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A dictionary definition of religion looks something like:
Religion, n.; An organized system of Beliefs and/or Rituals, centering on a Supernatural Being or
Beings.
One of the beauties of the
Wiccan Religion is that the majority of the sects do not require one to
have 'conforming' beliefs. One need not Believe in the God/dess in order to worship them
while there is communication and discussion between the
diverse ways of Wicca, there is generally no cause for religious persecution since there is no Prime Directive stating that
everyone who does not believe a certain piece of Dogma is Wrong.This includes the descriptor of " witch ",some wiccans refer to themselves as wiccan only, while most wiccans do not mind being called a witch.
Contrary to most religions, it is Not the shared set of Beliefs, or similar Dogma which holds the
Wiccan Religions together. Rather, it is the Attitudes of the people involved, and their common
Heritage which provide the bonds of cooperation among the Pagan Peoples. These points of
agreement shall be further addressed following a brief list of some of the more popular
Traditions, with a description of each.
Traditions
Gardnerian:
Started by G. Gardner, in England, in the mid 1950's, this Tradition claims to have
existed, in secret, since the Witch-Burnings began during the Middle Ages. While there is
some doubt as to whether or not it is as old as it claims, there is no denying that the
Gardnerian Sect has been one of the most Influential of the Traditions. In fact, many of
the groups which follow were started by people who had been introduced to Paganism and
the Worship of the Lord and Lady as members of a Gardnerian group.
Characteristics:
A structured religion with definite hierarchy within each group (known, as a Coven), but
little to no Authority of one coven over another. Within the coven, a Matriarchy exists,
with the High Priestess generally being considered the leader (there are, of course,
exceptions to this, but these descriptions are, for the most part, only generalizations based
upon information gathered from many sources).
The typical Gardnerian view of the God/dess is that of a Dominant Three-Faced Goddess
(Maid, Mother, and Crone) with a Male Consort (Who has 2 sides.. the Young Summer
King, and the Old Winter King).
Ceremonies include a series of initiations into higher levels of the Craft, various Holiday
Celebrations (based, of course, upon the "Wheel of the Year" calendar of Feast days.
Alexandrian:
Started about the same time as Gardner's, this tradition is fairly similar, with a little more
emphasis upon Ceremonial Magick. There are numerous Covens in both US and Europe.
Dianic:
This is more of a Sub-class, rather than a particular Tradition. There are several Feminist
Traditions which are considered Dianic. This sub-class tends to emphasize the Female
aspect of the Goddess, sometimes to the exclusion of the Male God. Some feel that these
groups are rather reactionary and self limiting. Be that as it may, the Dianic Covens tend
to be more politically active.
School of Wicca:
Headed by Gavin and Yvonne Frost, this School is the largest correspondence school of
Witchcraft in the US. Numerous Covens have resulted from this School, although it is
somewhat unconventional (if, that is, anything dealing with Wicca could be called
conventional). The Frosts' views on Wicca as a religion do differ with the majority.. in
that they do not consider Wicca as "Pagan", but rather as Monotheistic.
Seax (or Saxon)
Started by Raymond Buckland, who was originally a leader in promoting the Gardnerian
Tradition, as an alternative to the existing Covens. Unlike most traditions, which consider
the Coven group to be the normal unit of division (ie. all ceremonies/Rituals = Group
Rites), the Seax version has provision for lone witches (often referred to as Solitaires).
Another thing which sets this particular brand apart is its non-reliance upon being
properly initiated into the Wiccan community. Many of the other groups require that new
members be brought to existing covens to be ceremonially initiated into that Tradition,
and that only after years of study within the group is one ready to start a new coven. The
Seax tradition, recognizing that there may not be a friendly, neighborhood Coven, allows
for self-initiation, and Auto setup of a Coven. Solitaires do refer to themselves as " witch ".
Traditionalist
(Welsh, Scots, Greek, Irish, etc...) See Druids & Celts
Like Dianic, this is a sub-class. Each Traditionalist group is based upon the traditions,
literature, myth, and folktales of that particular geographic/demographic area. This is
evident in the Names of the God/dess used by individual groups.This group also includes the traditional English witch, very prevalent in the British isles and western europe and refer to themselves as trads or trad witches.
Common Ties
As stated earlier, it's not doctrine/dogma similarities which tend to hold these diverse groups
together, rather, it is the common Ideals and feelings expressed by the Pagan Peoples themselves.
Here are some examples:
The Wiccan Rede: "An it harms none, do what thou will." is almost universally accepted amongst
the groups. Most groups tend to be polytheistic, animists, pantheists, ect. One is not "converted"
to Wicca, rather, the new comer feels a sense of "Coming Home", or, more poetically, "The
Goddess calls to Her own". Nature plays a big part in most Traditions, either as direct
personification of the God/dess, or as aspects of them. There is no counterpart to the Devil, as
such, in the Pagan religions... no personification of All Evil, rather, the choice is there for all to
make. However, there is the Law of Three Fold Return, which states "That which thou dost send
out shall return three fold", so good begets good, and evil befalls those who are evil.
What is Wicca?
`Wicca' (pronounced Wick-ah) is one name given to the Nature religions
practiced in Northern Europe ( Witchcraft ) and the Middle East from the times of the
ice ages. It is one spiritual path out of many in a group of spiritual
practices known as NeoPaganism. NeoPaganism is currently in a
world-wide revival, led by persons and groups in the United States and
Britain.
Is it the Same as Witchcraft?
One linguistic theory has the word Wicca coming from Olde English
`Wicca-Craeft', meaning `craft of the wise ones.' Most followers of
Wicca (and most Pagans) prefer not to use the terms `witchcraft' or
`witch' because of the emotional connotations these words carry in our
society,however many witches are proud to call themselves that, but
Generally, one who calls him or herself a `witch' without further
qualifications is seeking notoriety and special attention. Those of us
who guard the portals of personal Power are normally hard to find or engage in discussion.
Our Mysteries are carefully hidden from the world, and from those who
might be tempted to misuse them.
What About God?
Although Pagans generally agree that one God exists and is the same
regardless of name, they vary in specific concepts about God, as in
other religions.
What an individual Pagan holds is strictly a matter of personal
belief. However, occasionally a tradition will teach highly-specific
concepts, structures and mythologies. If one finds oneself in
disagreement, the best policy is `voting with the feet', or
withdrawing to find another group who better agrees.
NOTE: Sometimes it may be easier to gather together a group of people
who believe as you do to form an entirely new group. That's the
purpose of websites like mine. Get the information out to people who might not understand
" witchcraft ' and " wicca "
Most Wiccans divide the Godhead (generally conceived of as Mother
Nature) into two forces. One force is male and the other female. They
are called respectively: The God and The Goddess.
Between them, these two divinities create balance and harmony in the
Eternal Dance. They represent the forces of birth, death and
regeneration symbolized in the change of the seasons. Wiccans call
this cycle The Wheel Of The Year. Most rituals celebrate the Wheel Of
The Year and our deep, meaningful participation in natural cycles of
change.
Because the male force has been in ascendancy for thousands of years
due to the Christian, Moslem and Jewish religions, there is presently
a tendency to emphasize The Goddess, especially by feminists (or by
those whose personal concept of God happens to be female).
We also believe in Magick, which is a partnership between humanity
and the Universal Mind. This partnership creates changes in what we
normally call `reality', i.e., change accomplished with prayer. These
changes can seem miraculous or merely coincidental, and always include
personal effort. Magick is not the same as `wishing.'
What Happens at a Wiccan Ceremony?
There are several types of get-togethers that Pagans of all
traditions attend. The most available and open is called a `Grove,'
where those who wish may study both spiritual and ceremonial topics.
Most groves emphasize fellowship and harmony of mind between their
members. You should choose one as much for how you blend with the
personalities of the members as for a particular brand of teaching.
Eight times a year, at the solstices and equinoxes, May Day,
Halloween, and other points on the lunar calendar, Pagans gather
together (usually outdoors under trees) to celebrate Nature and the
turn of the seasons.
These celebrations consist of dancing, prayer, invocations, and
rituals passed down from the many traditions through the ages. We also
urge participants to develop and use their own original rituals and to
share them with others.
Because we dance and pray in a standing Circle (or sometimes a
spiral), and because we draw at these times from the Universe
spherical energies of protection and power - these meetings are called
(appropriately enough!) Circles.
How Can I Attend a Witches Coven?
Wiccans and Witches tend to be very private, and do not advertise
their faith as publicly as some others might. This is mainly because
of past persecutions. However, for those who are sincerely interested,
there always exist persons with whom to visit and explore that
interest.I am getting togethor a forum called e-coven. Send interests to CONTACT at top of page.
Do You Cast Witch Spells on Other People?
The major law in our religion is: "Do what you will, an it hurt no
other." (The Golden Rule of Witches )
In other words, no one is prevented from exploration of God and
GodSelf as long as others are not harmed.
We do believe in directing the energies of the universe toward
accomplishment of certain ends, but magick is never effective on
another person unless the person specifically requests it and takes
responsibility for that request.
Attempts at so-called `black' magick, or use of the universal
energies for negative or harmful purposes, only result in karmic
backlash magnified at least threefold on the unfortunate would-be
black magician.
Our tradition does not believe in the possibility of `psychic
attack', and hence does not teach methods for combating it. Our
philosophy tells us that to raise a force against `psychic attack' is
only to create that which you fear.
Are Witches Anti-Christian?
No. But many Christians are anti-Witch. Historically there has
existed an adversary relationship between Christianity and the Nature
Religions (largely created by Christians.)
It takes much universal love not to strike back when attacked, and
occasionally a Witch might seem bitter or afraid as the result of
anti-Pagan treatment. This is only a personal reaction, not a
characteristic of the religion itself.
It is also true that Wiccans and Pagans have suffered dismissal from
jobs and worse simply from their religious affiliation being revealed.
Events like these lead to a certain caution and sometimes even an
attitude approaching mild paranoia.
Who is in Charge of Wicca?
Each person is in charge of him or herself, responsible totally to
Godd/ess. One might hear an individual called High Priestess, or
Priest, but this title has more to do with the role played in
ceremonies than with status in any formal hierarchy.
again, these are individual to each tradition.
What Would I Need for a Wiccan Ceremony?
We usually find that people most often comment on the robes and the
tools. Traditionally we wear special garments while engaging in
devotions, as a male Jew wears prayer shawl and skullcap. The garments
have symbolisms, and stand for beliefs of the person wearing them.
The tools are: a cup, knife, staff (or wand), and the pentacle, a
5-pointed star with 5th point upward, enclosed in a circle.
For those familiar with the tarot cards, this was the original source
of the tarot suits as well as many meanings and symbolisms in the
tarot deck.
What is Done with the Tools?
They are used, along with other objects, like candles, bells, and
incense to focus energies and influence Universal forces with our
prayers. If the format reminds you of Roman Catholic mass, that's
because much of the indigenous Nature Religion's mysteries were
`adopted' when Christianity moved into Northern Europe -- into
England, Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia ... the lands of the Celts.
Also, if the tools and concepts seem to resemble elements in
Rosicrucianism, the Caballa, and the Masonic Temple, it is because the
latter paths drew and adopted Pagan rituals and forms for other uses.
Since ours was an oral tradition we gratefully acknowledge the role
these organizations played in bringing to modern times knowledge and
insights which have otherwise been lost.
Here's a bit of trivia: Although the Founding Fathers of the U.S.A.
generally held indifferent attitudes about Christianity they were all
thirty-third degree Masons. Obviously they sought to incorporate their
high ideals into writing our first constitution. This odd fact
explains to some people why fundamentalist Christians and the
constitution occasionally seem to be at cross-purposes.
What About Technology?
That's magick, too! Witchcraft practitioners of old WERE the scientists
... there was need for healers and herbalists, agriculture and
astronomy experts. The scientific method has now made teaching these
subjects respectable in universities. But in the process we have lost
the lore's former integration of the spiritual relationship between
God Expressed As Nature and ourselves.
Manyof us are scientifically trained and hold technological jobs and
interests. This does not interfere with but only adds to a desire for
ritual celebration and union with Godd/ess.Paganism makes available a
philosophical structure for all of these ends utilized effectively for
millennia. It urges individuals to develop their personal powers
within that structure and to use them thereafter in a responsible way.
In Sum.
Wicca (0r Witch ), a branch of the spiritual movement called Neopaganism (or
Paganism) is primarily a religion of personal, mystical relationship
between the Universal Mind as expressed in Nature and the individual.
It believes in Magick, or positive change wrought by prayer and
ceremonial ritual. It brings its practitioners the joy of union and
harmony with Godd/ess as expressed in Nature as well as fellowship
with other persons who are on similar paths. Personal responsibility
and growth are stressed, dogma and rigid beliefs are discouraged.
