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'''Wicca''' is a [[religion]] which involves the practicing of witchcraft. It has many different sects and groups similar to many other religions. Unlike many other religions, however, Wiccans have no central body or governing organization.  Instead, Wiccans either belong to and practice with small, local organizations called "covens" or practice "solitary", either out of choice or necessity, as there are many places in the country were Wiccan groups and organizations are persecuted.  This, plus the fact that Wicca is a religion that encourages its followers to question what they are taught and develop their own practices, makes it very difficult to come up with a universal definition of what is a Wiccan.  However, most Wiccans do share a few core concepts, including a respect for and a desire to live in rhythm with nature, the worship of a God and a Goddess, and a basic code of ethics.{{fact}} Wicca calls on the practitioner to act as their own priest/ess, interacting directly with Deity rather than through an intermediary as members of the patriarchal religions do.

Wicca is a religion that has many different sects and groups like many other religions. Unlike many other religions, however, Wiccans have no central body or governing organization.  Instead, Wiccans either belong to and practice with small, local organizations called "covens" or practice "solitary", either out of choice or necessity, as there are many places in the country were Wiccan groups and organizations do not exist.  This, plus the fact that Wicca is a religion that encourages its followers to question what they are taught and develop their own practices, makes it very difficult to come up with a universal definition of what is a Wiccan.  However, most Wiccans do share a few core concepts, including a respect for and a desire to live in rhythm with nature, the worship of a God and a Goddess, and a basic code of ethics.  Wicca calls on the practitioner to act as their own priest/ess, interacting directly with Deity rather than through an intermediary as members of the patriarchal religions do.

==Wiccan Morality==

==Wiccan Morality==

Most Wiccans submit to two basic rules of morality, the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law.  The Rede states: "An it harm done, do as you will," meaning that you may do what you like, so long as you do not offer harm to others or to yourself.  The Threefold Law states that what you send out in both the mundane and magical planes will return to you, though not necessarily by three.   

Most Wiccans submit to two basic rules of morality, the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law.  ''The Rede'' states: "An it harm done, do as you will," meaning that you may do what you like, so long as you do not offer harm to others or to yourself.  The Threefold Law states that what you send out in both the mundane and magical planes will return to you, though not necessarily by three.   

==Wiccans and Deity==

==Wiccans and Deity==

==Wiccans and Magic==

==Wiccans and Magic==

"Wicca" is a religion.  "Witchcraft" is the practice of magic.  Most Wiccans are also Witches in that they practice magic, but there are those Wiccans who do not practice magic, and there are those who practice magic, but do not call themselves Wiccans, or even Pagan. (I will add more to this later)

"Wicca" is a religion.  "Witchcraft" is the practice of magic.  Most Wiccans are also Witches in that they practice magic, but there are those Wiccans who do not practice magic, and there are those who practice magic, but do not call themselves Wiccans, or even [[Pagan]].

==Wiccan Holy Days==

==Wiccan Holy Days==

*Imbolc (Feb. 1)

*Imbolc (Feb. 1)

*Ostara (March 21)

*Ostara (March 21)

*Beltaine (May 1)

*[[May Day|Beltaine]] (May 1)

*Midsummer Day (June 21)

*Midsummer Day (June 21)

*Lammas (Aug. 1, sometimes called Lughnasadh)

*Lammas (Aug. 1, sometimes called Lughnasadh)

*Mabon (Sept. 21)

*Mabon (Sept. 21)

*Samhain (Oct. 31)

*[[Halloween|Samhain]] (Oct. 31)

The esbats follow the lunar cycle, and are generally celebrated on the full moon.

The esbats follow the lunar cycle, and are generally celebrated on the full moon.

==The Four Elements==

==The Four Elements==

Wiccan worship is conducted in a circle, and the participants call on the four traditional elements of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth at the respective cardinal points of East, South, West, and North.  Air and Fire are considered masculine elements, and Water and Earth are considered feminine.  Air is generally represented by an athame or a sword, and stands for the east, the new moon, spring, the intellect, and new beginnings. Fire is represented by a wand or candle, and stands for the south, summer, the waxing moon, will, passion, and transformation.  Water is represented by a chalice and stands for the west, the full moon, emotions, cleansing, and the season of fall.  Earth is represented by the pentacle or a bowl of salt, and stands for winter, silence, death, the waning moon, and the practical matters of everyday living.

Wiccan worship is conducted in a [[circle]], and the participants call on the four traditional elements of [[Air]], [[Fire]], [[Water]], and [[Earth]] at the respective [[cardinal]] points of East, South, West, and North.  Air and Fire are considered masculine elements, and Water and Earth are considered feminine.  Air is generally represented by an athame or a [[sword]], and stands for the east, the new moon, spring, the intellect, and new beginnings. Fire is represented by a wand or [[candle]], and stands for the south, summer, the waxing moon, will, passion, and transformation.  Water is represented by a chalice and stands for the west, the full moon, emotions, cleansing, and the season of fall.  Earth is represented by the pentacle or a bowl of salt, and stands for winter, silence, death, the waning moon, and the practical matters of everyday living.

==Wiccans and Ritual==

==Wiccans and Ritual==

The general procedure for a Wiccan ritual is as follows:

The general procedure for a Wiccan ritual is as follows:

*Cleansing of the sacred space with incense/holy water

*Cleansing of the sacred space with incense/[[holy water]]

*Forming of the circle

*Forming of the circle

*Invoking the four quarters/elements

*Invoking the four quarters/elements

*Invoking the Lord and Lady

*Invoking the Lord and Lady

*Invoking of the ancestral dead

*Invoking of the ancestral dead

*State intent of ritual

*State intent of [[ritual]]

*Drawing down of sun/moon (optional)

*Drawing down of sun/moon (optional)

*Perform magical work

*Perform magical work

==Some History of Wicca==

==Some History of Wicca==

Although there are elements of Wicca which date back to ancient times (the Sabbat fire festivals, for example), most aspects of Wicca are modern and were come up with in the last fifty years.  Wicca was first popularized in England by Gerald Gardner after the repeal of Britain's laws banning Witchcraft.  Gardner was a noted libertarian, and his politics were very conservative. These attitudes are still adhered to by those who follow his religion in the form in which he created it, who are known as 'Gardnerians'. Nowadays, there are many forms of Wicca, including Alexandrian, Dianic, Druidic, Corellian, Stregha (Italian witchcraft), Faery, and many others.  There are also many Solitary and Eclectic practitioners, who follow no set tradition at all.

Although there are elements of Wicca which date back to ancient times (the Sabbat fire festivals, for example), most aspects of Wicca are modern and were come up with in the last fifty years.  Wicca was first popularized in England by Gerald Gardner after the repeal of Britain's laws banning Witchcraft.  Gardner was a noted [[libertarian]], and his politics were very [[conservative]]. These attitudes are still adhered to by those who follow his religion in the form in which he created it, who are known as 'Gardnerians'. Nowadays, there are many forms of Wicca, including Alexandrian, Dianic, [[Druid]]ic, Corellian, Stregha (Italian witchcraft), Faery, and many others.  There are also many Solitary and Eclectic practitioners, who follow no set tradition at all.

 

Note: This page is nowhere near complete; look for more edits in the future and (if you know what you are talking about), feel free to make your own.