WHAT IS WICCA Basic Kinds of Wiccan Practices: Wicca was probably best defined by Scott Cunningham in the book Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner when he said, "(Wicca is) a loosely organized pagan religion centring toward reverence for the creative forces of nature, usually symbolized by a Goddess and a God." Wicca, or rather its beliefs, originated before Christ in other pagan religions such as Shamanism, Celtic, and others. The reason why Wicca is "loosely organized" is because each Wiccan, or Coven (a group of Wiccans) develops their own belief system based on a few main concepts. Kinds of Wiccan Practices: The two basic kinds of Wiccans are the kind that believes in the Law of Polarity and those who believe in the "Goddess" based religion. People who believe in the Law of Polarity tend to believe that the Goddess and God are equal but different. The other main type of Wicca is the "Goddess" based religion. These people believe that the Goddess is the only deity, or that there is a God but he is not as influential as the Goddess. There are many more female members in this group, because they are looking for a less male dominated religion. Within these groups are many other subcategories of Wiccans. A Few Subcategories of Wiccans: The "Old Religion" is a form of Wicca that has its roots in pagan pre-monotheistic ways and beliefs. They usually follow the seasonal cycles as times of celebration. This type of Wicca comes from a person's culture and heritage. Gardner Wicca or Traditional Wicca is a type of Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner from the 19601s. It is a coven-based practice where its traditions can be traced back to the beliefs of Gardner, who was a practitioner of the "Old Religion." In the 1970s a larger group of Wiccans started. These are called "eclectic" Wiccans. Many of the people that practice this form are solitary practitioners who form their own belief system and practices. These practices are based on the "Old Religion," but changed to fit in with modern society and each person's lives. In this form each person or group comes up with his or her own Book of Shadows. Nature and Wicca: No matter what type of Wicca someone practices, they always believe that religion and life are closely tied to nature. Wiccans believe that the Goddess and the God are not distant beings such as one that resides in Heaven, but beings that are part of everything, including animals, rocks, and trees. Wiccans often associate the Goddess with the moon, and the God with the sun. Wiccan Practices: All of the major Wiccan celebrations occur on significant events in nature. The most common event is the full moon, which represents the life and purity of the Goddess. On a full moon, Wiccans pray for things such as health for themselves and family members, help with problems in their lives, and generally give thanks for things in their lives. Other natural events, such as solstices and equinoxes, mark other Wiccan celebrations. These holidays celebrate life, birth, fertility, purification, the harvest, and, yes, on Halloween, Wiccans honour the dead of the last year. The most important part of the Wiccan ceremonies is the circle. The circle is a private, pure place that a person makes to have their own thoughts with the Goddess and God. Wiccans do practice magick (the "k" is to distinguish it from parlour tricks). To Wiccans, Magick is just like praying. It is the projection of natural energies to produce needed effects. This is done throughout meditation, prayer, and visualization. Some basic Wiccan beliefs: Wiccans do not believe in Satan. Although there is the occasional case of Wiccans acting in the name of Satan, most Wiccans do not even acknowledge the existence of Satan. Wiccans believe that "evil" or other bad things that they do come from one's soul. Most Wiccans believe in the three-fold law. The law of three is basically "for everything that you do, it will come threefold back to you." Some more modern Wiccans believe in Karma, otherwise known as an eye for and eye. Most Wiccans believe in either reincarnation or a "Heaven" type place (sometimes called Summerland, Avalon, Valhalla, or the Other Side). In most cases, a combination of both is believed in. Some Wiccans believe that you are only reincarnated into other people of the same sex while others believe that you can change sex. Still others believe in reincarnation between animals and humans, and some even between everything natural such as trees and rocks. Wiccans do have a form of the 10 commandments. This can be a list of "laws" ranging in number from 5 to 112 (that is the most I have seen). It can also be in the form of a poem. Most Wiccans go by the teachings of the Wiccan Rede, which is a poem that contains the words "and it harm none... do what ye will." The few basic "laws" that all Wiccans follow are to not convert people, do not hurt anything, learn, and do all you can to improve yourself and the world around you. All Wiccans also make, or own, a book called a Book of Shadows. It is like a bible, but personalized. The Pentagram or a five-pointed star (with a point up) with a circle around it is often the symbol used for the Wiccan religion. It is not a Satanic symbol. It can represent the elements needed for life (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) with Spirit being on top, because it is more important then the other four, which make up the body (spirit over body). It can represent a compass. It can also represent the human body. Wiccans do not practice animal sacrifices! This is one of the most common misconceptions of Wicca. Because many Wiccans believe in reincarnation between animals and humans, they do not even eat animals let alone kill them. Sacrifices in Wiccan rituals are sacrifices of plants, money (then given to the needy), or another personal object. The point of the sacrifice is to give up something of yours in order to gain something better (such as happiness, good karma, or anything else). a is the "Goddess" based religion. These people believe that the Goddess is the only deity, or that there is a God but he is not as influential as the Goddess. There are many more female members in this group, because they are looking for a less male dominated religion. Within these groups are many other subcategories of Wiccans. A Few Subcategories of Wiccans: The "Old Religion" is a form of Wicca that has its roots in pagan pre-monotheistic ways and beliefs. They usually follow the seasonal cycles as times of celebration. This type of Wicca comes from a person's culture and heritage. Gardner Wicca or Traditional Wicca is a type of Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner from the 19601s. It is a coven-based practice where its traditions can be traced back to the beliefs of Gardner, who was a practitioner of the "Old Religion." In the 1970s a larger group of Wiccans started. These are called "eclectic" Wiccans. Many of the people that practice this form are solitary practitioners who form their own belief system and practices. These practices are based on the "Old Religion," but changed to fit in with modern society and each person's lives. In this form each person or group comes up with his or her own Book of Shadows. Nature and Wicca: No matter what type of Wicca someone practices, they always believe that religion and life are closely tied to nature. Wiccans believe that the Goddess and the God are not distant beings such as one that resides in Heaven, but beings that are part of everything, including animals, rocks, and trees. Wiccans often associate the Goddess with the moon, and the God with the sun. Wiccan Practices: All of the major Wiccan celebrations occur on significant events in nature. The most common event is the full moon, which represents the life and purity of the Goddess. On a full moon, Wiccans pray for things such as health for themselves and family members, help with problems in their lives, and generally give thanks for things in their lives. Other natural events, such as solstices and equinoxes, mark other Wiccan celebrations. These holidays celebrate life, birth, fertility, purification, the harvest, and, yes, on Halloween, Wiccans honour the dead of the last year. The most important part of the Wiccan ceremonies is the circle. The circle is a private, pure place that a person makes to have their own thoughts with the Goddess and God. Wiccans do practice magick (the "k" is to distinguish it from parlour tricks). To Wiccans, Magick is just like praying. It is the projection of natural energies to produce needed effects. This is done throughout meditation, prayer, and visualization. Some basic Wiccan beliefs: Wiccans do not believe in Satan. Although there is the occasional case of Wiccans acting in the name of Satan, most Wiccans do not even acknowledge the existence of Satan. Wiccans believe that "evil" or other bad things that they do come from one's soul. Most Wiccans believe in the three-fold law. The law of three is basically "for everything that you do, it will come threefold back to you." Some more modern Wiccans believe in Karma, otherwise known as an eye for and eye. Most Wiccans believe in either reincarnation or a "Heaven" type place (sometimes called Summerland, Avalon, Valhalla, or the Other Side). In most cases, a combination of both is believed in. Some Wiccans believe that you are only reincarnated into other people of the same sex while others believe that you can change sex. Still others believe in reincarnation between animals and humans, and some even between everything natural such as trees and rocks. Wiccans do have a form of the 10 commandments. This can be a list of "laws" ranging in number from 5 to 112 (that is the most I have seen). It can also be in the form of a poem. Most Wiccans go by the teachings of the Wiccan Rede, which is a poem that contains the words "and it harm none... do what ye will." The few basic "laws" that all Wiccans follow are to not convert people, do not hurt anything, learn, and do all you can to improve yourself and the world around you. All Wiccans also make, or own, a book called a Book of Shadows. It is like a bible, but personalized. The Pentagram or a five-pointed star (with a point up) with a circle around it is often the symbol used for the Wiccan religion. It is not a Satanic symbol. It can represent the elements needed for life (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit) with Spirit being on top, because it is more important then the other four, which make up the body (spirit over body). It can represent a compass. It can also represent the human body. Wiccans do not practice animal sacrifices! This is one of the most common misconceptions of Wicca. Because many Wiccans believe in reincarnation between animals and humans, they do not even eat animals let alone kill them. Sacrifices in Wiccan rituals are sacrifices of plants, money (then given to the needy), or another personal object. The point of the sacrifice is to give up something of yours in order to gain something better (such as happiness, good karma, or anything else). |