Below is from a pamphlet some of the members of my former coven compiled. The coven is no more, but I think they did a great job. I no longer consider myself Wiccan, but this is still good information.
The
Religion that is…
Wicca
It
is an Earth-based religion. Incorporating nature into the beliefs to help
protect and care for Mother Earth.
Wicca
is a very diverse religion. It honors many deities mostly depending on
the season or reason for ritual.
Rituals
are in a sense the same as Christian’s worship, prayer, and singing in church.
When
did Wicca become a religion you ask? Well, it has been around since the
ancient times, but has not always been known by that name.
You
may even have Wiccan neighbors and not even realize it. We come from all
walks of life.. nurses, doctors, lawyers, cashiers at Wal-Mart, stay-at-home
parents. You name it they can be Wiccan.
If
you want to get legal about it, here we go… In the year of 1985, Wicca
became a recognized religion in the United States. Dettmer vs. Landon
which was heard in the District Court of Virginia ruled that Wicca is a
legitimate religion and falls within a recognizable religious category.
In 1986, the Federal Appeals court judge Butzner affirmed the decision of the
District Court of Virginia.
Now,
you may have heard the word Pagan or Paganism. Some people use Wicca
& Pagan interchangeably, while some think they are two different
things.
The
term Pagan was originally defined as “country dweller” and was considered an
insult to those who worshiped the old gods and goddesses as the Roman Empire
converted to Christianity. Now, in modern times Pagan is an umbrella term
covering all religions that are not monotheistic. Just because you are
Pagan does not mean you are Wiccan, but all Wiccans are Pagan. Just like
not all Christians are Catholic, but all Catholics are Christian.
Wiccans
do not believe in the Christian devil. We do have a horned god, named
Pan, which many mistake as the Devil with his horns and tail. However,
our god does not punish people by making them spend an eternity in Hell.
We
don’t sacrifice animals or little children. Those things would be against
the law (both pagan and general) and most pagans do their best to follow the
law. We believe the intent that is put into something will come back to
you multiplied three times. This is called the 3-fold law. So, if
you mean harm to someone or something, you will be harmed at some point three times
as bad.
It
has been pretty much accepted that Gerald Gardener is the “father” of the
modern Wiccan movement. In 1954, he wrote a book entitled “Witchcraft
Today” in which he said that he was initiated into a coven called the New
Forest Coven.
However,
many Wiccans today are not held to the rigid standards described by Gardener in
his books. They are eclectic because everyone defines their own
path. Some follow the Celtic path, some the Norse path, and some a Middle
Eastern path.
So,
why are so many people interested in Wicca? Well, a widely held belief is
that people today are getting tired of being told that God is masculine.
People have started to recognize that everything has a feminine side as
well. Some groups do go to the complete opposite end of the spectrum and
honor only female deities. The traditions associated with only female
deities are usually Dianic covens. Most Wiccans generally choose to honor
both aspects.
We
also follow what is known as The Wheel of the Year. This usually starts
on what some call the Wiccan New Year, commonly known as Samhain
(sow-when). It is observed on October 31st. At this
time, the veil between the living world and those who have passed is the
thinnest. It is a time of honoring and receiving guidance from those no
longer with us.
Then
comes Yule. It is not observed on a specific day, it falls on the first
day of winter generally. It also celebrates the longest night.
Next
is Candlemas or Brigid’s Day. This is the time when we welcome the return
of the light after the long nights of winter. This is always on February
2nd.
Ostara
is celebrated on the spring equinox. This celebration welcomes Spring and
the fertility of Mother Earth.
Beltane
is a fertility sabbat that is held on the eve of May Day or May 1st.
Summer
solstice is just that.. the first day of summer. You may also hear
this referred to as Midsummer’s Eve.
Lammas
is the celebration of the first harvest and takes place August 1st.
Lastly,
is the autumn equinox. Mother Earth is giving of her last harvest and
prepares to sleep for the winter.
Please
note that four of the celebrations are “floating” days and they fall on the
first day of each season. These are known as the Minor Sabbats or
holidays. The other four are the Major Sabbats.
Wicca
also looks at the two aspects of the day (day & night) much as we look at
the two aspects of deity (goddess & god). We also can use the phases
of the moon for spellwork or simply for connecting to nature.
Yes,
we do cast spells. Nevertheless, we do not believe in taking away another
person’s free will. That means we do not cast a spell to make John Doe
fall in love with us even though he is married to Jane.
Our
spells can be compared to a Christian’s prayer. We are simply asking the proper
deity to hear our request and grant it if they so choose.
Now,
this is a VERY simplified overview of what Wicca is. Most of us have
studied for a long time and will continue to do so for a long time yet.
This
lifestyle choice is not always easy and should not be done to freak someone
out. It should be considered carefully.
BUT,
If
this sounds like something you might be interested in, we can help you.
We do require that you be of age and willing to do some work. We do not
just hand you a bunch of papers and say, “OK, you’re Wiccan.’’
Blessed Be!!!
REFERENCES:
“When Someone You Love
Is Wiccan-A Guide to Witchcraft and Paganism for Concerned Friends, Nervous
Parents, and Curious Coworkers” Carl McColman
http://www.wyldwytch.com/weavings/articles/pagan_path/pages/gerald_gardner.htm
“The Complete
Idiot’s Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft” Denise Zimmerman and Katherine A.
Gleason
http://www.sabbatarian.com/Paganism/PaganHolidays.html
Distributed by
Seekers of Gaea coven
102 E. 5th Street
Marshfield, WI 54449
www.freewebs.com/seekersofgaea
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