What are the core tenets of the Wiccan beliefs ??

Question

recent news of the National Cemetary being allowed to use a Wiccan symbol on headstones, brings this query to mind...

Answer 1

Not all Wiccans share the Principles of Wiccan Belief quoted above.

Here are some decent websites on the subject.

A relatively objective (non-Wiccan) set of articles on what Wiccans do and believe:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

Another useful article:

http://www.religionfacts.com/neopaganism/paths/wicca.htm

A good site by Wiccans:

http://wicca.timerift.net

And the US Army Chaplains Handbook excerpt on Wicca:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm

Basically, Wiccan practice is defined by the Wiccan Rede ("If you harm none, do what you will"); the honoring of Deity in male and female polarity, as God and Goddess; the concept of Deity as immanent in the universe, not separate from it; the celebration of holy days tied to the solar calendar (the solstices, equinoxes, and four points in between) and the lunar calendar (the full moons); the celebration of ritual in created sacred space called a circle, where the spirits of the four elements/cardinal directions and the God/dess are invited to join the worshippers; frequently the practice of witchcraft in accordance with the Wiccan Rede; and the concept that every member is a functioning priest/ess.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me.

Answer 2

i do no longer understand if I count type, as i'm a former Wiccan (contemporary atheist.) Wiccans regularly believe in a God and a Goddess, yet in specific situations in straight forward terms a Goddess. regardless of if Wiccans may additionally believe in a pantheon of gods. The "powers" of a Wiccan are certainly the potential to ask the God, Goddess, or gods, to furnish favors making use of ritual magick. Magick can in straight forward terms artwork by way of organic channels, at the same time with a spell for money will make a criminal contract extra possibly to instruct out on your choose. The middle ethical concept is the "Rule of three" or "Threefold regulation" that which you deliver out comes back at you threefold, and the Wiccan rede "An it injury none do what ye will." Which certainly potential that as long as you do no longer harm every person, you're able to do regardless of you %. And it is not a secret, you could learn it in many books on the subject, to boot as on line.

Answer 3

>>"recent news of the National Cemetary being allowed to use a Wiccan symbol on headstones, brings this query to mind... "<<

why?

why do you care?

short of it is that they are pagans, and do not belive in doing things that harm others.
they do NOT worship a devil or anything like that.

Answer 4

Basically, worship of a Goddess and a God, belief in magick (even if one doesn't use it), respectr for nature, and the belief that one's actions will come back to them.

Look up:

http://www.witchvox.com

Answer 5

Blackfire wiccan study.... is a great site where you will be able to find info on what you are looking for...
Wicca (sometimes called Wicce, The Craft, or The Old Religion by its practitioners) is an ancient religion of love for life and nature. The symbols may be anything representing our god/dess or it may be the pentagram which contary to many is not a sign of devil worship( we dont believe in him) rather of the elements......

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: theywere 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 Deity. 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 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 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 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 membership is considered an important commitment.

There are many branches or "traditions" of Wicca in the United States and elsewhere, such as the Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Welsh Traditional, Dianic, Faery, Seax-Wicca 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 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 judgment or bodily resurrection. Craft folk believe in a beneficent 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 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.

Answer 6

Principles of Wiccan Belief




Council of American Witches

In April 1974, the Council of American Witches adopted a
set of principles of Wiccan Belief. They are as follows.


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 toward our environment. We seek to live
in harmony with Nature, inn 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
manifesting through polarity--as masculine and feminine--and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the 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 sometimes known as the Spiritual
World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc--
and we see in the inter-action of these two dimensions
the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical
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 have courageously given of themselves in
leadership.

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

8. Calling oneself "witch" does not make a Witch--
but neither does heredity itself not the collecting
of titles degrees and initiations. A witch seeks to
control the forces within her/himself 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 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 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

Answer 7

"An it harm none, do what ye will."

Basically, as long as what you do harms nobody, do whatever your mind desires.