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 (Who is 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 women and many children were hanged,drowned or burned as accused 'Witches'. The Church indicted them for 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 had 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 relgious freedom have allowed covens in some areas to risk becoming more open.
How do Wiccan folk 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 throughout 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 membeship is considered an important commitment.
There are many branches or 'traditions' of Wicca in the United States and elsewhere, such as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Welsh Traditional, Dianic, Faery, Seax-Wica and others. All adhere to a code of ethics. None engage in the disreputable practices of some modern 'cults', such as 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 demonolgy; 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 relgious freedom, and sometimes magick is used toward such goals.
Wiccan beliefs do not include such Judeo-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 Nature, tradition, the arts, literature, science, and personal experience. Each pracititoner keeps a book or journal in which s/he records magickal 'recipes', dreams, invocations, songs, poetry and so on. This is called a Book Of Shadows.
To most in the Craft, every religion has its own valuable prespective on the nature of Diety 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 actively recruit 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.
Despite the lack of evangelistic zeal, many covens are quite willing to talk with interested people, and even make efforts to inform their communities about the beliefs and practices of Wicca. Also, the following books may be of interest: (Ask your librarian.)
Witch! The very word instantly invokes visions for each of us, visions which vary greatly from individual to individual. Many of these visions, however, are quite false, brought about by many centuries of severe persecutions, mis-representations, prejudice and, in recent years, lack of knowledge. Witchcraft! What is it really?
Witchcraft is the oldest, most irrepressible religion in the world because it stimulates the intellect, promotes a simple, practical way of life and, most importantly, is emotionally satisfying. Its roots lie in the ancient Matriarchal systems of Goddess worship. A religion of Nature in which the primary deity is female (The Essence of Femininity, The Earth Mother, The Great Mother, etc.).
It was easy for the Wise Ones to look at the world around them and see the great importance of Feminine Principle. The female was, indeed, the one who bore the young, perhaps the most magickal of all events to ancient man. Then, she played by far the most important role in rearing the young, being totally responsible for feeding, for without her milk there was no life past birth. She was responsible for the teaching and early care of the young. In all youths the greatest comfort and nurturing love were connected with the mother. These revelations and experiences could hardly lead to any other choice than the total reverence and deification of the female.
Although The Great Mother is the most important deity, Witches do, generally, recognize many Goddessess and/or Gods and are, therefore, polytheistic. The tenets of Witchcraft are few but all-encompassing, for with three simple Universal Observations all of life can be explained and understood:
1) Reincarnation - Mortality
2) Cause & Effect - Magick
3) Retribution - Morality
Reincarnation enlightens the Witch to the fact that, as we come to this material world over and over in a series of learning periods, or lifetimes, we will eventually have to experience all things, be all things, understand all things. This creates a great tolerance for other viewpoints in the Witch.
Cause & Effect, and an understanding of it, allows the Witch to see what makes the world work and how to live most efficiently. It gives them a great advantage in that it explains the working of Magick.
Retribution shows the Witch, in graphic terms, that every thought one might have, every action one may take, is returned in like kind. This realization forms the basis of the Moral Code of the Witch.
The Patriarchal Societies which evolved in later times had no tolerance for the Goddess religions and systematically set out to destroy the material vestiges, kill or convert the adherents and wipe out all knowledge of them. They destroyed the temples and other places of worship, desecrated the sacred groves and magickal places, attempted to pervert the old deities, mutilated and totally suppressed sacred art, tore down libraries and burned books, tortured and killed the practitioners of the Old Religions, demeaned, persecuted and oppressed women in general and passed strictly enforced laws which made theirs the State Religion and forbade all other viewpoints.
Despite the centuries of insidious persecution, deliberate destruction and perversions at the hands of the Christian Conspirators, Witchcraft has survived.
Devil worship?
Witches do not worship the Devil. Witchcraft predates Christianity and does not incorporate a belief in the Christian Devil.
The Wise Ones did deify the Masculine Principle and quite often He was depicted as The Great Horned God; Pan, Cernunnos, the Great Stag, The Green Man. To the Traditional Witch, the Masculine Deity (the Goddess' Consort) is very important, revered and loved. He is the perfect Father, the Lord Protector. The Horned God of the Witches is loving, kind and good.
Do I have to join a Coven?
No. It is not necessary nor is it desirable for a great many people. Some people enjoy the support and companionship a Coven provides, others enjoy solitary worship. The Coven, which is an extremely close knit worship group, may not be possible for some because of location, family climate, availability, etc.
Why is Witchcraft secretive?
The horror of the 'Burning Time' is still very real to the Witch. äThe past persecutions were severe. Even so, in today's more enlightened society the need for complete secrecy has lessened and many are able to share their beliefs openly. Very few, however, are willing to expose their very personal and private religious expressions to others who may not understand.
Contrary to many widely-held myths, witches are quite normal, engaged in the sorts of activities that are common to people in any culture or civilization. We work in a variety of professions, we live in all climates, we drive cars, raise families, tell jokes, and in most ways come across as perfectly normal people. This, however, doesn't answer the question, so let's approach it from a different angle:
Technically, witches are initiated members of a Celtic-style nature religion. In this sense (which is, strictly speaking, the proper one), a witch is a person who has demonstrated a firm understanding of the principles of the Craft, has been trained in the meaning and purpose of ritual and the performance of ritual, and in all ways seeks to live a life that is in harmony with Nature and the cycles of the universe.
The term 'warlock' specifically means 'oath-breaker'; it is used to describe one whose word cannot be safely trusted. To call someone a warlock is a serious matter in Pagan circles, as we hold integrity and trustworthiness in very high regard. Warlocks are generally outcasts, and may be either male or female. Just so, the term 'witch' is correctly applied to both male and female.
'Pagan' comes from the Latin pagani, which means 'country-dweller'. During the Middle Ages, when the Roman church began to consolidate its influence in northern Europe (and specifically in the British Isles they concentrated their efforts around the noble courts, which were generally centers of population. As members of the court began to accept the new Way of Christianity, others began to see advantage in being on the new team, and followed those with money and power into the fold.
The new religion was not so popular among the common people, who were more inclined to tend their flocks and crops than to curry favor with the nobility in town. The courtiers, educated by Latin-speaking clergymen, referred to these un-Converted masses as pagans, or 'hicks', as might be said today.
'Heathen', that all-purpose accusation, is just the old English translation of 'pagan'; both terms simply mean that the fashionable people of the Dark Ages didn't think much of the arrogant rubes who wanted to hang on to their own ways rather than disbelieve the evidence of their lives and experiences.
Paganism is a broad group of traditions that share a more-or-less common world-view, and in that way is similar to Christianity. This world-view is marked by several elements:
Where do you think you go when you die, then?
We tell stories of a place we call Summerland, which we think of as a place of welcome rest after the rigors of life on Earth. We expect to be rejoined with friends and loved ones who went before us, to digest and understand the lessons we have learned during our time 'incarnate'. From there, we will return to life on Earth after a time, to learn and teach until we achieve perfect knowledge and understanding of this cycle of existence. Honestly, we don't much occupy ourselves with thoughts about afterlife, as we believe there is nothing to fear.
We refer to god and goddess, generally, as the Lord and the Lady. The Lord is the Father of all, and his qualities of light, warmth, and energy are most often symbolized by the sun, and whose nature is most often represented by the sky. The Lady is the Mother of all, whose patience and receptivity is symbolized by the earth, and whose adaptability and steadfastness is represented by the moon. Our bodies are the sign of her love and creativity.
We see this endless chain of dualities reflected in our interactions with the world in which we live, and with our fellow creatures, who are also the children of the Lord and Lady. We see this chain in the eternal cycles which move the universe around its unknown center.
There is more to male and female than mother and father: the Lord also represents our Brother, our Friend; and likewise is the Lady Sister and Friend to us. Like each of us, they have many names, many faces, many roles, yet they remain themselves. Our gods have grown, in a sense, as our understanding of ourselves and the creation around us has grown; and yet they are just as they have always been. "As it was in the beginning, it is now, and ever shall be" is true to us, as well.
As we learn more about the divine creation around us, we learn to move in harmony with it and with the creatures that share it with us, just as sailors learn to work in accord with the winds, the currents and the tides in order to reach their destination. As we learn about ourselves, we learn to rise above the fear and frustration that can accompany life, and learn to accept ourselves and others as we are, to experience joy and love in our lives. As we learn about the gods, we draw closer to them and learn under-standing, tolerance, humor, and thankfulness. And, for us, doing any one of these is doing all of these.
Why do you call Wicca a Religion, rather than a Cult?
Religions arise from principles and understanding and teach a way of life; cults are based upon charisma and fascination, and are motivate by profit and ascendancy. Religions thrive on independent conscious participation; cults thrive on independent conscious participation; cults thrive on manipulation and obedience.
Wicca teaches a way of life based upon the perfection and perfectibility of the spirit, closeness to the gods, right action, the gaining of wisdom, and the Oneness of all life. In token and celebration of this, we come together at our appointed times to worship and to share the love, joy and 'fellowship' that life holds for us, and to take note of the lessons that the events of the seasons, and of our lives, have to teach us.
Our religion is the wellspring of our joy; it is the sharing of the knowledge that we are endlessly in the radiant presence of all that is holy, all that is sweet and uplifting. It warms us and fills us and makes us whole, strengthens our minds and clears our spirits. It is the knowledge of the love of our Mother the Earth, who provides for us even in our thoughtless and destructive ecological folly, and who is more beautiful and more patient than praise can express. It is the knowledge of the guidance of our Father the Hunter, who quickens us, who teaches us love and laughter, wisdom and prudence. It is the awareness that we share this world, this life with countless others; that each of us both deserves the respect of, and owes respect to, the other children of the Lord and the Lady.
Why do Witches go off into the woods at night to worship?
First, we prefer to worship out-of-doors; as we are a nature religion, we believe that no building can give us the sense of contact we feel when our bare feet rest upon the Mother Earth, or the sense of blessing we feel when a breeze caresses our skin. To worship is to enter the presence of God or the Gods or Universe; so for us, worshipping inside a building is more like leaving the Divine Presence.
Given that, the best place to do this would be in a quiet spot, not frequented by picnickers, traffic, or smog; a place remote enough to minimize the distractions of the man-made world. These days, there are few areas that offer much along these lines, but there are still woods to be found, and when we can, we worship there. The fact that trees are important symbols for us only enhances the appeal of the woods.
So, why at night? There are several reasons: after dark, people go indoors & get quiet - this enhances the peacefulness (as almost everyone knows) and the serenity of our outdoor communion, which is important to us; also, the moon for us is a symbol of the Goddess, and our rituals are synchronized with the lunar phases - this makes nighttime appropriate to us, for night is when the moon is most prominent.
There is one more reason we hold Circle (our worship) in the woods at night - in practice, the more isolated we are, the safer we are. In our Circle site in Lithonia, we were too close to go unheard, and too far to be understood; the sad result of that incident was that we were driven away by wild rumors and fears of the unknown.
We are afraid of ignorance and of the violence that too often accompanies it. To draw an example from history, the church-inspired inquisitions caused the murder of 9,000,000 people. These people met their ends through torture, starvation, burning, drowning and hanging; their property was seized by the church, and their families were scattered. Many of them were forced to watch loved ones suffer agonies while they awaited their turns. The only accused who survived were those who 'confessed' to the most loathsome crimes and outrageous - even nonsensical - acts, and recanted their 'heresies'. All who protested their innocence died.
Today in the 20th Century, members of the Craft have been fired from their jobs, have been beaten, harassed, and sometimes murdered. Some have lost their children in ugly legal battles, homes have been looted and burned, and perfectly wholesome people have been declared anti-social and a menace to the community. Yes, all these things do go on now, today, often perpetrated by "well-intentioned" Christians in a state of great fear and utter ignorance.
This is the reason for this pamphlet: to bear a lamp in the darkness so that this holocaust may finally come to an end, and innocent people may go about their lives unafraid.
There are many precepts that help us learn how to live in harmony. One of the most important of these is personal responsibility. We hold that each of us is responsible for choosing any and all words, deeds, opinions, thoughts, feelings and responses. Another is called the Law of Three-fold Return. This teaches us that we directly experience the results of our choices, deeds and behavior. It works much like the 'golden rule'.
From these two, arises one that almost might be called 'the Witch's Motto': An it harm none, do what ye will. This one carries much of the weight that the Ten Commandments carries for Christians. It means that we are free to act as we see fit, providing that no other person suffers injury, pain, anguish, loss, or corruption, as a result of our actions.
Also, there are the 13 Wiccan Virtues, which also guide us in our growth and spiritual development. These virtues are Tolerance, Charity, Humility, Devotion, Patience, Kindliness, Forbearance, Sincerity, Courage, Precision, Efficiency, Discrimination, and Wisdom.
These are taken to a rather highly developed point in application, but not changed from the qualities one would assume. I would like to point out that 'discrimination' refers to the skill of recognizing the fine points that make one person/place/situation/ moment different and unique from any other. It has nothing to do with segregation, or with injustice.
Simply, it represents the 13 lunar months in a year; we celebrate the passage of these months, or 'moons' in our rituals.
In substance, they are no different from any other religion's observances, though they do look different.
We begin by preparing ourselves with prayer and meditation; we then 'cast the circle'. The Circle is our temple, and it is built and purified for each ritual; it usually has no overt form or structure, not even a chalk boundary, but is always circular in shape. Every participant must declare themselves free of malice, and ready to celebrate in a spirit of harmony and good-will before they can be allowed to enter the Circle. Once all have gathered, we use a group prayer (chanted by all, usually) to further unite us and elevate our hearts, and to turn our minds toward the gods.
The priest and priestess (our clergy) then call upon the Lord and the Lady, asking them to be with us - to receive our love and blessings, and to share their love and blessings with us. We share lessons and moral exercises at this time, which serve to emphasize the spiritual focus and the significance of the occasion. Through chanting and exaltation, we internalize these lessons and this significance so that we may be in harmony with the unfoldment of the Divine Purpose.
We then share bread and wine as a sign that, as children of the Gods, we share in the bounty of nature and receive our nourishment from them. Thanksgiving is then offered to the Lord and Lady, and to the Creation in which we take part, and we receive their bene-diction. A ritual is frequently followed by food and fellowship. Most of our rituals are for worship, for spiritual focus and development, and to harmonize with the Divine Purpose ("the Path"). We also perform rites of passage and sanctification: namings (christening/baptism), handfastings (marriage), and memorials (funeral rites), among others.
We do use magick for a variety of purposes (we spell 'magick' with a 'k' to distinguish what we do from stage magic, with its connotations of illusion and trickery): healing, behavior change (a witch only works on his or her own behavior), and general self-improvement.
These are the primary aims of magick, as practiced by a witch who knows what she's doing! It is sometimes true that someone will say, "I am a witch", and then do things that no witch would do, just as some have claimed to follow Jesus, yet have done things in his name that would never have gained his approval.
In this context, let me share something with you: no true witch will employ magick to harm another; or to manipulate or influence another without the knowledge and permission of the person to be affected.It is standard to get a person's permission even before attempting to heal that person. This means that love spells, hexes, curses, and "the evil eye", whatever that is, are specifically out of line and out of the question for a true witch.
Other uses of magick include seeking guidance, protection, finding lost persons or articles, to harmonize with the gods and with the natural life and cycles of the planet Earth.
Magick is a way of approaching situations that allows one to bring all one's abilities and internal resources into play. It is similar to Positive Thinking, combined with self-awareness and a clear understanding of exactly what one hopes to achieve. All this is done from within a focussed, prayerful attitude to ensure that the effort is in harmony with the Divine Purpose.
Magick, done properly, does work; and harmlessness is a major part of doing it properly. It can be powerful, which is why no true witch will attempt to teach magick to a person who is unstable or immature (remember, we consider ourselves responsible for our acts and choices!); nor will any true witch use magick to impress others, nor to enrich herself or himself at another's expense.
Witches are human, like anyone else; therefore, they are not perfect. A true witch, however, will be actively involved in becoming the best, most complete and well-balanced person that she or he can become. As a result, you should be able to see all 13 of the Wiccan Virtues active in the person, though you may not see them all at once, and perhaps not in their perfect expression. A true witch tends to be active, good-humored, perceptive of her own faults, and tolerant of faults in others. There may in fact be no clear way of recognizing a witch as a witch; but if you know a witch, or someone who claims to be a witch, my advice would be "By their fruits shall ye know them; for an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit, neither can a good tree bear evil fruit."
Larger cities sometime have a group or two that are more or less "public". This may give you a starting point if you actually want to talk to someone. Try meeting with current and former members, if possible. For those with a more academic interest, there are several books one can read:
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
Witches by T.C. Lethbridge
Witchcraft from the Inside by Raymond Buckland
The ABCs of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
The Masks of God, in 4 volumes by Joseph Campbell