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Wicca
Wicca is a belief system introduced by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's and loosely based on the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions. Wicca is a spiritual path that affirms the existence of supernatural powers (magic) and of both male and female gods who are inherent in nature. All practitioners of Wicca are witches, but not all witches are practitioners of Wicca. Wicca refers to the recognized religion but is not the sole example of pagan beliefs. The one discernible difference between Wicca and other various pagan paths is the practitioners strict adherence to the Wiccan Rede.
482 Questions
Are there afro american wicca?
As Wicca is a religion focusing not on race, but on the belief structures of the individual, there is not (to my knowledge) a specific African-American Wicca.
If you are asking if there is a participation by African-Americans in wicca, then the answer is yes.
What do candles black signify?
Black candles can signify many different things. They are mostly associated with rites and spells regarding the death of an individual (not necessarily something negative) They are associated with the sabbat Samhain. They are also at times used for magickal workings of a negative nature. All colors and shades have a believed vibration that makes them unique to use in certain circumstances, however, should you feel that black represents love to you as opposed to using pink or red (which are commonly used "love" colors) than by using the commonly accepted color in lieu of the color you feel is most appropriate you are hindering your working. To sum it up, it is all about your personal interpretation and not really what the masses believe about something.
What does a wiccan and half moon symbolize?
Since prehistoric times the phases of the Moon have been associated with the fertility periods in a woman's life. It doesn't hurt that the female estrus cycle is approximately the same as the lunar synodic cycle.
A waxing Moon (the crescent that looks like a "D" - without the straight part - and increases ["waxes'] towards full) represents the Maiden, or female who has not yet started her menses (cannot bear children); the Full Moon is the Mother and the waning or declining Moon (looks like a "C") stands for the Crone, the woman who is past childbearing and is now looked to for guidance and wisdom.
Sometimes all three Moons are displayed together and this is associated with Hecate, the Triple Goddess.
Sometimes, of course, the author of the display is only marginally informed and many have come to think of the crescent Moon as just meaning "women" (in the Days of the Outhouse, the ventilation hole in the door was often in a crescent for the Ladies and a pentagram (five-pointed star) for the Gents).
Can you use tea light candles in a wiccan ritual?
Tealight candles are fine. You can use any materials you have to hand. They do not have to be elaborate. A simple white tealight will substitute for most candles.
Wicca has two major laws - the Wiccan Rede, and the Rule of Three-fold.
The Wiccan Rede states that as long as we don't harm anyone, we can do what we want. That might sound like we can walk around and wreak havoc, but you've got to think things through. Stealing would, in the end, end up hurting somebody.
The Rule of Three-fold basically says that whatever we do comes back to us in three-fold. It's sort of like karma. Do something good, you'll be rewarded with thrice as much. Do something bad, it'll come back to you three times worse.
Wiccans believe that there are two deities - a God and a Goddess. Every god or goddess that has ever been in existence; especially the ones from mythology; are part of the God and the Goddess. They're not all good like the single Christian God is - they've got both bad and good qualities.
There is no bible; most, if not every, Wiccans have their own Book of Shadows. It's basically a book in which you write all about spells, prayers and other such things that are important to, and appeal to, YOU. It's very personal, and to look through one without permission is a serious offense.W
According to the Wiccan Credo which type of wood should never be burnt?
Elder wood should never be burned, because it is sacred to the Goddess.
What do wiccan believe about organ donations?
This is dependent upon the persons own perspective of organ donations.
Is there any wicca covens in belfast?
Unfortunately not all covens are online and very few covens actively advertise for new members.
A quick look at Wiccan Meetups, showed nothing for Belfast, however there is an Irish Pagan Federation who would be the best people to aid you:
In Wicca can you use regular candles or do you need special ones?
Beeswax candles are most often used but regular dollar store candles are fine.
These candles are blessed "en mass" or in bulk during the ritual of Candlemass.
Colors of the candles play a big part of the rituals with various colors burned for different blessings.
What does Do What You Will in the wicca rede mean?
It means exactly what it says do what you will, but remember it comes back threefold. Think of it just like Karma, what goes around comes around.
What are the similarities between most Christian beliefs and Dianic Wicca?
Very interesting question. (You probably should refer to Dianic Wicca in Wikipedia.)
Looking for similarities between Dianic Wicca and common Christianity, one might consider the close similarity of high Holy Days, with Samhain corresponding to the Feast of All Saints, Winter Solstice with Christmas, Spring Equinox with Easter and so forth. This correspondence is not accidental, because the Christian Liturgical Calendar is based on both Hebrew and pre-Christian religious cycles relating to the annual agricultural, lunar and solar cycles.
Another interesting similarity is the figure of the Madonna and Child. In Wicca, this figure is the Goddess and her Son, with the Goddess being the greater deity. Christian tradition reversed this figure, interpreting it as the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ, with the Child being the dominant Deity.
You can't expect an answer from someone else, other than Loreena McKennitt Ii she has not openly declared her religion.
Wiccans don't point out another Wiccan because it is not a right thing to do according to Wicca. Even if someone knows the answer, they wouldn't say that in public. It is about the oath of secrecy, that one have to keep the confidentiality of fellow Wiccans if they don't want to openly declare there religion. This applied to any Wiccan who chooses to keep their religion a secret.
You have to ask the question from Ms. McKennitt herself.
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I'm a new person commenting. Loreena seems especially open-minded and I imagine she's someone who believes that faith communities know "truths" about the world but no one has a monopoly on Truth. Somewhere I heard that Loreena attended a Christian church (I believe it was part of the Anglican Communion) in Canada and was participating in a Christmas event there. If she is Christian, this would readily explain her Christmas CDs which include songs such as the "Coventry Carol" (about the massacre of the innocents by Herod) and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
Can a solitary wiccan get tax exemption?
I don't believe a group of Wiccan would either. And, understand, an Arch-Bishop...or Rabbi....or whatever is NOT tax exempt either. Nor is a grop of them. They are taxable on their incomes and purchases pretty much just like anyone else (a few special handlings....like a Priest living in the Rectory doesn't have to pay income tax on the value of the living quarters provided), but when he buys razor blades, or toilet paper for his own use...it's taxable...and if he wins at the bingo night, it's taxable....and the money one may collect for providing a marriage cermony..is taxed (just like it would be to Elvis in Vegas). Your confusing that it is RELIGION that generally isn't taxed...not someone who may (or may not) be religious.
Who is the main wiccan goddess?
When you say Goddess in Wicca, there is one single Goddess who is the earth mother Gaia. She is the Great mother of the Horned God.
Death/funeral rituals vary.
Burial, cremation, cryogenics, donation of the remains for science, however the body is processed is an individual choice among pagans (Wiccans included). There is no set way to mark this transition is your path.
There are also many ways in which the transition is celebrated. It would be best to check with the family or the will of the deceased for instruction.
Wiccans and Wiccan-inspired Neopagans celebrate a variation of Beltane as a Sabbat, one of the eight solar holidays. Although the holiday may use features of the Gaelic Beltane, such as the bonfire, it is more alike the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as maypole dancing). Some Wiccans celebrate "High Beltaine" by enacting a ritual union of the May Lord and May Lady.
Among the Wiccan Sabbats, Beltane is a cross-quarter day; it is celebrated in the northern hemisphere on 1 May and in the southern hemisphere on 1 November. Beltane follows Ostara and precedes Midsummer.
How do you take away another witches power?
With a binding spell of course...thats all i dare say though....unless u wish to use it for good and not revenge....
What is the traditional wiccan ceremony?
Start by deciding what the purpose of your ceremony is.
Research the ritual, the time (moon house & phase, pantheon & gods, and the other needful things (tools, colours, candles, incense, etc) to perform it.
Write your ritual (even if you are using one borrowed from a book, write it out in your own hand writing in your own Book of Shadows); gather your needful things; invite those you wish to participate/observe (if you want to); cleans yourself; and at the appropriate time take all of your needful things and go to your sacred space.
Start by cleansing the area (sweep with a besom, asperge or smudge as you prefer).
t up your altar according to your tradition, and open your Book of Shadows.
Take a deep breath, ground and centre yourself. Lift your Athame (or wand) and starting in the North (East in some traditions) create your sacred circle according to your written ritual. Return the Athame to the Altar.
Stand facing (or move to) the North (some traditions start in the East) and call the element/corner/quarter (light the candle for that element if you are using one). Turn clockwise to the East and call the element/corner/quarter, light candle; turn clockwise, and repeat for the South and then again for the West. In our tradition we also call the Centre, however this is not necessarily common with all Wiccan groups.
At you Altar, once again gather yourself, and invite (do not command) the deities to your ritual, light candles for each if you are using them. Be sure to use the specific names of the gods you have chosen.
Now you will undertake the "working" of your ritual. Perform whatever spells, meditations, magics as you have planed. Do not deviate from your written plan, raise the cone of power in whatever manner is appropriate (chanting, dancing, etc) and release it to do your will.
Next comes the small feast, bless the wine and the cakes, and share them with the others (if there are any). Be sure to leave a bit of each for the gods.
Once the small feast is finished, it is time to close. Start with your deities, acknowledge their presence and your appreciation for it ("Thank you" is something you say to a peer or sub-ordinate, NOT to a deity). Leave the candle of the deities to burn out on their own (if you can). Next, thank and dismiss the element in reverse order (counter-clockwise) to how you called them (the elementals are subordinates so you command them), put out the elemental candles. Release the circle in whatever manner you have chosen. Then ground the extra energies by clapping your hands three times. Clean up, don't forget to leave some of the cakes from the small feast and pour the remaining wine out on the ground for the gods (if you are inside, take these things outside): and act in accordance with your "working".
Keep you Book of Shadows close so you can write in observations from the ritual itself, and make notes for changes you might make next time. Also you should note the results of your "working", how and when they came about.
Does Wicca have a sacred text describing their beliefs value and tradition?
The closest thing to that is probably the wiccan rede. I will give you the short version here, but it is much longer than this.
"Bide the wiccan law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the wiccan rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
What ye send forth comes back to thee,
So ever mind the law of three.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part."
Which Christian groups accept the Wiccan or Pagan beliefs?
There really are no Christian "groups" that accept the Wiccan faith, but there are individual churches who have accepted or become tolerant of it. Answer The above answer is quite accurate, but to expand on it: If you are Wiccan or pagan with Christian leanings and looking for a place to call "home," you will find a few groups on the Internet that claim to be Christian Witches or Christian Wiccans and seem to have fairly decent reasoning behind their decision to merge the two religions. If you are Wiccan or pagan and are merely wanting to know what kind of Christians you can go around without fear of persecution, that answer is a bit more difficult. As a person who has had many years experience as both Wiccan and (non-denominational) Christian, the Bible clearly states for all Christians to love others "into a relationship with Christ." Unfortunately, many fundamentalist Christians like to quote the passage, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." So which (witch lol) is it? A good Christian will try to live a life like Jesus, and this means not turning away those they consider sinners, including witches and pagans, but instead teaching them and praying for them in the hope that they will come to love Christ and come to the church themselves. To make a long explanation short, you will know pretty quickly which Christians follow Jesus' tenant, and which ones have a stronger prejudice against others not of the Christian faith, so I hope you have a thick skin while you explore this.
Is wicca a universalizing religion?
No. It doesn't try to be, either, because Wiccans understand that every person learns in his or her own way. Therefore, we acknowledge that there are many different ways to worship.
Which countries practice paganism?
There really isn't just one country in which Paganism is practiced, just as almost no other large religion is practiced in just one place (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, etc.). However, the UK is commonly recognized as the birthplace of Neo-Paganism, although many practitioners live around the world.
