WHAT IS WICCA?
There are probably as many definitions of Wicca (also known as "the Craft", Witchcraft, or the Old Religion) as there are practitioners --one of the joys of this path is that there is no "one, true way"; intuition is as valuable as teaching. This then is my personal definition of what Wicca is to me. First, because there are so many misconceptions about Wicca, let me define that what Wicca is not is Satanism or devil-worship. Wiccans don't believe in an all-evil entity. Wicca is a religion based on experience of Deity as male and female. It is panentheistic--seeing all things as part of God/dess, and seeing the Earth Herself as a living organism of whom we are part. It is also a religion of immanence--seeing God/dess present here and now, within all things, not "out there somewhere" but part of daily life. Wiccans reverence Nature in all her forms, and often are active environmentalists. Wiccans celebrate eight major holidays, the beginning and midpoint of each season. Wiccans also celebrate the phases of the moon. Each of these rituals or observances helps us attune with the ever-changing cycles of Nature. Wicca is also a Craft. We practice magic using meditation, chants, visualization and spells to help focus our will on what we want to happen. Wiccans believe that everything we do, good or ill, comes back to us tripled, which is why we don't hex or curse anyone. We also believe that many psychic talents are real and simply haven't been studied enough by science to be catalogued as such. Wiccans for the most part accept reincarnation, not as dogma to be believed, but as fact based on personal experience. Many of us remember past lives. As one who has studied science, I know that every atom of my body once was part of something else, and I am continually losing atoms that become part of others. Knowing this, it makes sense that my soul also is "recycled". Wicca is a positive philosophy. The only law is "An it harm none, do as ye will": Enjoy life to the fullest, and remember to help everyone else enjoy it as well. Wiccans don't preach; Wiccans don't evangelize. Everyone has to find his or her own path, and we welcome the diversity this brings. So the next time you hear someone called a "wicked witch", think instead of Wiccans all over the world, celebrating the cycles of Nature through the dance of the Lord and the Lady, trying to brighten the world we all share through our cauldron fires in the darkness. Know we are not out to convert you; know we mean you no harm. All we ask for is tolerance, understanding, and the freedom to practice as we choose. ©1998 Cecylyna Dewr Distribution is welcome; please include this notice For more information contact Pagan Pride Project – www.paganpride.org - (317) 916-9115. PO Box 441422 Indianapolis, IN 46244
Neo-Paganism - The Divine In All Creation; by Cecylyna and Dagonet Dewr
Silhouetted against the Full Moon, a group of robes figures chants while a Priestess raises her arms in the candlelight to welcome the Goddess, the ancient Mother in her many names and forms, to their ceremony. This is not a scene from a fantasy novel, but rather a typical celebration held in a park, a backyard or a living room for modern Wiccans and Neo-Pagans. Neo-Paganism is a broad term covering contemporary practice of many nature-based spiritual paths that honor the Divine as immanent in creation. Some Neo-Pagan traditions try to reconstruct pre-Christian pagan religions; others base practices on ancient pantheons newly interpreted for a modern world. Neo-Pagans are generally polytheists, honoring more than one Deity, although many Neo-Pagans are also monists, believing that the many Gods and Goddesses are all aspects of a single Source. The concept of immanence is also key to Neo-Pagan spirituality: The Divine is in all creation and everything has Divinity within. Immanence is why many Neo-Pagans are active environmentalists; honoring the Earth Mother as Gaea, the living organism, comes naturally to those who work with the cycles of nature and the interconnectedness of all beings. Neo-Paganism is a growing religion. Current estimates of the number of practitioners range from 500,000 to 2.5 million; numbers are difficult to determine because many Neo-Pagans, fearing reprisal from members of monotheistic religions, keep their practices quiet. One of the most common "denominations" of Neo-Paganism is Wicca, or Neo-Pagan Witchcraft. Wicca is not related to Satanism as is commonly misconstrued. Satan is a figure from the Christian religion. The misconception comes from medieval witch-hunts, which equated the Horned God of the Old Religion with the adversary of the new, and from the sensationalism of popular media. Wicca is a religion based on personal experience of Deity as male and female, a God and Goddess manifest within the cycle of the seasons and the cycle of death and rebirth. Wiccans celebrate these cycles through eight major holidays, the beginning and midpoint of each season. Wiccans also gather at the Full Moons and sometimes at New Moons to celebrate spirituality and practice magick, which involves ancient practices such as chanting, spells and energy focus, and a great deal of what contemporary self-help authors have rediscovered as "creative visualization". Wiccans practice in small groups called covens or circles, and many keep to the traditional size of 13 or fewer, primarily on the basis of practical group dynamics. Wicca and Neo-Paganism emphasize personal responsibility: You must make your own decisions on what is right and wrong. There are only two fundamental guidelines: The Wiccan Rede -- "An thou harm none, do what thou wilt," and the Law of Threes -- "Whatsoever you do shall come back to you three times". Between these two is an exacting ethical standard. If you do good, good comes back to you; if you do harm, that harm is returned three-fold. And the Rede does not say "Do what you want" but "Do what you will" -- a stricture that requires the Wiccan to know herself well enough to be honest about what she really wants. Because Wicca has no dogma, there are as many interpretations of its spiritual practices as there are practitioners. Some Wiccans emphasize formal ritual; some practice shamanism in ways similar to Native American traditions; some focus on psychic development; some practice "kitchen witchery" -- arts and crafts, herbalism, spells and other hands-on activities; and many practice parts of all of these. Covens whose traditions trace back to a British Witch named Gerald Gardner call themselves Gardnerian; they are closely related to Alexandrian Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders, a student of Gardner. Raymond Buckland brought Gardnerian Witchcraft to the United States, founded a different tradition called Seax Wicca, and wrote a book that helped many solitary Wiccans who had no access to covens or group training. Dianic Witches, such as Z. Budapest and Barbara Walker, focus on the Goddess, women's issues, and eco-feminism. Many eclectic circles were created based on the writings of Americans Scott Cunningham and Starhawk. While there is controversy about whether modern Wiccans can trace their spirituality directly from survivals of European pre-Christian religions, most Wiccans would agree that whatever its source, Wicca is a living and growing spiritual path that satisfies its practitioners' needs. While Wicca is perhaps the best-known Neo-Pagan spiritual path, there are other traditions. Asatru is based upon ancient Nordic deities and rituals. An Draocht Fein is one of the better-known American Druidic groups, and is based upon the ancient Celtic order of bards, wise men and clergy. The Church of All Worlds is an eclectic group based on Gaean ecological spirituality and the works of science fiction author Robert Heinlein. There are many other groups of varying sizes and practices. What they all share, the common thread within the multicolored tapestry of modern Neo-Paganism, is a reverence for Nature's ever-returning cycles, a spirit of community among individual diversity, and a search for personal truth, found not within another's revelation, but engraved on the spirit of the individual. ©1998 Cecylyna and Dagonet Dewr Distribution is welcome; please include this notice For more information contact Pagan Pride Project – www.paganpride.org - (317) 916-9115. PO Box 441422 Indianapolis, IN 46244
PAGANISM
Paganism is a broad, eclectic modern religious movement that encompasses shamanistic, ecstatic, polytheistic, and magical religions. Most of the religions termed Pagan are characterized by nature-centered spirituality, honoring of pre-Christian deities, dynamic, personal belief systems, lack of institutionalization, a quest to develop the self, and acceptance and encouragement of diversity. Paganism is sometimes referred to as Neo-Paganism to emphasize its connections to as well as difference from pre-Christian religions. Paganism is a worldwide phenomenon and includes revived and updated ancient European practices and religions, feminist Goddess-worship, and religions inspired by science-fiction writings. For their inspiration, Pagans look to non-Abrahamic, ecstatic, and mystery religions of Europe as well as indigenous and magic-using traditions from around the world. Modern Paganism is interwoven with artistic, visionary, and libertarian traditions and emphasizes the free will of the individual. Many traditions celebrate rituals to mark transitions in the natural world (such as solstices, lunar phases, or a birth) as well as in a person's life (such as marriage or moving to a new home). While the largest segment of the Pagan population is white and middle class, Paganism cuts across all lines, whether racial, occupational, or class- or gender-based. Most Pagans, however, are avid readers with interests in ecology, creativity, and personal growth. Many come from the scientific, computer, and technical fields. Since it is not an organized movement, it is very difficult to determine the number of its practitioners, but it is estimated that there are perhaps 100,000 in the U.S. alone. Some have termed Paganism the fastest growing religion in the West. History & Structure Paganism as a movement grew out of the growing environmental awareness in the 1960s, though it encompasses some traditions from the Middle Ages and earlier. Since most Pagan religions are nature-centered, Pagans rethink the way in which we relate to the Earth. Rather than seek dominance over the environment, Pagans work to live as a part of Nature, finding a balance between the self, the biosphere, and society. Part of this rethinking goes along with the resurgence of Goddess-worship, which is widespread in the Pagan movement. Many Pagans look to the fertility Goddesses of old and find vibrant, dynamic models for ecological balance. The myriad Goddesses from the past also provide Pagans with a vision of powerful feminine divinity which is missing from other Western religions. The Pagan movement has become somewhat coherent largely through networks, journals, and festivals. But it is not unified or structured - herein lies some of its greatest appeal. Pagans believe profoundly in freedom and the power of the individual. People are encouraged to explore paths that are most helpful to them, rather than conform to a specific code of beliefs. Through magazine columns and personal contact, Pagans participate in a dynamic marketplace of ideas, where each person is encouraged to contribute and to take away what is most appropriate for him or her. Rather than structuring the community around a particular set of beliefs or symbols, Pagans concentrate on process to create community. A variety of practices are used to fulfill spiritual needs, heal, or create change. Each person's particular technique is honored in the understanding that our aims are often the same. Most Pagans abide by some form of "If it harm none, do what you will." There are no charismatic gurus in Paganism. Pagans do not seek to convert others. Each Pagan is independent and autonomous, even when working in groups. All value choosing one's own path and beliefs. There is no one spokesperson for Paganism. One of the most characteristic elements of Pagan religions is their adaptability. In the case of nature-based religions, some will differ from others simply because their practitioners live in different parts of the country. For instance, a system that includes rituals celebrating snowfall would be inappropriate for people in areas where it doesn't snow. Pagans believe that religions must change to meet the needs of people on an everyday basis. While some Pagan religions can be quite esoteric, most Pagan beliefs and practices are rooted in everyday, natural experience. Myths, rituals, and techniques are adapted to meet particular needs. Some Pagan systems and religions Most American Pagans practice a blend of different traditions, the most popular of which are Celtic, Greco-Roman, Native American, ancient Egyptian, and Norse. Church of All Worlds: Promotes celebration and honoring of all life and the planet as a living, divine organism: Gaea. Combination of worldwide Goddess traditions. Discordianism: Honors the Chaos principle and the humor of chance. Druidism: Many varieties of Druidism are practiced, with varying emphasis on scholarly research into the original Druids, who were the priest/ess and judicial class of the ancient Celts. Egyptian: Ancient Egyptian priestesses and priests were renowned for their level of knowledge and skill in magical arts. In its four-thousand year history, pharaonic Egypt built complex spiritual and magical systems centering around death and rebirth, still influential today. Kabbalah: Jewish mystical and magical system developed since the Middle Ages. The most influential magical system in the development of the Western magical tradition. Magic (sometimes spelled "magick"): Most Pagan religions practice some form of magic, which can be defined as getting results through the application of will. Magic falls into two very general categories; "practical" or "folk" magic pertains to everyday life and is performed with common implements like stones or candles, while "high" or "ceremonial" magic often requires rigorous training, utilizes ancient languages, and concerns the mystical development of the self to its greatest potential. Shamanism: Practiced by Native peoples worldwide. Shamanic techniques such as drumming are used in many different Pagan systems. In traditional societies, shamans travel to the spirit realm to gain information pertaining to the community's needs, such as healing or spiritual growth. Witchcraft: Also known as Wicca or simply the Craft. Honoring of Goddess and God (some traditions honor the Goddess alone), use of magic, and healing, all within the context of "If it harm none, do what you will." Pagan Witchcraft has nothing to do with and is antithetical to Satanism. This information © 1996 PEN
