For Wiccans & those who follow Witchcraft?

Question

I am teaching a class on world religions, and I would appreciate your input on a few things:

1) how long have you been following witchcraft?

2) if you left from another religious faith, what was it and why did you choose to do so?

3) I'm not sure if this is the right phrasing - but how devout do you consider yourself to be?

4) is there a specific Deity you worship above others?

5) do you ever feel ostracized or ridiculed for what you believe?

Thank you so much for your input!

I just wanted to say thank you for your thought-provoking responses. I appreciate your time & effort! :)

Answer 1

Well, I'm also an eclectic Pagan, and I do do some witchcraft. I am also a "sensative" where I am more intune to emotions and energies.

1) I have been a Pagan since I was 8 yrs old I think. I didn't really believe in what Christianity was teaching but the belief in a higher power is evident. I have been actively practicing for the past 15 yrs.
2) My mother said she was Christian and informed me of the
Christian belief system but I was never forced to go to
Church and follow in the faith
3) I consider myself not a "devout" anything. I practice when it
feels right. I honor others deities if I am at the home or
place of worship out of respect.
4) I follow the Goddess or Great Spirit. My personal belief is
that we are all connected and we do not need an idol to
worship because it is all relevant.
5) I live in the bible belt and when I first moved to the area I
hid my beliefs because I was new and didn't know any
other Pagans. With a Church every other block or mile you
sort of stay away till you make friends.
Here is a website that may help you explain in more detail to your students about Pagan beliefs.
http://www.paganspath.com
Also www.witchvox.com
Witchvox actually is a website for those of the Pagan beliefs and has things by Pagans and for Pagans. You can even search for others that are Pagans in your state that may have registered with Witchvox. Just some extra things for you to have all the info outside of the Text book version. (Those are usually out dated info or misinformed)
Blessed be and Peace

Answer 2

The Harry Potter books are fiction. Nothing is real and nothing matches the wiccan practice. I am not wiccan but I do know that it is all about love of Nature and the planet, and Mother Earth is sacred. These books are unrealistic and all made up. It takes a GOOD if not GREAT fiction writer to convince his audience or readers that it is REAL. She does this very well and that is why her books are so HOT and she is making lots of money. She keeps the story line similar to what all of us believe witchcraft is and has been. Then she weaves it into a tale that pulls you in to the plot. As we all know it was not long ago that people feared Witches/Wiccan and they were killed for their practices. Why is it so hard even now for people to realize that the wiccan/pagans have strong beliefs that nurture Mother Earth. The only problem with these books is that they once again make Witches out to be something we should FEAR. Many small kids will grow up believing the past and not looking to the future.

Answer 3

1) I am considered a 'blood witch', meaning I come from two long lines of Pagans. My great-great grandparents brought Strega with them from Italy. I once asked my Nonna how far back witchcraft went in our family. She said there was no such time. Whatever that means.

2) I pretend to be Lutheran, it makes people happy to think that. I have studied many religions, as part of home schooling, but would never consider any other beliefs, than those taught me under secrecy by my grandmother.

3) I am extremely devout, as you say. I have a daughter now, and it is my job (along with my mother) to teach her the ways. It is a part of our everyday life, it is like breathing.

4) No. This is a complex question.

5) The fact that our beliefs are 'underground' speaks for itself. Witchcraft has certainly gained a lot of interest in the past 20 years, but I have been taught that secrecy is part of our beliefs. Even though it is becoming more accepted, I feel that going around 'announcing' your religion or beliefs, is just way of looking for attention. You do not need to wear on the outside, what you feel on the inside.

Answer 4

1) I have been practicing Wicca for about 14 years.
2) I was raised Anglican, became a devout Roman Catholic in high school, and then an atheist in university. I was 29 when I became Wiccan.
3) I facilitate a monthly full moon group and am involved in teaching and outreach. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would consider myself a 9.
4) I believe that all Goddesses are aspects of one Goddess and all Gods are aspects of one God. The aspects of the Divine that I usually work with are Brigid, Isis, Bast, Herne, and Apollo.
5) In real life, no, not at all. I have been very fortunate in meeting people (both "on the street" and in the media) who are accepting of my beliefs. On the internet, especially here on Yahoo!Answers, it's a different story. Some of the things that are said about Wiccans and Pagans here are quite malicious.

Answer 5

I no longer consider myself Wiccan, but still a 'friend of the family' so to speak.

1) My Wiccan era was generally 1992-1999.

2) I gave up on my Christian upbringing around 1980, became a devout atheist and by the mid-80s softened into agnosticism. I was beginning a series of philosophical epiphanies that I did not equate with religion at all, but by 1990 I began reading about neopagan philosophies, and was struck by how they mirrored the same philosophies I'd developed on my own. I initially shied away from Wicca - I'm not a very ritualistic person - but I valued my time there; it was an important and fulfilling time for me. My path has since led into animism, and it's been a more solitary path.

3) "Devout" to me implies a level of blind faith. I'd say I am very dedicated, but very open minded. Religion of personal experience does not usually engender the sourt of "devout" emotions that religions dependent on second-hand revelation do, except in those who have yet to experience the difference.

4) Not as such, unless one considers the universe herself as a deity. Isis is a favorite of late, as an archetype through which to distill/personify the sacred aspect of the universe.

5) nope. But I do sometimes miss having a community of kindred spirits, as I had in Wicca.

Answer 6

I don't follow Witchcraft, I practice it. It's a craft. Also, I'm not Wiccan - yeah, I'm a non-wiccan Witch - there are many out there! Witch doesn't mean religion - there are no gods or goddesses with Witchcraft.

Now, many (not all, however. Though I would assume that by using the word "many" people would get that.) Wiccans use Magic with worship of their gods/goddesses. That's the thing about being Wiccan - you can or you don't. It doesn't matter. With my experience, I've found that you don't have to practice magic for ANY religion, but you can practice magic without a religion. I was a Witch way before I found religion. Understand the difference between Magic and Wicca?

As far as your religious questions, I never really left any faith to be a Heathen. I studied lots of different faiths but never called myself one. I actually wanted to understand the religion before I called myself a member (this is the one thing about Christianity that's my pet peeve - knowledge of the religion is not required!). I do not worship any one god/goddessmore than another - I haven't oathed to anyone in paticular. It's not a requirement either. But I consider myself very devout. Before I found Asatru, I knew what my ideas were, what I though about different religious aspects of life. Asatru happened to match them perfectly. I was Asatru though I didn't know it. Now I know the names of my gods and goddesses. I never let myself feel ridiculed for any reason. My gods are powerful and they make me more powerful and secure knowing them.

Answer 7

1) I'm not a witch but I am a pagan. The tradition (Denomination) is Asatru, otherwise known as Heathen.
2) I was born into the Catholic Church, went Born agian, went agnostic and then paganism found me. I studied Kemetic as a starting place (Egyptian) and then the gods of the Norse/Germanic called me.
3) You can't dabble in any path of paganism and say you practice. It's just not possible. It's an entire philosphy as well as a religion. It's a way of life and a different worldview. If you don't live it, you aren't practice. So I suppose that makes me pretty devout LOL
4) Pagans in general usually have a few "favorites". In some path you have "patron" gods or goddesses. In Heathenry you can oath to a god/ess which means they mediate in a way. You've been called by them, you are close to them, and they are usually included in most of your blots(rituals). I am not oathed, I feel no need to be. I am close to Freyja because she's fun and a lot like me, Frigga because I am a stay at home mother with three kids, Odin for personal reasons and I have a connection to Thor through one of my really good friends who IS oathed.
5) Not really. About 95% of my friends are pagans of some sort. The rest are Unitarian which means they don't really care. LOL My best friend ever (like since we were 11) is methodist and told me she didn't care who the hell I worshiped but she'd never seen me so at peace which was what was important to her. There are those who would and will judge me and mine. As long as they don't THREATEN me or mine, I don't care what they think. When you are peace with your choices I think everyone feels that way. I don't say anything unless some one asks because I dont' even think about it. My symbol is Thor's hammer, which most people don't recognize, not even other pagans LOL and on occasion the raven which no one connects.
email me if you have any other questions

Answer 8

1. I have been an Eclectic Wiccan for almost 15 years and have studied it for almost 20.

2. I left Christianity because I came to disbelieve in a number of its central tenets. I was seriously doubting before I had even heard of Wicca.

3. I don't participate in a lot of formal ceremony, if that's what you mean, although I do strongly believe in my gods.

4. Yes, there are two.

5. Well, we're regularly ridiculed on R&S, does that count? I can't recall a time I've been ridiculed in person, however. I've never felt ostracised for what I believe.

Answer 9

Here you go....

1~ Ive been studying since about February of this year.
2~ I had left mormonism a couple months before. I left because I realized I didnt believe anymore and the church conveniently "hides" the truth from its followers about its of lies.
3~ Im still in the early stages of learning and practicing. Im not super devout yet but hope to get very comfortable in my practice and with my spirituality.
4~ I dont have a specific one as Im very drawn to the Greek and Egyptian pantheons. So I choose to direct my thoughts and prayers to the Lord and Lady.
5~ No I havent but I dont have a ton of people I chat with about this except online.

Answer 10

I do not practice Witchcraft alone...it is intertwined with all the other things I study...but I can answer your questions

1) I started studying about 5 or 6 years ago...but have always felt a connection with it

2) I was not in another faith, although I did attend church with my grandma and dad...the people there always made me feel uncomfortable

3) I am very devout to FREE WILL

4) It depends on the situation and what you need...in each situation there is a god/dess that will be more dominate in that area...this subject can get a little complicated in knowing which one to use and when, so on...there are also different versions of god/desses..ex....maid, mother, crone

5) No...most times people just seem or act to be interested...at least to my face