Wicca (an alternative name for modern witchcraft) is
a positive, shamanistic nature religion with two main deities honored and
worshipped in Wiccan rites: the Goddess (the female aspect and a deity related
to the ancient Mother Goddess in Her triple aspects of Maiden, Mother and
Crone) and Her consort, the Horned God (the male aspect). Their names vary
from one Wiccan tradition to the next, and some traditions use different
deity names in both their higher and lower degrees.
Wicca often includes the practice of various forms
of white magic(usually for healing purposes or as a counter to negativity),
as well as rites to attune oneself with the natural rhythm of life forces
marked by the phases of the moon and the four seasons.
Wicca (which is also known as the "Craft of the Wise"
or often just "The Craft") is considered by many to be both a monistic and
pantheistic religion, and is part of the modern Pagan resurgence, or neo-Pagan
movement, as many prefer to call it.
"Today, most people who define themselves as Pagans
use the word as a general term for "native and natural religions, usually
polytheistic, and their members." In simple terms, it is a positive, nature-based
religion, preaching brotherly love and harmony with and respect for all life
forms. It is very similar to Native American spirituality. Its origins are
found in the early human development of religion: animistic deities gradually
becoming redefined to become a main God or Goddess of all Nature. This God
or Goddess - bearing different names at different times and in different
places - can be found in nearly all of the world's historic religious systems.
Paganism does not oppose not deny other religion. It is simply a pre-Christian
faith.
The Wiccan religion is made up of various sects (or
"traditions") such as Gardenerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Tanic, Georgian,
ethnic Traditionalist, and so on. Many of the traditions were formed and
introduced in the 1960s, and although their rituals, customs, myth cycles,
and symbolisms may be different from one another, they all hold common principles
of Craft law.
The main tenet of Wicca Craft is the Wiccan Rede, a
simple and benevolent moral code that is as follows:
The Threefold Law (or Law of Three) is a karmic law
of triple retribution which applies whenever you do something good or bad.
For instance, if you use white magick (or positive energy) to do something
good for somebody else, three times the good will come back to you in your
lifetime. By the same token, if you use black magick (or negative energy)
to bring harm unto others, the bad or "evil" will also return to you threefold
in the same lifetime.
The followers of the Wiccan religion are called Wiccan
or Witches. The word "witch" applies to both male and female practitioners
of the Craft. (Male Witches or Wiccans are seldom, if ever, called warlocks.
The word "warlock" which is considered an insult in most Wiccan circles,
stems from the Old English "waerloga," meaning an "oath-breaker" and was
used derogatorily by Christian Church as a name for a male witch.)
Although Witches are proud to be a part of the Craft,
there are some who object strongly to the use of the term "Witch," feeling
that the word stirs up too many bizarre images and misconceptions in the
minds of those who are unfamiliar with the Craft and perhaps a bit reluctant
to accept that which they do not clearly understand.
As Wicca Craft is a Nature-oriented religion, most
of it's members are involved in one way or another with the ecology movement
and current environmental issues.
Wiccans do not accept the arbitary concept of innate
sin or absolute evil, and they do not believe in a Heaven or Hell, other
than those which are one's own creations.
Wiccans do not practice any form of black magic or
"evil," do not worship devils, demons, or any evil entities, and do not make
attempts to convert members of other faiths to the Pagan way. Wiccans respect
all other positive religions, and feel that a person must hear the "Call
of the Goddess" and truly desire within her or his own heart, without any
outside or proselytixation, to follow the Wiccan path.
Many Wiccans take on one or more secret names(also
know as "Eke-names") to signify their spiritual rebirth and new life within
the Wicca Craft. Eke-names are most sacred and are used only among sisters
and brothers of the same path. When a Witch takes on a new name, she or he
must be extremely careful to choose one that harmonizes in one way or another
with numerological name-numbers, birth-numbers, or runic numbers. A well-chosen
name vibrates with that individual and directly links her or him to the
Craft.
Many Wiccan work together in small groups which are
called covens. The coven (which may consist of up to 13 people) is led by
a High Priestess and/or High Priest, and gathers together to worship the
Goddess, work magick, and perform ceremonies at Sabbats and Esbats. The members
of a coven are known as "coveners," and the place where a coven meets is
called the "covenstead."
Wiccans who work on their own, either by personal choice
or by circumstance, are called "solitary" Witches.
Wiccans celebrate 8
Sabbats
each year, making transitions in the seasons. There are 4 major (or grand)
Sabbats and 4 minor (or lesser) ones. The major Sabbats are: Candlemas, Beltane,
Lammas and Samhain. The minor Sabbats are: Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice,
Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.
The Esbat is a monthly coven meeting held at least
13 times a year during each Full Moon. At the Esbat, Wiccans exchange ideas,
discuss problems, perform special rites, work magick and healing, and give
thanks to the Goddess and the Horned God. A traditional "Cakes and Wine"
or "Cakes and Ale" ceremony also takes place at the Esbat. During this ceremony,
consecrated food and refreshments are served, and coveners take time to relax
and discuss important magickal subjects. (The "Cakes and Wine" or "Cakes
and Ale" ceremony is a traditional custom whenever a Wiccan ritual takes
place and the circle is cast.)
In a coven, the Goddess is represented by the High
Priestess, and the Horned God by the High Priest.
The Goddess is known by many different names. She is
often called Diana, Cerridwen, Freya, Isis, Ishtar, the Lady, or any other
name that a coven chooses to use or that a Wiccan feels responds to his or
her own mythopoeic vision.
The Goddess is the female principle. She represents
fertility, creation, the regenerative powers of Nature, and wisdom. The moon
is Her symbol and in works of art, She is often depicted as having three
faces - each representing a different lunar phase. In Her New Moon phase,
she is the Maiden; in Her Full Moon phase, She is the Mother; and in Her
Waning Moon phase, She is the Crone.
The Horned God is a phallic deity of fertility and
intellectual creativity who symbolizes the powers of the waxing and waning
crescent moons. He is usually represented by a hirsute, bearded man, having
the hooves and horns of a goat. He is a God of Nature, and the male counterpart
to the image of the Goddess. In primitive times, He was worshipped as the
Horned God of Hunting.
Like the Goddess, the Horned God is also known by many
different names. In some Wiccan traditions, He is called Cernunnos, which
is Latin for "the Horned One." In others, He is known as Pan, Woden and other
names.
The worship of the Goddess and the Horned God symbolize
the Wiccan belief that everything that exists in the universe is divided
into opposites: female and male, negative and positive, light and darkness,
life and death, yin and yang - the balance of Nature.
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Or, in other words, be free to do your own thing, provided that you in no
way bring harm upon anyone - including yourself. (The Wiccan Rede is extremely
important to bear in mind before performing any magickal spells or rituals,
especially those which may be considered unethical or of a manipulative
nature.)