Keeper of the Northern FiresDate: Feb 9, 2008 8:29 PM
Basic Facts on Wicca
Wicca is an earth-based religion that is centered around the respect of all things living.
Goddess or Great Mother Goddess:
That is her name to me; usually I just call her Goddess. To others she might be Aphrodite or Kuan-Yin. She is in everything, in every person or plant or rock. You can speak to her and pray to her.
She takes many forms. She is the moon, and is often thought of as the Triple Goddess as manifested in the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. Her symbol is a full moon flanked by crescent moons. According to Wicca, there is both a Goddess and a God. (However, I only believe in a Goddess.)
The God is the Sun. He is the hunter and Green Man; the father.
Goddess and God:
Traditionally, the Goddess and God are lovers. They are equals. Almost anything can be categorized as either in the Kingdom of the Sun or the Kingdom of the Moon. They are in everything, according to tradition. Wiccans in no way worship the devil. In fact, Wicca as a religion does not even believe in a devil. Although pictures of God may have horns, this was normal in ancient times and was not a sign of evil. It was common practice for conquering religions (in this case Christianity) to demonize the gods they replaced.
Pentacle/Pentagram:
The "point-up" pentacle is not the sign of the devil. The five-pointed star is called a pentagram, when inside a circle it is called a pentacle. The circular board that has symbols (such as pentagrams and triangles) carved into it is also called a pentacle. It is used by Wiccans as one of their magical tools. In other terms, the star with the point up, means positve magic, (white beliefs) the star with the point down, means negative magic. (black beliefs) Hope that clears up all the confusion!
Laws/Rules:
There are not many rules in Wicca, but one that most Wiccans follow is the Wiccan Rede (also known as the Wiccan Law, Wiccan Rule, etc.): "An it harm none do what thou wilt" -- meaning, do what you want, but don't harm anyone. Another law some Wiccans folow is the "Threefold Law or Law of Three". It is that what you do, good or bad, will come back to you three times as strong. Others believe in Karma, which is similar to the Threefold Law, except that what you give comes back equally as strong. Personally, I think this makes sense; what you give is what you get.
However, each person must decide for her or himself. Threefold Law, Karma, neither, or something different altogether?
Other Religions:
Wicca is not a coercive religion. Meaning, we do not try to convert or brainwash people. We respect other constructive religions and paths, the only problem we have is when a religion wishes harm upon us.
Magic vs. Magick:
Many Wiccans and other Pagans spell magic with a k (magick). This is to differentiate it from stage magic. I choose to spell it "magic" simply because I prefer the spelling. Whatever you choose is fine -- some even spell it "magyk."
Warlock?:
Wicca can be practiced by both men and women. Male witches or Wiccans are not called warlocks; The word warlock means "Twister of Truth" or "Oath Breaker" and is an insult to male witches.
Witchcraft vs. Wicca:
Witchcraft and Wicca are sometimes used to mean the same thing. Usually, though, Wicca refers to the religious aspects, and Witchcraft refers to the practice of magick, etc.
"The Broom Closet":
When a Pagan, especially a Wiccan, speaks of "coming out of the broom closet," they are talking about revealing their religion.
Spirit Names:
Often when Wiccans (and other Pagans) dedicate themselves to their path, they will choose a spirit name.
Wicca With Other Religions:
Many people want to become Wiccan, but also want to be another religion. People have told them this is "against the rules." Please know that it is not. It is very possible to be Wiccan and another religion. HOWEVER, there are guidelines. You must, most importantly, follow the Wiccan Rede. Also, earth-loving is a necessity. If the religion you choose is Christianity, for example, it will be impossible to follow everything from Christianity. (There are passages that state, "You shall not suffer a witch to live.") But you can take what you want from each religion; don't let anyone tell you that you can't.
Solitary Wicca vs. Coven Wicca:
When a Witch practices alone, she or he is called a "Solitary Witch." When she or he practices with a group (known as a coven), she or he is called a "Coven Witch." Some people say things like "It takes a Witch to make a Witch," but this is not true. The majority of modern-day Wiccans, in fact, are probably Solitaries. They either cannot find a coven near them, the coven does not fit their needs, they simply prefer to work alone, etc.
DietMany Wiccans:
Most Wiccans choose to become vegetarian or vegan out of love for Earth and respect for all life. However, rest assured this is NOT a requirement for being Wiccan.
Stereotypes:
Witches are not green-skinned, warty old crones. We are also not black-clad, pierced, and tattooed (though individual Witches might be). Anyone who threatens to turn you into a toad is probably not Wiccan.
Spells:
Black, Grey, and White Magic - Most Wiccans do cast spells. However, they are not at all like the ones depicted by the media. They are not instant, and there is a certain format that they follow. Also, interfering with someone's will counts as harming them, so spells that make another person fall in love with you, etc. are out. Almost all Wiccans try to practice what is commonly called "white magic." There are exceptions to the Wiccan Rede as it pertains to magic, as there are to any rule, but only in extreme cases. Even doing magic to benefit others without their permission is only "grey magic."
Who Are We?:
Wiccans are not "born Witches." Although some of us have "inherited" the religion from our parents, we were not born with supernatural powers that others do not have. (Everyone has access to these natural, not supernatural, powers. Witches simply choose to use them. Being Wiccan is a conscious decision.
Becoming WiccanSeveral people have asked how to convert to Wicca. I have a dedication ceremony in my BOS, but I want to make the distinction between dedication and conversion. Most Wiccans don't convert, because we don't expect you to leave behind past beliefs. As long as you live by Wicca, you are Wiccan. Initiations won't make you truly Wiccan.
The Media on Wicca:
I cannot stress enough, do NOT believe what you see on TV and in movies about witches. While some things are true, most is completely false. "The Craft", "Charmed", and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" are not accurate representations of Wicca.
Pagan Lingo:
Pagans have sayings that we use with each other. One such saying is "Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again!" (or "Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again", etc.) Because of this we often greet eachother by saying "merry meet" and part by saying "merry part". We also say -- usually upon parting -- "blessed be" or "brightest blessings." (In Pagan chatrooms, these are often abbreviated to MM, MP, and BB.)AcceptanceThe Wiccan/Pagan community is open to everybody. Race, gender, past religion, sexual orientation, age, etc. are unimportant.
Sexuality:
Wicca considers sexuality a sacred and powerful thing. We don't have rules against homosexuality, sex before marriage, etc. We believe those are personal choices, and must be wisely considered and decided. HOWEVER: that does not mean that we encourage "promiscuous" behavior. Sacred things must be treated with utmost care, and each individual needs to decide their own guidelines, including appropriate age. Also, a word about nude rituals: you may hear of Witches performing rituals "skyclad" -- naked. This is NOT forced, of course. Some solitaries and covens choose to perform ritual free of limitations.
posted by: Keeper of the Northern Fires
