Faery

Posted: Oct 18, 2005 6:39 PM
Many people constantly debate the true beginnings of Wicca and Witchcraft. Some say nothing started until the 50's, while others say Wicca has been around forever. Both ideas are correct and incorrect in their own ways.Witchcraft, basically and magic(k)al workings, has indeed been around forever. The first cavepeople held crude rituals during burials, and practiced strange customs all over the world, for example, the way in which a body was set. It often faced west, with the knees curled up and hands folded a certain way, similar to today's. Early africans had voodoo and shamanism. Then greater civilizations like Ancient Egypt practiced organised ritual magic, along with other great and lesser civilizations. However, Wicca is a specific religion created by Gerald gardener in the 1950's. It specifically outlines beleifs in a god and a goddess, and the use of a personal diary in this religion called The Book of Shadows. The religion has no specific date of foundation, but the book that started it all was Witchcraft Today, published in 1954. Here is a breif overview of Gardner's life.------------------June 13, 1884- Born in Liverpool, England1923- Worked as a plantation inspector1927- Married a woman named Donna1939- Initiated into the Fellowship of Crotona 1946- Meets Aelister Crowley, joins the OTO (Ordo Templi Orientis)1951- Witchcraft laws in England repealed1953- Initiated Doreen Valiente into the coven1954- Publishes Witchcraft Today1959- Published final book, The Meaning of Witchcraft1960- Donna dies1963- Meets Raymond BucklandFebruary 12, 1964- Dies------------From Wikipedia:Wicca is a Neopagan religion that is found in many English-speaking countries and several other countries as well. It was originally founded by the British civil servant Gerald Gardner most likely in the 1940s, but was first openly revealed in 1954. Since its founding, various related Wiccan traditions have evolved or been created, the original being Gardnerian Wicca, which is the name of the tradition that follows the specific beliefs and practices established by Gerald Gardner.DefinitionGerald Gardner is credited with re-introducing the word into the English language, although he himself used the spelling Wica repeatedly in his published work of 1954. The spelling "Wicca" is now used almost exclusively, (Seax-Wica being the only major use of the four-letter spelling).In Old English, wicca meant shaman, see Völva, male witch, or warlock. The term "warlock" is shunned in today's Pagan and Wiccan society, due to the fact that it comes from the old Scottish term for "oath-breaker".----------Now, to stop the debate. The actual Wiccan Rede is simply as follows:"An it harm none, do what thou wilt"The Rede of the Wiccae Is the longer version, as follows:Rede Of The WiccaeBeing known as the counsel of the Wise Ones:Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.Live an’ let live - Fairly take an’ fairly give.Cast the Circle thrice about To keep all evil spirits out.To bind the spell every time - Let the spell be spake in rhyme.Soft of eye an’ light of touch - Speak little, listen much.Deosil go by the waxing Moon - Sing and dance the Wiccan rune.Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, An’ the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.When the Lady’s Moon is new, Kiss thy hand to Her times two.When the Moon rides at Her peak Then your heart’s desire seek.Heed the Northwind’s mighty gale - Lock the door and drop the sail.When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth.When the wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast.When the West wind blows o’er thee, Departed spirits restless be.Nine woods in the Cauldron go - Burn them quick an’ burn them slow.Elder be ye Lady’s tree - Burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.When the Wheel begins to turn - Let the Beltane fires burn.When the Wheel has turned a Yule, Light the Log an’ let Pan rule.Heed ye flower bush an’ tree - By the Lady Blessèd Be.Where the rippling waters go Cast a stone an’ truth ye’ll know.When ye have need, Hearken not to others greed.With the fool no season spend Or be counted as his friend.Merry meet an’ merry part - Bright the cheeks an’ warm the heart.Mind the Threefold Law ye should - Three times bad an’ three times good.When misfortune is enow, Wear the Blue Star on thy brow.True in love ever be Unless thy lover’s false to thee.Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill - An’ it harm none, Do what ye will. A good way to think of it: It's like christianity. A Christian will tell you that God has been around since the beginning of time, as magic has been for us. However, it is the specific denominations that appear at certain times that seprate how we use knowledge. This is like Lutheran, Baptist, Evangelical, etc are to Kabbalah, Wicca, and other magic-using pagan religions.That about sums it up. If there's anything I can add to the subject, let me know.
Magickal Being
M/39 Wilmington, DELAWARE Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 12:46 PM
U covered it very well. I don't think anyone has ever covered it the way U just did, I loved the history lesson. I hope in the future I will see more of this.Have a happy Samhain.Blessed Be.
T-roy
M/19 Grand Rapids, Michigan Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 12:48 PM
AHHHHH I WILL READ THIS WHEN I HAVE MORE TIME...lol....i lurrve! history of any kind....and this is always interesting...so i shall read this and post my comments later.....woot...something to look forward to after owrk if my internet doesnt die....>.>.....blessed be
CRAZY SHY WICCAN GUY(AKA PHEONIX TEDDY WOLFSONG)
M/25 Peabody, Massachusetts Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 4:28 PM
if i could i'd copy this down lol but printing in the library expensive if too many pages but i dont want to plaigerise well i know its not my work and i wouldnt use it just study it lol
T-roy
M/19 Grand Rapids, Michigan Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 6:17 PM
WHAT ELSE WOULD U USE IT FOR?...im putting it in my BOS cuz i just realized i dont have anything on that topic in it...
magus merlyn
M/28 sparks, NEVADA Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 8:06 PM
i do want to clear one thing up gardner did not create wicca he created gardnarian wicca (witch is one of the more popular followings) it was acually interduced to him by crowley in the late 1800searly 1900s it is just because of the laws he was the first to legally write a book on it
T-roy
M/19 Grand Rapids, Michigan Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 8:24 PM
magus merlynWrote:i do want to clear one thing up gardner did not create wicca he created gardnarian wicca (witch is one of the more popular followings) it was acually interduced to him by crowley in the late 1800searly 1900s it is just because of the laws he was the first to legally write a book on itwhich* introduced** sry....it bothered me...
Lorraine Renee
F/18 , Wisconsin Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 8:26 PM
Gardenian wicca was the first branch of wicca. Before it there was no other, as I understand. Do correct me if you can find evidence otherwise.
magus merlyn
M/28 sparks, NEVADA Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 19, 2005 10:04 PM
i found a biography on gardener a few months ago at the library i dont remember the exact name i found it by chance but it mention there were a few books that were attempted to be puplished in the 1920s but because mainstream religions still held most of the publishing and law posts they were shot down ps sorry about spelling when i type my brain does not like to spell also lol
Lady K )0(
F/99 , New Hampshire Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 24, 2005 11:53 AM
I love the history aspect as well and celebrate the Olde ways and embrace it..and as much as gardner had an impact on Wicca, I still think he was a very well acted fake and quack :)jmho hehe
magus merlyn
M/28 sparks, NEVADA Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 24, 2005 2:16 PM
Lady KWrote:I love the history aspect as well and celebrate the Olde ways and embrace it..and as much as gardner had an impact on Wicca, I still think he was a very well acted fake and quack :)jmho hehefake no i personally dont think so anyways quack yes after reading the biography i will agree with that one lol
Lorraine Renee
F/18 , Wisconsin Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 24, 2005 2:28 PM
Really, I believe the idea of 'real' and 'fake' has simply evolved. It can never be defined when talking about humans...
magus merlyn
M/28 sparks, NEVADA Instant MessageSend Message
Posted: Oct 24, 2005 2:57 PM
Lorraine Renee (Sophie)Wrote:Really, I believe the idea of 'real' and 'fake' has simply evolved. It can never be defined when talking about humans...real and fake for interpritation is like thisi say blue is really pink and base every thing off of that then i would be fake becuse blue was named every exepts blue is blue thats that and for me to say it is pink then i am not being real to you me or any one elsenow saying blue can be used for love or power is not being fake yes red is the typical but if my energies flow diffrent then blue will have diffrent meaning for me than you thats the diffrence for example most european religions base elements first to form spirit but asian/oriental religions base spirit first to form the elements you can think of it the same way as running water northern hemosphere flows one way but in the southern flow diffrent same thing works with energies.the point in that was all religions and beliefs have the same fundamentals up is up down is down but the veiws on those are diffrent fake people take the fundamentals and tried to make people belive they know more than the universe that is fake the people who work with and learn the ways are not
Listing 1-13 of 13
1 of