) The Maiden,
  The Mother, and The Crone.
• Each form is regarded as equally valuable.
• The Maiden represents innocence and
  adventurousness.
• The Mother represents compassionate love.
• The Crone represents wisdom.
• Each stage of the Goddess also corresponds with a
  phase of the moonwaxing, full, and waning.

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The God

• This figure is known under other names, such as
  The Great God, The Great Father, and The
  Horned God.
• He is often symbolized as a man with horns or
  antlers.
• This masculine force is seen as a symbol of
  fertility and nature.

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Creation or Evolution?

• There is no set theory that Wiccans are expected
  to follow, and most are fairly open-minded about
  the subject. Some followers are more inclined to
  believe in evolution, while others subscribe to
  one of various creation myths. The most popular
  is as follows

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• The Spirit created the universe out of
  nothingness, and with it a Great Goddess. The
  Goddess proceeded to create all nature and placed
  within it a rhythmic dance so that it could
  continue to move forth on its own. The Spirit
  then created a companion for the Goddess, and she
  and this God gave birth to all life together.

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Sacred Texts

• Wiccans do not have a single sacred text. They
  have several books that they may use for
  reference (such as the works of Gerald Gardner),
  but these books hold more historical significance
  than modern function. However, Wiccans do create
  their own spiritual books, known as a Book of
  Shadows, and incorporate them in their worship
  practices.

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Contents of a Book of Shadows

• There are no specific guidelines regarding what
  goes into ones Book of Shadows.
• They are typically looked at as a magickal
  journal, including significant writings and
  information, spells and rituals, dream
  interpretations, and so forth.
• Generally each witch has his or her own book, but
  covens may create one which is utilized by the
  entire group as well.

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Sacred Spaces

• Most Wiccans create an altar, which is a personal
  sacred space. The altar frequently changesfor
  rituals, for sabbats, and for life. There are no
  strict rules for what goes on the altarinstead,
  altars are tailored to meet the needs of their
  creators. However, certain tools show up
  frequently

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• Altar Cloth a piece of fabric used to cover the
  altar.
• Athame a ceremonial knife used for directing
  energy.
• Bell used in rituals to signal beginnings and
  endings.
• Besom essentially a broomstick, used to sweep
  away negative energies.
• Book of Shadows the magickal journal, frequently
  used in making notes during rituals.
• Candles used to represent the God and Goddess,
  and sometimes the five elements as well.
• Cauldron utilized in a number of rituals and
  serving many purposes (scrying, burning, mixing),
  the cauldron is also a representation of the
  Goddess.

• Chalice used in rituals to hold certain spirits
  (usually wine).
• Crystals used for healing, divination, and
  rituals.
• Divination Tools including runes, tarot cards,
  pendulums, etc.
• God/Goddess Statues used to symbolize each
  deity.
• Pentagram a star encased in a circle used to
  represent the elements.
• Scrying Mirror a dark colored mirror used for
  divination.
• Wand used for directing energy during spells and
  rituals.

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Possible Altar Set-Up

• http//homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/altar_and_
  tools.htm

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Other Examples
http//www.sacredsource.com/altars0307.html
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Celebrations
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The Eight Sabbats

• Wiccans traditionally recognize eight holidays.
  They correspond with different seasonal changes,
  and are celebrated in a variety of ways.

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ImbolcFebruary 2nd

• A celebration of the beginning of Spring, this
  holiday celebrates a time of growth and renewal.
• This date is often recognized through spring
  cleaning, exploring outdoors for signs of the
  warm weather to come, and the lighting of candles
  to acknowledge the return of the sun.

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OstaraMarch 21st

• Ostara is a celebration of the Spring equinoxof
  growth, renewal, and fertility.
• Eggs are considered a fertility symbol and are
  incorporated into rituals. The coloring of what
  are now know as Easter eggs was developed.
• This holiday is celebrated through planting of
  gardens, enjoying the outdoors, and utilizing
  bright colors.

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BeltaneApril 30th

• Beltane is a celebration of love, fertility, and
  self-discovery. Most of the rituals happen during
  daylight hours.
• Some May Day traditions developed from this
  holiday (such as the May Pole).
• It is a common time for Handfasting (marriage)
  ceremonies in pagan culture.

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LithaJune 21st

• Opposite of Yule, this holiday celebrates the
  longest day of the year. It is also known as
  Midsummer Nights Eve.
• It is a time to recognize masculine energy, as it
  is a celebration of the Sun Gods time of great
  strength.
• Bon fires are often burned throughout the night,
  and may be accompanied by dancing and/or chanting.

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LammasJuly 31st

• Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh) marks the
  beginning of the first harvest. I
• It is a time to reap the rewards of summer work,
  and to acknowledge the coming of fall.
• Because this is a time of harvesting grain, those
  celebrating often bake bread to eat and include
  in rituals.

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MabonSeptember 21st

• Mabon is known as the second harvest festival,
  and is celebrated on the fall equinox.
• It is a time to recognize equality and balance,
  to give back to the earth a portion of what was
  created during the harvest, and to enjoy what was
  created.

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SamhainOctober 31st

• Known as the Pagan New Year, it symbolically
  represents rebirth through death.
• It is a time to recognize the spirits of family
  and friends who have passed away.
• It is celebrated at sunset. Many modern Halloween
  traditions are based on Pagan rituals.

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YuleDecember 21st

• A celebration of the longest night of the year,
  Yule is a time to notice the decline of winter.
• It is also a time of planning for the future.
• Many old pagan traditions have been incorporated
  into Christmas celebrations, such as the symbolic
  Christmas tree, and the Yule log.

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Lifestyles
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Wicca and Human Nature

• Unlike many other religions, Wiccans generally
  dont believe that they are here to complete
  certain tasks to please or prove something to
  their Creator. Instead, Wiccans try to live good
  and fulfilling lives, keeping close in mind the
  Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law, and still
  honoring the God and Goddess.
• Wiccans believe that while humans may make
  mistakes, that is only in our nature. Therefore,
  we should learn from these errors.

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Sin and Suffering

• The Wiccan view of sin is significantly different
  from the Christian viewpoint.
• They do not support the idea of original sin.
• Wiccans believe that sin is generally the result
  of an imbalance between ones self and nature.
• Unlike most Christians, Wiccans believe that an
  individual is born innocent, and then may be hurt
  by circumstances or conditions that cause the
  imbalance, resulting in harm to ones self or to
  others.

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The Wiccan Mindset

• Overall, Wiccans tend to be fairly open-minded
  about most controversial topics. They are
  incredibly accepting of homosexuals, celebrate
  womens rights, and feel abortion is a personal
  decision. For the most part, they stick to their
  idea of harm none. How each individual
  interprets this idea varies.

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Are Wiccans Satanists?

• No. Wicca is a peaceful religion that focuses on
  nature and the divinity in all things. Wiccans do
  not believe in an all-evil being, like the Satan
  of Christianity. Additionally, they abide by the
  Harm None mindset that is embedded in their
  religion. In no way are they affiliated with
  Satan or Satanists.

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Sources

• Pagan Theologies A Wiccan Perspective on Good
  and Evil. 12 October 2007. lthttp//pagantheologie
  s.pbwiki.com/A-Wiccan-perspective-on-good-and-evil
  gt.
• This insider blog offers an interesting (and
  well researched) summary of Wiccan ideas of good
  and evil in a Wikipedia-esque format. The article
  covers both historical and spiritual aspects, and
  also discusses the subject in relation to other
  religious traditions. Resources are listed at the
  bottom and can be easily used for further
  research.
• Religion FactsNeopaganism. 8 September 2007.
  lthttp//www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/index.ht
  mgt.
• Religious Facts is an outsider website that
  covers a number of religions, including Wicca and
  other branches of paganism. The sites factual
  nature is helpful, and it offers a nice
  comparison chart between Wicca and Christianity.
• Wicca. 14 September 2007. lthttp//religiousmovem
  ents.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/wicca.htmlgt.
• This resource is part of a University of Virginia
  project. The information is extensive (if not a
  bit difficult to read because of the length), and
  it offers several other Wicca-related links as
  well. It covers many topics, including history,
  beliefs, and controversies.
• Wiccaa Neopagan earth-centered religion. 10
  September 2007. lthttp//www.religioustolerance.org
  /witchcra.htmgt.
• Religious Tolerance has sections on many
  different religions. The Wicca section offers
  information on the history of the religion,
  modern-day Wicca, frequently asked questions,
  terminology, and Wiccas relationship with
  Christianity. The essays are informative and
  diverse. It is a very solid resource.
• Silver Wolfs Lair. 20 September 2007.
  lthttp//homepage.ntlworld.com/spiritwolf/our_path.
  htmgt.
• This insider site is a personal website created
  by two individuals who practice Wicca. It has a
  wealth of information, covering ritual practices,
  sabbats, magick, basic information, and Wiccan
  lifestyles. The site is surprisingly extensive,
  and can answer a majority of questions on the
  religion.