Samantha's Writing

wicca

2008-01-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

What Is Wicca Spirituality?Isn't all Wicca spirituality? Not really.
Sure, Wicca is about the symbols and chants and magick rituals... But that's just the easy stuff. Anyone can light a candle or cast a spell.
Spirituality Is The Heart Of WiccaHere you can uncover the secret to true Magick. Not to mention the deeper, rarely-accessed Power of this practice . . .
The power to heal yourself and live the life you dream of.
The power that can heal the world.
The power that liberates the Divine within you. This is Wicca as a spiritual practice.

How I Discovered Wicca SpiritualityMy name is Erin Dragonsong. I've been a practicing Witch for about 20 years, and before that, just naturally witchy.
I have been a long-time student of comparative religion - not as an academic game but as a personal spiritual exploration. My interest has always been in finding the Truth within each path, finding the spirituality within the religion.
I'm a Priestess and High Priestess of Wicca. I've also been ordained.
I've dipped my spiritual toes in Native Spirituality. And deeply explored, dare I admit it, Christianity.
I've also had extensive spiritual training in Vipassina Buddhist meditation and classical Radha Yoga. (I'm a certified teacher of all the Radha Yogas - Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Dreams Yoga.)
Uniting The PathsThe power of these practices deepened my Wiccan practice significantly, and strengthened my spiritual skills.
Together, they gave me an experience of the meaning and purpose of spiritual exercises, that none of them seemed to offer by itself.
The various trainings I've received have profoundly influenced my interpretation of Wicca . . . And in particular, the potential that Wicca contains.
The Motivating Power Why have I traveled so widely when Wicca is my spiritual home? Because when I was 26, I had an explosive and mystifying experience.
In the midst of a Wiccan ritual, my Kundalini energy - Goddess Energy - was spontaneously liberated.
It was a terrifying experience, because I had no context or understanding of it.
For years I searched within Wicca for an explanation of what had happened. When not even advanced teachers of Wicca could guide me, I was forced to look wider afield.
What I found was that there are possibilities in spiritual evolution that are well-documented, but which Wicca didn't seem to address.
I was guided to uncover how these potentials could be activated within Wicca Spirituality.
The True Potential of WiccaAt first I thought that perhaps Wicca and full spiritual awakening might be opposing paths. But I sensed that at its heart, Wicca is spirituality. So I pursued a Wiccan path to higher consciousness.
Over the years a new synthesis has grown within me, of Wicca as more than ritual and spells but as a fully developed Path to self-realization.
This has liberated the full joy of Wiccan practice in me. And I wanted to share this joy and this potential with others. That's the reason I'm offering this website.
My life mission is healing the soul and spirit of life on Earth. I aim to uplift, encourage, inspire, and empower you to live a life of beauty, joy, and love - the life that is your birthright!
I offer this site in hopes that it will serve the evolution of the Earth that is currently underway, through your life.

It's About Homecoming . . . Returning To The Power Of The Heart. There is very little out there on Wicca as a practice which takes us all the way to spiritual enlightenment. And much confusion about what that really means for a Witch.
Don't worry… Filling this gap is my main motivation behind creating this site.
Wicca has wonderful and virtually untapped potential as a vehicle to spiritual awakening.
This potential is inherent in Wicca as a mystical religion. So I'm not aiming to remake Wicca, but to reveal the depths of its spiritual heart. Wicca Spirituality is the spiritual essence contained in the Wiccan religion.
Wicca as Spirituality is incredibly powerful as a practice of personal and even social evolution. It is liberating, empowering, healing, and fun.
I offer these articles as guides on your journey Home - - Home to the Divine, your Essential Self.
So, welcome! Come on in, and explore . . . .
With Bright Blessings,
Now you can Search Wicca Spirituality Website for specific words and topics. . . Try it out!
_______________________________________________________________________________ WITCH TIP: Comments? Questions? Can't find what you're looking for? Please write me and let me know how this site can better serve you . . . _______________________________________________________________________________
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No need to submit your email address. Simply right-click on the button (Control-click for Mac), Copy the shortcut or link, and Paste it into your favourite news browser. That's it!
(See What's RSS for what it's all about - Opens in new window.)

Good Starting Points:
This site is updated constantly. Please visit us again to catch up on the new articles.
Wicca Spirituality BlogThe Wicca Spirituality Blog keeps you informed about new pages and updates to the Wicca-Spirituality.com website. It delivers previews right to you, making it easy for you to find topics of interest.
Wicca Information & FAQsThere's a lot of Wicca information out there. Rather than duplicate the same old things, offered here is Wicca information from a spiritual perspective.
Being A Witch: Wicca & Witch Craft TodayWitch craft is fascinating. It's exhilarating! Everything about it has you eager to jump in. Except for one little thing... How do you do it? What's Involved In Being A Witch?
Essential Wicca SpiritualityWicca Spirituality is Wicca, grown up. When Wicca started out, it included spiritual elements, but didn't fully develop them. Today though, a Witch's potential to access the Divine has skyrocketed ...
Wicca Magick - Real MagicIs Wicca magick real? Magick is not only real, it's the only thing that is! Magick is your birthright - a gift from the Divine. Learn how to work magick and how magick works, and nothing can stop you
Wicca Altar Basics A Wicca Altar is an important part of Wicca for many witches - a value that goes way beyond having someplace to put all your witchy stuff! It's a focal point and container for magickal energies ...
Wicca Practices & Spiritual Tools * Wicca-Spirituality.com]: These are distinctly Wicca practices, because they are practiced more within Wicca than within other traditions, and/or they are particularly important skills for Wiccans . . .
Spiritual Practices & Power Tools * Wicca-Spirituality.comSpiritual practices bring you to conscious awareness of the Divine within and around you. They are power tools to prepare yourself as a conduit for the Divine forces that every Witch calls upon . . .
About Erin & Wicca Spirituality.comAn introduction to Erin, Mission Statement, Contact info, Sitemap, and How to use the Wicca Spirituality site
Humanity's Spiritual Evolution In Progress * Wicca-Spirituality.comThere has been a big step forward in spiritual evolution this year. Perhaps you've noticed it. Some signs are . . . .
Wicca Spirituality Site Search! Sitesearch helps you search the Wicca Spirituality website for the specific topics and themes that interest you...
Start Your Own Online Business, and Make Money on the Web * Wicca-SpirHave you ever wanted an online business? I just have to share with you the best website tip I have. I've done lots of websites over the years, but not until now have I made a successful web site . . .

2008-01-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

2008-01-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

2008-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

2008-01-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Our Mother

2008-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

Mother, Our Mother
Gaia, Who art Thou
heaven and earth
Hallowed be thy name
The Goddess, Thy kigdom come
Thy will be done on earth
As it is in heaven
So above, as so Below
So Shall it be.
Guide our hearts wisdom and Joy
For you are the universe and earth and the Heavens
Bless this ritual and this Sacred Space with the three
Best possible fates; Energy, Matter and Meaning. (Chant around in a circle Three times }

The Coffee Shop Party

2008-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

"Gorbachev's place in hisrtory was safe that it should take his Nobel Peace prize money and retire in paris and write a book." {Mikhail Gorbachev}

Only as high
as I can reach
can I grow
only as far
as I seek
can I go
Only as deep
As I can look
Can I See
Only as much
as I can dream
I can Be
\unknown author

wicca

2007-12-31T22:50:00.000-08:00

Read next page to get Idea Of what you will basically learn. I will We giving out information Sheets on circles created by me outlined with basic steps. These are pro-types for your use and can transformed in to your own circles. I use a series of steps for each circle and then some general sayings. All these can be adapted to suit your needs. I also take the group on tours of the Vancouver Library and Pagan shop and we will attend events at phoenix Books in Surrey. Phoenix books it connected to the community and has events in their Store.
Steps to casting a Circle
Though there are many different casting methods, most Wiccans use the same basic steps, which can then be built upon to infinite complexity. The steps of a fairly typical circle casting are as follows:
1. Preparation of the ritual area – be sure that the area is clean, with enough space for all participants. Smudge the area with incense smoke and/or sweep with a ritual broom to clean out any remaining stray energy. Set up the Altar. (Note: Double check to be sure that you will have everything that you will need, including lighters, incense charcoal, notes for the ritual itself, cakes and wine, and so on.)
2. Preparation of the Self – Take a ritual bath or shower, with your mind on purification and readiness for the rite to come; then dress in whatever clothes or Jewellery you might ware for ritual. Ground and centre. For a group ritual, smudge each individual before they come into the ritual area.
3. Salt and Water Purification – Add salt to a bottle of water, visualizing it being cleansed and purified, purifying all it touches. Sprinkle the Altar and tools with it, and use some to anoint you third eye. (The bowl may be passed around so that each participant may do the same.)
4. Casting a Circle – First pass – carry the salted water around the circle, sprinkling it as you walk. Pause at each quarter beginning at East, and raise the bowl in salute to the element. Say, “With Earth and Water I cleanse the East.” Then move onto the next.
5. Casting the Circle – Second Pass – Do the same with the incense smoke, saying at each quarter, “With Fire and Air I consecrate the __________”.
6. Casting the Circle – Third Pass – Take up the Athame and draw a circle with it, pulling energy up from the Earth and Down from the Sky. The energy streams out of the blade, spreading out to form a sphere as you pass. Stop at each Quarter and draw an invoking Pentagram with the blade. Visualizing it as a line of energy. Invoke the Element of that Quarter inviting it into the circle. Feel its energy adding the circles strength. When you are sure the element is present, say, “Hail and Welcome”. For those in the circle, who are not casting, when each Element is called, visualize that Element joining the circle. Your visualization will bolster that of the Priest/Priestess. The same hold true for the next step.
7. Calling Deity – Stand at the centre of the circle and invite the God and Goddess, either one by one or together. Traditionally this is done using the God and Goddess postures: God, standing with his arms crossed over his chest; Goddess, standing with arms open to the heavens. When you feel the divine presence say, “Hail and Welcome”.
8. Declaration – An announcement that the ritual is ready to begin, usually starting with, “The Circle is cast”. Make a statement of the purpose of the ritual as well to reaffirm your intent.
9. Ritual Actions or Magical Working – The Point of the Whole thing. Be sure to ground and Centre after raising energy.
10. Feasting – In most circles a simple feast is held during the ritual; some form of bread or cake is blessed, as well as some form of beverage. Then the two are passed around the circle and each person feeds the next, saying, “May you never hunger/thirst”. Some Wiccans keep the feast for after the ritual so that it can be most festive without disturbing the energy of the circle. 11. Releasing the Circle – The Priest/Priestess reverses the process of step sis moving counter clockwise, making sure to bid farewell to the Element and to Deity. The energy of the Circle is grounded back to Earth; usually the end of the Ritual is signalled with words such as “The Circle is open back unbroken, Merry Meet and Merry Part and Merry Meet Again!” (Note: Steps 4 – 6 can be performed by one person or all at once with three people.)List of Tools
Crystals
Any Religious object
Stones
Natural objects
Figurines
Home made objects
wands
Pieces of Rope Large only
Athame
Any other thing
Any object that is sacred
Your mind and Heart

2007-12-31T19:09:00.000-08:00

Book Review – The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

This book is about a terrorist attack in New York city. The terrorist uses a biological weapon that is genetically engineered. It combines small pox, the common cold, and a virus found in nature. As a result the victim exhibits symptoms of Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome, in which he or she chews himself, and eventually dies. This Syndrome is very rare and is a true possiblity that this might happen.

I can understand why the terrorist chooses to wipe out the city, considering what happened after the Black Death. After the Black Death in the 1300’s people inherited more property, had more food to eat, and therefore led better lives. There were less workers and as result machines were developed to increase productivity. However, I don't support terrorism and there are better options than killing people.

I recommend this book for those who like thrillers and don't mind gruesome images.

Philip

Faery

2007-12-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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 Message Send 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
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telekinesis

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superMarket trip

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Library

2007-12-31T15:31:00.000-08:00

Alternative Wicca: The Expansion of Consciousness Regards Natural Magick ...by Keith Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1993
Originally published: Yule, 1991.
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Christian Wicca: The Trinitarian Traditionby Nancy Chandler Pittman - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 203 pages
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Aradia Or the Gospel of the Witches: Witches Bibleby Charles G. Leland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 45 pages
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2004 Wicca Almanac: Spring 2004 to Spring 2005by Llewellyn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 288 pages
Over 25 articles by young, innovative thinkers fill this hip manual forindependent-thinking witches, Wiccans, and pagans.
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Circle Guide to Wicca & Pagan Resources, 1982-1983by Selena Fox - Witchcraft - 1981
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Witchcraft and Magic in Europe - Page 60by Bengt Ankarloo, Stuart Clark - History - 1999 - 256 pages
Wicca' did not have the same ring), but it was formally represented as an ... Alex brought into Wicca much of the traditional learned magic of Cabbala, ...
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History of Witchcraftby Lois Martin - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 160 pages
Previous ed.: published as The pocket essential history of witchcraft. 2002.
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The Witch Cultby Margaret Alice Murray, Alice Murray Margaret Alice Murray - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2006 - 308 pages
The mass of existing material on this subject is so great that I have not attempted tomake a survey of the whole of European Witchcraft but have confined...
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Wicca: Eine Einführung in weiße Magie.by Scott Cunningham - 2001 - 239 pages
Literaturverz. S. 229 - 239.
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American Federal Tax Reports - Page 126by Prentice-Hall, inc - Taxation - 1924
Church of Wicca v. Frost) Overstreet v. IRS (See Second Tex. Church of Wicca v. ... Church of Wicca v. Frost) Oxenhandler v. US, DC, E. Dist. of Mo., Mar. ...
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Élő wiccaby Scott Cunningham, Adél Répássy - 2002
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Raven Wicca Courseby Christine Sempers, Graham Raven - Witchcraft - 1999 - 23 pages
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Wicca: The Celtic Tradition : a Compendium of Useful Information Concerning ...by Dirk Dykstra - Witchcraft - 1976
Many leaves printed on one side only; p. 68-82 blank.
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Wicca: przewodnik dla osób indywidualnie praktykujących magięby Scott Cunningham - 1999
Na okł.: co to jest wicca?, wicca - religia radości i afirmacji życia, wicca -bóstwa, narzędzia, techniki, rytuały, zaklecia, wicca - praktyka,...
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Wicca: The Story of My Farm, 6000 Years of Historyby Jean Nankervis - Family farms - 1998 - 24 pages
Originally published: 1989.
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The Witches' Craft: The Roots of Witchcraft & Magical Transformation - Page 284by Raven Grimassi - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 282 pages
Unique to this encyclopedia is its presentation of Wicca/Witchcraft as a spiritual path, connecting religious concepts and spirituality to a historical ...
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True Magick: A Beginner's Guide - Page 258by Amber K - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1990
Living Wicca takes a philosophical look at the ... Unlike any other book on the subject, Living Wicca is a step-by-step guide to creating your own Wiccan ...
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Wiccaby The Book Laboratory, Inc., Book Laboratory Inc. Staff - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 128 pages
Wicca and Feng Shui are two ways to celebrate the natural world and bring balance andpeace into everyday life.
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Wicca: "I Don't Believe in Witches ... But They Exist!"by University of Essex, Exhibition Gallery - 1997
Published for a student exhibition at the University Gallery, University of Essex, 27May - 27 June 1997.
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Wicca: The Complete Guide to the History and Practice of Witchcraftby Vivianne Crowley, Christopher Crowley - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 192 pages
This comprehensive guide to the history and practice of witchcraft gives the newcomerthe chance to make Wicca part of their lives.
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Wiccaby Marsh II - Fiction - 2004 - 118 pages
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Wicca: "I Don't Believe in Witches But They Exist!" ; the Gallery ...by University of Essex, Gallery - 1997
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Wicca: "I Don't Believe in Witches --but They Exist!" : an Exhibitionby Belinda Kirkby, Michelle Nye-Browne, Vana Zafrana, University of Essex Gallery - Witchcraft - 1997 - 43 pages
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Wiccan Reader: An Anthology of Wiccaby Paul V Beyerl - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1994
... Wicca Title on cover "A Wiccan reader : Wiccan ...
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The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraftby Rosemary Guiley - Witchcraft - 1989 - 421 pages
Page 73
Crowley met her future husband, Chris, who was not involved in Wicca but ... 1n 1988, the Crowleys formed the Wicca Study Group in London as a way of ...
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Spells for the Solitary Witchby Eileen Holland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 208 pages
Praise for The Wicca Handbook: "This handbook is a gold mine for anyone interested in learning more about the practice of Wicca. ...
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Modern Wicca: A New Approach to the Olde Religion of Witchcraftby Cerridwen Silverhorn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1997
"Philosophy, Rituals, Magick, Divination, Healing, Tools"--Cover.
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Wicca, a Farm in West Cornwall: 6000 Years of Historyby Jean Nankervis, Veronica Keverne - Zennor (England) - 1992 - 20 pages
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Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions - Page 9by Joyce Higginbotham, River Higginbotham - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 272 pages
Family Traditions Gardnerian Wicca. This is the name given to the branch of Wicca ... Alexandrian Wicca. This is an adaptation of the Gardnerian tradition. ...
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Women and Religion: A Bibliographic Guide to Christian Feminist Liberation ...by Shelley Davis Finson - Social Science - 1991 - 207 pages
Page 133
... Spirituality Goddess/Wicca BOOKS, DISSERTATIONS, COLLECTED WORKS Abrahamsen, Valerie Ann. The Rock Reliefs and the Cult of Diana at Philippi. ...
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The Witches' Heart: A Book of Shadows; Earthguard Wiccaby Eileen Smith - Witchcraft - 2006 - 230 pages
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The Good Witch's Almanac: 505 Wicca Tips for Better Livingby Tabatha Jennings - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 160 pages
... The Good Witch's Almanac: 505 Wicca Tips for Better Living offers tips on affirmations, positive magic and meditation for improving one's life.
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Simply Wiccaby Leanna Greenaway - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 160 pages
What does it take to become a witch, and cast spells and other white magic?
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Sensual Wicca Tarotby Lo Scarabeo - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 78 pages
Let the sacred Sabbats guide you.
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The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews - Page 242by Scott Cunningham - Health & Fitness - 1989
Wicca: A contemporary pagan religion with spiritual roots in the earliest expressions of ... Wicca views Deity as Goddess and God; thus, it is polytheistic. ...
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Isherwood, Bowles, Vedanta, Wicca, and Meby Lee Prosser - Biography & Autobiography - 2001 - 89 pages
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The Harmonics of Wiccaby Keith Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1989
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The Little Book of Wiccaby Jane Alexander - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 48 pages
This volume presents festivals of the Wiccan year.
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The Inner Temple of Witchcraft: Magick, Meditation and Psychic Development - Page 9by Christopher Penczak - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 352 pages
When I began my journey into this wonderful world, I was taught that the root of the word wic, or wicca, means "wise," for witches were the keepers of the ...
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Modern Wicca: A New Approach to the Old Religionby BOTNL Staff, Steven Brynes - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1994
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2007-12-31T15:28:00.000-08:00

The Wicca Book of Divinationby Callia Underhill - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1999 - 288 pages
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All One Wicca: A Study in the Universal Eclectic Tradition of Wiccaby Kaatryn MacMorgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001
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The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History - Page 637by Wilma Pearl Mankiller - Social Science - 1998 - 696 pages
Ш Wicca Wicca is the term commonly used to describe several different traditions of ... Although people involved in Wicca often call themselves witches, ...
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Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria ...by Tony M. Kail - Political Science - 2003
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Historical Sikh Shirines in Pakistan =: Pākistān Vic Sikhkhān̲ Diyān̲ ...by Iqbāl Qaiṣar - Temples, Sikh - 2001 - 412 pages
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Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol, and Spirit: Gay, Lesbian ... - Page 32by Randy P. Conner, David Hatfield Sparks, Mariya Sparks - Social Science - 1997 - 382 pages
Witchcraft and Wicca Although Witchcraft, or Wicca as it is often called in the late twentieth century, has been confused with Satanism, it is in fact a ...
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Goddesses & Wise Women: The Literature of Feminist Spirituality, 1980-1992 ... - Page 131by Anne Carson - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1992
... Wicca Here are entered books and articles on traditional European witchcraft of the mediaeval and early modern period (the period of the witch-hunts); ...
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Coṇawīṃ Ḍogarī kawitā: Pañjābī dī lippī wiccaby Amrik Singh - Dogri poetry - 1967
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My First Little Workbook of Wicca: A Childs Guide to Wicca Through ...by Velvet Rieth - Juvenile Nonfiction - 2007 - 180 pages
Containing general educational exercises blended with basic Pagan concepts and symbols,this workbook presents a wonderful introduction to Wicca for young...
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The Way of Merlyn: The Male Path in Wiccaby Ly Warren-Clarke, Kathryn Matthews - Religion - 1990
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Druidcraft: The Magic of Wicca & Druidryby Philip Carr-Gomm - Religion - 2002 - 224 pages
... Druidry and Wicca are the two great streams of the Western Pagan tradition. This work draws on the traditions of both to offer inspiration, teachings, ...
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Sensual Wicca Tarot/Tarot de La Sensualidad Wiccaby Llewellyn Publications - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 78 pages
Let the sacred Sabbats guide you.
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The Witch's Book of Magical Ritual: Use the Forces of Wicca to Direct Your ...by Gavin Frost, Yvonne Frost - Social Science - 2002
... illustrated guide to the secrets of Wicca, providing complete information on how to design and perform specific rituals to enhance personal psychic ...
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Girls on the Verge: Debutante Dips, Gang Drive-Bys, and Other Initiationsby Vendela Vida - Social Science - 1999 - 170 pages
Page 109
While paganism may be thousands of years old, Griffin and other academics argue, Wicca is very young. So are an increasing number of its practitioners, ...
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Traditional Wiccaby Keith Morgan - Paganism - 1988 - 60 pages
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Wicca ; Living Wicca ; The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brewsby Scott Cunningham - 2003
Originally published as three separate works.
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Wicca and the Christian Heritage: Ritual, Sex, and Magicby Joanne Pearson - Witchcraft - 2007 - 175 pages
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Day-By-Day Wiccaby Tabatha Jennings - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001
Wicca is a form of positive witchcraft based on the love of nature and ancientspirituality.
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Faery Wicca Tarotby Kisma K. Stepanich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1998 - 416 pages
Each card contains a Bardic teaching designed to awaken greater psychic perception.Thebook outlines the card descriptions, meanings, symbol interpretations,...
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The Truth About Witchcraft Today - Page 179by Scott Cunningham - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1988
One of the earliest American books on Wicca, this is an explication of so-called ... Gerald Gardner's look at the origins of Wicca. Photographs. ...
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The Witch Next Door: Separating Fact from Fiction About Witchcraft, Wicca ...by Craig S. Hawkins - Religion - 2006 - 240 pages
The Witch Next Door is an introduction to contemporary witchcraft, Wicca, ... Completely revised and updated with new research on the definition of Wicca, ...
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WICCA: The Way of the Witchesby Hans Holzer - Witchcraft - 1979
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Circle Guide to Wicca & Pagan Resourcesby Selena Fox - Witchcraft - 1979
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The Lancashire Witches: Histories and Stories - Page 190by Robert Poole - History - 2002 - 256 pages
Undoubtedly, then, these myths have formed a subtext in the development of Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism over the past fifty years - the myths of ...
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Wicca for Lovers: Spells & Rituals for Romance & Seductionby Jennifer Hunter - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 96 pages
Published in time for Valentine's Day, this Wiccan guide to the magic of love andlovemaking presents spells, aphrodisiacs, and other techniques culled from...
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Wicca Awakensby Keith Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1989
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All About the Wicca of Loveby Tabatha Jennings - Family & Relationships - 2001 - 240 pages
Examining objects such as numbers and crystals, as well as the principles of palmistryand the inextricable connection between love and magi, this series...
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Wicca Almanac 2003by Llewellyn Publications Staff, Llewellyn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 288 pages
This almanac from Llewellyn is loaded with wicca information that readers might need -from hot fashions to cool websites, film and book recommendations, witch...
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Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and ... - Page 558by Cheris Kramarae, Dale Spender - Social Science - 2000
In Wicca, all practitioners are clergy; no one mediates the divine for anyone ... Wicca is an eclectic religion, and practices and beliefs can vary widely ...
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The Magician's Companion: A Practical and Encyclopedic Guide to Magical and ... - Page 145by Bill Whitcomb - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1993 - 608 pages
Wicca has no specific "holy book" or central authority. Practices vary greatly, though Wicca is traditionally practiced in covens of between 3 and 13 ...
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2007-12-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

Wicca & Witchcraft for Dummiesby Diane Smith - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 364 pages
This plain-English guide introduces you to the vibrant world of Wicca and the practicesof Witchcraft, describing its ancient origins, dispelling stereotypes,...
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Wicca: The Ancient Wayby Janus-Mithras, Nuit-Hilaria, Mer-Amun - Religion - 1994 - 64 pages
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Llewellyn's ... Wicca Almanac Witchcraft - 2002
Latest issue consulted: 2004.
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World Religions in America: An Introduction - Page 245by Jacob Neusner - Religion - 2003 - 360 pages
Many of them initially were trained in some variety of Wicca and/or ... The Yule ritual substantially derived from Wicca, but it also included other ...
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Protecting Your Teen from Today's Witchcraft: A Parent's Guide to ...by Steve Russo - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 222 pages
s Witchcraft gives parents the hard facts about Wicca, tips on recognizing its influence in a teen??'s life, and solid, practical advice for guiding their ...
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The Pocket Essential History of Witchcraftby Lois Martin - History - 2002 - 96 pages
For media buffs, students, and inquiring minds, these are great entry–level booksthat build into an essential library.
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Pagan Paths: A Guide to Wicca, Druidry, Asatru, Shamanism and Other Pagan ...by Pete Jennings - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 192 pages
Discover the natural beliefs and practices of Wicca, Hedgewitch traditions, Druidry, Shamanism, Asatru, Mystery Groups, and Eclectic Paganism-- as well ...
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Way of Wiccaby Vivianne Crowley - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001
This comprehensive guide to Wicca explores the nature of magic and the responsibilitiesinvolved in walking a magical path.
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The Wicca Book of Daysby Sheena Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 144 pages
A popular priestess of Wicca who grew up in Africa amid ancient magical practices takes readers on a daily journey of self-discovery and transformation.
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The Wicca: And Other Talesby Randy T. Sultzer - Fiction - 2002 - 150 pages
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Witches: True Encounters with Wicca, Wizards, Covens, Cults, and Magickby Hans Holzer - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 672 pages
Professor Hans Holzer, the bestselling author of Ghosts, explores the myriad aspects andfactions of witchcraft, taking you inside the covens and cults where...
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Secret Societies: Inside the World's Most Notorious Organizations - Page 209by John Lawrence Reynolds - Political Science - 2006 - 320 pages
... WICCA THE GREAT GODDESS AND AMONG THE WORLD S MANY their covert nature as a means of avoiding harassment from groups and individuals who felt threatened ...
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Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft - Page xiiby Raymond Buckland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 251 pages
American Celtic Wicca. Australian Wicca. Church of Y Tylwyth Teg. ... Frost's Wicca. Gardnerian Wicca. Georgian Wicca. Maidenhill Wicca. Northern Way. ...
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Faery Wiccaby Kisma K. Stepanich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1995
Resume your study of the Faery Realm in part II of the Faery Wicca Series.
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The Spiritual Guide to New York: Yoga, Buddhism, Wicca, Kabbalah and Beyondby Jessica Applestone, Joanne Waage - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 336 pages
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Wiccaby Vivianne Crowley - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000
This guide shows the beginner how to start practising Wicca, or withcraft, and includespractical exercises for spiritual and magical development, finding a...
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To Stir a Magick Cauldron: A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring - Page 273by Silver RavenWolf - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996 - 320 pages
In the Black Forest Clan, you must receive a 97% on this test to obtain your Wicca 101 teaching degree. Be careful; there are several trick questions on ...
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Dancing Under an African Moon: Paganism and Wicca in South Africaby Donna Darkwolf Vos - Religion - 2002 - 272 pages
... Wicca ... Topics include: definitions of Paganism and Wicca; the historical origins of Paganism; ...
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Out of the Shadows: Myths and Truths of Modern Wiccaby Lilith McLelland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 245 pages
... Wicca This resource reaches beyond the mystical and explains that a true relationship with deity lies at the heart of Wiccan experience. ...
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Cauldron of Transformation: A New Vision of Wicca for Modern Pagan Practicesby Lady Sabrina - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996
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The Coven Leader's Handbook - 13 Lessons in Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wiccaby Sean Belachta - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 204 pages
Written by an initiate of both, the Alexandrian and Gardnerian Tradition, this book presents a serious and complete Neophyte training program for Alexandrian...
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West Country Wicca: A Journal of the Old Religionby Rhiannon Ryall - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1990 - 103 pages
Pre-Gardnerian account of the Old Religion is "a real gem....The best book onwitchcraft I have ever seen" (Marion Weinstein).
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Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices - Page 528by J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann - Religion - 2002 - 1507 pages
(Tradition in Wicca can be loosely compared to denomination in Protestant ... Regardless of its origins, Gardnerian Wicca enjoyed steady growth throughout ...
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Witchcraft: Exploring the World of Wiccaby Craig S. Hawkins - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996 - 230 pages
... Wicca A carefully researched explanation of witchcraft and other neopagan religions separates fact and fiction and evaluates their dangers.
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Wicca Vade Mecum
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2006 Wicca Almanacby Llewellyn Staff - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2006 - 288 pages
This year's edition of irreverent, useful, and eclectic information features 24articles by innovative thinkers and experts, a week-at-a-glance section, and...
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The Healing Traditions & Spiritual Practices of Wiccaby Debbie Michaud - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 168 pages
This introduction to the healing aspects of Wicca, an ancient nature-based religion,presents beliefs, practices and teachings on issues related to mind, body...
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Belief Beyond Boundaries: Wicca, Celtic Spirituality and the New Ageby Joanne Pearson - Religion - 2002 - 320 pages
The series explores the place of religion in the modern world, with this volume focusing, amongst other things, on paganism, witches and wicca, and other ...
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Wicca Unveiled: The Complete Rituals of Modern Witchcraftby John Philip Rhodes - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 192 pages
Complete introduction to the craft, its history and philosophy, its tool and many of itsrituals and rites.
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Lessons in Goddess Spirituality: Wicca 101by Athena Gardner - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 272 pages
"Originally published by Star Rising Publishers"--T.p. verso.
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Refine results for wicca:
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Witches' Craft: A Multidenominational Wicca Bibleby Bruce K. Wilborn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 445 pages
A comprehensive guide to the practices and traditions of the Wiccan religion.
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The Gay Wicca Bookby Bruce K. Wilborn - Religion - 2002 - 280 pages
In this unique approach to the Wiccan religion, the author shares his own experience ofcoming out.
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Wicca A to Z: A Complete Guide to the Magickal Worldby Gerina Dunwich - 1997
A Citadel Press book.
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Practical Wicca: Spells and Rituals to Heal and Harmonise Your Lifeby Christine Seville - Magic - 2003
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The Wicca Packby Sally Morningstar - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001
Practice natural magic with this amazing book and companion set of divinationcards.
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Empowering Your Life With Wiccaby Sirona Knight - Psychology - 2003 - 256 pages
Who doesn't want better health, more love, money, and spiritual fulfillment in theirdaily lives?
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Dewitched: What You Need to Know about the Dangers of Witchcraft and Wiccaby Tim Baker - Juvenile Nonfiction - 2004 - 221 pages
... Wicca Wicca is the fastest-growing religion on today's college campuses, and is even featured on the covers of popular teen magazines. ...
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Wicca Feminism
Description based on surrogate of: No. 12; title from cover.
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Green Witchcraft III: The Manual - Page 249by Ann Moura, Aoumiel - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000
A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner Scott Cunningham Wicca is a book of life, ... Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented ...
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From Witch to Wiccaby Leslie Ellen Jones - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 248 pages
An acclaimed scholar traces the history and evolution of the mysterious andcontroversial Wicca religion in this spellbinding volume.
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2007-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

The Wicca Source Book: A Complete Guide for the Modern Witchby Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1998 - 266 pages
From Wiccan shops, books, and magazines to mail-order catalogs, courses, and workshopsto a Who's Who of Important New Age Personalities -- The Wicca...
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Wiccan Roots: Gerald Gardner and the Modern Witchcraft Revivalby Philip Heselton - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000
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The Virtual Pagan: Exploring Wicca and Paganism Through the Internetby Lisa McSherry - Computers - 2002 - 177 pages
Lisa McSherry shares her insights into techniques for proper email etiquette, makes suggestions on how to build a cyber altar and how to conduct meaningful...
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Rites of Pleasure: Sexuality in Wicca and Neo-Paganismby Jennifer Hunter - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 240 pages
In Rites of Pleasure, Jennifer Hunter takes a candid, in-depth look at differentpractices and gender roles within Paganism, from monogamy and marriage to...
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The Everything Wicca and Witchcraft Book: Unlock the Secrets of Ancient ...by Marian Singer - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 304 pages
This comprehensive book recounts the origins of both, elucidates the differencesbetween the two, shows how they're practiced, and explains all of their...
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The Druidcraft Tarot: Use The Magic Of Wicca And Druidry To Guide Your Lifeby Philip Carr-Gomm, Stephanie Carr-Gomm - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 192 pages
The Druidcraft Tarot's powerful images have emerged from a vast store of teachingsand story-telling rooted in our ancient past.
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The New Encyclopedia of the Occult - Page 513by John Michael Greer - Reference - 2003
However, many present-day Wiccans, and essentially all outside researchers, find the claim of an an:ient origin for Wicca impossible to accept. ...
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The Study of Witchcraft: A Guidebook to Advanced Wiccaby Deborah Lipp - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 176 pages
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism - Page 46by Carl McColman - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 384 pages
Wicca, with its deep love for the earth, devotion to the Goddess, ... Thus, Wicca exploded in popularity during this time, and because so many of the new, ...
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Wicca 404: Advanced Goddess Thealogyby Cosmic Goddess Coven - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 104 pages
Wicca 404: Advanced Goddess Thealogy takes Wicca to the next level, offering a systematic theology of the real Cosmic Goddess beginner books ignore.
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Enchanted Feminism: Ritual, Gender and Divinity Among the Reclaiming Witches ...by Jone Salomonsen - Religion - 2001
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When Someone You Love Is Wiccan: A Guide to Witchcraft and Paganism for ... - Page 54by Carl McColman - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 224 pages
The difference between Wicca and Witchcraft exists mostly in the minds of ... But there really is a difference between Paganism and Wicca/Witchcraft. ...
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Rocking the Goddess: Campus Wicca for the Student Practitionerby Anthony Paige - Education - 2002 - 252 pages
Included here are interviews with students, faculty, and college administrators acrossthe country, as well as profiles of Wiccan role models, such as Enya,...
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The Path Of The Green Man: Gay Men, Wicca, and Living a Magical Lifeby Michael Thomas Ford - Social Science - 2005 - 244 pages
This thought-provoking and engaging guide is filled with a wide range of practicalinformation and step-by-step plans for beginning your study and personal...
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Sons Of The Goddess: A Young Man's Guide To Wiccaby Christopher Penczak - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 216 pages
Christopher Penczak, who learned about Witchcraft and magick in his late teens, offers guidance to all the young men out there who are curious about Wicca. ...
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Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca Craftby Miria Liguana, Nina Metzner - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 308 pages
" From sewing, gardening, and jewelry-making, to calligraphy and lotion-concocting, here are Wicca craft projects for everyone.
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Fifty Years Of Wiccaby Frederic Lamond - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 140 pages
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Philosophy of Wiccaby Amber Laine Fisher - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2002 - 256 pages
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Wicca 404: Advanced Goddess Thealogyby Cosmic Goddess Coven - Religion - 2007 - 104 pages
Wicca 404: Advanced Goddess Thealogy takes Wicca to the next level, offering a systematic theology of the real Cosmic Goddess beginner books ignore.
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The Teen Spell Book: Magick for Young Witches - Page 16by Jamie Wood - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 292 pages
Modern Wicca is a culmination and gathering together of ancient wisdoms, incorporating these teachings into the needs and desires of today's busy world. ...
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The Family Wicca Book: The Craft for Parents & Childrenby Ashleen O'Gaea - Family & Relationships - 1993
Here is the first book written specifically for pagan parents who want to introducetheir children to the principles of Witchcraft.
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A Charmed Life: Celebrating Wicca Every Dayby Patricia Telesco - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 191 pages
From a top-selling metaphysics author comes a transformational book that includesspells, rituals, prayers, incantations, and helpful hints for creating and...
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Law Enforcement Guide to Wiccaby Kerr Cuhulain - Religion - 1992 - 44 pages
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2007 Wicca Almanac: A Guide to Pagan Livingby Llewellyn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2007 - 287 pages
Offers an eclectic collection of articles on the Witchy lifestyle, Witchcraft D.I.Y.,the Wicca Wide Web, and an assortment of other topics written by...
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Wicca 2000: Invocations, Prayers, and Rituals for the Magickal Millenniumby Patricia Telesco - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1999 - 192 pages
With prayers, meditations, charms, and much more, this transformational guide allowsreaders to learn from the past, make meaningful changes in the present, and...
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2005 Wicca Almanacby Llewellyn - Reference - 2005
An irreverent, useful, and eclectic approach to the coming year features twenty-five articles by innovative thinkers and experts and a week-at-a-glance section...
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Wicca 333: Advanced Topics in Wiccan Beliefby Kaatryn A. Macmorgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 322 pages
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A-Z of Wiccaby Gerina Dunwich - Witchcraft - 1998 - 197 pages
In the WICCA series.
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Predicting Religion: Christian, Secular, and Alternative Futures - Page 171by Grace Davie, Linda Woodhead, Paul Heelas - Philosophy - 2003
Based on this exploration, and on sociological data, the chapter assesses the significance of Wicca, and predicts its future in the religious milieu of the ...
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The Book of Wicca: Bring Love, Healing, and Harmony Into Your Life with the ...by Lucy Summers - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 128 pages
This book reviews Wiccan history, explores the Magic Circle and its other symbols, andexplains tools of the craft.
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2007-12-31T15:21:00.002-08:00

Wicca A to Z: A Modern Witch's Encyclopediaby Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1998 - 199 pages
Drawing on interviews with coven leaders and members, as well as the author'sexperience with counseling and coven work, this book helps readers select a...
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Advanced Wicca: Exploring Deeper Levels of Spiritual Skills and Masterful Magickby Patricia Telesco - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 224 pages
Continued training that goes beyond an introduction to Wicca, this valuable textprovides a deeper magickal understanding and numerous activities, from amulets...
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Teen Witch: Wicca for a New Generationby Silver RavenWolf - Juvenile Nonfiction - 1998 - 288 pages
From homework and crabby teachers to parents and dating, this book offers sound guidance to a new generation.
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Wicca Love Spellsby Gerina Dunwich - Family & Relationships - 1996 - 206 pages
Covering nearly every aspect of Love Magick--from spells and potions to mythology,astrology, superstition, and more--this book takes readers on a mystical...
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The Wicca Garden: A Modern Witch's Book of Magickal and Enchanted Herbs and ...by Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996
With this book practitioners can harness this power, using spells and potions to gainor get rid of love, and bring new vitality to a relationship.
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Family Wicca: Practical Paganism for Parents and Childrenby Ashleen O'Gaea - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2006 - 255 pages
More than 10 years ago, it was the first book written specifically for Wiccan parents.
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Wicca Spellcraft for Men: A Spellbook for Male Pagansby A. J. Drew - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 255 pages
"Wicca Spellcraft for Men" explains the workings of Wiccan spellcraft from a male point of view with special attention to the concerns men face in...
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Wicca Demystified: A Guide for Practitioners, Family, and Friendsby Bryan Lankford - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 336 pages
Among the topics he covers are why Wiccans worship a goddess as well as a god; howWiccans celebrate holidays; the Wiccan view of death, birth, and the nature...
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Solitary Wicca for Life: A Complete Guide to Mastering the Craft on Your Ownby Arin Murphy-Hiscock - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 248 pages
A complete guidebook for the serious--"and solitary--"Wiccan practitioner.
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Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraftby Raven Grimassi - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 470 pages
Use this book to research any aspect of the Craft, including: -- Theology -- pantheons, Wiccan Rede, Three-Fold Law-- History -- Craft roots and influence--...
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Essential Wiccaby Paul Tuitean, Estelle Daniels - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 477 pages
While most books on Wicca address either the solitary practitioner or those in covens, Essential Wicca covers all the bases -- from core beliefs and practices,...
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Celtic Wicca: Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Centuryby Jane Raeburn - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 200 pages
The book emphasizes ethics, rituals, and art, while establishing a firm distinctionbetween ancient history and modern Wiccan practice.
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The Wicca Handbook: A Complete Guide to Witchcraft & Magicby Sheena Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 192 pages
Familiarize yourself with the ways of Wicca with this practical, illustrated guide to the basics of witchcraft.
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Wiccaby James Follett - Fiction - 2001 - 518 pages
Life in Pentworth hasn't been the same since it was surrounded by a force field andcut off from the outside world.
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The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New Englandby Carol F. Karlsen - History - 1998 - 370 pages
In this work Carol Karlsen reveals the social construction of witchcraft in seventeenth-century New England and illuminates the larger contours of gender...
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Hour Of The Witch: Harry Potter, Wicca Witchcraft, And The Bibleby Steve Wohlberg - Religion - 2005 - 217 pages
A guide to the Harry Potter novels describes their themes of witchcraft and wicca from a spiritual perspective.
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Witch: The Wild Ride from Wicked to Wiccaby Candace Savage - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 144 pages
A brilliant study going far beyond the witch-hunts of the 1600s. 7 X 8 1/2. 85 ColorPages , 30 B&W Illustrations
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Everything You Need to Know about Wicca: Ancient Beliefs for a Modern Worldby Geraldine Giordano - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2001 - 64 pages
Our new books address health and safety concerns for young adults in a comprehensive and informative context.The author traces the history of this pagan...
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Pocket Guide to Wiccaby Paul Tuitéan, Estelle Daniels - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1998 - 128 pages
The Pocket Guide to Wicca provides a brief history of Wicca as well as beliefs, values and rituals.
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Wicca Craft: The Book of Herbs, Magick, and Dreamsby Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1991
"Wicca Craft: The Modern Witch's Book of Herbs, Magick, and Dreams" tracesthe origins of this positive, nature-based religion, which preaches...
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2007-12-31T15:21:00.001-08:00

2007-12-31T15:20:00.001-08:00

Refine results for wicca:
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A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trialsby Frances Hill - History - 1997 - 296 pages
Discipline, morality, and intellectual rigor-these are all attributes that Puritanismbequeathed to the New World.
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Exploring Wicca: The Beliefs, Rites, And Rituals of the Wiccan Religionby "Lady Sabrina", Sabrina - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2006 - 223 pages
This book serves as both a beginner's guide for those exploring Wicca for the first time, as well as a "refresher" to bring seasoned Witches up...
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The Wicca Handbookby Eileen Holland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 320 pages
With so much information, this is bound to become a dog-eared favorite in any witch's library.
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Coming to the Edge of the Circle: A Wiccan Initiation Ritualby Nikki Bado-Fralick - Body, Mind & Spirit
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The Wicca Bible: The Definitive Guide To Magic And The Craftby Ann-Marie Gallagher - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005 - 400 pages
Wicca has many paths to choose from, and you can take a sample walk down all of them in this accessible, balanced, and entertaining study.
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Wicca Covens: How to Start and Organize Your Ownby Judy Harrow - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1999 - 176 pages
Wicca Covens draws on interviews with coven leaders and members, as well as theauthor's experience with group counseling, psychology, and coven work.Wicca...
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Simple Wiccaby Michele Morgan - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 170 pages
Contrary to popular belief, this complex religion has nothing to do with black magic and everything to do with ancient wisdom, herbal healing, energy...
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21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magical Lifeby Jennifer Hunter - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 219 pages
Covering everything from spells to sabbats, initiation, and everyday magick, this guideoffers advice and exercises to help practitioners incorporate Wicca into...
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Everyday Wicca: Magickal Spells Throughout the Yearby Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1997 - 200 pages
- The power of poetry in casting spells.Additionally, the book provides spells andmagickal rites to be performed throughout the year.
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The Wicca Cookbook: Recipes, Ritual, and Loreby Jamie Wood, Tara Seefeldt - Cooking - 2000 - 199 pages
Reaching back into the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, "The WiccaCookbook" offers spellbinding ways to celebrate the divinity within nature and...
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2007-12-31T15:18:00.002-08:00

Witching Culture: Folklore and Neo-Paganism in Americaby Sabina Magliocco - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 280 pages
"Witching Culture" is the first ethnography of this religious movement to focus specifically on the role of anthropology and folklore in its formation...
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The God of the Witchesby Margaret Alice Murray - Religion - 1970 - 224 pages
Truly a classic work of anthropology, and written in a clear, accessible style that anyone can enjoy, The God of the Witches forces us to reevaluate our...
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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraftby Denise Zimmermann, Katherine Gleason - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 384 pages
A revised edition, updated with magickal concentration exercises, magickal ethics, expanded coverage of Wicca and its deities, and loads of new spells and...
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Listening People, Speaking Earth: Contemporary Paganismby Graham Harvey - Neopaganism - 1997 - 250 pages
This work introduces the main movements and trends in paganism.
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Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practiceby Thea Sabin - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2006 - 262 pages
A primer on the philosophies, culture, and beliefs of Wicca provides a solid foundation on practices such as grounding, raising energy, visualization, and...
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Wicca: 366 Days of Spiritual Practice in the Craft of the Wiseby Timothy Roderick - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2005
A guide for an authentic day-by-day practice that coincides with the traditional year-and-aday training period for beginning Wiccans.
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The Heart of Wicca: Wise Words from a Crone on the Pathby Ellen Cannon Reed - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2000 - 133 pages
Ellen Cannon Reed.
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The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch's Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions, and Recipesby Gerina Dunwich - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1994 - 190 pages
"The Wicca Spellbook" is a grimoire of modern Wiccan magick for both noviceand seasoned Witches, solitaries and coveners.
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Wicca for Life: The Way of the Craft - From Birth to Summerlandby Raymond Buckland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003
At last, here is a book to guide every Wiccan through the seasons of life.
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Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millenniumby Vivianne Crowley - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996
This book explains "the way of the witch".
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Wicca for One: The Path of Solitary Witchcraftby Raymond Buckland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 256 pages
From becoming a Witch to improving your life through magic to mastering spells, rites,traditions, and celebrations, this thoroughly modern handbook includes...
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The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraftby Ronald Hutton - Religion - 2001 - 512 pages
Here is a book that brings witchcraft out of the shadows.
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Witchcraft Todayby Gerald Brosseau Gardner - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 224 pages
This is an urgently needed reissue of a classic work to be used for study, reflection,inspiration, and transformative ideas, invaluable to understanding the...
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Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other ...by Margot Adler - Religion - 1997 - 584 pages
Explores the current Neopagan movement in the United States through discussions with various groups whose rituals are inspired by ancient deities, visions from...
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The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganismby Raymond Buckland - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2003 - 626 pages
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The Meaning of Witchcraftby Gerald Brosseau Gardner - Body, Mind & Spirit - 2004 - 272 pages
"The Meaning of Witchcraft is a record of witches' roots--and a tribute to a founding pioneer with the courage co set that record straight.
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Embracing the Witch and the Goddess Feminist Ritual-makers in New Zealandby Kathryn Rountree - 2004
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Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraftby James R. Lewis - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1996 - 423 pages
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Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitionerby Scott Cunningham - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1989 - 218 pages
This book explains how anyone can become a Wiccan, living magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with Nature.
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Progressive Witchcraft: Spirituality, Mysteries, and Training in Modern Wiccaby Janet Farrar, Gavin Bone - Health & Fitness - 2004 - 288 pages
A great source for anyone interested in Wicca, from seekers just beginning on the path of the old ways to those thirsting for more knowledge about its inner...
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Eight Sabbats for Witchesby Stewart Farrar, Janet Farrar - Body, Mind & Spirit - 1983 - 192 pages
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Search library catalogs for: wicca
Belief Beyond Boundaries: Wicca, Celtic Spirituality and the New Ageby Joanne Pearson - 2002 - Find librariesCults; Sectes; Hekserij; Kelten; Spiritualiteit; New Age; Heidendom
The Witch of Grange Groveby Judith Bathie, Isabel Wicca - 1974 - Find librariesJuvenile (no specific ages)
Girls Can Do Anythingby Jan Harper, Isabel Wicca - 1975 - Find librariesJuvenile (no specific ages)

2007-12-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

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Religions in Canada
Table of Contents

Wicca
Note: The primary source of information for this chapter is the Wiccan Church of Canada website at http://www.wcc.on.ca.
Description
Wicca is a pagan religion in that it is polytheistic and nature-revering. Since it is an old religion that is practised currently, it may also be referred to as neo-pagan. Its roots can be found in pre-Christian paganism, and it is a blend of European pagan folk tradition and 19th- and 20th-century occultism. Its present form was most likely developed in the 1930s or 1940s; however, this is a point of considerable debate inside and outside the religion. The point most often disputed is exactly how many of the traditions stem from ancient traditions and to what extent Wicca can be considered modern. There are several traditions related to Wicca, and some of them have led to other “denominations” or kinds of Wicca. Generally, however, Wicca can be defined by a few principal beliefs.
Wicca honours many gods and goddesses. The religion may be considered pantheistic in that its gods and goddesses are identified with and manifested in nature. Some Wiccans believe that all gods and goddesses are simply different manifestations of a single god and a single goddess who are together the essence of the natural world. Generally, gods and goddesses are emphasized equally.
Wicca is a mystery religion, meaning that personal faith is influenced by religious experiences that instill knowledge or religious truths in ways that are not fully understood by the individual. The term also refers to secret rites undertaken to bring the individual to a state of bliss. Secret rituals and oath-taking help deepen religious understanding for Wiccans and are an integral part of their tradition.
Practising Wiccans demonstrate religious devotion through meetings with their covens, through group rituals, and through practising magic. For Wiccans, magic is a form of prayer to the gods and goddesses, asking them to grant the seeker the power to carry out an act or achieve a goal. Wiccans believe that the use of magic will increase the chances of success for an action that would be undertaken or has been undertaken with or without divine intervention.
Belief in reincarnation is common among Wiccans. Some believe that time between lives is spent in another realm called Summerland. Since Wiccan traditions are also influenced by other traditions, such as ancient Norse, Celtic, Buddhist and Hindu traditions, each group’s view of the afterlife is influenced by its root tradition.
Religious Elements
Scriptural and Doctrinal Sources
Charge of the Goddess: This text is sometimes used by Wiccans; it discusses the nature of the goddess.
Legend of the Descent of the Goddess: This text deals with the balance and interplay of life and death; it is not as commonly used as Charge of the Goddess.
Book of Shadows: An individual uses a Book of Shadows to record spells, recipes, thoughts, dreams, experiences, details of rituals and other items that may be useful to the individual. Consequently, each Book of Shadows is different and personal. The information may be shared, and items in one’s Book of Shadows may be used to carry on a new Wiccan tradition.
Other classical works may be referred to, for example, the Egyptian Book of the Dead or works by ancient Greek and Roman writers and philosophers.
Rituals
Wiccaning: the naming and blessing of children.
Dedication: a public declaration of commitment to the gods and goddesses.
Betrothal: an official engagement, which will result in marriage after one year.
Handfasting: a wedding at which the hands of the bride and groom are tied together throughout the ceremony.
Handparting: a severing of the bonds made at handfasting, at which time property is divided and the custody of children is decided.
First blood: a rite performed by the women of a community at a girl’s first menstruation.
Rite of manhood: a rite performed by the men of a community when the male’s voice breaks or facial hair begins to grow.
Trimesters: A pregnancy blessing performed by the community women at each trimester of a pregnancy, led by a priestess who has had a child.
Passing the veil: a funeral.
Neophyting: recognizing a student’s calling to the priesthood.
Initiation: admittance to the Wiccan priesthood.
The ritual bath: a purification bath, which prepares the body to enter the Sacred Circle; involves use of herbs or oils and is a time for meditation concerning the intent of the ritual.
The Sacred Circle: cast before beginning a ritual to ensure a pure and sacred space; a sword, staff or wand is carried around the sacred space, which may not always be cast in the same place.
Sweeping with brooms: used to clean the Sacred Circle for the gods and goddesses.
The elemental purification: bringing elements of earth, air, fire and water into the circle to bury, blow, burn or wash away unwanted spirit presences.
Elemental evocations: calling of the four elements to guard the Sacred Circle during the rite; after this, a particular deity or gods or goddesses are called into the circle, and which of them is present depends on the point of the rite.
The wine blessing: celebrates the union of god (represented by the blade of a dagger) and goddess (represented by a chalice filled with wine) and the creation of the universe; when the dagger is dipped into the chalice, the result is a blessing that is shared by all who drink the wine.
The cake blessing: a short prayer asking the gods and goddesses to bless cakes in the shape of crescent moons before they are consumed.
Libation: a mixture of the remaining wine and cakes, offered to the gods and goddesses so that they may take strength from them.
Energy raising: singing, dancing or other activities to honour the deities invited to the circle.
Closing the circle: thanking the gods, goddesses and elemental guardians at the end of Sacred Circle ritual.
Moral Code
Wiccan rede — “An it harm none, do as ye will”: This means that a Wiccan should think twice before any action and consider the consequences to others.
Threefold law — “What ye send returns three times over”: An action will bring back three times as much good karma or bad karma to someone, depending on whether the action was positive or negative.
Houses of Worship
Generally, Wiccans choose to worship outdoors, but they may use designated indoor spaces, which are called temples, to cast circles and meet for classes.
Outdoors, the space of worship may be different every time, so each time Wiccans gather, they make a Sacred Circle for the space of worship. The land may be in a forest, campground, park or private land.
Devotional Practices and Services
Generally, classes are offered once a week, and meetings take place on Sunday evenings.
In Canada, meetings during the winter months may take place indoors. During the warmer months, meetings take place outdoors in areas designated by the high priest or priestess.
Clergy, Organization and Government
Wicca has no a central authority, and there is no centralized structure.
The internal structure and size of each Wiccan group or coven vary.
Some specific traditions of Wicca may define a role of leadership for the group, while others have no particular concept.
The high priest or priestess leads the meetings.
The high priest or priestess is ordained, and this may take a period of several years.
Propagation of the Faith
Wiccans believe that every individual should find his or her own spiritual path and so do not promote their own religion as being necessarily more correct than any other.
Major Celebrations and Observances
Dates on which events are celebrated may vary from year to year according to lunar calendars and other influences.
Days of Regular Observance
Participants in different Wiccan traditions may meet at different times, but generally, classes are held once a week and worship occurs every Sunday night. It may occur in time with the lunar cycle as well.
Special Observances
Yule: A celebration of the winter solstice, at which time the days get longer as the sun is reborn. A yule tree is dressed with fruit so that the gods will provide a fruitful summer. A ritual feast takes place and may include venison, goose, fruit breads and puddings, nuts, spiced wine and hot cider.
Imbolc: A festival of fire and light that takes place on 2 February, generally. Corn dolls may be burned as offerings to the sun. Ritual foods include salted meats, breads, fruit preserves and red wine.
Ladyday: Celebrates the vernal equinox. Ritual foods include fowl, seed breads, pancakes and white wine.
Beltain: A celebration of the mating day of the Sun God and Earth Goddess, which results in a bountiful harvest. Usually celebrated on 30 April and may involve Maypole dances and a ritual feast of eggs, rabbit and wine flavoured with woodruff.
Litha: Takes place on the summer solstice, when the sun is at the height of its power, creating the longest day of the year. Feasts may include berries, veal, new vegetables and honey wine.
Lammas: celebration of the first harvest of grain, generally observed 2 August. The Corn God is honoured, and corn is harvested. Corn breads, blueberries, seafood and beer are appropriate feast foods.
Harvestide: A harvest festival celebrated on the autumnal equinox. At this time, wine and cider are made, and feast foods include apple, game birds, pears and ale.
Samhain: The feast of the dead, celebrated on 31 October. The spirits of people who died in the last year are honoured with a feast to which they are invited. Foods common to the feast are pork, bread, root crops and red wine. No salt is used in preparing the food, and salt is not consumed.
Dress Requirements
Wiccans may wear a consecrated pendant, usually a pentagram.
Each coven may have its own symbol or pendant, which should not be touched by anyone except the person who wears it, and should not be removed.
Robes with braided cord belts may be worn during worship.
Generally, Wiccans avoid bright colours at a time of worship.
Some covens may worship nude.
Dietary Requirements
Since individual Wiccans may follow different gods and goddesses, their dietary requirements may differ. For example, someone who follows a god that protects animals may be a vegetarian.
There are no specific food prohibitions.
Medical and Health Requirements
None specified.
Death and Burial
Wiccans generally follow the customs of the local society.
Sources of Additional Information
http://www.wcc.on.ca/ — official website of the Wiccan Church of Canada.
Wiccan Church of Canada509 St. Clair Avenue WestPO Box 73599Toronto, ON M6C 1C0Phone: (416) 656-6564
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Table of Contents

2007-12-31T15:15:00.000-08:00

Frequently Asked Questions
Part 1: Frequently Asked Questions about Wicca
1.1. Your site talks about Wicca and paganism a lot. Are they the same thing?
Paganism is a generic term for polytheistic and/or nature-revering religions, be they ancient or modern. Some people use the term neo-paganism for modern pagan religions, to distinguish them from their pre-Christian predecessors.
Some people do use the terms "Wicca" and "paganism" interchangeably, but this isn't really accurate. Wicca is one type of neo-paganism, but there are many others. Some of them are based on specific pagan cultures, such as Celtic Reconstructionism, Ásatrú (Norse reconstructionism), and so on. Others are highly eclectic and modern in their focus, such as the Church of All Worlds.
Most neo-pagan religions share at least a few characteristics in common with Wicca, but they may also have many differences. Modern paganism is extremely diverse, just as ancient paganism was.
1.2. OK, so what is Wicca, exactly? How is it different from other kinds of paganism?
Wicca is a modern religion which traces its roots to pre-Christian paganism. Its beliefs and practices stem from a blend of European pagan folk tradition and 19th-20th century occultism. In its current form, it probably dates to approximately the late 30s or early 40s, but some aspects of it may go back further (this is a matter of some debate, as we'll see later on).
There are many different traditions within Wicca, just as there are many denominations within Christianity, and it has grown considerably more diverse over time. Not all of the traditions that now exist share all the characteristics that Wicca originally did, but the distinguishing characteristics of Wicca in its most traditional form can be summed up as follows:
Wicca is an initiatory, oathbound mystery religion...
...which is polytheistic, honouring a variety of gods and goddesses...
...but also dualistic, seeing individual deities, at least to some extent, as aspects of one God and one Goddess...
...and pantheistic, viewing divinity as immanent within the natural world.
It centres around the mysteries contained within the Charge of the Goddess and the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess...
...and encompasses the practice of magic...
...as well as religious devotion.
Its ethical basis is expressed in the Wiccan Rede ("An it harm none, do as ye will")...
...and the Threefold Law ("What ye send returns three times over").
Ritually, it involves casting a circle as the basic setting for spiritual and magical work...
...and emphasizes the Platonic four elements of earth, air, fire and water...
...plus some form of gender polarity, be that theologically in the image of the God and Goddess, and/or mundanely in the physical gender of participants as well...
...and usually incorporates some form of the "Great Rite" (union of the God and Goddess), frequently symbolized in the blessing of the ritual wine by the conjoining of the athamé (ritual knife) and chalice (ritual wine cup), as seen in the WCC logo.
Like we said, Wicca itself contains a lot of diversity, and not all forms of Wicca include all these elements, but most include most of them to some degree, and the more of them a given tradition, group or ritual includes, the more sense it makes to describe it as "Wiccan" rather than simply "pagan".
1.3. OK, so what's all that mean? What is an "initiatory, oathbound, mystery religion"?
The word "mystery" comes from the Greek word mystes, meaning "initiate". Although it has the everyday meaning of something not easily understood — which could in fact be said to apply to Wicca — it has more specific meanings in a religious context. One, according to our dictionary (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition, just for the record), is "a religious truth that one can only know by revelation and cannot fully understand". In other words, an aspect of religion that can only be experienced, not explained fully in words — a matter of experience, not dogma.
A second definition is "a secret religious rite believed (as in the Eleusinian or Mithraic cults) to impart enduring bliss to the initiate." The ancient Greeks in particular had various rites of this sort, the best known being the Eleusinian Mysteries. The idea here is that being exposed to a mystery in the first sense — an experiential religious revelation — would bring about change and spiritual growth in the individual, making them, in a sense, a new person. "Initiation" literally means a new beginning.
While modern Wicca is certainly not an exact duplicate of the ancient mystery religions, it does draw on some of the same methods and ideas. Most Wiccans believe that the core of our faith is a matter of experience, and not of dogma or doctrine. Every myth, every symbol, every ritual act, holds multiple layers of meaning, many of which are not easily put into words. The successive initiations within most Wiccan traditions expose the initiates to gradually deeper understandings of the teachings and lore of the tradition, thus encouraging spiritual growth.
At each initiation, oaths are taken. These vary considerably from one tradition to the next, but generally involve pledging oneself to the service of the gods, to ethical conduct, and to secrecy regarding the inner teachings or mysteries of the tradition.
1.4. Can you explain that polytheistic/duotheistic/pantheistic thing a bit more?
Briefly, polytheism means worshipping many deities, duotheism means worshipping two deities, and pantheism means regarding everything as divine, or as a manifestation of deity. Pantheism also has a secondary meaning, according to our dictionary, of "the worship of all gods of different creeds, cults or peoples indifferently; also: toleration of the worship of all gods". All of these concepts can be found within Wiccan theology, although there is considerable variation in how they are expressed, and the degree of importance that is attributed to the different concepts.
Wiccans regard all the gods and goddesses of all the world's mythologies as legitimate manifestations of an underlying divinity, which is generally regarded as immanent— residing primarily within the natural world, not somewhere outside it. Many Wiccans do believe in the existence of a spirit world or Otherworld, but is contiguous with this world and pervades it; in a sense, it is the soul of the land itself, just as each living thing has a soul. So the Otherworld itself is immanent within this world, just as the gods are.
That underlying divinity is also perceived as having a masculine and feminine side, personified as a God and Goddess, who are often referred to as the Lord and Lady. The many individual gods and goddesses are seen by most Wiccans as being — at least to some extent — aspects of the one god and one Goddess, who are in turn aspects of one primal divinity, sometimes referred to as the Source. A phrase you will often hear used to describe this view is this one, from the occultist Dion Fortune: "all gods are one God, and all goddesses are one Goddess, and there is one Initiator."
In practice, different Wiccan traditions, and different individuals, vary a lot in how much emphasis they place on individual deities versus the one God and Goddess. Some primarily deal with individual deities, and see "the" God and Goddess as more of an abstract theological concept, while others deal primarily with the Lord and Lady, and see the individual gods and goddesses only as archetypes or masks for them.
1.5. What are the Charge of the Goddess and the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess? Where can I find them? And what are those mysteries?
These are two texts that are used within many traditions of Wicca, with minor variations. Of the two, the Charge is more widespread than the Descent, probably because the Charge simply deals with the nature of the Goddess, while the Descent deals with the balance and interplay of life and death, a topic many people find uncomfortable or emotionally challenging. You can find both texts in any of a wide variety of books on Wicca — see our reading list for some suggestions. They can also be found in many places on the Internet.
As for the mysteries — well, as we've already explained, mysteries are things that aren't easily put into words! But the major ideas expressed within them can be roughly described as follows: The Charge deals with the sort of polytheistic/pantheistic view of divinity we just talked about, and with the immanence of divinity within nature, and with some of the basic principles of the Wiccan way of life. The Descent concerns the nature of life and death, the balance between them, and the difficulty of coming to terms with the existence of death and suffering and the harsher side of life. Both contain many levels of meaning, and should not be read superficially. Very little in Wicca has only one meaning, and these texts least of all!
1.6. What about this magic thing? What do you mean by that? What kind of magic?
Magic, in a Wiccan context, could perhaps best be defined as an active form of prayer. Instead of merely asking the gods to do something for us, while we remain passive and uninvolved, we ask them to help empower us to do it for ourselves. This practice is rooted in the immanent view of divinity we already described: since the gods reside within the natural world — including within us — we all share to some degree in their power, and can learn to use it to affect our own lives and the world around us.
Wiccans work magic alone and in groups, in formal rituals and informal spell work, for a wide variety of purposes: physical and emotional healing, self-improvement, spiritual growth, attracting positive influences into one's life such as love or prosperity, protection from negative influences, and so on. Wiccans do not, however, use magic to harm others, for reasons that will be made clear a little further on.
1.7. That reminds me: what's Witchcraft? Are Wicca and Witchcraft the same thing?
The word witchcraft means a lot of different things to different people, probably even more so than the word paganism. The word Wicca means "witch" in Old English, and some Wiccans do call themselves Witches, but that doesn't mean that they are the only people who do. As with paganism, you could say that Wicca is one type of witchcraft, but not the only type.
When anthropologists use the term "witchcraft", they are usually referring any sort of magic that happens outside the accepted religious structure of a society — "practising magic without a licence", you could say. When historians use the term, they are usually talking about the witchcraft persecutions of the late Middle Ages, where "witchcraft" was more of a social invention used to persecute people who didn't fit in than an actual system of magic or religion. When storytellers and filmmakers use the word, they are usually talking about the image of the "witch" that we're all familiar with from fairy tales. And there are other magical systems that call what they do "witchcraft" as well.
There really isn't any one correct definition. Some Wiccans are very attached to the word "witch", and dislike hearing it used in other contexts, while others accept that it means different things to different people. And still others don't like being called witches at all, because they find that gives people the wrong impression of what they believe and do.
1.8. So how come you don't have any spells on this site? I want to turn my math teacher into a toad.
Well, first of all, this is an information site for a public church, not Spells-R-Us!
Secondly, magic in real life doesn't tend to be anywhere near as dramatic as the sort of thing you see on Charmed or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Magic works in terms of probabilities, not certainties — you can never guarantee that something you do a spell for is going to happen, you can only enhance the chances of it happening. The chance of magic working is always related to the chance of the result you want happening without the magic.
So if you do a spell to get a job, while at the same time you are actively looking for one — taking your resume around to potential employers, registering on job search sites, and so on — there is already a reasonable chance of your finding a job, so magic can act to enhance that chance, making it more likely that you will find a job that suits you within a reasonable period of time. However, if there's little or no chance of something happening to begin with — you winning the lottery, say, or your math teacher spontaneously turning into a toad — then enhancing the chances of that happening isn't going to make much difference. Ten times zero is still zero...
It's also worth noting that magic is not a substitute for dealing with your problems in daily life (or for having a life, for that matter). The job spell referred to above wouldn't work well if you weren't actually looking for one, and a spell to attract a lover probably won't work if you have no social life or major personal hygiene problems. Too many beginners look to magic to solve all their problems with no further effort on their part, and it just doesn't work that way. In general, it's always best to look first to what you can do about your problem in mundane life first, and then, if you still want to use magic, use it to enhance or strengthen the efforts you are already making there.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there's the matter of magical ethics. There are a variety of views on this, as with most things in Wicca, but there are a few fundamental principles that are generally agreed on. One of them is that, as we mentioned before, it is a bad idea to use magic to harm others. Magic is not an excuse to get away with doing something that would be wrong or dangerous in ordinary life. If, for example, it's wrong to try to kill someone with a weapon, it's also wrong to try and do it with a spell.
Another commonly agreed-upon principle is that it's wrong to constrain the free will of another person — unless it's absolutely necessary to prevent them from harming someone else. And even then, some do not feel it's acceptable — like we said before, opinions do vary. So while most Wiccans would agree that it's wrong to do a spell to try and force someone else to fall in love with you or have sex with you — that's basically the magical equivalent of rape — there would be considerably more disagreement on whether it's right to do a spell to stop a rapist. Some would say it's never acceptable to interfere magically with someone else's free will, while others would argue that we do that in daily life when we put people in jail to stop them from committing violent crimes, and that using magic for the same purpose is no different.
1.9. Ethics? Oh yeah, you said something about that before. So what are this "Wiccan Rede" and "Threefold Law" all about? Do they mean all Wiccans are pacifists? Vegetarians? Anti-abortion?
Some are, and some aren't. It depends on how they interpret those principles. The Wiccan Rede — "An it harm none, do as ye will" — seems simple on the surface, but is actually very complex, and paradoxical, if you really think about it. Remember, in a mystery religion, nothing is ever as simple as it seems...
Certainly, there are some who interpret it as "You may only do as ye will if it harms none" ("an" being an archaic version of "if") and thereby do feel that it constrains Wiccans to be pacifists, and there have been a few Wiccan writers in the last decade who have left out the "do as ye will" entirely, giving their version of the Rede as simply "harm none".
Others consider this to be a distortion of the Rede, and point out that if Wiccans were really forbidden to harm anything, we'd all starve to death (vegetarian or not; plants are alive too!). They also note that "An it harm none, do as ye will" doesn't translate to "harm none" any more than "If you go to Wic-Can Fest, say hello to my friend Bob" means "Go to Wic-Can Fest". Both statements tell you what to do if a particular condition happens to be true, they don't tell you what to do if it isn't.
So what does the Rede really mean? Well, that's a subject we can debate for hours, preferably at the local pub. But here's one interpretation worth considering: the Rede says, essentially, that you have complete freedom if your actions do not harm anything or anyone else — but if they do, the implication is that you no longer have complete freedom. Why? Because as soon as you act in a way that affects another, or the world around you, you are embedded in a web of cause and effect, connecting you to the others who were affected by your actions, and causing you to be in turn affected by their reactions, and so on. You are bound by the consequences of your act, and find yourself having to act again, and again, in ways that are constrained by the initial act. Thus, you can no longer simply "do as ye will"...
And of course, all this talk of cause and effect brings us directly to the Threefold Law: the principle that "What you send returns three times over". Similar to the Eastern concept of karma — and in fact, the word karma is often used as shorthand for it, even though the two concepts are not entirely the same — this is another principle that is more complex than initially meets the eye. At first glance, it seems simple: if you do something good, three equally good things will happen to you, and if you do something bad, three equally bad things will happen to you. But it should become obvious after a little observation that the laws of cause and effect do not operate in nearly as simplistic and mechanistic a manner as that. If I were to punch you in the nose, thereby causing you to punch me in the nose three times, thereby causing me to punch you in the nose nine times, thereby causing you to punch me in the nose 27 times, thereby causing me to punch you in the nose 81 times — well, we wouldn't have time to do much else, would we?
Most Wiccans believe that the Threefold Law refers to the effects of actions taking place on three different levels, or in three different ways: on the physical, mental and spiritual levels; in the realms of nature, humanity and the gods; or by virtue of the person who performs any given act becoming, in a symbolic sense, the actor, the act itself, and the acted-upon. Again, it's a reinforcement of the idea that all actions have consequences, and that the foundation of ethical behaviour is being as aware as possible of all the potential consequences of one's actions, and taking full responsibility for them.
Obviously, that's a deeply individual process. Every serious Wiccan will think long and hard about the nature and consequences of any action they take, especially any action that has a chance of harming someone or something. Some Wiccans are ardent pacifists, others serve in the military or police force because they believe they can prevent greater harms from taking place that way. Some Wiccans are vegetarians, others are hunters who believe that all living things have some degree of sentience, and that one should at least take responsibility for killing whatever it is that one is going to eat. Some Wiccans are anti-abortion, others are pro-choice because they feel that forced pregnancy is an intolerable infringement on free will. But the one commonality underlying these differences is that none of us come to the positions that we take on these or any ethical issues without long and careful consideration.
1.10. OK, so what about this "casting circles" thing? What's that about? And those elements?
The image of a quartered circle as a representation of the world or cosmos, with different powers, attributes or beings seen as residing in each quarter, is found in many different cultures around the world, from the canopic jars of Egyptian funerary ritual with their guardian deities, to the Irish legend of the Settling of the Manor at Tara, to the ceremonies of some of the First Nations of North America.
For Wiccans, the magic circle is the sacred space within which all ritual takes place; a deepening of contact between this world and the Otherworld of the gods and spirits. Its shape represents the wholeness of all things, and cyclical nature of life and time. The four quarter points of the circle are aligned with the four elements: air in the east, fire in the south, water in the west, and earth in the north.
Each represents certain qualities of life and spirituality, as well as the physical element itself. Air is the winds, the sky, the clouds, the breath of our bodies, the incense we burn on our altars, and all gasses and vapours; but it is also knowledge, wisdom, inspiration and truth. Fire is the sun, moon and stars, the warmth of our bodies, the candles we light on out altars, and all forms of energy; but it is also passion, courage, vitality and the spark of life. Water is the sea, the rivers, the rain, the tears and blood of our bodies, the wine we offer to the gods at our altars, and all fluids; but it is also love, emotion, intuition and sensitivity. Earth is the land, the rocks and soil, the flesh and bone of our bodies, the altars and temples we build to our gods, and all solid things; but it is also strength, permanence, endurance, form and pattern.
Together, they are the basic constituents of our world, our bodies, our minds and our spirits. Nearly all Wiccan rituals begin with tracing the boundaries of the sacred circle, and then recognizing and honouring the four elements in some way (often referred to as "calling the quarters". By doing that, we affirm the basic shape of life and the cosmos, and its constituent parts, in perfect balance. Some Wiccan traditions ascribe deities to the quarters; some work with elemental spirits such as sylphs, salamanders, undines and gnomes; and some do not personify the elements in any way.
Some traditions also recognize a fifth element in the centre, while others believe that it is we ourselves that are at the centre — we and all living things, who are formed of all four elements in balance.
1.11. And what was that about gender polarity and the union of the God and Goddess? Does that mean you guys have orgies or something?
Sorry, no. We mentioned before that Wiccans view divinity as having a masculine and feminine side; this gets expressed in a variety of ways by different traditions. And a central point of ritual in many Wiccan traditions is the symbolic representation of the union of those forces, often through the conjoining of the athamé and chalice in the blessing of the ritual wine, as shown in the WCC logo. However, exactly how this idea is expressed, and what it is felt to mean, vary considerably among different traditions, and even among different individuals in the same tradition.
Part of the reason for this variation is that as mentioned back in question 1.2, Wicca is based partly on pre-Christian folk tradition, and partly on 19th-20th century occultism — or as some might say, it's partly "low magic" and partly "high magic".
The folk tradition component, whether you believe it was handed down through the ages or researched from books by a handful of English eccentrics in the 1930s or thereabouts (and we'll get into that question later on), is based to a large extent around the idea of fertility religion — that is, ritual practices designed to encourage the fertility of the crops, herd animals, and the people. In small, traditional communities, this could often be a matter of life or death — if the crops didn't grow or the cows didn't calve, you might starve. Many fertility rites involved sexual symbolism of one sort or another, on the basis that fertility of the land and the animals could best be encouraged by acting out the process that led to fertility among humans. And one can still see sexual imagery in many Wiccan rituals, including the blessing of the wine mentioned above.
However, the other half of Wicca's magical heritage tends to view things in a more metaphysical light — perhaps in part because turn-of-the-century ceremonial magicians didn't usually have to worry about getting enough to eat! One can find dualistic imagery in many occult rituals and techniques, and it is often symbolized by gender, but in a less literal way. For example, the Tree of Life glyph of the Qabala contains a "masculine" pillar and a "feminine" pillar, embodying polarized qualities, but these are not seen as having much to do with physical gender — the task of the magician is to "walk the middle pillar", keeping the qualities of the outer two in balance.
So the union of the God and Goddess as expressed in the wine blessing some traditions use can be seen in (at least) two ways: one is as a symbolic sex act bringing life and fertility to the world; and the other is as a metaphysical conjoining of two complementary forces, like a western version of the Chinese Yin-Yang symbol, both of which, like the four elements, need to be in balance within each one of us regardless of our physical gender.
And while the use of sexual imagery in ritual does mean that Wiccans regard sexuality as a potential manifestation of the sacred, it does not mean that we run around having sex with everyone we meet! Wiccans are just as varied as anyone else in their expression of their sexuality, if not more so. Anyone who shows up to a Wiccan ritual intending to treat it as a meat market or pickup joint is likely to be shown the door very quickly.
1.12. Does that fertility religion stuff mean it's just for heterosexuals, or people who want to have babies?
Not at all. Most Wiccan traditions are open to anyone of any sexual orientation, and in fact there are some that are specifically geared toward gays and lesbians. Some groups, be they gay- and lesbian-oriented or not, are made up of men only or women only, so that polarity doesn't become an issue at all. Regarding sexuality, it's probably safe to say that the majority of Wiccans would agree with Mrs. Patrick Campbell's famous quote that she didn't care that what anyone did in the bedroom, "as long as they don't do it in the streets and frighten the horses."
In terms of ritual, different Wiccan traditions (and individuals) vary considerably both in the amount of emphasis they place on gender polarity and in the extent to which they view it as physical or metaphysical. Those who feel closer to the folk magic side of Wicca's heritage may emphasize the fertility religion aspect, and have very different roles for men and women in ritual. Those who feel closer to the ceremonialist side are more likely to de-emphasize gender in ritual and view polarity as predominantly metaphysical. But many other factors can affect this as well.
Some gay and lesbian Wiccans don't mind working in polarity-based traditions, while others prefer either a single-gender group, or a mixed-gender that either doesn't deal much with polarity or views it as primarily metaphysical. Fortunately, the Wiccan community is large and diverse enough that with a bit of searching, just about anyone can find a group that meets their needs.
Regarding physical fertility or intent to have children, very few Wiccan traditions place any importance on that. Most regard childbirth as a joyous occasion, and many have special rites of passage for expectant parents, but few if any would make an issue of someone being unable to have children, or simply uninterested in doing so.
1.13. But I've heard some people call Wicca a "goddess religion". Wouldn't that mean it was mainly for women?
Well, the Goddess is certainly a major part of Wicca, and many women are drawn to it for that reason. But the Goddess isn't all there is to Wiccan theology, and women are not the only people drawn to the Craft.
Most Wiccans would probably agree that mainstream Western society has had a big overemphasis on the male face of divinity for a long time, and that the balance needs to be restored. But different traditions, and individuals, vary considerably as to how they feel that should be done. Some traditions do strongly emphasize the Goddess because they feel that is necessary to redress the balance, and some of those trads are primarily or exclusively made up of women. But others believe that countering inequality with more inequality is counterproductive, and prefer to emphasize the God and Goddess equally.
1.14. What kind of afterlife do Wiccans believe in?
Given the cyclical and interconnected nature of the Wiccan worldview, most Wiccans believe in reincarnation of some form — but vary considerably as to the details. Some believe that people progress directly from one life to the next, whereas others believe that at least some time between lives is passed within another realm, sometimes called the Summerland (a term originally coined by the Theosophical movement of the 19th century). Wiccans who choose to work primarily with the deities of one specific culture will often use the terms and concepts of that culture with regard to the afterlife, so that a Norse-influenced Wiccan may look forward to Valhalla, a Celtic one to Tír na nÓg, etc.
It is generally believed that karma — the consequences of actions — accumulated during one life can carry on to the next, so the life situation one is born into may be influenced by the events of past lives. Thus, one could find a parallel to the concepts of Heaven and Hell in the belief that one's future lives may be more or less pleasant, depending upon one's actions in this one. Many Wiccans also believe that souls exercise some degree of choice in the types of incarnations they have, in order to learn lessons, or expose themselves to particular experiences. However, not all Wiccans feel that everything is predetermined by either choices or consequences of past actions; many believe that there is also at least some element of random chance.
1.15. What do Wiccans think about other religions?
One of the distinctive characteristics of Wicca is that most of its followers do not believe that it is the only correct way, or even that there is one correct way for everyone. Wiccans are highly individualistic, and tend to believe that it is up to each individual to find his or her own spiritual path, and that what works for one person may not work for another. Because Wiccans generally regard all deities as valid manifestations of divinity, they don't really care what deity their friends or neighbours choose to worship, as long as it provides them with fulfilment and the basis for an ethical way of life.
1.16. Does Wicca have any kind of central organization?
No. Individual groups and traditions may organize themselves in a variety of ways, from highly structured to completely anarchistic, but Wicca as a whole has no overarching structure. There is no Pope of Wicca, and likely never will be. Some traditions have very clear lines of authority and leadership, but these apply only within those specific traditions.
1.17. One more question: where does Wicca come from? How old is it? I've heard some people say it's the oldest religion in the world, and other people say it was made up by some British weirdo(s) in the '30s. Or '40s. Or '50s. No two books seem to quite agree.
That depends on who you ask. The precise age and origins of Wicca are a topic of much controversy, both within and outside the Wiccan community. Most people agree that Wiccan belief and practice is a blend of old and new — that is, that some aspects of it are derived from pre-Christian paganism while others are clearly of 19th century or later origin — but where disagreement sets in is in exactly how much is new as compared to old, and whether the older elements were inherited from an existing tradition dating back to pre-Christian times, or were reconstructed in the early 20th century by people who wanted to bring back "the Old Religion", even if they had to reinvent it to do so.
Entire books have been written on this topic, and we don't intend to try and settle it here. Suffice it to say that asking this question of a group of Wiccans in a social setting is a good way to spark an argument that will last all night, and when it comes right down to it, the one thing they will all agree on is that ultimately, the most important thing is that Wicca exists here and now, not how it got here.
1.18. So if all this sounds right to me, how do i become a Wiccan?
There's no central committee determining who is or isn't a Wiccan, so the decision as to whether and at what point to consider yourself Wiccan is largely up to you. Some traditionalist groups do not consider someone a Wiccan until they are initiated by an existing coven, but as an organization devoted to public ministry, we tend to view things a bit differently. There are many people whose religious beliefs fit closely with Wicca, yet who for a variety of reasons choose not to follow an initiatory path. That is part of the reason our public circles and classes exist.If you are considering Wicca as a spiritual path, the first things you should do are to read as much as you can about it, and think about what you read: does it mesh with your own beliefs and perceptions? What do you believe? How do you feel the world works, and what is your place in it? What do you value; what do you hold sacred? Do these fit with what you've been reading about Wicca?Whether you ultimately want to study with an established group (be that us or anyone else) towards initiation, or simply practice your faith on your own, research, thinking and questioning always come first. You will benefit more from any group's teaching if you have already done some study on your own and have some idea what you as an individual believe.
1.19. How do I find a teacher or group?
We are working on redeveloping the PaganLink section on our web site, which is a database for Canadian Wiccans and other pagans seeking contacts in their area. In the meantime, you might want to check out Witches of the World, at the Witches' Voice web site.Please note that Wicca is a very diverse religion, and not every teacher, coven or temple out there is going to be appropriate for every potential student or seeker. Be sure to find out as much as you can about a prospective teacher or group before making a commitment — their tradition, background, level of experience, philosophy, ethics, approach to teaching, expectations of a student or member, etc. And expect them to want to find out just as much about you. It's also a very good idea to do some reading on your own first, before seeking out a teacher or group, so that you have a better idea of your own interests and what you're looking for.Also, please exercise caution and common sense, as when meeting any new people, particularly if your only contact with them has been over the Internet. Be aware that people can misrepresent themselves and their intentions, and that while Wiccans in general tend to be highly ethical people, there is no way of controlling who calls themselves Wiccan, especially online. If possible, try to have any initial meeting be in a neutral public place like a restaurant or coffee shop.
1.20. There isn't a Wiccan group in my area. Is there a way I can learn on my own?
Yes, by following the same process outlined under "How do I become a Wiccan?" — read, think and question. Even if there are no occult shops in your area, you can find a lot of good pagan books at online stores such as Amazon.ca and Chapters.Indigo.ca — see our reading list for recommendations. You may also find it useful to participate in online discussion forums or mailing lists, to exchange ideas with others. Unfortunately, a lot of the available forums tend to be fairly shallow, and mainly populated by people searching for magical quick-fixes for their problems, so it may take some searching to find a good one. We've listed some online resources we find useful in our links section.Once you feel ready to start practicing, there are many ways of doing ritual on your own. A number of books out there are specifically geared toward solitary practitioners, such as Doreen Valiente's Witchcraft for Tomorrow, Marian Green's A Witch Alone, and Scott Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner. All these writers come from different traditions and philosophical approaches, so you may need to do some reading and experimenting to find what suits your preferences and style.
1.21. How can I learn Wicca if I'm underage?
There are particular challenges for young people trying to learn the Craft — most groups don't allow minors without parental permission, and there may be issues with trying to practice at home. As with any new seeker, reading on your own is the first step. If you want to go beyond that and start contacting local groups, be prepared to discuss the issue with your parents first, because most groups will want to speak with them before admitting you — that is, if they accept minors at all. If you can't find a group or your parents won't let you join one, then you will have to settle for practicing on your own until you reach legal age.
1.22. What if my parents don't approve?
That's a difficult situation. It can be very frustrating not to be able to explore the spiritual path that you wish to, but legally, your parents have the right to direct your religious education until you're 18, at least in Canada — if you're located somewhere else, check the laws in your area. We do encourage young people to try to work out their differences with their parents and reach some compromise with them, even if it's just that you can read what you want but can't actively practice as long as you're living with them. But if your parents are really hostile to Wicca, you may not even be able to do that.If your parents are adamantly opposed to you even reading about Wicca, then you may simply have to wait it out... 18 may seem a long way off, but you'll get there eventually and from that point on, your religious education is entirely up to you.
1.23. Is Wicca a legally recognized religion?
That depends on where you live, and what you mean by that term. Most countries recognize religious organizations, rather than religions as such, so while there may be a number of recognized Wiccan organizations in a given country, that doesn't necessarily mean that a new Wiccan group starting tomorrow would enjoy the same level of recognition.
Also, in some countries (including ours!), legal recognition is a complex and multi-staged process. It is quite possible in Ontario, where we are based, to be recognized by some branches of government but not others, so that a Wiccan group might be authorized to serve as prison chaplains, but not to perform legal marriages.
To find out the legal status of Wicca where you live, check your local laws, or contact a Wiccan organization in your area — Witches of the World is a good place to find listings. We also now have an article on the legal status of Wicca in Canada on this site.
1.24. How can I become a Wiccan priest/ess?
Different traditions vary widely on this, but because we have an emphasis on public ministry, the training involved in becoming a priest or priestess is extensive; we try to make sure our clergy our as well-trained as those of mainstream religions. We've answered the question of how someone becomes a priest/ess within the WCC and/or the Odyssean tradition in part 2 of this FAQ. For other groups or traditions, you would need to consult them -- there's no one standard.
1.25. I'm doing a project or paper on Wicca for my school. Can I ask you one or two really general questions (like "Tell me everything you know about Wicca") and get back complete, detailed answers letting me off the hook from doing any actual research for myself?
Short answer: no.Long answer: For those doing research on Wicca, we have a lengthy reading list on this site (which we plan to update soon with many new books — and reviews), as well as a listing of web resources. There really is no substitute for doing your own research, and you will need to use a variety of sources to get a balanced picture, rather than expecting to find all your information in one place. If you have specific questions about Wicca in general or our church or tradition in particular, which you haven't been able to find answers to elsewhere, feel free to contact us, but please don't just say "Tell me more about Wicca"”!

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2007-12-31T15:14:00.000-08:00

Ancient Pagan Symbols

Posted by: Copperwoman on Monday, December 31, 2007 - 02:00 PM 9 Readsby Elisabeth Goldsmith The Sacred Double Axe as a religious symbol of the sun is pre-eminently associated with the island of Crete. The Axe among the Egyptians was also a symbol of the sun, and called the "Clever one," the "Cleaver of the way." and belongs to the same class of symbols as the hammer, sword, cross. Why marking a track through a forest with an axe is still spoken of as "blazing a trail," is an interesting speculation on the persistence of ancient customs and ideas.The Egyptian hieroglyph of the sun-god Ra was a point within a circle. The life of Indian and Egyptian gods was in the egg. The "dot within the circle," a symbol that goes back to remotest times may have typified the seed within the egg. This is the Orphic egg, symbol of 'the universe whose yolk in the middle of a liquid surrounded by an encompassing vault, represented the globe of the sun floating in ether, and surrounded by the vault of heaven. A Point within a Circle is still used as the astronomical sign of the sun. In Egypt the Circle also symbolised the course of the sun about the universe. Read the complete article: About

werewolvews

2007-12-31T15:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Church and Schoolof Wicca's homepage. Since 1968 we have taught, travelled and written, sharing:
"An it harm none, do as you will"with the world. This website contains materials by and about the Church and School of Wicca, including history, course descriptions, biographies of the founders, instructional tapes for sale, and more.
We are always happy to meet someone else who is interested in exploring Witchcraft, the Old Religion, and its way of life. Witchcraft (Wicca Craeft), is also called Wicca, or alternatively, The Craft. This previously underground religion has much to teach every human about survival and about the ethical use of natural innate powers. The Craft is a way of life that investigates every potential that you have. The Craft draws its strength from the diversity of Nature itself; indeed it rejoices in diversity. Your views and interests are just as valid as anyone else's, and we hope that you too will help to push back the artificial barriers that surround many religious dogmas. As we will mention several times on this website, Witches are not Satanists. The negativity in that offshoot of Christianity is not for harmonious thinkers such as Witches. Feel free to explore this website and to let us know what you think. This site is created with a wheel and spoke design in mind, so each link to the left will take you to more links and more information. Blessed be!

Gavin and Yvonne Frost Founders and Teachers

The celtic collection

2007-12-31T15:05:00.000-08:00

The article below was written by our late webmaster, Herne. In it, he describes how Wicca draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft. While this is true, we would simply like to clarify up front that Witchcraft and Wicca, while simular in many respects, are not the same. One can be a Witch, without being a Wiccan, just as a person can be a Christian, without being a Baptist. Futhermore, Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion. Thus, Wicca might best be described as a modern religion, based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.
What Is Wicca
Contrary to what those who choose to persecute or lie about us wish to believe, Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists.Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. When we are in the temple of the Lord and Lady, we are not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls. To be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. If this path is yours, may you walk it with honor, light and integrity.Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. While much of the information of how our ancestors lived, worshiped and believed has been lost due to the efforts of the medieval church to wipe our existence from history, we try to reconstruct those beliefs to the best of our ability with the information that is available.Thanks to archaeological discoveries, we now have basis to believe that the origins of our belief system can be traced even further back to the Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. With the discovery of these cave paintings, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people, it can reasonably be assumed that Witchcraft is one of the oldest belief systems known in the world toady. These archetypes are clearly recognized by Wiccan as our view of the Goddess and God aspect of the supreme creative force and predate Christianity by roughly 28,000 years making it a mere toddler in the spectrum of time as we know it. Witchcraft in ancient history was known as "The Craft of the Wise" because most who followed the path were in tune with the forces of nature, had a knowledge of Herbs and medicines, gave council and were valuable parts of the village and community as Shamanic healers and leaders. They understood that mankind is not superior to nature, the earth and its creatures but instead we are simply one of the many parts, both seen and unseen that combine to make the whole. As Chief Seattle said; "We do not own the earth, we are part of it." These wise people understood that what we take or use, we must return in kind to maintain balance and equilibrium. Clearly, modern man with all his applied learning and technology has forgotten this. Subsequently, we currently face ecological disaster and eventual extinction because of our hunger for power and a few pieces of gold.For the past several hundred years, the image of the Witch has been mistakenly associated with evil, heathenism, and unrighteousness. In my humble opinion, these misconceptions have their origin in a couple of different places. To begin, the medieval church of the 15th through 18th centuries created these myths to convert the followers of the old nature based religions to the churches way of thinking. By making the Witch into a diabolical character and turning the old religious deities into devils and demons, the missionaries were able to attach fear to these beliefs which aided in the conversion process. Secondly, as medical science began to surface, the men who were engaged in these initial studies had a very poor understanding of female physiology, especially in the area of a women's monthly cycles. The unknowns in this area played very well with the early churches agenda lending credence to the Witch Hunters claims and authority. The fledgling medical professions also stood to benefit greatly from this because it took the power of the women healers away giving it to the male physicians transferring the respect and power to them.Unfortunately these misinformed fears and superstitions have carried forward through the centuries and remain to this day. This is why many who follow these nature oriented beliefs have adopted the name of Wicca over its true name of Witchcraft to escape the persecution, harassment and misinformation associated with the name of Witchcraft and Witch not to mention the bad publicity the press and Hollywood has given us simply to generate a profit.What Witchcraft is:Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things. Most importantly however, it teaches responsibility. We accept responsibility for our actions and deeds as clearly a result of the choices we make. We do not blame an exterior entity or being for our shortcomings, weaknesses or mistakes. If we mess up or do something that brings harm to another, we have no one but ourselves to blame and we must face the consequences resulting from those actions. No ifs, ands or buts and no whining...We acknowledge the cycles of nature, the lunar phases and the seasons to celebrate our spirituality and to worship the divine. It is a belief system that allows the Witch to work with, not in supplication to deities with the intent of living in harmony and achieving balance with all things.The spells that we do involve healing, love, harmony, wisdom and creativity. The potions that we stir might be a headache remedy, a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for our pets. We strive to gain knowledge of and use the natural remedies placed on this earth by the divine for our benefit instead of using synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary.Wiccan believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things. In the trees, rain, flowers, the sea, in each other and all of natures creatures. This means that we must treat "all things" of the Earth as aspects of the divine. We attempt to honor and respect life in all its many manifestations both seen and unseen.Wiccan learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons. We search within ourselves for the cycles that correspond to those of the natural world and try to live in harmony with the movement of this universal energy. Our teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others who have walked this path before us. This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth.We also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water which combine to manifest all creation. From these four elements we obtain insight to the rhythms of nature and understand they are also the rhythms of our own lives.Because Witches have been persecuted for so many centuries, we believe in religious freedom first! We do not look at our path as the only way to achieve spirituality, but as one path among many to the same end. We are not a missionary religion out to convert new members to think the same as we do. We are willing to share our experience and knowledge with those who seek our wisdom and perspective however. We believe that anyone who is meant for this path will find it through their own search as the Goddess speaks to each of us in her time and way. Wiccan practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions as long as those faiths do not persecute others or violate the tenant of "Harm None."What Witchcraft is not:More information about Witchcraft is available in the Frequently Asked Questions section, but in the interim, here are the main points.
Witchcraft or Wicca is not a cult. We do not proclaim ourselves to be spokespersons for the divine or try to get others to follow us as their leaders.
We do not worship Satan or consort with Demons. Satan is a Christian creation and they can keep him. We do not need a paranoid creation of supreme evil and eternal damnation to scare us into doing the right thing and helping others. We choose to do the right thing and love our brothers and sisters because it IS the right thing and it feels good to do it. I suppose it is a maturity thing.
We do not sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate our basic tenant of "Harm None." Anyone who does and claims to be a Wiccan or a Witch is lying.
We have no need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or supernatural powers. We draw our energy from within, our personal relationship with the divine and nature.
We do not use the forces of nature or the universe to hex or cast spells on others. Again, "Harm None" is the whole of the law.Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Three which states that whatever we send out into our world shall return to us three fold either good or bane. With this in mind, a "True Witch" would hesitate in doing magick to harm or manipulate another because that boomerang we throw will eventually come back to us much larger and harder then when we threw it.This is not to say that Witches are perfect, we are human too just like everyone else and make mistakes and errors in judgment. Just as there are parents who love and nurture their children, there are parents who abuse their children. As there are many who devote their lives to giving and helping mankind, likewise there are those who devote their lives to taking advantage of and using people for their own gain. Unfortunately the same flaws in human nature applies to witches too.Most of us continually strive to consider all potential outcomes of our thoughts and actions pausing to seriously consider the consequences before undertaking a ritual, spell or rite that could go astray. It is when we follow the path with the love of the Goddess in our hearts and adhere to the basic tenant of the Reed that our works are beneficial and we achieve harmony and balance with all things.The heart of Wicca is not something summed up into a few short words and can often take on different meaning to each since the Lord and Lady touch us in different ways. To gain a fuller understanding of the Craft, I urge you visit the other pages on this site as well as following the links to a select group of exceptional Wiccan and Witchcraft sites. Through the wisdom and words set down through the ages, you will find that you are able to understand the basis of our beliefs and how they may apply to you. Your inner voice will also quickly let you know if the intent of what you are reading is for superficial purposes to benefit self instead of working to benefit the whole. Remember to read with your heart, for it is when you see life and the world with your heart and spirit that you truly gain an understanding of what Wicca is.Blessed Be!Herne
Copyright © The article below was written by our late webmaster, Herne. In it, he describes how Wicca draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft. While this is true, we would simply like to clarify up front that Witchcraft and Wicca, while simular in many respects, are not the same. One can be a Witch, without being a Wiccan, just as a person can be a Christian, without being a Baptist. Futhermore, Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion. Thus, Wicca might best be described as a modern religion, based on ancient Witchcraft traditions.
What Is Wicca
Contrary to what those who choose to persecute or lie about us wish to believe, Wicca is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of thinking and life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists.Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day. It is the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower, the gentle caress of a warm summer breeze upon your skin, or the warmth of the summer sun on your face. Wicca is the fall of colorful autumn leaves, and the softness of winter snow. It is light, and shadow and all that lies in between. It is the song of the birds and other creatures of the wild. It is being in the presence of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. When we are in the temple of the Lord and Lady, we are not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls. To be a Witch is to be a healer, a teacher, a seeker, a giver, and a protector of all things. If this path is yours, may you walk it with honor, light and integrity.Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. While much of the information of how our ancestors lived, worshiped and believed has been lost due to the efforts of the medieval church to wipe our existence from history, we try to reconstruct those beliefs to the best of our ability with the information that is available.Thanks to archaeological discoveries, we now have basis to believe that the origins of our belief system can be traced even further back to the Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. With the discovery of these cave paintings, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people, it can reasonably be assumed that Witchcraft is one of the oldest belief systems known in the world toady. These archetypes are clearly recognized by Wiccan as our view of the Goddess and God aspect of the supreme creative force and predate Christianity by roughly 28,000 years making it a mere toddler in the spectrum of time as we know it. Witchcraft in ancient history was known as "The Craft of the Wise" because most who followed the path were in tune with the forces of nature, had a knowledge of Herbs and medicines, gave council and were valuable parts of the village and community as Shamanic healers and leaders. They understood that mankind is not superior to nature, the earth and its creatures but instead we are simply one of the many parts, both seen and unseen that combine to make the whole. As Chief Seattle said; "We do not own the earth, we are part of it." These wise people understood that what we take or use, we must return in kind to maintain balance and equilibrium. Clearly, modern man with all his applied learning and technology has forgotten this. Subsequently, we currently face ecological disaster and eventual extinction because of our hunger for power and a few pieces of gold.For the past several hundred years, the image of the Witch has been mistakenly associated with evil, heathenism, and unrighteousness. In my humble opinion, these misconceptions have their origin in a couple of different places. To begin, the medieval church of the 15th through 18th centuries created these myths to convert the followers of the old nature based religions to the churches way of thinking. By making the Witch into a diabolical character and turning the old religious deities into devils and demons, the missionaries were able to attach fear to these beliefs which aided in the conversion process. Secondly, as medical science began to surface, the men who were engaged in these initial studies had a very poor understanding of female physiology, especially in the area of a women's monthly cycles. The unknowns in this area played very well with the early churches agenda lending credence to the Witch Hunters claims and authority. The fledgling medical professions also stood to benefit greatly from this because it took the power of the women healers away giving it to the male physicians transferring the respect and power to them.Unfortunately these misinformed fears and superstitions have carried forward through the centuries and remain to this day. This is why many who follow these nature oriented beliefs have adopted the name of Wicca over its true name of Witchcraft to escape the persecution, harassment and misinformation associated with the name of Witchcraft and Witch not to mention the bad publicity the press and Hollywood has given us simply to generate a profit.What Witchcraft is:Witchcraft is a spiritual system that fosters the free thought and will of the individual, encourages learning and an understanding of the earth and nature thereby affirming the divinity in all living things. Most importantly however, it teaches responsibility. We accept responsibility for our actions and deeds as clearly a result of the choices we make. We do not blame an exterior entity or being for our shortcomings, weaknesses or mistakes. If we mess up or do something that brings harm to another, we have no one but ourselves to blame and we must face the consequences resulting from those actions. No ifs, ands or buts and no whining...We acknowledge the cycles of nature, the lunar phases and the seasons to celebrate our spirituality and to worship the divine. It is a belief system that allows the Witch to work with, not in supplication to deities with the intent of living in harmony and achieving balance with all things.The spells that we do involve healing, love, harmony, wisdom and creativity. The potions that we stir might be a headache remedy, a cold tonic, or an herbal flea bath for our pets. We strive to gain knowledge of and use the natural remedies placed on this earth by the divine for our benefit instead of using synthetic drugs unless absolutely necessary.Wiccan believe that the spirit of the One, Goddess and God exist in all things. In the trees, rain, flowers, the sea, in each other and all of natures creatures. This means that we must treat "all things" of the Earth as aspects of the divine. We attempt to honor and respect life in all its many manifestations both seen and unseen.Wiccan learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons. We search within ourselves for the cycles that correspond to those of the natural world and try to live in harmony with the movement of this universal energy. Our teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others who have walked this path before us. This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth.We also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water which combine to manifest all creation. From these four elements we obtain insight to the rhythms of nature and understand they are also the rhythms of our own lives.Because Witches have been persecuted for so many centuries, we believe in religious freedom first! We do not look at our path as the only way to achieve spirituality, but as one path among many to the same end. We are not a missionary religion out to convert new members to think the same as we do. We are willing to share our experience and knowledge with those who seek our wisdom and perspective however. We believe that anyone who is meant for this path will find it through their own search as the Goddess speaks to each of us in her time and way. Wiccan practice tolerance and acceptance toward all other religions as long as those faiths do not persecute others or violate the tenant of "Harm None."What Witchcraft is not:More information about Witchcraft is available in the Frequently Asked Questions section, but in the interim, here are the main points.
Witchcraft or Wicca is not a cult. We do not proclaim ourselves to be spokespersons for the divine or try to get others to follow us as their leaders.
We do not worship Satan or consort with Demons. Satan is a Christian creation and they can keep him. We do not need a paranoid creation of supreme evil and eternal damnation to scare us into doing the right thing and helping others. We choose to do the right thing and love our brothers and sisters because it IS the right thing and it feels good to do it. I suppose it is a maturity thing.
We do not sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate our basic tenant of "Harm None." Anyone who does and claims to be a Wiccan or a Witch is lying.
We have no need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or supernatural powers. We draw our energy from within, our personal relationship with the divine and nature.
We do not use the forces of nature or the universe to hex or cast spells on others. Again, "Harm None" is the whole of the law.Witches have a very strict belief in the Law of Three which states that whatever we send out into our world shall return to us three fold either good or bane. With this in mind, a "True Witch" would hesitate in doing magick to harm or manipulate another because that boomerang we throw will eventually come back to us much larger and harder then when we threw it.This is not to say that Witches are perfect, we are human too just like everyone else and make mistakes and errors in judgment. Just as there are parents who love and nurture their children, there are parents who abuse their children. As there are many who devote their lives to giving and helping mankind, likewise there are those who devote their lives to taking advantage of and using people for their own gain. Unfortunately the same flaws in human nature applies to witches too.Most of us continually strive to consider all potential outcomes of our thoughts and actions pausing to seriously consider the consequences before undertaking a ritual, spell or rite that could go astray. It is when we follow the path with the love of the Goddess in our hearts and adhere to the basic tenant of the Reed that our works are beneficial and we achieve harmony and balance with all things.The heart of Wicca is not something summed up into a few short words and can often take on different meaning to each since the Lord and Lady touch us in different ways. To gain a fuller understanding of the Craft, I urge you visit the other pages on this site as well as following the links to a select group of exceptional Wiccan and Witchcraft sites. Through the wisdom and words set down through the ages, you will find that you are able to understand the basis of our beliefs and how they may apply to you. Your inner voice will also quickly let you know if the intent of what you are reading is for superficial purposes to benefit self instead of working to benefit the whole. Remember to read with your heart, for it is when you see life and the world with your heart and spirit that you truly gain an understanding of what Wicca is.Blessed Be!Herne
Copyright © The Celtic Connection, wicca.com. All rights reserved , wicca.com. All rights reserved

2007-12-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

Wicca: - a Neopagan earth-centered religion
Sponsored link.
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Wiccan symbol 1
Current phase of the moon(courtesy of USNO)
Copyright © Isaac Bonewits 2
Moon & sun rise & set for Salem MA, ET 3
Quotations:
"We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous. We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes, and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke. We are not what you think we are from looking at T.V. We are real. We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor. You don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you. And please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right we give you--to live in peace. We are much more similar to you than you think." Margot Adler
"If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind and the rain." Herbalist Carol McGrath as told to her by a Native-American woman.
"I don't think witchcraft is a religion. I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made." G.W. Bush (R), as Governor of Texas. Interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America, 1999-JUN-24. He disapproved of Wiccan soldiers being given the same religious rights as others in the military.
"We should educate people that 'Witch' is not evil but ancient and positive. The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life." Margot Adler. 43
"When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple, its plants and creatures our partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is both male and female, a mother Goddess and father God, who together created all that is, was, or will be. We respect life, cherish the free will of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of all creation." Edain McCoy
Topics covered in this section:
Introduction << Please read this essay first
Religious words with multiple, quite different meanings:
Witchcraft
Paganism
Questions about Wicca:
Wiccan FAQs
Specific questions people ask us about Wicca
"Is Wicca a form of Satanism?"
Background material:
History of Wicca
The relationship among Christianity, ancient Celtic beliefs and Witchcraft
The extermination of heretics during the "Burning Times"
Wicca and the Bible
How to become a Wiccan
Modern-day Wicca:
Statements about Wicca:
"Principles of Wiccan Belief" (1974)
A Pledge to Pagan Spirituality (1960)
Beliefs
Practices, rituals, and symbols
Rule of behavior: the Wiccan Rede
Wiccan sabbats (seasonal days of celebration)
Wiccan spells and charms
Pentagrams and pentacles
Handfasting (marriage)
The 'Lady's Prayer'
Coming-of-age ritual
How many Wiccans are there?
Teens and Wicca
An essay for school teachers
Is Wicca a religion?
U.S. district court recognition of Wicca as a religion
An excerpt on Wicca from the U.S. Army chaplain's handbook
Wiccan & Neopagan news items in the media
Hatred of Wicca and discrimination against Wiccans:
Historical hatred and oppression of Wiccans and other Neopagans
Valid and invalid information about Wicca on the Internet
Review of an article on Wicca by the Watchman Fellowship
Via radio
"Dr Laura Schlessinger" and Wicca
Christian-Wiccan relationships:
Can a person be a both a Wiccan and a Christian?
Religious hate propaganda: one story; many versions; all false
Threats and conflicts between Christians and Wiccans
A joint Christian-Neopagan environmental project
Neopagan request for inclusion in Pope John Paul II's apology
Christian opposition to Wiccans in the U.S. Army:
Christian boycott against Wiccans in the military
Family Research Council essay about Wicca and the Army
U.S. Government and political leaders' views toward Wicca:
Bigotry in the Veterans' Administration concerning grave markers
Bigotry in the Chaplain's service concerning Wiccan priests
The 1st "Burning Times" award given to Governor Johanns (NE)
The 2nd "Burning Times" award given to Rep. Barr (GA)
Year 2000 presidential candidates' opinions of Wicca
Discrimination by municipal councils:
Chesterfield County, VA
Great Falls, SC
Terminology
Wiccan terms
References to Wicca in the media, books, etc
Definitions of "witch" in dictionaries, etc.
Wiccan resources:
Important Wiccan resources
Additional Wiccan resources
Wiccan educational and anti-defamation Groups
A national or international education/anti-defamation group
How to contact a local Wiccan or a Wiccan coven
Books on Wicca
Misc. items:
Witchcraft in Africa and India
"Witchcraft" in the Canadian criminal code
About Halloween -- facts and fables
Sponsored link:
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2007-12-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

Serving the alternatively spiritual community since 1995.
We are one of the largest Wicca, Pagan and Witchcraft sites on the internet bringing you information and a complete line of magickal products at very affordable prices. A place where followers of Wicca, Witchcraft, Shamanism, Druidry and Pagan beliefs meet to celebrate the magickal life. Please continue by clicking our logo above to find the truth about who we really are. Learn the facts from those who follow these paths instead of being misguided by Hollywood or those who perpetuate unfounded superstition because of their own fears. Our beliefs, practices, morals, values and ethics are openly discussed within. Merry Meet and Welcome!May The Lord And Lady Bless

Attention Parents! The pages within this site are rated appropriate for all ages with RSAC. We have no content which would be considered of an offensive nature by those of open mind. If you have concerns in this regard, please review our site prior to allowing your children or teenagers to visit. If you feel that the rating for this site is not correct, please use one of the many email options to communicate with the Webmaster. Positive feedback from the community is always appreciated. To the best of our knowledge, all graphics and text on this site not copyrighted by The Celtic Connection are within the public domain unless otherwise noted. If you have claim to any text or images found here and do not wish them used, Email Herne with verification of ownership and they will promptly be removed or credit given. Copyright © The Celtic Connection. All rights reserved

Hello

2007-12-31T12:19:00.001-08:00

Horse Sense

A man is sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife sneaks up
Behind him and whacks him on the head with a frying pan.

“What was that for?” he says.

“That was for the piece of paper in your pants pocket with the
Name Mary Lou written on it,” she replies.

“Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Marylou was the name
Of one of the horses I bet on,” he explains.

She looks satisfied and apologizes.

Three days later he’s again sitting in his chair reading when she
nails him with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him out cold.

When he comes to, he says, ”What the hell was that for?”

“Your horse phoned.” She says. J