| |
Wicca is a contemporary
spiritual religion, based on and reviving the ancient pre-Christian
pagan religions of Europe. Wiccans believe in a divine force
or power as the source of all. It is both immanent and transcendent
while encompassing the whole universe. Therefore the world and
all aspects within the world, "nature" and "life
itself" in particular, are considered sacred.
Wiccans use ancient and modern ceremonies, rituals and shamanic
practices to attune themselves to the natural rhythms of nature,
the world, and the universe in their efforts to commune with
this divine force.
To communicate with the force, Wiccans believe it to be manifest
in the form of a Goddess and God. As they emanate from the same
source, both retain equal power, hence equal status. By manifesting
the power in two deities (Goddess and God), the natural balance
of opposites, cause and effect are retained, e.g. Summer/winter,
light/ dark, life and death etc. Each opposite is essential
to maintaining the balance and rhythm of life on earth.
During ritual ceremonies and while working with magick, Wiccans
call on many other deities. All other deities (the names of
which are endless) are in essence merely differently named aspects
of the same Goddess and God.
Wicca has no high authority, no single leader, no prophet and
no bible to dictate its laws and beliefs. Every witch is as
important as another and all share equal status. Most wiccans
are solitary practitioners known as "Hedge Witches",
but there are also many “Covens”. Covens include
groups of up to 13 people, which is equal to the 13 phases of
the moon during the year. Covens are normally presided over
by a Priest or Priestess who has had years of practice in magick
and ritual techniques. The Priest or Priestess is respected
as an Elder and teacher of the craft.
All Wiccans adhere to one overriding ethical precept as stated
in the"Wiccan Rede":
"Though it harm none, Do
what thy wilt".
This is not a license to do whatever they want, more that it
allows them the freedom of thought and actions to ascertain
the truth, to communicate with and experience the divine and
to determine how best to live their lives, if by doing so they
cause no harm. See "Wiccan Rede".
This can also be taken as a cautionary reference to the one
fundamental law governing magick and its use.
"The Three-Fold Law".
This states that whatever they do - be it for good or for evil
- it will be returned to them, but magnified three times over.
Therefore witches accept responsibility for all their own actions
and are especially careful about how they use their magick,
for to hurt someone or to cause distress, a spell is returned
to sender three times better or worse. See "The
Three-Fold Law".
Wiccans celebrate 8 major rituals each year called "Sabbats"
(see "Sabbats").
There are 4 major and 4 minor Sabbats. The major Sabbats include:
Imbolc (February 2nd), Beltane (April 30th), Lughnasadh (August
1st) and Samhain (October 31st), while the minor Sabbats are:
Ostara (Spring Equinox, March 21st), Litha (Summer Solstice,
June 21st), Madon (Autumn Equinox, September 21st), and Yule
(Winter Solstice, December 21st).
The Sabbats are solar rituals marking the points of the sun's
yearly cycle, and make up half of the Wiccan ritual year. The
other half is made up with "Esbats", the Full Moon
celebrations. There are 13 full moons each year symbolizing
the goddess, wisdom and the inner self of the individual.
Wiccans and Pagans are ordinary everyday types of people and
come from all walks of life, from all spectrums of society and
from all over the world. Most are individuals seeking a personalized
practical religion that can be adapted to suit their own needs
and criteria. Wicca is a wonderfully diverse religion that meets
those needs.
There are many differing paths and traditions contained within
Wicca, each with it's own brand of ritual and magick. But perhaps
the single most common theme among all these traditions, is
an overriding reverence for life, nature, and the environment,
as seen through the Goddess and God.
|
|
