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| Witch & Fae > Interview With Willow By St. Louis Student |
| In Perfect Love and Trust Since 2000 |
| On February 18, 2003 I was asked a few questions by someone doing a paper on Wicca for their High School Comp. Class. Patrick Jenkins, of St. Louis conducted the following interview, that I thought I would share with you. Patrick: Okay, so you know how everything is categorized into four kingdoms? Mineral, plant, animal, and human? Willow: Well, we don't really adhere to the Mineral, Plant, Animal, Human thing. We believe everything fits into one of the four elelments - Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Patrick: How about how people get involved in Covens... Willow: Oh, I can tell you about that. Patrick: And the difference between that and solitary practicioners. Willow: Wiccans don't evangelize - so people usually come to Covens by chance. Solitary practicioners work alone - feeling they can do best by working wither their own powers. Where as people in a Coven feel that a family setting, with a g roup aids them in doing magick and ritual. Patrick: Well, how did you become involved? Willow: In a Coven? Patrick: Yeah. Willow: I founded one - (laughs)- The Coven I am in is one that I and two girls named Bella and Kandra started in 2000. Patrick: Well, how did you all meet? Willow: I met Bella at a metaphysics class at a local shop. The class was on Animal Totems, which is a Shamanistic belief that everyone has an Animal Spirit which watches over them. Many Wiccans believe this as well. Patrick: Ok, cool. Well, so what do you do when you all get together? Willow: Witches celebrate Solstices and Esbats, along with celebrations of the Moon Phases. So we gather on those holidays. Patrick: Do you guys do spell then? On those days? Willow: Not on Solstices and Esbats; those are days for worship. Sometimes on the full moon and new moon we do spells, but we mainly do rituals on those days. Patrick: Do you have any special attire? Willow: We do have ritual wear, but we do not wear it at every event.. just some. It consist of a Celtic Dress for the girls and Robes for the men according to their rank in the Coven. The dresses and robes are coloured according to rank. Patrick: Ok, cool. What rank are you? Willow: I'm Third Degree within my Coven. Patrick: How many degrees are there, and how long have you practiced? Willow: I've practiced for nine years. And, there are four degrees within the Coven. Dedicant, First Degree, Second Degree, Third Degree. And then there are the Elders, which are the ones who have reached Third Degree and serve as a counseling body. Patrick: When you do spells, what is the goal and what is actually accomplished. Has anything extremely strange every occured because of a spell u performed? Willow: Spells are not cast on anyone or anything. Spells are cast into the universe to attain a goal. Often it has to do with someone in the Coven or with the Earth. For example, we have done spells to heal the earth. It's a matter of sending out positive energy in hopes that it will work your desired will. Patrick: And nothing bad because of the threefold rule? And you just don't think that way against people, right? Willow: We don't work to harm people. It's against Wiccan ethics. Patrick: What do your parents think of all this? Willow: My parents are very supportive of my belifes... only because early on I encouraged them to read the same books I was. They knew of the belief system, anyway. I have a Pagan grandmother. Patrick: Wow, so you started before you were like ten? Willow: I started when I was eight. Patrick: Oh, okay. Wow. Did you understand most of it that young? Willow: Yeah, a lot of it. I was very hands on, though. Like, I made animal rocks and amulets. I would say I was between ten and eleven when I started exploring the religion part of it, deeper. Patrick: Well, any last words or quotes? Willow: Wicca is a person's religion. Although we have Wiccan groups and Wiccan clergy, they are not required for a Wiccan to practice their faith. It is a religion that requires no 'middle man'. It adapts to the practicioner, and allows each follower to create a religion, which fits their needs. Following Wicca is like following a God and Goddess within you, and then realizing that those same two beings eminate in the entire world, universe, and beyond. |