Wicca
Wicca is a pagan religion which involves the practicing of witchcraft. While witchcraft has ancient roots, it has little to do with the modern incarnation called Wicca. Wicca has many different sects and groups, but has no central body or governing organization, or a holy book. Wiccans belong to small, local organizations called "covens" or practice "solitary", as they see fit. Because Wicca encourages its followers to question what they are taught[1] and develop their own practices, it can be very difficult to come up with a universal definition of what a Wiccan is. Most Wiccans desire to live in rhythm with nature. Wicca calls on the practitioner to act as their own priest(ess), interacting directly with the spirit force or deity.
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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. Nearly all Wiccans, however, subscribe to the idea of Spirit being divided into two polarities, the male and the female. [2] 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.[3]
Wiccans and Magic
"Wicca" is a pagan religion. "Witchcraft" refers to 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. Most magicians, however, are not Wiccans.
Wiccan Holy Days
Wiccans usually celebrate the eight Sabbats (also referred to collectively as Wheel of the Witches Year) [4] 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, 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
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
- Invoking of the ancestral dead
- State intent of ritual
- Drawing down of sun/moon (optional)
- Perform magical work
- Cakes and Ale
- Devoke ancestors
- Thank and release Deity
- Thank and release quarters
- Devoke circle
- 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 made in the last fifty years. Wicca was first popularized in England by Gerald Gardner after the repeal of Britain's laws banning Witchcraft. 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.
