Folkwitch's Pagan Garden

As Witches, we believe that all of Nature is a manifestation of Divinity or the Creative Forces, and everything in Nature has a spirit.
These Divine Creative Forces can be perceived as a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses.
As everything in Nature has its complement, so must it be with the Gods, as a polarity of male and female, spirit and matter, God and Goddess.
As Nature proceeds in the cycles of the seasons, so must we be born to die and be born again.
By actively participating in these natural cycles through ritual, we can attune ourselves to the Creative Forces that flow through us, to live happy, creative and productive lives, for our own benefit and that of the planet.
~Source Unknown

Graphic by Folkwitch

The pentagram, or 5 pointed star, represents the four Elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, and the fifth Element, Spirit.
In general, Witchcraft (also popularly known as Wicca) is a nature-based religion, which honors the cycles of the Earth, the spirit in all living things, and personifies deity as the Goddess and God.

Most witches:

Practice rites to attune themselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon, and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.
Seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary framework.
Acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person.
Conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity -as masculine and feminine- and that this same creative Power lives in all people, and and functions through the interaction of masculine and feminine, which are supportive of each other. (Some witches prefer to focus their energy on the Goddess alone. More about this later)
Recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds- sometimes known as the Spiritual World, Collective Unconscious, etc.- and see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical exercises. Balance in both dimensions is necessary for fulfillment.
Do not recognize authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
See religion, magic, 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.
Are aware that calling oneself " witch " does not make one a " Witch ", and neither does heredity, the collection of titles, degrees or initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within herself (or himself) that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with nature.
Acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, and to our personal role within it.
Recognize that religion is a highly personal issue, and do not deny the freedom of religious choice to others, or seek to oppress other ways of practice or belief.
Do not accept the concept of " absolute evil ", worship or believe in any entity known as " satan " or the " devil " as defined by Christian traditions. Witches neither seek power through the suffering or control of others, nor attempt to compromise or manipulate another's free will.
Work within Nature for that which contributes to health and well-being.
Follow the principle: An' it harm none, do what you will, and believe that any harm you do, will be returned to you threefold.

~ adapted from Silver Ravenwolf

The Goddess is the Universal Mother. She is the source of fertility, endless wisdom and loving caresses. She is often of three aspects: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone, symbolized in the waxing, full and waning Moon. She is at once the unploughed field, the full harvest, and the dormant, frost-covered Earth. She gives birth to abundance.
The Goddess is nature, all nature, both the Temptress and the Crone; the tornado and the fresh spring rain, the cradle and the grave. Though she is possessed of both natures, she is largely revered as the giver of fertility, love and abundance, though her darker side is acknowledged as well. We see her in the moon, the soundless, ever-moving sea, and in the green growth of the first spring. She is the embodiment of fertility and love. The Goddess has been known as the Queen of Heaven, Mother of the Gods that Made the Gods, the Divine Source, the Universal Matrix, Mother Earth, and by countless other names.
Many symbols are used to honor Her, such as the cauldron, cup, labrys, five petaled flowers, the mirror, necklace, seashell, pearl, silver, emerald, to name a few. She has dominion over the Earth, sea and moon, Her creatures are varied and numerous. A few include the rabbit, bear, owl, cat, dog, bat, goose, cow, dolphin, lion, horse, wren, scorpion, spider and bee. All are sacred to the Goddess.
The Goddess has been depicted as a huntress running with Her hound; a celestial deity striding across the sky with stardust falling from her heels; the eternal Mother heavy with child; the weaver of our lives and deaths; a Crone walking by waning moonlight and many other beings. But no matter how we envision her, She is omnipresent, changeless and eternal. ~Scott Cunningham

The God has been revered for eons, as the Universal Father Sky. We see the God in the sun, brilliantly shining overhead during the day, rising and setting in the endless cycle which governs our lives. Without the Sun we could not exist; therefore it has been revered as the source of all life, the warmth that bursts the dormant seeds into life and hastens the greening of the Earth after the cold snows of winter.
The God is also tender or wild animals. As the Horned God, He is sometimes seen wearing horns on His head, symbolizing His connection with these beasts. In earlier times, hunting was one of the activities thought to be ruled by the God.
The God's domains include forests untouched by human hands, burning deserts and towering mountains. The stars, since they are but distant suns, are sometimes thought to be under His domain. The yearly cycle of greening, maturation and harvest has long been associated with the Sun, hence the solar festivals of Europe, which are still observed by pagans.
The God is the fully ripened harvest, intoxicating wine pressed from grapes, golden grain waving in a lone field, shimmering apples hanging from verdant boughs on October afternoons. With the Goddess He also celebrates and rules sex. Symbols often used to depict or to worship the God include the sword, horns, spear, candle, gold, brass, diamond, the sickle, arrow, trident, knife and others. Creatures sacred to Him include the bull, dog, snake, fish, stag, dragon, wolf, boar, eagle, falcon, shark, and lizard, just to name a few.
~Scott Cunningham

Earth

Rules: Mystery, growth, fertility, abundance, healing
Gender: Female
Direction: North
Season: Winter
Time of Day: Night
Moon Phase: New
Senses:Touch
Manifestation: Declining
Colors: Black, brown, tan, green
Chakras: The 1st, or root, chakra
Tools: Pentacle, coin, disk, salt, soil, stone
Animals: bull, human, bear, stag, wolf, earth bound creatures
Celestial Body: The Earth
Astrological Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Air

Rules: Intellect, communication, wisdom, concentration, memory
Gender: Male
Direction: East
Season: Spring
Time of Day: Dawn
Moon Phase: Waxing
Senses: Hearing, smell
Manifestation: Beginning
Colors: Light blue, silver, white, yellow
Chakras: The fourth, or heart chakra
Tools: Athame, sword, incense, bell
Animals: Eagle, raven, bat, bird, winged insects
Celestial Body: Stars
Astrological Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Fire

Rules: Energy, purification, courage, will, creativity
Gender: Male
Direction: South
Season: Summer
Time of Day: Noon
Moon Phase: Full
Senses: Sight
Manifestation: Increasing
Colors: red, yellow, orange, gold
Chakras: Third chakra at the Solar Plexus
Tools: Staff, wand, stick, burning candle, flames
Animals: Lion, ram, phoenix, dragon
Celestial Body: Sun
Astrological Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Water

Rules: Emotions, unconscious, intuition, the inner self, reflection
Gender: Female
Direction: West
Season: Autumn
Time of Day: Dusk
Moon Phase: Waning
Senses: Taste
Manifestation: Culmination
Colors: Blue, green, turquoise, indigo, purple
Chakras: The second chakra at the navel/abdomen
Tools: Chalice, cup, cauldron, bowl, urn, mirror
Animals: fish, dolphin, swan, crab, water dwelling creatures
Celestial Body: Moon
Astrological Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

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