So wicca is a Pagan religion. What's Pagan? Is it sorta like the antithesis of christianity? There's christianity with its many derivatives including catholisism and baptist ....Paganism is subdivided as well?

Wicca is a pagan religion. However, a pagan is not necessarily wiccan. Techincally, Wiccans generally celebrate the Lord and Lady, God and Goddess. There are different ways of viewing the Lord and Lady, but this is the general concept. There is also a division of Wicca called Dianic wicca which celebrates primarily or just the Goddess (by from what I have learned, the God is incorporated into the Goddess image). There is also a difference made between Wiccans and Witches – wiccans will celebrate the god and goddess, however they may not necessarily practice magick. Magick is the attempt to change the world around us through the change in personal consciousness. When you pray (perform magick) for love, you pray that you will be more receptive to love and those around you – it's a change on the astral plan, the subconscious that you're trying to achieve. Pagans will generally have a pantheon of gods and goddesses who they celebrate. Pagans might practice magick, but because they worship a pantheon of gods and goddesses, they might not consider themselves as wiccan. There are various forms of Wicca – Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Faery, Celtic, Astru, Norse. I have a pantheon of gods and goddesses, though I celebrate them at different times of the year, as Lord and Lady, and I practice magick, so I call myself a celtic wiccan.

What are some of the misconceptions people have of witchcraft?

Do you shun other religions or beliefs?

The big one is that we're against Christianity. Which could not be further from the truth. Wicca (the Craft) celebrates the diversity of spirituality. You are to find your own path, set by the Divine, and no one can find it but yourself. One of the quotes from the Charge of the God (from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus and Hermetica by Brian P. Copenhaver) says "To be ignorant of the Divine is the ultimate failing". However, one prevalent belief in Wicca is that of reincarnation. And when it was cited in the Hermetica about being all things to understand God, even if someone does not know God, I must believe that that person will, in another lifetime. It's not for me to judge someone like that. And by the same token, it is possible, that in another lifetime, I will not know the God and Goddess.

How long have you been a practicing wiccan?

I've been practicing for about 4 years now.

What got you interested? Personal religious background.

I was raised Roman Catholic, though my faith started to leave me around grade 9. I started learning about science and history, and certain things just couldn't make sense to me. I guess I became an atheist, believing only in the big bang theory, evolution and science. I started university, and began my degree in anthropology which really opened my eyes to other cultures and traditions. I started to search my roots again (which is where I found myself really connected to celtic roots [my family being from Scotland and Britain]). I didn't really know that what I had started believing was 'valid' until someone from Ottawa mentioned that I wasn't the only one with those beliefs.

What do your parents think?

My father was very supportive, even asking for literature on the subject from me. My mother thought it was a phase, and my step-father was very upset. A French Roman Catholic father learning that his daughter did not believe in the divine birth of Jesus was hard to take. Now, my mother understands that it's not a phase, and as long as I'm becoming a better person for it, and not hurting anyone, she's fine with it. My step-father and I just don't bring it up.

What sort of reactions do you get when you confront people who are ignorant to your beliefs and culture? Have you been a victim of any sort of 'bashing'?

I don't know if I personally have been a victim of bashing or not, really. Probably because I kept researching and learning and gave myself such a foundation in my beliefs that whenever something came up, I just knew that the person was ignorant of the facts. I had a supervisor once tell me that 'no one really celebrates it [samhain] anymore'. I was very offended at that. Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is the celebration of the Celtic New Year, and the time when you remember your ancestors for the sacrifices and achievements they made. It's a very serious time – and I was dressed very 'formally' that day. I was asked why I didn't "dress-up" for the holiday. I simply stated that I was not going to dress up in some silly costume to meet my ancestors. Of course, I was upset about this, because not only had I informed my superiors of my holidays, but I had also offered historical documentation and the like if they had any questions. I ended up emailing him a few articles on the Sabbat, and how it was celebrated. He later apologized for the remarks he made. At university, my pagan student group had a lot of problems. We were in a small town and Christianity was the norm. Our signs were torn down. I had a few of the members come to me and tell me how they were yelled at or told that they were devil worshippers while they were putting up the signs for our meetings. Here is where the ignorance is very obvious. The Devil (as an icon) is a Christian concept. You have to believe in the Christian Devil to worship him. By that token no wiccan can worship him because we do not have a Christian pantheon. Devil worship is the antithesis of Christianity, not pagan or wiccan spirituality.

Do you think wicca is becoming more of an accepted religion?

Depends on who you talk to. The information is out there.

Are there a lot of younger teens getting involved in it?

I have noticed that there are a lot of young people getting into the 'craze' though I don't know if they'll grow out of it like a phase, or if they've really found their path. I'd always encourage a young person's path. How much of that is genuine and how much of that is just them doing something different...wanting to be considered "cool" and stuff. Just like trends, wicca can be a 'cool' thing to do. But wicca and paganism is also seen as a personal experience. I guess time will tell. Though I believe that children who are raised in the faith are much more open minded and questioning of things. Even if it is a phase, I hope that they do attain something beneficial out of the experience.

Is there a danger or threat to the faith because of this factor?

I don't think so. There are always going to be people who try things and the more people are aware of the faith (not necessarily being a follower of it), acceptance and understanding will be easier to achieve.

Do you think the definition will be lost?

If anything, I think that the definition will be more strongly defined. That's something that I hope doesn't go too far. Many people are attracted to the wiccan faith because of it's openness. Once you get into hierarchy and dogma, you lose the personality of the faith. You are one with the god and goddess. They are in you – you are a part of them. That will never change.

Is it a female dominated faith?

From my experience, with my student group at university and from what I've noticed at gatherings and special events, it seems to start out as a female dominated faith. However, I have been to several rituals (or liturgies if you want to call it that), that are pretty much 50/50.

Do you practice in private or do you go to a church?

Myself, I practice at home. In wicca, any place is sacred space, and the outdoors is considered the perfect place to worship. Many gatherings are held outside in forests or groves. I like group events because I get to learn the songs and know that I'm not the only one who believes what I believe.

What does the wiccan calendar look like....?

There are eight major holidays of the Pagan year (not including festivals of individual deities, and the Moon rituals marking full and new moons). These include the two Solstices, the two Equinoxes, and four cross-quarter days (which occur between each Solstice and Equinox).

Yule, December 21st

This is the celebration of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. In some calendars it is considered New Year (thus the western tradition of new year's day on January 1). It is the celebration of the survival or rebirth of the Sun, which is the promise of spring and life even on this the darkest day.

Imbolc, February 2

Has its origins in a calving festival celebrated throughout northern Europe. In many cultures of the northern hemisphere, February was a purifactory month, so the rituals of Imbolc also incorporate purifactory elements (most notably bonfires). Candle making and the blessing of the year's candles happen on this day.

Ostara, March 21

This is the celebration of the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. It marks the time when Day & Night are equal length, beginning the light half of the year. It is a time for planting and celebrating the first signs of fertility and rebirth. We remember that just as the life of the Earth is reborn after winter, so we have the promise of rebirth after death.

Beltane, May 1

Also known as May Day, this is the great Spring festival still celebrated by Xians in many parts of Europe. Beltane celebrates the Divine Marriage of the Goddess and Her Consort, the God, now nearly come to His prime.

Midsummer, June 21

On this day, the Summer Solstice is celebrated in honour of the Sun-God who is at the height of His power.

Lammas, August 1

Also known as Lughnasadh, this is the first of the three Harvest sabbats. Celebrations with corn and the first harvest.

Mabon, September 21

The Autumnal Equinox, is the second of the Harvest holidays. Much like the traditional North American Thanksgiving, Mabon is a time to recognize what we have and to begin preparing for the coming winter.

Samhain, October 31

This is the great Feast of the Dead, which is celebrated in many Pagan cultures at this time of the year. On this day we observe the death of the God, but there is hope for we know He will be reborn. This is the Celtic New Year and the time to honor our ancestors and those who've done great deeds in history.

Would you say that there is a large Pagan community in Ottawa?

It's hard to say. I believe there is a large community, though many are not public about their beliefs.

How well is it supported? Is it strong? How important a role does your faith hold in your life?

It pretty much governs everything I do. When I wake up, I pray to the Dawn aspect of the Goddess for strength for the day. "An it harm none, do what thy wilt" is a basic tenent of wicca. I do my best to respect people's opinions, even when I don't agree with them. And knowing that the god and goddess are in everyone helps me to be more compassionate towards people.

What does the pentagram represent?

The pentagram can represent many things in different traditions. One of the most common representation is that of the 4 elements and the tip being the spirit of yourself.

Do you really cast spells? What are they used for?

I have done spells. I have done protection and healing spells. The ceremony is to help open your unconscious to realize your hopes and dreams. Of course, you have to be careful with what you do, because you can't really be specific because you don't know how that specific want will affect others. I've done empowerment spells as well. Ones where I pray for energy and strength. And belief is the key. If you don't believe consciously that something can happen how is your subconscious supposed to?

Crystal balls....incense....

Tools of the craft are basically reinforcements to help your subconscious what you want. Symbols (as I have learned in my anthropological training) is very important when wanting to convey meaning. It keeps an image in your mind, makes you more aware of your dreams.

What is the most beautiful thing you've experienced spiritually during your involvement with the wiccan culture?

I'm involved in a teaching circle with a local wiccan priest, and the time when he 'called the goddess' down on me – where I was going to represent the goddess for our Samhain ritual was the most powerful experience I've ever had. I was overwhelmed with warmth, and love and openness. I was strong, yet my heart was open to pain – the loss of her children at the time of death. But in the myth of the Descent of the Goddess, she learns that all things will be reborn by the grace of the love between the God and Goddess and her acceptance of the cycle of all things. This really hit me. This experience is different for every person. I just felt touched and full of their love.