Wicca is a pagan religion containing traditions of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. (Pagan religion family includes Druidism, Asatru, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman). Its origins can be traced even further back to Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. Cave paintings found in France (and dated at 30,000 years old) depict a man with the head of a stag, and a woman with a swollen, pregnant belly. They stand in a circle with eleven mortals. These archetypes of the divine are worshipped by Wiccans to this very day.
In 1951, the laws against Witchcraft were repealed in England. A man named Gerald Gardner was the first to come into the public eye with a description of what modern witches were practicing. His information came from the traditions of a coven called the New Forest Witches, and from Ceremonial Magick and the Cabballah. He began what is now called the Gardnerian Tradition of Wicca. From Gardnerian came Alexandrian Tradition and a host of other offshoots that today number in the hundreds.
For two thousand years the image of the Witch has been associated with evil, heathenism, and blasphemy. These ideas have their origin in Christian myths created to convert members of the Old Religion to that of the new, Christianity. By making the Witch into a diabolical character of ill intent and action, the Christian missionaries were able to attach fear to a word that had once meant HEALER, WISE ONE, and SEER. These fears are present to this day. When we think of the archetypal image of the Witch, we remember the evil enchantress of childhood tales. We think of an old, wrinkled hag with a nasty wart on her nose. We think of hexes, and devils, and foul incantations chanted around a bubbling cauldron. While the modern witches have been known to stir up herbal remedies in a cauldron, we are a far cry indeed from the horrifying Wicked Witch of the West!
Witches Do Not Worship Satan. To believe in Satan, one must subscribe to the Christian mythos. Wicca does not have any belief in, nor do we worship a concept of evil incarnate. All life is perceived as a constant flow of positive and negative energies, which intertwine to create the balance of life.
Witches Do Not Cast Evil Spells. Modern Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Return. Whatever is send out into our world shall return, so even the most ill-tempered Witch would not consider doing magick to harm another being. The spells do involve things like HEALING, LOVE, WISDOM, CREATIVITY, and JOY. The 'potions' might be a headache remedy, or a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for the family dog.
Nature Wiccans: Learn from and worship nature by celebrating the cycles of the sun, and the cycles of the moon. Wiccans look inward for the cycles within that correspond to those of the natural world, and try to move in harmony with the movement of life. Teachers come in the form of trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, and mountains, as well as other humans who have walked the path before. This belief infers a reverence and respect for the environment, and all of life upon the Earth. Wiccans revere the spirits of the elements that create our world. Air, Fire, Water, and Earth combine to manifest all creation. From these four elements they gain wisdom, and understanding of how the universe unfolds. The rhythms of nature are the rhythms of our lives. Wiccans attempt to dance in step with the pulse of the Earth.
Other Faiths: Modern Witches believe in freedom first! They do not choose to look at our path as the 'one true right way,' but as one path among many to the center. They do not convert new members to the Craft, nor do they advertise or proselytize. They believe that anyone who is meant for this path will find it through their own search. Wiccans practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions, as long as those faiths do not preach or commit harm to others.
The Wiccan religious calendar contains 13 Full Moon celebrations and 8 Sabbats or days of power. The Sabbats are solar rituals, marking the points of the Sun’s yearly cycle, and are but half of the Wiccan ritual year. The Esbats are the Wiccan Full Moon celebrations. There are 12-13 Full Moons yearly or one every 28 1/4 days. The Moon is a symbol of the Goddess as well as a source of energy. Thus, after the religious aspects of the Esbats, Wiccans often practice magick, tapping into the larger amounts of energy which are thought to exist at these times. Most rites are held at night. The eight Sabbats represent seasonal birth, death, and rebirth.
Witchcraft is recognized in the United States and in at least some parts of Canada as a legitimate religion. In I985, Dettmer v. Landon, the District Court of Virginia pursuant to rule 52 (a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, ruled that Witchcraft falls within a recognizable religious category and therefore is protected by the Constitution. I'm sure it is also recognized in other countries as well. Also, check out The U.S. Armed Forces Chaplain's Handbook section on Wicca.
Types of Wicca
Alexandria: Tradition Founded in England in the 1960's. A man by the name of Alex Sanders called himself the "King" of Witches.
British Tradition: Mixture of Celtic and Gardnerian beliefs. Covens are co-ed, and they train through the degree process.
Celtic Wicca: This tradition strongly stresses the Ancient ones, the Elements, and nature. They know a lot about flowers, plants, herbs, stones, & gnomes/fairies.
Caledonii Tradition: Scottish in origin, it preserves the festivals of the Scots. Used to be known as the Hecatine Tradition.
Ceremonial Witchcraft: These Witches use a lot of Magick in their practices. Egyptian Magick is a favorite.
Dianic Tradition: This tradition has been known as the feminist movement. It was founded in 1921 by Margaret Murray. They tend to focus more on the Goddess, not the God.
Eclectic Witch: These Witches don't follow any one Craft. They take what they have learned and apply it as needed to their Magick.
Gardnerian Tradition: This tradition is so popular because the man who started it, Gerald Gardner, publicized it so much in the 1950's. Wicca was about to die out, and he made many people aware of the Craft.
Hecatian: A branch of Wicca which worships the Goddess Hecate.
Kitchen Witch: These Witches practice most of their magick in the kitchen, like the name signifies.
Pictish Witch: Scottish Craft solitary using nature as its Magickal force. Not much religion involved in this one.
Pow-Wow: Based on German Magick; it is not a religion, just a Magickal healing with faith practice.
Seax Wicca: Started by Raymond Buckland, this tradition contains Saxon beliefs and is exclusive for Saxon scholars, though nothing is stopping you from studying it.
Solitary Witch: This is a Witch who practices alone. The tradition may vary, and they can come in many forms. A Solitary Witch can learn off the internet, books, and Witches they may know. They do not belong to a coven, and most of the time feel as if they benefit more by practicing solo.
Strega Witch: Began in the 1300's by a woman named Aradia. They have beautiful teachings but are rare to find anymore.
Teutonic Witch: This is the Nordic tradition. People vary from the English, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian.
