What exactly do Wiccas believe in?

Question

Just like their basic beliefs.

Answer 1

History of Wicca
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhU3APMDMy3JSWiLuyb6vR_sy6IX?qid=20060915145049AAkDSCG
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnmpBWCNQ4STCeOacIJt2avsy6IX?qid=20060923114119AAAusg9&show=7#profile-info-85e3efd122e8f209277b7bb6e4c2d432aa
Meaning of word Wicca
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgXeuUT6PMwvqlnBRPezIfvsy6IX?qid=20060915145049AAkDSCG&show=7#profile-info-AA10929287
Meaning of word Witch
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvAGLfx2yAunbOKyoditCmXsy6IX?qid=20060924205638AAvbb6K&show=7#profile-info-68090b5d557ec89c0e51a9c78de0dafbaa
Silver Wiccan Ravenwolf Money spell
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgXeuUT6PMwvqlnBRPezIfvsy6IX?qid=20060918191343AA1dAL3&show=7#profile-info-f49ad034abd28a4bd6e30b7088b096a3aa
Jenny's Frostie Wicca Expose'
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiPNdQz1cyOLeB7iTkvU9R7sy6IX?qid=20060920141547AA0e3fT&show=7#profile-info-79401d523b04ee9784e7438998679c4daa
Christian Wicca
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtY0mxKoZHtpI56Zxm67CtHsy6IX?qid=20060922162423AAcU9lu
Salem Witch Trials
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjJ7TpnKS_XXcZfDiK0CpNTsy6IX?qid=20060904163917AAcBiEQ&show=7#profile-info-AA11725587
Wicca vs. Satanism
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=An.v6DF_RGP.oG2FNsRshDzsy6IX?qid=20060924212214AA8bflE&show=7#profile-info-8c76be37c6da788dc5d6e0fe923aaef1aa

Answer 2

As practiced by initiates, Wicca is a variety of witchcraft founded on religious and magical concepts, and most of its adherents identify as witches. As such it is distinguished not only by its religious beliefs, but by its initiatory system, organisational structure, secrecy and practice of magic. Initiatory Wiccans tend not to proselytise, and even deny membership to some individuals, since once initiated a person is considered to be a priest or priestess, and expected to develop the skills and responsibility that that entails.

Initiatory Wicca is only one variety of witchcraft, with specific beliefs and practices. Wiccans worship a goddess and a god; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; and they attempt to live by a code of ethics. This distinguishes the religion from other forms of witchcraft which may or may not have specific religious, ethical or ritual elements, and which are practiced by people of many religions, as well as by some atheists. [verification needed]

Initiatory Wicca has distinctive ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics promote free will while requiring that magical activities not harm oneself or others, as expressed in the Wiccan Rede; some also believe in the Threefold Law of Return (see Morality below).

Within the "Eclectic", or non-initatory Wiccan movement, there is much more variation in religious beliefs, and secrecy and organisational structure play a less important role. Generally Eclectic Wiccans will adopt similar ritual structures and ethical principles. A few Eclectic Wiccans neither consider themselves witches nor practice magic.

Many Wiccans, though not all, call themselves Pagans, though the umbrella term Paganism encompasses many faiths that have nothing to do with Wicca or witchcraft.


[edit] Wiccan views on divinity

Answer 3

The god and the goddess. They are the duality of the universe. The male and female. They are neither good nor evil and don't interfere in lives unless asked. Their exact nature is up to the individual Wiccan (I personally think they are simply representations of the nature of the universe in ways that our limited minds can understand it. We place our own image upon them. They aren't actually personifications of anything).

There is no heaven or hell, though some Wiccans believe in Reincarnation and/or the Summerland but not all of them.

There are two laws. Harm None and Whatever you do comes back to you threefold (think karma). If you do something good it will come back to you in this lifetime. Same with anything bad. Killing anything is accepted for two reasons only. 1. Self defense if your life (or that of your loved ones) is in immediate danger. 2. For food.

Wiccans have a great love for nature and usualy have a garden and pets.

Wiccans also believe in magick but its not magick in the way of the tv show Charmed. Essentially, its the Wiccans will used to manipulate the energy of the universe (and ask for the gods help as the case may be with each wiccan) to accomplish a needed task.

Thats Wicca in a nutshell. Btw, I know others have posted much longer and more detailed information but this is the simplest I could make it without overloading it taking forever.

Answer 4

*The basic short tenants of Wicca, is we honor the Goddess and God equally, Our only law is the Rulr of three, which to be simply put whatever we do comes back to us multiple times, so we do good. We adhere to the Wiccan Rede which is an if it harm none, do as thou wilt. We do rituals at the 8 major holidays or the turning of the wheel, and at the new and full moon.*

Answer 5

Honouring and respecting the universal power of nature through ritual and gatherings.

Answer 6

I am Wiccan. This is the 13 Principles of Wiccan belief. I hope I can help you understand them.

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. (Wiccans believe that the moon is a part of the power of the Goddess. That is relevant by its correlation to a woman's menstrual cycle and the tides. We have 8 Sabbats that make up the Wheel of the Year as well as 13 Esbats-Full Moons.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaigo8rv...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvtyltahy...

2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
(Magick comes from an ability to control your environment through attuning with the elements and keys)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3j7pteq...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4quqrsua7...


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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogT7qXpa3rg

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity--as masculine and feminine--and that this same creative power lives in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7amcuqnoz...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edltlev1t...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76p-xcsb...

5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds--sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, the 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.
(Our innerverse is ours to control and as part of that, we can contrl the outerverse)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pqrkigrb...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzxdya-qo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guvf1guac...

6. We do not recognize and authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
(We have high priests and priestesses, but we don't let them interpret what we believe. We make up our own minds and lead our own rituals.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sln_q73up...

7. We see religion, magick, and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it--a world view and philosophy of life, which we identify as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way.
(Magick is everywhere and everyone does it. It shapes the way we look at the world.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwossk97y...

8. Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a Witch--but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within him/herself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgbrutbo...

9. We acknowledge that it in the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, and to our personal role within it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udy5upzmp...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axykowjsk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-hodcsl...

10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent its institutions have claimed to be “the one true right and only way” and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices and belief.
(We believe that all people come to their own religious path. To interfere and try to actively convert someone away is a deception of the soul.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qylfbcj3e...

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.
(Some people claim that Wicca is a very new religion, others say it is pre-Christian. This does not concern us as we see our beliefs as personal and not political.)

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 Christian Tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.
(The Devil or Satan is purely a Christian and Muslim concept. Wiccans don't see our Gods as having a Good and Bad persona. They are Nature and nature is both)

13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
(Wiccans have a strong desire to be environmentally conscious)

Answer 7

http://www.geocities.com/yepimagirl_78/what_do_wiccans_belive.html

What do Wiccans Believe?


I have to start this page by adding this little disclaimer, for every pagan/wiccan you meet, you will encounter a different belief structure. I just want everyone to know that my personal and the beliefs that I recite from any written materials, are in NO way meant to shape someone elses beliefs. This is the beauty of Wicca, you can make your own structure of ideas and they are still right!....
BASIC WICCAN BELIEFS


Taken Largely from: 21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch's Guide to Living the Magickal Life. Citadel Publishing 1998.


1. THERE IS NO SEPARATION BETWEEN CREATOR AND CREATION. Wiccans belive that Diety exists within the physical world as awareness, consciousness, and self-direction. Because Diety is present in all things, we see creation as a proccess-the Universe is continually dying, and rebirthing itself. These cyles of renewal can be as big as as the lives of the Universe or as small as a day in the life of Earth. This internal direction, this consciouseness, is beautiful and sacred.


2.ALL THINGS ARE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER. Everything we do has an effect on the rest of the Universe, like ripples in a pool of water or vibrations on a spider web. Nobody's actions happen in a vacum or can be "taken back". It stands to reason that Witches would generally be enviornmentalists, but it's more than that. WE have an individual responsiblitiy to be aware of the way we effect each other and the planet-not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and magikcally as well. The effect we have can and should be consiously directed to bring about a positive influence on the world around us.


3.SEXUALITY IS SACRED AND OUR BODIES ARE SACRED. We are sexual beings from birth. Between consenting adults, sexual union is a giflt from the Gods. It is also a way of expressing the creative force between the dual aspects of Diety, the God and Goddess-even when you're alone or with someone of the same sex. Sexuality is one of the greatest mysteries of the Universe, for it has the ultimate potential to create life. When we experience our sexuality in a positive, life-affirming way, we are all creators, and so come closer to the Divine. Some Wiccans do their rituals skyclad to appear before the Gods as they were made, with no false personas. Pagans, are, in general,more comfortable than most about being nude.


4.RELIGIOUS INSPIRATION COMES FROM NATURE. Before there were holy books, the earliest peoples used to look to the physical world around them for clues to the meaning of life and death. They saw that everything move is cycles: the moon, the Earth's seasons, day and night. The tree will spout,grow, die, and fertalize the soil for another to grow in it's place. Destruction and death are not bad or evil: they pave the way for new life. Human life happens in a cycle as well. We are born, we grow, we die, and we return in another form. Not all witches belive in reincarnation per se, but most will agree with the general principle. Because energy is never lost or gained, and matter cannot be destroyed, death is not an end, but a change. We do not belive that life is a one-way passage that lands the person in heaven or hell for all eternity,. Nothing else in Nature happens in a straight line: why should that?


5.WE HAVE AN INTIMATE & PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH DIETY
In order to gain a more intimate connection with the life force, Wiccans connect to it through various Dieties that are physical, emotional, and emobdied in basic life experiences. This helps us to experience Deity as being present and immediate.These Gods, are seen as the essence of being-not actual omnipotent beings living up on a mountain but expressions of life, love, forgiveness, anger...ect. They are real because we experience them firstand, in everything we do. We see the Gods as both male and female, because both are equally as important in the creation of life. The energy of deites comes through us and through everything else, humas, animals, plants..ect. We define and personify them to come closer to divinity, however, the life force, transcends all of these definitions...Mystery?


6.EACH WICCAN IS CONSIDERED TO BE CLERGY. Each of us has the same ability to connect with Deity. Of course, someone who has studied the Craft for ten years will naturally be more adept at magick and ritual than someone who is brand new:but the connection with Deity has nothing to do with trappings of ritual and therefore does not necessarily impove with time It is intuitive and natural. If anything, learing more about the mechanics may bring someone further away from the simple understanding. When everyone is clergy, everyone is equally powerful-and that's an important political statemenet as well as spiritual one.


7.MAGICK IS REAL, MAGICK WORKS, AND EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO USE IT. Magick is sometimes defined as "the art of bringing change in accordance with will" in other words, channeling and directing the force of your own will to cause things to happen. There are lots of different therories as how to and why magick works., and these vary among cultures. In Witchcraft, the nature of the magick we do is interwoven with our beliefs about the world. All things and beings are connected by a web of energy. By using concentration, props (candles, incense, and such) symbols, or sounds, it is possible to affect this energy and bring change. This is an ability we are all born with, although it isn't acknowledged, much less encouraged, in our society. Still alot of us cast spells without even realizeing it like when you hurl a lot of anger at someone and he/she istarts to feel sick? or when an outpouring of live can heal emotional wounds?


8.WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. We might make our own distictions between "black" and "white" magick, but in nature, there is no concept of good or evil. Such absolutes require a judge and the Gods do not judge. Because we are all so closely connected, we cannot harm one another withought harming ourselves. And because of the extent to which a person must immerse him/herself in any spell he/she casts, all spells, for halp or harm, will come back maginified. Hopefully, just having an understanding of this connection and the consequences of negativity should lead us to act responsibly. Of course, this isn't foolproof, but punsihment is usually swift and appropriate.

THE WICCA REED
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"



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Aside from the Wiccan Rede and the "three-fold law", Wiccans do not have to subscribe to a fixed ideology so beliefs vary, however the common theme is that Wiccans gain a connection with the divine spirit of mother nature through the celebration of her cycles through the Wicca calender. This is done either individually or with other Wiccans.

According to most versions of the three-fold law, whatever one does comes back to one thrice-multiplied, in amplified repercussion. One short, rhymed version of the Wiccan Rede states "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An it harm none, do what you will." Often "none" is interpreted to include the doer him self in analogy to the "golden rule" of other faiths. There are no universal proscriptions regarding food, sex, burial or military service and Wiccans, as a rule, discourage proselytizing (attempts to convert others to a different religion).
http://www.crystalinks.com/wicca2.html
The morality of wicca is based heavily on free will allowing individual freedom with as little interference as possible. There is high level of equality in Wicca with the emphasis on the circle and the lack of any preaching. The concept of a talking stick where everyone has their say is more widespread than dominating leaders. The emphasis is on the creation of harmony by allowing the individual to do their own will but encouraging them to think of the harm done to others by the exercising of this freedom.

In order to understand Wicca it is essential to know its roots. All countries have a native spiritual tradition based around reverence for the forces of nature. Wicca is the native tradition for the nations of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and is rooted in the period before 500 BC which marks the start of the iron age. The sacred sites from this period, in particular Avebury/Silbury and Stonehenge, are important to Wicca as are the ancient British legends, for example the Mabignogian. Wicca was illegal in Britain for nearly 1000 years up until 1951, however following it's legalization a large amount of material has been published and Wicca is now accessible to all.

Wicca has its own art, including jewelry, and also has a deep understanding of the power of plants, in particular the influence of their fragrances. Many Wiccan also use crystals, both for their natural beauty and for their spiritual power.

Wiccan jewelry includes earrings, pendants and necklaces which often contain precious stones with particular meaning and Wiccan symbols. Crystals give power to the wearer.

Wicca is a Neo-Pagan religion based on the pre-Christian traditions of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Its origins can be traced even further back to Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. Cave paintings found in France (and dated at 30,000 years old) depict a man with the head of a stag, and a woman with a swollen, pregnant belly. They stand in a circle with eleven mortals. These archetypes of the divine are worshipped by Wiccans to this very day. By these standards, the religion that is now called Wicca, is perhaps the oldest religion in the world.

In 1951, the laws against Witchcraft were repealed in England. A man named Gerald Gardner was the first to come into the public eye with description of what modern witches were practicing. His information came from the traditions of a coven called the New Forest Witches, and from Ceremonial Magick and the Kaballah. He began what is now called the Gardnerian Tradition of Wicca. From Gardnerian came Alexandrian Tradition and a host of other offshoots that today number in the hundreds.

Wicca is based on a deep respect for nature and the certain knowledge that we do not have the right to exploit it for our own gain. Wiccans are deeply concerned with conservation and ecology, and as in all Neo-Pagan religions.

Wiccans believe that both animate and inanimate objects possess a spirit which forms part of the Whole. Spirit is that essence which every object possesses linking it to nature.

Wicca is a celebration of the life-forces of nature as personified by the Goddess and her consort, the Gods.

Some Wiccans see their inspiration and traditions as coming directly from the gods. Certain Wiccan mythology holds that Wicca has come down from the stone age, surviving persecution in secret covens for hundreds of years.

Others say that their Wicca is a long-held family tradition (or "fam trad"), passed down through villages and grandmothers. Aidan Kelly argues that modern Wicca was largely pieced together by Gerald Gardner from Margaret Murray, Charles Leland and other sources, with significant revisions by Doreen Valiente (and others), beginning in 1939.

Whatever its origins, Wicca today is a vibrant, modern religion, open to change, creativity and personalization. Wicca is different than the religions of the ancient people, but it embraces some of the same beliefs. Wiccan's have a common belief that the Earth is Sacred and the animals that dwell on it are sacred as well. Wicca or Witchcraft, Paganism, High Magic and other forms of Occultism are not Satanism. Satan is a belief of Christianity

Answer 8

EVIL