Difference between revisions of "Wicca"

Revision as of 00:24, May 8, 2011

Wicca was created in 1954 by Gerald Gardener, based on certain ancient pre-Christian pagan ideals. Etymology: likely from Old English wicca wizard, they affirm witchcraft and magic. ^[1] It can be very difficult to come up with a universal definition of what a Wiccan is. Most Wiccans desire to live as one with nature, which could be adapted from Buddhism and other religions. Wicca calls on the practitioner to act as their own priest(ess)/shaman, interacting directly with the spirit force sometimes in the form of a horned God and Goddess. ^[2] They are inclusive, many worship nature or at least hold a deep respect for the natural world, and many promote peace or seek to live in a peaceful manner. Wiccans do not accept or worship the Judeo-Christian devil as Wicca is not a Judeo-Christian religion and as such does not acknowledge the devil. Wicca is often referred to as an "earth based" religion and many Wiccan ceremonies use earth-centric symbolism.

Wiccan Morality

Most Wiccans submit to two basic rules of morality; the Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law. The Rede states: "And it harm none, 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 may be either monotheistic or polytheistic; the monotheists simply directing their spells and prayers to Spirit, and the polytheists subscribing to a variety of historical pantheons, including Celtic, Greek, Nordic, Roman, and even Chinese, Japanese, and Indian; or some combination of the above, but most Wiccans are duotheistic worshipping the God and Goddess. Nearly all Wiccans, however, subscribe to the idea of Spirit being divided into two polarities, the male and the female. ^[3] The male polarity is the God, or the Green Man; the female polarity is the Goddess, whom herself is split into the three parts of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. They are also often called the Lord and Lady. They have been given so many names they have been called the Nameless Ones.^[4]

Wiccan Holy Witch Days

Wiccans usually celebrate the eight Sabbats, They are also referred to collectively as Wheel of the Witches Year. ^[5], and the thirteen Esbats. The Sabbats follow the solar cycle, and are as follows:

• Imbolc (Feb. 1)
• Ostara (March 21)
• Beltaine (May 1)
• Midsummer Day (June 21, sometimes called Litha)
• Lammas (Aug. 1, sometimes called Lughnasadh)
• Mabon (Sept. 21)
• Samhain (Oct. 31)
• Yule (Dec. 21/22)

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

The Four Elements

Wiccan worship is conducted in a circle (sometimes with a pentagram), and the participants call on the four traditionally greek 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

The general procedure for a Wiccan ritual is as follows:

• Cleansing of the sacred space with incense/holy water
• Forming of the circle
• Invoking the four quarters/elements
• Invoking the Lord and Lady)
• State intent of ritual
• Drawing down of sun/moon
• Perform magical work
• Cakes and Ale
• Thank and release Deity
• Thank and release quarters
• Cleanup

This is not a hard and fast outline. The drawing down of the moon would generally only occur during an Esbat (see above), just as the drawing down of the sun would generally only occur during a Sabbat. A solitary performing a ritual, or a group performing a simpler ritual may opt not to do these things, just as they may opt not to invoke the ancestors or serve the Cakes and Ale.

History of Wicca

Although there are elements of Wicca which date back to ancient times (the Sabbat fire festivals, for example), it does not tie to any particular religious practice from ancient times. Most aspects of Wicca are modern and were created in the last fifty years. Wicca was first popularized in England by Gerald Gardner after the repeal of Britain's laws banning Witchcraft and Black Magic. 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 but through practice create there own.

Wiccan Murders In The News

• Wiccan Murder-Suicide: Man and his stepdaughter died from gunshots to the head
• Manslaughter charges for Wiccan in boyfriends stabbing death, Watertown Daily, September 3, 2010
• Wiccan Woman Killed Man as Apparent "Sacrifice" Says Detective, CBS News, April 09, 2010
• Eric Christensen, Accused of Killing Girlfriend Because She Was a Warlock, Seattle Weekly, May 26, 2010
• Wiccan found guilty in baby's murder

References

External Links

• Wicca Homepage