What is Wicca?
by Amber K, High
Priestess
Wicca (sometimes called Wicce, The Craft, or The Old Religion by
its practitioners) is an ancient religion of love for life and
nature.
In prehistoric times, people respected the great forces of Nature
and celebrated the cycles of the seasons and the moon. They saw
divinity in the sun and moon, in the Earth herself, and in all
life. The creative energies of the universe were personified:
feminine and masculine principles became Goddesses and Gods.
These were not semi-abstract, superhuman figures set apart from
Nature: they were embodied in earth and sky, women and men, and
even plants and animals.
This viewpoint is still central to present-day Wicca. To most
Wiccans, everything in Nature - and all Goddesses and Gods - are
true aspects of Diety. The aspects most often celebrated in the
Craft, however, are the Triple Goddess of the Moon (Maiden, Mother
and Crone) and the Horned God of the wilds. These have many names
in various cultures.
Wicca had its organized beginnings in Paleolithic times, co-existed
with other Pagan ( "country" ) religions in Europe, and had a
profound influence on early Christianity. But in the medieval
period, tremendous persecution was directed against the Nature
religions by the Roman Church. Over a span of 300 years, millions
of men and women and many children were hanged, drowned or burned
as accused Witches. The Church indicted themfor black magic and
Satan worship, though in fact these were never a part of the
Old
Religion.
The Wiccan faith went underground, to be practiced in small, secret
groups called "covens" For the most part, it stayed hidden until
very recent times. Now scholars such as Margaret Murray and Gerald
Gardner have shed some light on the origins of the Craft, and new
attitudes of religious freedom have allowed covens in some areas to
risk becoming more open.
How do Wiccan folks practice their faith today? There is no central
authority or doctrine,and individual covens vary a great deal. But
most meet to celebrate on nights of the Full Moon, and at eight
great festivals, or Sabbats thoughout the year.
Though some practice alone or with only their families, many
Wiccans are organized into covens of three to thirteen members.
Some are led by a High Priestess or Priest, many by a
Priestess/
Priest team; others rotate or share leadership. Some covens are
highly structured and hierarchical while others may be informal and
egalitarian. Often extensive training is required before
initiation, and coven membership is considered an important
commitment.
There are many branches or "traditions" of Wicca in the United
States and elsewhere, such as theGardnerian, Alexandrian, Welsh
Traditional, Dianic, Faery, Seax-Wicca and others. All adhereto a
code of ethics. None engage in the disreputable practices of some
modern "cults", suchas isolating and brainwashing impressionable
lonely young people. Genuine Wiccans welcome sisters and brothers,
but not disciples, followers or victims.
Coven meetings include ritual, celebration and magick (the 'k' is
to distinguish it from stage illusions.) Wiccan magick is not at
all like the instant 'special effects' of cartoon shows or fantasy
novels, nor medieval demonology; it operates in harmony with
natural laws and is usually less spectacular - though effective.
Various techniques are used to heal people and animals, seek
guidance, or improve members' lives in specific ways. Positive
goals are sought, cursing and evil spells' are repugnant to
practitioners of the Old Religion.
Wiccans tend to be strong supporters of environmental protection,
equal rights, global peace and religious freedom, and sometimes
magick is used toward such goals.
Wiccan beliefs do not include Judeao-Christian concepts as original
sin, vicarious atonement, divine judgement or bodily resurrection.
Craft folk believe in a beneficient universe, the laws of
karma and reincarnation, and divinity inherent in every human being
and all of Nature. Yet laughter and pleasure are part of their
spiritual tradition, and they enjoy singing, dancing, feasting and
love.
Wiccans tend to be individualists, and have no central holy book,
prophet, or church authority. They draw inspiration and insight
from science, and personal experience. Each practitioner keeps a
personal book or journal in which s/he records magickal 'recipes',
dreams, invocations, songs, poetry and so on.
To most of the Craft, every religion has its own valuable
perspective on the nature of Deity and humanity's relationship to
it; there is no One True Faith. Rather, religious diversity is
necessary in a world of diverse societies and individuals. Because
of this belief, Wiccan groups do not activelyrecruit or
proselytize; there is an assumption that people who can benefit
from the Wiccan way will 'find their way home' when the time is
right.
