Wiccan beliefs?

Question

Can anyone give me a basic understanding of Wiccan beliefs?

Answer 1

Didn't someone ask this?
OK basis, there is a God and Goddess. They are in everything around us. They celebrate the Sabbaths, the natural cycles of the year. (Solstices, equinox's, etc) They generally believe the soul is timeless, in reincarnation. Wicca is a denomination or tradition of Paganism or NeoPaganism. Google it. You will find a ton of stuff on it. Its one of the fastest growing religions around.
Side note it has nothing to do with the devil. We don't believe in the devil. The devil is a Christian creation that came AFTER Paganism. Paganism is the oldest religion around. We can't worship something we don't even believe in.

Answer 2

The following list of affirmations and denials are held by most Wiccans. But because there are differences among Wiccan traditions, not every we can will affirm or deny every statement listed here. Nevertheless, the list is accepted by almost all Wiccans


Affirms
The existence of a supreme divine power known as "The One," or "The All"
"The All" is not separate from the universe, but part of it.
That from "The All" came the god and goddess.
That the god and goddess are manifested in various forms in the universe.
Nature worship and, therefore, environmental concerns are high.
Divinity is within
Biological evolution.
That there are different and valid paths to finding the truth about God.
That all creatures have a life force, a soul.
The male and female principles are in balance throughout the universe.
The equality of the sexes.
That each person has male and female aspects that need to be balanced.
Multiple reincarnations
The teaching of karma
The practice of rituals designed to attune Wiccans to the natural life forces.
That upon death a person is released back to a place called Summerland
That different paths to spirituality are acceptable as long as they don't hurt anyone
Personal responsibility for one's actions
Denies
The concept of Heaven and Hell (Matt. 25:46)
The existence of the Devil and the worship of the devil, Lucifer, etc. (Matt. 4:1ff)
The existence of absolute evil (Psalm 34:14; 35:10)
The inspiration and authority of the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16)
A need for salvation (Rom. 3:23)
Moral absolutes (Exodus 20)
That Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).
The male headship presented by Christianity (Eph. 4:11; Eph. 5)
A religious authoritative hierarchy (Eph. 4:11; Eph. 5)
The concept that humanity is to subdue the earth (Gen. 1:28).

Answer 3

The basic understanding of this belief system is "and it harm none" . The best thing to do is read and decide for yourself as this is the way Wicca works. This is a way of life and not a religion so much, so you can incorporate it in all aspects of your life. You can also mix different religious aspects into your Wiccan belief system. This is a way of life that lets YOU decide how to worship, who God is to you etc. Do some research. Check out some books by Silver Ravenwolf, or Scott Cunningham. These are two writers that keep it simple for the novice, and give you the most informed information so you can make your own decision about Wicca. When the time is right, it will become clear to you. Also belive in yourself, and if what you are hearing or reading doesn't make sense to you, then keep searching. That is the wonderful thing about Wicca, it is very accomadating to anyone. Read everything you can get your hands on, and then decide for yourself.

Answer 4

The following is not universally accepted by all Wiccans and Pagans, but as a general rule, these are representative of the Wiccan belief system. This list was borrowed from Our Lady of the Woods, Copyright 1983. Though these may look similiar to the Wiccan principles, they are different.

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The divine Spirit is present in all creatures and things: people, animals, plants, stones...

The ultimate creative force manifests in both feminine and masculine modes; therefore it is often symbolized as the Goddess and The God.

In some covens, both are celebrated equally. In others, The Goddess is given precedence or even celebrated without reference to the God.

All Goddesses and Gods are aspects of The Goddess and The God. The aspects most popular in Wicca are the Triple Goddess of the Moon (Maiden, Mother and Crone) and the Horned God of death and rebirth.

Reincarnation and karma are valid concepts. Upon death one goes to a state of rest and reflection, and eventually chooses where and when s/he will be reborn.

Magick is practiced for positive (helping) purposes: spiritual development, healing, guidance, safety, etc.

Rituals are generally performed outdoors when possible, at the New and Full Moons, and at eight Sabbat festivals which mark the progression of the seasons.

Magick and celebration are performed in small groups, usually 3 to 13, called covens. These are basically autonomous -- there is no central church authority or hierarchy.

There is no holy book, or prophet, no equivalent of the Bible or Jesus or Mohammed. Individuals have access to the divine, and do not require an intermediary. Every initiate is regarded as a priest/ess.

The central ethic is "And ye harm none, do as ye will." Whatever energy you send out returns threefold, so it is wise to be kind to others.

We should live in harmony with the Earth and Nature, and not exploit them.

Though Wicca is a valid spiritual path, it is not the only one. There is no recruiting, and people should be free to choose the path that best fits their needs.

The concepts of original sin, sacrifice, redemption, confession, the divinity of Jesus, sinfulness of sex, Judgment, Heaven and Hell, denigration of women, bodily resurrection, and the Bible as divine revelation are not part of Wicca. Neither are Satanism, the Black Mass, desecration of cemeteries, the sacrifice of animals, etc.

Answer 5

Wiccan views of divinity
For more detailed information, see Wiccan views of divinity
For most Wiccans, Wicca is a duotheistic religion. The Goddess and God are seen as complementary polarities and this balance is seen in nature. They are sometimes symbolised as the Sun and Moon, and from her lunar associations the Goddess becomes a Triple Goddess with aspects of "Maiden", "Mother" and "Crone". Some Wiccans hold the Goddess to be pre-eminent, since she contains and conceives all. The God is the spark of life and inspiration within her, simultaneously her lover and her child. This is reflected in the traditional structure of the coven.[6] In some traditions, notably Feminist branches of Dianic Wicca, the Goddess is seen as complete unto herself, and the God is not worshipped at all. Wicca is essentially an immanent religion, and for some Wiccans, this idea also involves elements of animism[7] A key belief in Wicca is that the gods are able to manifest in personal form, most importantly through the bodies of Priestesses and Priests. The latter kind of manifestation is the purpose of the ritual of Drawing down the Moon (or Drawing down the Sun), whereby the Goddess is called to descend into the body of the Priestess (or the God into the Priest) to effect divine possession.

According to Gerald Gardner the gods of Wicca are ancient gods of the British Isles: a Horned God and a Great Mother goddess.[8] Gardner also states that a being higher than any of these tribal gods is recognised by the witches as Prime Mover, but remains unknowable.[9]

Some Wiccans have a monotheistic belief in the Goddess as One. Many have a duotheistic conception of deity as a Goddess (of Moon, Earth and sea) and a God (of forest, hunting and the animal realm). This concept is often extended into a kind of polytheism by the belief that the gods and goddesses of all cultures are aspects of this pair (or of the Goddess alone). Others hold the various gods and goddesses to be separate and distinct. Still others do not believe in the gods as real personalities, but see them as archetypes[10] or as thoughtforms. A unified supreme godhead is also acknowledged by some groups. Patricia Crowther has called it Dryghten.[11] Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone have observed that Wicca is becoming more polytheistic as it matures, and embracing a more traditional pagan worldview.[12]

Answer 6

* Wiccan Deities: Most Wiccans believe that a creative force exists in the universe, which is sometimes called "The One" or " The All".
Little can be known of this force. They regard the Goddess and the God as representing the female and male aspects of the All. Most regard various pagan Gods and Goddesses (Pan, Athena, Diana, Brigit, Zeus,the All.
* Respect for Nature: Wicca is a natural religion, grounded in the
earth. All living things (including stars, planets, humans, animals,
plants, rocks) are regarded as having spirit.
* Gender Equality: Wiccans celebrate the sexual polarity of nature: the fertilizing rain is one manifestation of the male principle; the nurturing earth symbolizes the female. Females are respected as equal (and sometimes at a slightly higher rank) to males. They aim for a female-male balance in most of their covens (local groups), although men are typically in the minority. Sexuality is valued, and regarded as a gift of the Goddess and God, to be engaged in with joy and responsibility, and without manipulation.
* Three-fold Law, The law states that: "All good that a person does to another returns three fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold."
* The Wiccan Rede. This is the main rule of behavior:"An' it harm none, do what thou wilt."
* This means that a person should feel free to do what ever they want to, as long as it does not harm themselves or anyone else. This and the three-fold law obviously prevent a Witch/Wiccan from doing harm to themselves or to others, or attempting to manipulate others, or taking illegal drugs, etc.

By permission.

Answer 7

Taken from the US Army Chaplain's Handbook at http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm and modified somewhat:

Wiccans worship the sacred as immanent in Nature, often personified as Mother Earth and Father Sky. (Note - we do not "worship the creation and not the Creator" - we honor the spirit of the creator within the world around us, IN ADDITION TO honoring the God and Goddess - Nandina)

As polytheists, they may use many other names for Deity. Individuals will often choose Goddesses or Gods from any of the world's pantheons whose stories are particularly inspiring and use those Deities as a focus for personal devotions. Similarly, covens will use particular Deity names as a group focus, and these are often held secret by the groups.

It is very important to be aware that Wiccans do not in any way worship or believe in "Satan," "the Devil," or any similar entities. They point out that "Satan" is a symbol of rebellion against and inversion of the Christian and Jewish traditions. Wiccans do not revile the Bible. They simply regard it as one among many of the world's mythic systems, less applicable than some to their core values, but still deserving just as much respect as any of the others.

Most Wiccan groups also practice magic, by which they mean the direction and use of "psychic energy," those natural but invisible forces which surround all living things. Some members spell the word "magick," to distinguish it from sleight of hand entertainments. Wiccans employ such means as dance, chant, creative visualization and hypnosis to focus and direct psychic energy for the purpose of healing, protecting and aiding members in various endeavors.

Many, but not all, Wiccans believe in reincarnation. Some take this as a literal description of what happens to people when they die. For others, it is a symbolic model that helps them deal with the cycles and changes within this life.

The core ethical statement of Wicca, called the "Wiccan Rede" states "an it harm none, do what you will." The Rede fulfills the same function as does the "Golden Rule" for Jews and Christians; all other ethical teachings are considered to be elaborations and applications of the Rede.

It is a statement of situational ethics, emphasizing at once the individual's responsibility to avoid harm to others and the widest range of personal autonomy in "victimless" activities. Wicca has been described as having a "high-choice" ethic.

Wiccans celebrate eight festivals, called "Sabbats," as a means of attunement to the seasonal rhythms of Nature. In addition, most Wiccans will celebrate on the Full Moon, and many will also meet on the New Moon.

Answer 8

Some one else gave the basics in their answer. I just want to add the goals of Wicca (had a list can't find it) to know yourself, to study, care for the earth, basically to be a positive influence on what ever and who ever you come in contact with.

Answer 9

Harm none, and do what thou wilt. Look up Catholic rituals and beliefs, and compare 'em, you'll find they talk a lot about the same stuff just in different context

Answer 10

i dont think it has anything to do with devil untill u want it to be and most part of wiccans belive in "white magic"