Wicca is a pagan religion. In Wicca the Creator is perceived
as two beings: Goddess and God. This balance of spiritual parents
is not a created myth. It is immanent throughout creation. Wiccan
Pantheon includes Gods and Goddesses from many cultures and belief
of deity structure may vary between individuals and traditions.
Wicca is a nature based religion and lifestyle, and its followers
celebrate the cycles of the Sun, Moon and Nature as their holidays.
Wicca has no central dogma. Wiccan believe in a Golden
Rule. "If it harm none, do as you will." The
"none" refers to all living being, nature, including yourself.
This means that you should consider all possible results before
acting. Take responsibility for all your actions. Wiccan believe
in the principle of action=reaction. It is called the "Rule
of Three." Evil deeds will return to the doer threefold.
"We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people.
We are not dangerous. We are ordinary people like you. We have families,
jobs, hopes, and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not
a joke. We are not what you think we are from looking at TV. We
are real. We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor.
You don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you.
And please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right
we give you -- to live in peace. We are much more similar to you
than you think."
A book that came out the same year as Adler's book was Starhawk's
'Spiral
Dance' (available from Amazon.com). An excellent source
book to learn about Goddess centered religions.
What is Wicca?
There are probably as many definitions of Wicca (also
known as "the Craft", Witchcraft, or the Old Religion)
as there are practitioners --one of the joys of this path
is that there is no "one, true way"; intuition
is as valuable as teaching. This then is my personal definition
of what Wicca is to me.
First, because there are so many misconceptions about
Wicca, let me define that what Wicca is not is Satanism
or devil-worship. Wiccans don't believe in an all-evil entity.
Wicca is a religion based on experience of Deity as
male and female. It is panentheistic--seeing all things
as part of God/dess, and seeing the Earth Herself as a living
organism of whom we are part. It is also a religion of immanence--seeing
God/dess present here and now, within all things, not "out
there somewhere" but part of daily life.
Wiccans reverence Nature in all her forms, and often
are active environmentalists. Wiccans celebrate eight major
holidays, the beginning and midpoint of each season. Wiccans
also celebrate the phases of the moon. Each of these rituals
or observances helps us attune with the ever-changing cycles
of Nature.
Wicca is also a Craft. We practice magic using meditation,
chants, visualization and spells to help focus our will
on what we want to happen. Wiccans believe that everything
we do, good or ill, comes back to us tripled, which is why
we don't hex or curse anyone. We also believe that many
psychic talents are real and simply haven't been studied
enough by science to be catalogued as such.
Wiccans for the most part accept reincarnation, not
as dogma to be believed, but as fact based on personal experience.
Many of us remember past lives. As one who has studied science,
I know that every atom of my body once was part of something
else, and I am continually losing atoms that become part
of others. Knowing this, it makes sense that my soul also
is "recycled".
Wicca is a positive philosophy. The only law is "An
it harm none, do as ye will": Enjoy life to the fullest,
and remember to help everyone else enjoy it as well. Wiccans
don't preach; Wiccans don't evangelize. Everyone has to
find his or her own path, and we welcome the diversity this
brings.
So the next time you hear someone called a "wicked
witch", think instead of Wiccans all over the world,
celebrating the cycles of Nature through the dance of the
Lord and the Lady, trying to brighten the world we all share
through our cauldron fires in the darkness. Know we are
not out to convert you; know we mean you no harm. All we
ask for is tolerance, understanding, and the freedom to
practice as we choose.
(c) 1993 Cecylyna Brightsword
Distribution is welcome; please include this notice
If you want to understand the beliefs that attracts so many
towards paganism, read The
Complete Art of Witchcraft by Sybil Leek.
The Nature of Our Way:
Wicca doesn't condone proselytizing, and has no leading
figures, temples or central organization.
Wiccans don't live off Wicca.
As often as possible hold the rites in forests, by the ocean,
on deserted mountain tops or by a tranquil lake. If this is not
possible, a garden or some room will suffice.
Books contain words; Nature contain energies and wisdom
that books never dreamt of.
Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say
yours are greater in power or wisdom?
Blood is not to be shed in any ritual. No blood sacrifice
of any kind.
There is no monopoly on wisdom. Share what you will of our
ways to others, but hide mystic lore from those who would destroy,
for this would increase their destruction.
Ensure that your actions are honorable, for all that you
do shall return to you three-fold, good or bane.
Be wary of one who would dominate you, who would control
and manipulate your workings and reverences. True reverences
for the Goddess and Gods occurs within.
Honor all living beings, for we are all part of the cycle
of life. Destroy not life save it be to preserve your own.
13 Goals of a Witch: 1. Know yourself 2. Know your Craft (Wicca) 3. Learn 4. Apply knowledge with wisdom 5. Achieve balance 6. Keep your words in good order 7. Keep your thoughts in good order 8. Celebrate life 9. Attune with the cycles of Nature 10. Breathe and eat correctly 11. Exercise the body 12. Meditate (exercise the mind) 13. Honor Nature
The Law of the Power (of Magick) 1. The Power shall not be used to bring harm to
anyone or control others. 2. The Power is used only as need dictates. 3. The Power can be used for your own gain as long
as doing so you harm none. 4. It is unwise to accept money for use of the Power,
for it quickly control its taker. Be not as those of other religions, 5. Use not the Power for prideful gain for such
cheapens the mysteries of Wicca and magick. 6. Ever remember that the Power is the sacred gift
of the Goddess and God, and should never be misused or abused. 7. And this is the Law of the Power.
All religions use symbols, some of which are more common than
expected. A word on Symbols. -Symbols speaks directly to us. -Symbols take the mind 'to ideas beyond the grasp of reasons'. -Symbols act upon our subconscious and our collective unconscious
in ways that unlocks powerful energies and creativity. -Most universal and enduring symbols: man, stones, animals, circles. -To the initiate, symbols are the means by which she or he can
acquire or express the abilities or qualities embodied in the symbols.
