Class One: Brief History of Paganism, Witchcraft and Wicca
History of Paganism and Witchcraft
Paganism and witchcraft can be traced back around 200,000 years ago to the cave paintings and statues of the Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures. The cave paintings suggest that these people did simple, primative magicks, like sympathetic magick. Sympathetic magick is the concept of draw, focus, act out, and accomplish. An example would be this: a group of people are going to go out on a hunt to help provide for their people for the upcoming winter months. The people would all get together to have a large ceremony. There would be dancing and singing. They would paint a large picture on the cave wall of a successful hunt, and then they would act out the steps of having the successful hunt. They would then think that since they acted out all of these things and acted out a successful outcome, this would then happen. Also, in some cave paintings it is evidenced that their was a matriarchy, or worship of a female deity. Another example of this is the Venus of Willendorf, a statue that was found and is believed to be the oldest representation of a mother-like deity. The mother-like deity representations usually have a defined pubic V, large hips and breasts, and generally have no other definition to them.
During the spread of Christianity, many things happened to the Pagan people. Their temples were taken over by Christians and converted in Christian temples or destroyed. There were some things, such as pentacles and gargoyles, that were left in these new 'churches' so that conversion would be easier for pagans. Most of the Christian holidays are adopted from Pagan holidays as well, just changed around here and there to suit Christianity. As time went on, if Pagans were found not converting to Christianity, they were scared or threatened into conversion. If they didn't convert, they were hung, tortured and killed. Those who refused to convert to Christianity usually took their own life. Even though Christians did begin the Burning Times and used torture and murder, pagans were not innocent. They did attack small Christian groups because they were outraged by the disrespect to their Goddess. By the end of the rise of Christianity, Pagans were forced to practice in total secrecy, sometimes not even telling family or close friends. They used burnable materials for tools and books and they were writing most of their information in made up or secret scripts to keep others from reading it. Due to this secrecy, most of what was known was lost. Some information managed to be passed down, but most of it was no longer intact.
History of Wicca
In 1951, the Witchcraft laws were repealed in England. After this happened, a man named Gerald Gardner began the new movement of Wicca. Wicca, which means 'craft of the wise' is an attempt to recreate ancient fertility religions. It is very ecclectic in nature, taking information from ancient and new traditions and blending them with the person's own interpretations to form a religion that is personal to them. Gardner started his own tradition, the Gardnerian tradition, also. There is an abundance of information on this religion, so it won't be mentioned here in detail. Raymond Buckland, who was a student of Gardner's in England, is responsible for bringing Wicca to the United States. Through the efforts of Gardner, Buckland, and several other occultists, the religion of Wicca was born.
Here is a little bit of infomation about wicca. It is a spiritual religion that worships the Earth, which includes the changing of the seasons and one that worships fertility. Most Wiccans believe that the Earth is our Mother. It is comprised of many different beliefs of the individual. A good thing to keep in mind is that most Wiccans are witches but not all witches are Wiccan. Nudity is accepted but is not required. It is important to celebrate the union of the Goddess and God also. Another important fact is that Wicca is a way of life. It is not just something you read or do occassionally, it is something you live every day. It can also be practiced in groups or alone and a teacher is not necessary to dedicate or initiate. One thing that wicca isn't is a giant orgie.There are not group orgies, and we don't get together to have sex with those in our group. You also do not have to sleep with a Priest or Priestess to become a member of a group. Wiccans do not worship the devil. We don't even believe in a devil. And they are also not anti-Christian. Everyone has the right to their own religion. Another important point is that money is not required. You should not have to pay for teaching or to be a member of the religion, but there may be some fees occassionally for supplies. Use your judgement here. If you feel that you are not paying for something needed or useful, voice that concern. Another important thing to remember is that there are no sacrifices in this religion.
The American Witches Act
Several years later, in 1974, the Council of American Witches gathered together and created a set of Principles of the Wiccan Belief. The principles are as follows:
- We practice rites to attune oursleves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal quarters and cross quarters.
- We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
- We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that 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.
- We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity-as masculine and feminine-and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure and as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.
- We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other's seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
- We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given themselves in leadership.
- We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it-a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft-The Wiccan Way.
- Calling oneself 'Witch' does not make a Witch-but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.
- We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our personal role within it.
- Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is the the extent that its institutions have claimed to be the only way and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress others ways of religious practice and belief.
- As American 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 and future.
- We do not accept to concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as 'Satan' or 'the Devil', as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
- We believe that we should see within Nature that which is contributory to our health and well being.
This well known document presents guidelines to covens and solitary practitioners alike to follow. Remember how you act and what you say not only reflects you and your tradition, but it also reflects Witches and Pagans everywhere!
Summerland and Reincarnation
There are several different beliefs in reincarnation.
In Celtic pagan beliefs your spirit went to the nearest living thing and manifested in it-as time went on they believed that you could be reborn if a woman was having a baby at the time of your death-they believed that time was not linear (we could be in two places at one time).
They believed that you could live up to three lives at one time.
Celts did not believe that if you were bad you degressed or if you were good you progressed.
Native Americans believed in your body taking on an animal.
They believed that the spirit left the body through the eyes.
The Neolithic and Paleolithic people would cover their dead with menstrual blood because it was considered the life blood and would help you be reborn.
Buddhists and Hindus will put their dead in boats and set them on fire and push them off into the water and have white lanterns floating in the water.
It is believed that you ascend to another level when you have learned and taught all your lessons-once this happened you were considered an angel.
Look up the poem called Rainbow Bridge. It is annonymous and some speculate that is was written by the divine-talks about what happens when animals die.
Traditional Wiccan and Pagan Writings
These are the most popular and widely known pagan writings.
To Know, To Dare......
- Know who you are and what you are doing. You have to know the rules. You must know what magickal rites you are going to be doing. And you must know your intention.
- Dare to do what you are planning. Do you dare follow through?
- Will the magick to happen. Do you have the ability and the will to follow through? Can you will your energy to make it happen?
- Keep silent and not brag or boast about what you have done. You don't take your magick for granted, but you sit back quietly, watch, and know what you are growing.
In this chapter there are traditional Wiccan and Pagan writings. These are some that you should memorize, learn what they mean, how they affect you, what they mean to you and what you should do with them.
13 Goals of a Witch
- Know thyself.
- Know your Craft.
- Learn.
- Apply knowledge with wisdom.
- Achieve balance.
- Keep your words in good order.
- Keep your thoughts in good order.
- Celebrate life.
- Attune with the cycles of the Earth.
- Breathe and eat correctly.
- Exercise the body.
- Meditate.
- Honor the Goddess and God.
4 Rules of a Witch
- To Know.
- To Will.
- To Dare.
- To Keep Silent.
Wiccan Law
Harm None, Do What Ye Will.
Short Version of the Wiccan Rede
Bide the Wiccan Law ye must, In perfect love and perfect trust. Eight words the Rede fulfuill, An ye harm none, do what ye will. Ever mind the rule of three, What you send out comes back to thee. Follow this with mind and heart, An Merry Ye Meet and Merry Ye Part! Blessed Be!
Witches Creed by Doreen Valiente
Hear now the words of the Witches, The Secrets we hide in the night, When dark was our destiny's pathway, That now we bring forth into night.
Mysterious water and fire, The earth and wide-ranging air, By hidden quintessence we know them, And will and keep silent and dare.
The birth and rebirth of all nature, The passing of winter and spring, We share with life universal, Rejoice in the magickal ring.
Four times in the year the Great Sabbat Returns, And the Witches are seen, At Lammas and Candlemass dancing, On May's Eve and Ole Hallowe'en.
When day-time and night-time are equal, When sun is at greatest and least, The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, And withces gather to feast.
Thirteen silver moons in a year are, Thirteen is the coven's array, Thirteen times at Esbats make merry, For each golden year and a day.
The power that was passed down the age, Each time between woman and man, Each century unto the other, Ere times and ages between.
When drawn the magickal circle, By sword or Athame of power, It's compass between two worlds lie, In land of the shades for that hour.
This world has no right to know it, And world of beyond will tell naught, The oldest of Gods are ivoked there, The Great Magick is wrought.
For the two are mystical pillars, That stand at the gate of the shrine, And two are the powers of nature, The forms and the forces divine.
The dark and the light in succession, The opposites each unto each, Shown forth as a God and a Goddess, Of this our ancestors teach.
By Night he's the wild wind's rider, The Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades, By day he's the King of the Woodland, The dweller in green forest glades.
She is youthful or old as she pleases, She sails the torn clouds in her barque, The bright silver lady of midnight, The Crone who weaves spells in the dark.
The master and mistress of magick, That dwells in the deeps of the mind, Immortal and ever-renewing, With power to free or to bind.
So drink the good wine to the Olde Gods, And dance and make love in their praise, Till Elphame's fair land shall recieve us, In peace at the end of our days.
And do what you will be the challenge, So be it Love that harms none, For this is the only commitment, By Magick of old, be it Done!
The Charge of the Goddess
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of olde was named Artemis, Astarte, Diane, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Arianhod, Brigid, and by many other names:
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me, who is Queen of all the Wise.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth. For my law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen that is the holy grail of immortality.
I give the knowledge of spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth.
Hear also the words of the Star Goddess, the dust whose feet are the hosts of the heavens, whose body encircles the universe: I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold-all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery; for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire!
Homework
Write a one page paper on what the Charge of the Goddess means to you.
Write a one page paper on why you chose to become Wiccan or Pagan.
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