|
This leaflet may be reproduced and
distributed exactly as-is, without further permission from the author,
provided it is offered free of charge. Changes in the text, however,
must be approved in advance by the author.
WICCA (sometimes called Wicce, The Craft, or The Old
Religion by its practitioners) is 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 Nature - 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-Wicca 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 Judeao-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.
|
