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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
What Does The Wicca Bible say?
First of all, there really isn't a "Wiccan Bible", in the sense that there is a Christian bible.
Most Pagans do not follow or have a standardised written book of how to practice their beliefs. We do have personally written books (journals, grimoires or books of shadow) containing, spells, meditations, rites, rituals, reading, recipes, inspirational material and observations from our own path).
These can be strictly from our own experiences or an accumulation from our teachers, mentors, other practitioners we know or admire, or even from family members who have followed the same or similar paths.
Most practicing pagans will till you, ours is a living and evolving belief system. It is much easier to grow, change and evolve if your faith is not "written in stone".
I will also mention here that you can, in some bookstores find books titled "the Wiccan Bible", "the Pagan Bible", "the Witches' Bible", "the Spells Bible", etc. Absolutely none of them would be accepted as the definitive "word" by all Wiccans or all Pagans. Please, do not assume that we as a group, all adhere to just one version of the Craft.
Although Wicca is a matriarchal religion, guys can most definitely be Wiccan.
I am just starting to practice Wicca Does anybody know where I should get supplies?
Hello and welcome to the craft,
I have been practicing for about a 2 years now and I order most of my supplies online from "cronescabinet.com".
It's a bit more discreet than finding a store, and the owner is very nice.
She is reachable on her website for questions as well as on Myspace.
Look up the website name, she's in Las Vegas.
Good luck and I hope you find it to be everything your hoping it will be.
Modern Wicca originated in the United Kingdom (i.e. Great Britain/The British Isles) in the late 1920's and early 1930's. It wasn't brought over to the U.S. until the late 1960's and early 1970's most notably by Wiccan author Raymond Buckland. So, no, it wasn't particularly popular at that time. It isn't exactly "big", now, for that matter, when compared to other religions, such as Christianity or Buddhism... even though it is a rapidly growing religion; it is still quite in a state of infancy... in other words, it is not currently a mainstream religion.
Are there any wiccan supply stores around Knoxville TN?
There is Adam's Apple. They are located in Foothills Mall Maryville, TN. They carry some wiccan supplies.
What is the meaning of The Wiccan name melodux?
It doesn't "mean" anything. Upon entering the craft/wiccan community it is recommended that you pick a "witch" name. It is thought that to know someone's name is to have power over them-"for if you knew the name of your enemy you could conjure with it." So to have a secret witch name, is a form of protection from those who would wish you harm.
Using numerology you pick a name that matches your birth-date and that you like the sound off (trust me for my birth-date anyway, that was hard).
Example: Born Feb. 1, 1971 =
2+1+1+9+7+1=
21 =
2+1= 3
So you use numerology to spell a name you like
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I
J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R
S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z~
Moygo=
4+6+7+7+6= 3)
Imbolc was a Celtic festival that took place on 1 February. It was probably associated with the goddess Brigit, a goddess of fertility, learning and healing. In Christian mythology the Celtic Brigit became a saint and her festival is still widely celebrated in Ireland on 1st February.
Yes. To be a witch is to follow the "old ways" (keep the Sabbaths and estabbats).
The terms derives from the Welsh word "to turn" or "to bend", wicce. This indicates that being a "witch" means to change the world around you.
Well, the meaning of the word "Pagan" is an old English word for "valley dwellers". I know what you mean, but I just wanted to get that out of the way. By standards nowadays, Paganism is a generalized term covering many different pantheistic religions and traditions, including Wicca. A good way to understand that relationship is this: Lutheranism is to Christianity as Wicca is to Paganism. So, simply put, the answer to your question is "yes".
Is there a Wiccan or Pagan significance to 21 Aug?
Not particularly...the important dates for Wicca revolve around the season changes known as solstices and equinoxes. September 21st (circa 22nd) is the Autumn solstice and is therefor a holiday but August 21st is not a holiday. If however a full moon or new moon fell on August 21st then it would be considered an esbat (or moon ritual night)
Is wicca the practice of witchcraft?
Witchcraft is a practice in its own right, independent of any spiritual or religious pathway. The Wiccan religion does incorporate witchcraft, but it is primarily a spiritual pathway incorporating many elements including observance and celebration of the natural cycle, Gods and Goddesses, and personal development.
What were the holidays and special events for wiccans?
The eight Sabbats (High Holidays for Wiccans are:
Samhain - All Hallows - October 31
Yule - Winter Solstice - Dec 21st (approx)
Imbolc - Candlemas - Feb 2nd
Ostara - Vernal Equinox - Mar 21 (approx)
Bealtain - May Day - May 1st
Litha - Summer Solstice - June 21st (approx)
Laughnasadh - Lammas - Aug 1st
Mabon - Autumnal Equinox- Sept 21 (approx)
It isn't possible. Catholicism states that part of laws of the first commandment: "Thou shall love God above all things" includes the necessity of not involving oneself in any form of witchcraft, which wicca is part of. This is due because magic has, as it's goal, to order God to do ones bidding, which is entirely against religion, that says we sacrifice ourselves to do the will of God.
Also, I would advice you in seeing the various sects that arise, calling themselves Catholic. It's said two things of the devil, he disguises himself as light, and he would tell you a thousand truths merely to make you believe one lie. A Catholic must only allow himself to follow the Roman Catholic standing under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome (for certain reasons), and that does involve not allowing oneself to the practice of any sect. That is actually a mortal sin (a sin liable to eternal punishment in Hell), for it is an act of apostasy (an act of faithlessness in the Church).
I don't know if you feel tempted or not, but if you do, I would advice you to these sites or read other material as you could have doubts on why certain things work the way they do.
**If you have an iPod or an iPhone, there is a very useful application called "iPieta" that costs $3 (provided that you have the latest software; if not, it would be more)
I'll leave it to you to find the answers, because I'm not entirely sure on how best to find them... though the Founding Fathers might have good explanations. However, don't stop there.
Roman Catholic AnswerI would recommend that you get Fr. Amorth's book, An Exorcist Tells His Story. The practice of witchcraft is on the rise, and is "socially approved" in many circumstances. However, despite what anyone may tell you, including practitioners, and although it may not go by that name, it is Satanism. Satan clothed as "nature worship" or any other name is still demon worship. It is unfortunate that practitioners can not even see what they are doing, but believe me it is evil and exactly contrary to the Will of God, please speak to a priest that you trust about this issue.A "Pagan" is one who holds a set of beliefs which have nature at their core, whilst a "Philosopher" is one who seeks wisdom or knowledge... it follows therefore, that a "Pagan Philosopher" is a person whose beliefs reside in nature, but who continually seeks knowledge.
Do wiccan wands have to have crystals on the end?
That depends on several factors such as: the purpose of the wand, how easily the maker could get access to crystals, as well as other things. Most wand will have crystals or jem stones on them but not all do.
Is driving by a girlfriends house a lack of trust or searching for answers?
The question is, 'Why are you driving by her house.' You're the boyfriend so why aren't you out together or why not simply knock on her door. There is more to this story! It's a lack of trust on your part, or, if you can't see her for some reason then you are jealous and want to know if she is seeing someone.
What did charmed get wrong about wicca?
Well first of all magic (or as most Wiccans spell it, magick) is not just like "Abracadabra" and you fly across the room or turn someone into a toad. It all has to do with the Divine.
Is there any relation between wiccan religion and facial hair?
No! LOL, what an interesting question! Please let us know why you thought there might be some connection.
All Pagans (Wiccans included) believe in god. Most of them believe in more than one, and we include goddesses too. Deity, the power of creation, the energy of the universe, whatever you choose to call it, in whatever form or forms you see it in is a fundamental part of our spiritual paths, no matter how diverse those paths may be.
What is the difference between christian and wicca?
Wiccans revere the nature while Christians worship a creator.
There are priests and Followers of Christianity while Wiccans be their own priests and priestesses.
There is a God and a Goddess in Wicca while there is only one God in Christianity.
Christianity teaches about an eternal salvation only possible through Christianity while many Wiccans believe rebirth and "Continuous Development" of spirit, while some other Wiccans believe on Summerland where people who has done good work in this life go after their death regardless of their religious belief.
Historically
'Pagan' was the term Christians used to designate all those who did not accept the God of the Bible. The word 'pagan' is derived from the Latin word for country dweller. The pagans were the Greek and Roman polytheists who followed the cults of Mithras, Venus, Apollo, Demeter, etc. Today, however, Christians generally reserve the appellation for those who belong to no religion or who belong to one of the New Age nature religions or non-Christian cults.
Modern Pagan Religions
Nowadays "pagan" refers to people who practice non-Abrahamic, but not necessarily nature-based religions.
The most common branch is Wicca, and they believe in doing NO HARM to anyone. They use mystical and metaphysical forms of "prayer" and "worship", like candles, incense, chants, dance, earth cycles, moon cycles, seasonal cycles, etc to try to influence things. Their motto is "If it harm none, do as you will." They believe that if they do bad things to others, it will come back to them multiplied by three (Rule of Three). They believe there are spiritual guides and forces that most human beings cannot see but are available to ask for assistance. There are lots of books available on Wicca. Devil worship is NOT a part of Wicca!! Devil worshippers are deviants from the Christian belief in hell and Satan. Wiccans do not believe in hell or heaven; those are Christian ideas. Real Wiccans are gentle, loving people who are very misunderstood by other religions. Some Wiccans practice alone, others belong to groups called "covens."
Modern pagans are called "Neo-pagans". Many modern "Christian" traditions come from pagan festivals. For example, Christmas trees and Easter bunnies and eggs. Halloween is also an ancient pagan tradition. When the Christians took over the society of the pagans, the pagans refused to stop practicing their traditions, so the Christians integrated those festivals into the "church year." Christmas coincides with the winter solstice, and Easter with the spring equinox. They are not actually the dates of anything having to do with Jesus, but it got the pagan people to come to church. Now there is renewed interest in the pagan religions, and more and more people are practicing them, largely due to rejection of the practices of those organized religions in which they have lost faith.
Are there wiccans who use dark magick?
yes, actually there is. Wicca is a really a peaceful religion but there is some that disrespect it and there more Satanist.
What is a third degree Wiccan?
This should actually differ from Coven to Coven. In my circle we advance each 365 days to the next level. You are an initiant (a Level 0) for 1 year; then level 1 for 1 year, etc. So a Third Degree Wiccan in my coven is someone who has been in the coven for 3 full years.
Does a full moon mean something in Wicca?
There are 13 Full Moons per year. Full Moon is considered as the Sabbath Day in Wicca. It is a religious holy day to worship the Goddess.
Can a protection spell help if someone already has voodoo on them?
In short, "maybe."
While many other religions do not, or cannot, discern between the two religions there is a large difference in the two. Voodoo (or Vodun) is inherently Christian in root, while the Wicca faith has little to do with Christianity. Additionally Voodoo is a spirit based religion, while Wicca is based on polytheism and the cycle of life.
In direct answer to your question there are many rites and rituals in Wicca targeted at stopping or preventing an external influence on the individual practitioners life. This is especially true for negative energies, those often associated with Voodoo hexes and curses. However the amount of protection provided is determined by the individuals belief and strength of faith.
