WICCA
*Wicca
is an unending path of light, magic, love, and constant learning.
We revere nature and see the true divine beauty of the universe.
It's is about recognizing that we all have the ability to take
our fate into our own hands, and we have the right to choose how
we use that power. There is no bible and no prophet. Our only
rule is a simple and logical one: "An it harm none, do as ye
will".
Wicca is an earth religion based on ancient (even prehistoric)
paganism. Wicca itself is relatively new, a reconstruction
loosely based on old religion and early witchcraft. Its roots are
hard to trace because of persecution, which caused people and
records to be hidden or destroyed. Most Wiccans worship the
Goddess and the God. They have thousands of names given to their
many aspects by various cultures. **Each name given to the
Goddess and God in old mythology represents a different facet of
the Goddess and the God's personality. Today, we invoke them by
the name that is most appropriate for the purpose.
Wicca is based on the concept of natural and essential
equilibrium. All things have spiritual "life"- people,
animals, plants, and even stones. Everything is part of a
delicate balance of light and dark, day and night, good and evil,
male and female. Even the Goddess and the God are both creators
and destroyers. They give life, nurture it, and eventually take
it away. This cycle is seen in the seasons and in the cycle of
the moon, and is often symbolized by the Triple Goddess- Maiden,
Mother, and Crone. The mother creates, the maiden develops, and
the crone eventually fades away. We see this each month when the
moon is a sliver, then grows to be full, and then becomes a
sliver and fades away, before beginning again. Because of this,
the emblem of the triple goddess is a full moon with a crescent
on each side.
We do not believe that Wicca is the only valid religion, nor do
we try to convert people to Wicca. It is an open-minded path and
there are many traditions, which offer different rules and ways
to follow the religion. But many of us are "eclectic",
and choose what elements of paganism we wish to incorporate in
our practices as a Wiccan. ***One might choose to include things
they learned from studying Buddhism, Asatru, Santeria, Baha'i,
etc. into their tradition, if they are eclectic. (There are,
however, some limitations that come about with non-pagan
religions.
We are not Satanists. In fact, we do not believe in Satan or a
supreme evil, nor do we believe in hell. Let's just clear up a
few misconceptions about witchcraft while we are on the topic. We
do not sacrifice animals or people. We are not trying to become
gods. Love spells, revenge spells, and hexes are not a practice
supported by the Wiccan rede. We do not run around in black
pointy hats and cloaks, turn people into toads, or fly on brooms.
Never believe what you see in Hollywood; it's probably wrong or
exaggerated for interest. Magic is more complicated and has a
more subtle nature. Merely pointing a finger will not give
someone a fatal disease or knock down a tree. Some of us do have
special abilities- telekinesis, psychic power, shapeshifting. But
these takes years and years of concentrated study and practice
and are incredibly rare to see. Wicca is not about easy answers!
Don't be in any big hurry to convert to Wicca. There is no
instant way to "become" Wiccan, it's the result of
learning and growing into it. There is no initiation ritual that
can give you all the knowledge in the world in a few minutes.
Study, practice, advance. You'll get there!
The most valuable advice I can give to the beginner is read,
read, read. Learn from the wisdom of others. Learn to listen to
yourself, as well... you already know a lot about Wicca, you just
don't realize it. Once you begin down the path, you will
recognize many of the landmarks along the way. You are more
familiar with the God and Goddess than you might think.
Notes:
Note *: This law is stated in the Wiccan Rede, the basic tenet of
the Wiccan religion. This means that one may do whatever they
wish, as long as it is not done with the intent to harm a person,
animal, place, or thing. The follow-up to this basic rule is the
threefold law, which states that whatever you give out is
returned to you threefold, whether it's positive or negative.
Note **: For more information on gods and goddesses of various
cultures, please visit .
Note ***: To fully understand why non-pagan religions are
incompatible with Wicca, first you should know that Wicca belongs
to a branch of paganism called neopaganism (or "new
paganism"). So, every Wiccan is pagan (though not every
pagan is necessarily Wiccan). Paganism is defined by the
dictionary as any religious belief not Christian, Muslim, or
Jewish. Because of this, the concept of a "Wiccan
Christian" becomes technically convoluted.
THE BASIC
PRINCIPLES
We therefore ask
only that those who seek to identify with us accept these few
basic principles:
1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm
of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon & the
seasonal quarters & cross-quarters.
2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us unique
responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony
with Nature, inecological balance offering fulfillment to life
& consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is 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 & feminine -
& that this same creative Power lives in all people, &
functions through the interaction of the masculine &
feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be
supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the
symbol & embodiment of Life, & as one of the sources of
energies used in magickal practices & religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds & inner, or psychological
worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective
Unconscious & Inner Planes, etc. & we see in the
interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal
phenomena & magickal 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
& wisdom, & acknowledge those who have courageously given
of themselves in leadership.
7. We see religion, magick, & wisdom-in-living as being
united in the way one views the world & lives within it - a
world view & philosophy of life, which we identify as
Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way.
8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch - but
neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles,
degrees & initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces
within herself/himself that makes life possible in order to live
wisely & well, without harm to others, & in harmony with
Nature.
9. We acknowledge that it is the affirmation & fulfillment of
life, in a continuation of evolution & development of
consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, &
to our personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other
religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its
institutions have claimed tobe "the one true right &
only way" & have sought to deny freedom to others &
to suppress other ways of religious practices & belief.
11. As 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, & 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 Christian Tradition. We do
not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept
the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial
to another.
13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our
health & well-being.
Wiccans follow a
basic law called the Wiccan Rede.
The idea of the law is to that you can do whatever you want, as
long as it doesn't hurt anyone- including yourself. Since the
Wiccan Rede is the spine of Wicca, every action you take must
adhere to it. The basis of the rule is ethics. Ethics must be
taken into consideration in every decision, most especially when
it comes to writing and casting spells. Spells must never
manipulate someone to make them think or feel a certain way, and
they must never cause psychological or physical damage.
A common misconception is that one can cast a love spell at will
to cause someone to love you involuntarily. This is a violation
of the Wiccan Rede and is, in fact, often considered black
magick. It manipulates the will of the individual being targeted.
There are intricacies to love magick... you can cast a spell to
draw a willing person to you, but you cannot cast a spell to
force a specific person to love you.
Since we've been leading up to it, here it is- the Wiccan Rede.
Make sure you understand it thoroughly before continuing. It's an
essential piece of information to help understand all aspects of
The Craft- why we do certain things and not others.
This poem known as the Wiccan Rede today was written by Adriana
Porter who died in 1946.
THE WICCAN REDE
Bide
the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Live
and let live -
fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch -
speak ye little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon -
sing and dance the Wiccan Rune.
Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady's Moon is new,
kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the Moon rides at Her peak,
then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale -
lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
When the West wind blows o'er thee,
departed spirits restless be.
* Nine woods in the Cauldron go -
burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady's tree -
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn,
let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned a Yule,
lighty the Log and let Pan rule.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree -
by the Lady blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
When ye are in dire need,
hearken not to others' greed.
With the fool no season spend,
or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part -
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
When misfortune is enow,
wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ever be,
unless thy lover's false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill -
an ye harm none, do what ye will.
* "Nine woods" in the rede is probably referring to the
9 woods commonly used in a balefire: rowan, dogwood, mesquite,
poplar, oak, juniper, pine, cedar, and apple.
The Four Rules and the Law of White Witchcraft
(This is an abbreviated version of the rules and laws according
to Torin.)
The Four Rules:
I. Live - Live each day as if it were your last, for one day you
will be right.
II. Love - Love yourself first and foremost. For when you truly
love yourself, loving those around you will come as easily as
breathing - and we all must breathe.
III. Learn - Learn your life's lessons - each as it comes - for
that is the reason we are here.
IV. Enjoy - Enjoy your life, because if you do not most likely
someone else will enjoy it for you... and then your time here
will have been wasted.
The Law: Harm None.
Blessed be!