Questions for those who practice Wicca?

Question

What is Wicca? Are you called a Wiccian? Do you have a book that you follow like the bible for Chritians? I would like as much FACTUAL (not peoples opinions that really don't know, or bashing) information as possible. I am trying to educate myself. Thanks;)

Answer 1

I've been a Wiccan for ten years. Wicca is a nature-based religion with numerous variations. Its primary tenets include a belief in an immanent God (i.e., God is manifest in all things), stewardship of the earth, and the celebration of the seasons. Some Wiccans practice magic; others do not. The most important "rule" in Wicca is to avoid harming any living thing as much as possible, although the interpretation of this rule varies. Another core concept in Wicca is tolerance of others' beliefs. There is no "one true path" to God; rather, spirituality is an individual matter.

Wicca is not an ancient religion, but many Wiccans choose to worship ancient Gods and Goddesses. Opinions about the nature of the deities vary widely. Some believe in one overarching deity who appears to humans in many facets that we recognize as different Gods and Goddesses. Others are "hard" polytheists who believe in completely separate deities.

There is no "Bible" of Wicca. We do not need a book to tell us that God is in nature, that we have a responsibility to protect our planet, and that hurting others hurts ourselves.

Wicca is only sinful if you are a member of a religion that believes it to be so. Many Christians in particular will tell you that it's a "sin." Perhaps it is for them - but it isn't for the rest of us. If you choose to explore Wicca, be prepared for exposure to the idea that there is no absolute right or wrong. What's right for one may be wrong for another, and neither is "correct." This can be a very difficult concept, especially for those raised Christian, but it is possible to become enlightened and realize that no one faith owns God.

One useful site: http://www.religioustolerance.org

Answer 2

Nope, Wicca is definitely not a sin. Wiccans don't even believe in the Devil or anything really that is pure evil. They believe that people and Gods have positive and negative sides.

Wicca is a Pagan religion, and is one of the fastest growing relgions today. There are more traditions than you can count. Traditional Wicca is an oath-bound religion in which only initiates may participate in. There are also eccletic traditions and those who practice as solitary Wiccans. It is best to read all that you can. There are many websites. I recommend reading the Wicccan community of live journal, a site called "wicca for the rest of us" in order to get lists of good books to read.
Wiccans do not have a Bible per se. Many traditions are handed down.

Answer 3

I answered this to the best of my ability in another one of your questions, but maybe I should have posted it here instead, so i'll put it down here too.

Wicca is a Pagan religion that has developed recently, and focuses around nature and the worship of a God and Goddess, who are related to the natural aspects of the Sun (masculine) and the Moon (feminine). Wiccan's tend to be far more inclusive of women than a lot of other religions - they recognise a female deity and females and femininity are thought to be very important.

They cast spells, but not in a creepy way - they consider it an active prayer, a way to show the God and Goddess that they wan't what they are praying for enough to go through the effort of finding the right herbs/the right colored candles/crystals etc.

They celebrate a number of Sabbats throughout the year, including the Summer Solstice. Some of these Sabbats do not have fixed dates but depend on the movements and phases of the moon.

They follow the Wiccan Rede, which says:

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Wiccan is a loose term for those who practice a polytheistic and/or nature based form of religion. As a rule there are no hard and fast rules :-) Generally we try to respect (not worship) nature and the planet. We try to attune ourselves to the turning of the seasons and the universe. Basically we're just listening for any clues and doing our best to keep things in a pleasant balance. Most practitioners are loners. They usually make their own books. This is just how I practice. Others may have a different view. Blessed be!

Answer 5

Loads of great sites on the net ,,just Google , and take no notice of Christians,they're just jealous.

Answer 6

We are not a text based faith. Our faith is a mystery religion. We have basic principles of beliefs but the rest is something personal. We don't have dogmatic laws that control our lives, Just guidelines and suggestions.

We call ourselves Wiccans because Wicca translates to mean Wise Ones. We consider our selves on a path that is both intellectual and spiritual.


Here are the Wiccan Principles of Beliefs


1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the moon and the Seasonal Quarters and Cross-Quarters.

2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility towards our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called "supernatural", but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifest through polarity -- as masculine and feminine -- and that same Creative power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magical practice and religious worship.

5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds known sometimes as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. - and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who courageously give of themselves in leadership.

7. We see religion, magic, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and live within it - a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as 'Witchcraft - the Wiccan Way'.

8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make one a Witch - but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within themselves that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.

9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be 'the only way' and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.

11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.

12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil", as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.