I would like to know more about Wicca....?

Question

Other than the usual rubbish you trawl up on the internet, could someone explain to me the basics.

Thankyou in advance

Tamyp: Did I say I was becoming a wiccan (sorry if thats wrong) No, I said I was interested. If you have nothing insightful to say then dont.

Answer 1

I would love to type out my own personal response, but I have a really bad headache so I will copy and paste some things for you.

Here you go. I hope you don't mind.

WICCA (sometimes called Wicce, The Craft, or The Old Religion by its practitioners)
is based on an ancient religion of love for life and nature.

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 Natures -- 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 (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 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 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 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-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 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 such Judeo-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. Despite the lack of evangelist 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. One source of contacts is The Covenant of the Goddess, P.O. Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94704.

Answer 2

Try the book...



Wicca: A Comprehensive Guide to the Old Religion in the Modern World

by Vivienne Crowley.

Answer 3

Christian Wicca is a secret to different. C.W. is an eclectic variety of Christianity. people who can not evaluate the different teachings different than the Bible are very uncomfortable with this faith. Christian Wicca believes in the trinity of God the daddy, God the mum (Goddess), and the Son God Jesus. We additionally study and prepare the concepts of the Bible, Kabbalah, Gnostic Gospels and Wiccan teachings. in all probability the main intense seen C.W. is their inclusion of the Divine female. definitely, there can't be a delivery without a father AND a mom. We worship the mum Goddess as having equivalent ability in introduction. the mum is cutting-edge in each and every component of religious teachings, even the Bible. (in spite of the reality which you may look difficult to come across it there.) additionally, there's a difference between being Christo-pagan and being Christian Wiccan. in the previous you bypass on the air with your checklist, look up the two and save in mind the biggest alterations. I won't do it right here because of the fact it is going to easily get too long. in basic terms be conscious of that they are different. i'm generally criticized via Christians and Wiccans alike. (greater so Christians. Wiccans tend to be greater open-minded.) i'm hoping I even have replied a number of your questions. sturdy success with your radio checklist....reward!

Answer 4

well, this may as well be what you can find in the Internet, but this is what i know and they ARE the basics.

Wicca, is a religion based on nature and the universe. Wicca was known in the middle ages to be against the church because back when king Charlemagne ruled, he established Christianity as the primal religion and wiccans refused to follow. the church then announced that wiccan practices are to be known as witchcraft (or heretical sorcery) and were hunted down (hence the great witch hunt)

wiccan witchcraft was based upon two types of magic: black and white. black was a force known to apply negative energy upon the living such as hexes, poisons etc. white magic did the opposite.

wiccan magic, wether white of black follow the basic principle of three fold(or something like that)
the idea is that the energy you release takes effect three fold. this was used so that witches could estimate the length of their powers and also know what to expect from releasing a certain amount of energy

Answer 5

Modern Wicca was formed by Gerald Gardner in the UK mid 20th century. Contrary to what some of the fluffies think, it is not ancient and it does not predate Xtianity. Witches burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials, the Inquisition(s) etc were not Wiccans.

I'm not wiccan but a Celtic Pagan which is what most of wicca was 'based' upon.

Answer 6

amazon.com
witchvox.net

Both have books on Wicca. Some books are better than others but they all have some good information or insights. You may want to check out Wiccan Beliefs & Practices by Cantrel.

Answer 7

Find some books, good books. Go on amazon, find something, and read the reviews.

A lot of the stuff on the internet is usual rubbish.

Good lucky.

Answer 8

I advocate finding a specific tradition and getting the basics there.

http://www.witchvox.com/xtrads.html

You're going to have the same problems here as if you asked a Protestant, Catholic and atheist to tell you the basics of Christianity.

Answer 9

Male and Female Divine Polarities. Meditate on those and you will see what is there to be seen.

Answer 10

I was raised a circle baby and am raising 3 more. feel free to email me and I will be happy to share with you.

Merry Meet
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