| Misconceptions & Basics |
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| Wicca derives from the Anglo and English words Witta, wicce, which is meant to mean Craft of the wise and also to bend and shape. It is a combination of pagan beliefs and Magick. It is modern withcraft (see thoughts on page, named past, present, future or -click here-) Wicca has been around since about 1950s' .Around 1952 the last of the witchcraft laws were repealed. But before the 1950s' Witchcraft has been around for centuries.It is an ancient practice whose rememenents are in the past, perhaps even dating to the stone age. People recieved there bounties from the Earth and sky, and realized the awsome creative and destructive forces behind them, which led many to worship, and use of the natural forces of nature, by using, Magick, which is composed of simple items such as the use of herbs,candles,stones, and nature, and manmade items. It is not easy to put wicca into words its more felt than explained. But in general terms wicca can be described a practice based on time honored practices that are pagan in origin. We view nature as divine, as the divine manifests in nature and also in ourselves. We view the divine as Female and male, potrayed as a Goddess and God, whom we give many names to each. Some people give prominance more to the goddess, even to the exclusion of the god. We embrace the use of maigck, the art to changing consciousness at will. What is Paganism? Paganism is an umbrella term describing the many groups of religions,which existed before christianity came to Europe. Pagan was a used to lump these people and there religions together Pagan means country dweller, and heathen meant from the hearth, literally meaning a person who used the earth ect. Thes pagan religions are diverse yet simailar because we are considered earth related religions or ways of life. We share common aspects such as respect for the Earth, and magick if used. These pagans were Witches, shamans, druids and many others who had their belief systems. So today we are usually lumped under the term of Paganism. So if one decides to look up Paganism she/he must consider the diverse religions/ways of life that are under the term. Do witches worship Satan? Witches/wiccans do not worship Satan and never did, becuase he is part of the christian religion. We do not believe in absolute evil. Indeed there are postive and negative forces about, which are put there by mankind, and their greediness, destruction, and disrespect.Certainly not from Demons, or Satan. There are creative and destructive forces in our world which create and shape it, but these are natural such, as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, birth, death and rebirth. The natural ebb of life. The gods of old became known as the devils of the new so to speak, to conform people to christianity. What is karma,threefold, and this White and Black Magick? Karma can be described as the sum of your actions. That is we are responisble for our own actions, we pay for them in this life or the next. There is no final judgement at a gate, or hell. Threefold is a common law of Magick that what one sends out, comes back three times stronger, whether good or ill. Respecting the earth means respecting oneself and the power of magick, to profoun it, is a travesty of all of what one beleives in. Harmony is not created by deliberate discord. Magick is neither black nor white, it is your intent which decides the magicks outcome.Magick stems from our will and desire. We must love and desire what we want to achieve. following a code of ethnics, known as the witches or Wiccan rede, An it harm none do what thou wilt." Or said vise versa is a common idea among wiccans. "A practitioner of negative magick, burns themselves out" "As we have seen the projection of personal energy in magick, is an expenditure of life force within." "Once a magician ect has wreaked metaphysical havoc, theres no turning back, the current is closed." "In programming personal energy with negativity, the magician,witch ect infuses herself/himself with negative power by inlocking it within, which paves the way for a life of darkness, and eventually an early grave. A good quote and reminder from Cunningham an author of Witchcraft/wicca and folk magick.Magick has no denomination, it can be paired with almost any religion in a responsible way. Even christians could practice the art of Magick. What is a Book of Shadows? A Book of Shadows is a personal book containing blessings, spells, poetry, even recipes and ideas. It saves time from having to look through our many books, to find a certian spell. Traditions of witches? witchcraft has slight differences there and here and everywhere, to suit the members of the craft. Many people call themselves a certain tradition to justify where they come from, such as a Scottish witch or Tuetonic Witch, ect. Witches also take the name of a tradition of a person who created it such, as Garnadian, and Alexandrian. Thats not to say the craft was created, it's to say these people were important and added many new ritual formats to the craft. Some witches prefer more ritual, some prefer more of the religious side of the craft. Because the craft is composed of belief and magick, some craft members may lean more heavily on one side. Witches see Diety Goddess/god in many ways there is not just one simple vision of them.The Goddess is called many names, like Astarte, Diana, Ceriwedden, Just like herne, cerunnos, osiris, are all names and aspects of our god. It�s a witches preferance, of what we choose to call the great mother and father. If the goddess or our god were to manifest in a circle every one there would see them differently. The goddess and god have no simple one vision, they manifest as we see them. Because of this each witch can call the goddess and god what they choose to feel comfortable and form a strong bond with them No one has the right to set a perfect vision of the goddess and god and set a perfect name for them, and expect people to conform with it. Some witches are Hereditary, that means the craft was past to them from generation to generation. Others are solitary, which means they don�t practice in Covens. Some witches write there own written rituals written for certain sabbaths. No one can write one thing the same way, or cast a circle the same way. Some witches may walk the perimeter three times using the elements to bless and purify the circle other witches may only walk it once or twice. Also there is the magick we use which there is a wide variety. Candle magick, color magick, healing, herbs ect. Some witches may expertise in one or all the areas of magick. You see we all utilize the craft in our own small ways. What is a correspondance? It Is what we use to work our magick by, such as colors, herbs, moon phases,and even planetary hours. What does the pentagram and pentagle mean? The pentacle is a unpright star within a circle. The five points represent earth air fire and water, the upmost representing spirit, also known as ether or akasha. Spirit is what holds us all together what makes us all of each other,that what is in everything, which is our great lady and lord. The circle represents protection. If we look closely we could say the star is a outstreched human sourrounded by the love and protection of the goddess and god. Never ending, ever lasting. The pentagram is a upright star without a circle. It represents the elements, and some use it as a symbol of the goddess, and in some traditions reverse it to represent the god, which in no means is Satanic. A symbol can mean what one wants it to be. The satanic symbol is a downright pentacle (in a circle) representing that the material world (physical plane) is more important than the spiritual one. Here is a a clip given from Rev. Bechles sermon on the truth about Witches, a very beautiful sermon given by a methodist. It's located as the first thing on that page. There is a picture of a church by it. Its in two parts when u play it the first part will play then stop and then the second part will come on automatically, just be patient.. ~clix here to listen ~ Note: The page i connect to containing this sermon is property and coyrighted by norm vogel and are linked to by permission. Be sure to check out his home page for great information at http://www.nvogel.com or connect to it from my persoanl page. |