The Pentagram

Symbol of the Wiccan religion, it has had many names throughout the ages; Pentalpha, the Endless Knot, the Pentacle of the Virgin, the Seal of the Microcosm, The Star of Knowledge, the Pentacle of the Templars, and according to some, the Seal of Solomon.  Medieval churchmen called it Witch's Foot.  What it stands for is Spirit ruling the world of Matter.  The points represent the five elements or states of consciousness; the top point is Spirit, the right point is Water, the bottom right point is Fire, the bottom left point is Earth, and the left point is Air.  Small ones made of silver are commonly used as amulets.  Pentacles are also made of wood or metal and are used as a ritual tool to represent the Earth or World.  If inverted, it can stand for the Horned God or Spirit hidden in Matter.  Inverted or not, the Pentacle should never be used as a symbol for evil.

Some Basic Wiccan Tenets of Belief

We believe that God or the Creator is both masculine and feminine in nature.

We believe that human beings carry a Divine Spark of their Creator (soul) within them and that we are only temporarily in physical form.

We believe in reincarnation and view it as a process of spiritual ascension. 

We believe that our ancestors are holy people whom in spirit form protect and help us in between our physical incarnations.

We believe that everyone has psychic abilities that can be developed over time with patience and practice.  We also believe that such abilities are gifts handed down to us from the Gods.

We believe that what is believed to be supernatural is only just another normal condition in nature that has been surpressed by Judiac/Christian cultures but can be restored by rediscovering and practicing the ways of our ancestors. 

We believe in Magick as a manifestation of energy directed by the mind and ever seek to master it.

We believe in nature spirits and seek to live in harmony with these beings.

We believe in Karma and the Laws of Action and Reaction; that what we do affects others and what others do affects us.  Therefore we strive to live in peace, be responsible for our actions, be aware of the consequences of our actions, and attempt to respect the ways of others.

We believe in a positive, heavenly Afterlife and that we will be reunited with our loved ones after we die.

Why Magick is an important part of Wiccan Spirituality

For Wiccans, Magic or (depending on who you ask) is not the slight-of-hand routines of stage magicians; real magic is made up of rituals and ceremonies done to produce beneficial results for those who perform them. Everything performed, worn, spoken and used during a ritual is something that helps to manifest change, hence much of what was once "magic" later was to become de-ceremonialised into science and medicine. Magic is something that is practiced, therefore lending to the term "Practicing Witch" someone who practices Witchcraft as oposed to just calling someone a "Believing Witch" (someone who just believes in Magic). When you're a Wiccan or a Witch, you don't just believe in magic, you do it. The modern resurgence of magical practice is an attempt to restore the ancient spiritual knowledge lost to us after waves of monotheistic persecution (people who believe in One God like everyone to believe as they do and one way to ensure that everyone falls in line with their beliefs is to destroy, ridicule, or hide the tradtions, art, and writing of magical traditions). Magic is also defined as the study and application of psychic forces and phenomenon.

What Wiccans Aren't!

Wiccans are not Satanists: Satanists themselves aren't all bad people, they just tend to follow what is known as The Left Hand Path; a form of spirituality that reveres the dark side of Nature and the spirit world.  Wiccans aren't Satanists because we don't believe in Satan nor do we try to be like the traditional adversary in the Christian religion. 

Wiccans are not Spiritualists: Spiritualism is a movement started in the late 1800s and widely practiced in the early 1900s which involves contacting the spirits of the dead and the study of other paranormal phenomenon by psychic mentalists. Spiritualism is not part of any one religion and most Spiritualists are just curious atheists and arm chair paranormal psychologists looking to prove or disprove psychic mediums.

Wiccans are not part of New Age Spirituality: Like Neo-Paganism, New Age Spirituality has no formal holy text or religious institution to set their roots in. The New Age Movement is a group of individuals who share spiritual theories and practices and publish them. New Age teachings became most popular in the 1960s and 70s when there was a large anti-establishment reaction against the government and organized religion. New Agers graft onto their beliefs a combination of Western and Eastern philosophies, and later into the 1990s they were critized for their free flowing, psuedoscientific beliefs and money making "spirituality-for-profit" practices. You could say that New Age Spirituality is, quite literally, the Captolist's Religion because of such a strong emphasis it has on selling products and books that promise to enlight a public desperate for truth. Unfortunately, many New Agers like to interact with Wiccans and clashes over ethics between the two groups arise upon occasion. Another unfortunate circumstance is many non-pagans associate us with New Agers, but they really are not part of our sub culture.

How is Witchcraft separate from Wicca?

Basically Witchcraft is "The Craft of the Wise" -- a magical practice that uses the old European religious folk crafts to procure spiritual and physical benefits for the family, hearth, and home.  Historically, Witchcraft was derived from and based upon the ancient pagan mystery religions of Rome, Gaul, and Britian. Even though Witchcraft influenced it, it is not to be confused with the Satanism of the 18th century that was practiced in defiance and mockery of Catholicism and nor is it to be associated with the Church of Satan today. Witchcraft was the religion of the poor and the oppressed in Europe and much of the spells handed down to us have a negative bent to them because slaves and serfs were reaching out to ancient Gods for the power to vanquish their masters. This is where the belief that witches destroyed crops came from; because the witches of the old days were the ones who worked on your land and they had the power to control whether or not you'd have food on your table! If your peasants started to revolt, the best way to get rid of them was to demonify them and declare their ways evil so no one would ever again rebel against an unjust authority in a religious manner. This also lends to why contemporary Witches do not like to be in groups or remain a part of institutionalised religions; Witchcraft is the magico-religious way of life for the empowered individual who chooses to believe and practice as they see fit on their own terms. American Witchcraft today is very feminist, eco-political, Goddess and Moon centered such as the Wiccan Shamanism practiced by Wiccan religious leaders Starhawk and Selena Fox. Witchcraft, as you can see, is also very popular among Americans because it emphasizes and encourages freedom of expression and worship.

What is Wicca?

Wicca is a Neo-Pagan religion and lifestyle that is based upon the reconstruction of Pre-Christian Indo European spiritual ways. Often called "The Old Religion" it is the religion of Witches. However, Wicca as it is known today is a modern religion that first came into the public eye when a British civil servant, Gerald Gardner openly revealed it in 1954 and therefore changed the laws against Witchcraft in England. Finally, it was no longer punishable by law to practice Witchcraft (the magickal traditions of Wicca), and, with the advent of free thought and love during the 1960's, Wicca grew to be recognized as a new pagan (Neo-Pagan) religion. In the 1970's and '80's Wicca soon became one of the fastest growing religions in the English speaking world. Despite decades and centuries of persecution, Wiccans today enjoy the freedom of practicing their religion as they see fit.

What does the word Wicca mean?

In Old English, Wicca meant "A wizard, soothsayer, sorcerer, magician" (Bosworth, 1898 [1]). Other (disputed) derivations are from the Old English roots wic, 'to bend', or wit, 'wisdom'. Wicca is often called the "Craft of the Wise", alluding to the latter derivation. The word "Wicca" first entered modern usage with Gerald Gardner's writings on the subject, describing an initiatory society of Witchcraft, and many Wiccans consider the term to only correctly apply to an initiate of a traditional branch of the religion (such as Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wicca to name just a few). For those unfamiliar with Wicca, think of a Wiccan Tradition as a separate Church, branch, or demonination of the religion much like Lutheranism is a branch of Protestantism.

Although sometimes used interchangably, Wicca and Witchcraft are not the same thing. Wicca is the religion of Witches, whereas Witchcraft is the magickal practices of Witches.

The term Wicca usually refers to the religion as a whole. This can be a reference to the initiatory group traditions, where initiates are assigned a degree and generally work in covens, or to solitary Wicca, where practitioners self-dedicate themselves to a tradition and generally practice alone.

What do Wiccans worship?

Both initiates and solitaries worship the God and Goddess; also known as The Lord and Lady and these terms combine a generalisation for all the many Gods of various cultural pantheons. Yet not all Wiccans worship any one particular God or Goddess exclusively from one culture, though some will identify more strongly with one God/dess than others. All Wiccans celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats known as The Wheel of the Year consisting of four major and four minor holy days that fall upon the changes of the seasons.

Wiccan Sabbats or Holy Days

Major Sabbats

Samhain, Oct 31: The year starts with Samhain which means "summer's end" and marks the beginning of winter.  For most Wiccans, this is a time of reflection and communion with loved ones who recently died and we remember our ancestors, honoring them with offerings of food.  From ancient times it designates the end of the harvest season.

Imbolc, Feb. 2: Also known as Candlemas, Imbolc (imbolg), which means "in milk", is a celebration of new beginnings.  Milk was traditionally poured out upon the ground as a type of offering to the young Sun God as the days begin to lengthen since the dark time of Yule. It is also a time for young Wiccans to dedicate themselves to the Gods and traditionally many covens initiate new members at this time of year.

Beltane, May 1:  Beltane signifies the approach of summer.  This celebration stresses human fertility and the awakening of the earth as the flowers begin to blossom.  This is often a very rowdy or bawdy festival as everyone loves to dance around the phallic Maypole and honor the waking vitality of our sacred sexuality.

Lughnasadh, Aug 1:   This festival marks the beginning of the harvest season and the eve of Autumn.  Lughnasadh is derived from the god Lugh, the Celtic demi-God of light and skill.  Traditionally it's a time much like Thanksgiving where we take delight in feasting and share the bounties of the Earth the Gods have given us before it starts to get cold again.

Minor Sabbats

Yule, Dec. 21 (Winter Solstice):  On the longest night of the year we celebrate the Yule festival which commemorates the birth of the new solar year.  The solstice is linked to the rebirth and renewal of the sun god, the Lord.  Traditionally it is a time to give and recieve gifts in an effort to bring comfort during a dark and cold time.  We also decorate our altars and homes with things that are green; symbolising the promise of the green spring to come.

Ostara (Spring Equinox), Mar 21:  Ostara is the name of a Scandinavian Goddess of spring who takes the form of a small girl whose favorite consort is a large rabbit.  Ostara is the celebration of the dead of winter and the beginning of the cycle of rebirth.  During this festival it's customary to exchange colored eggs which we use for divination purposes.

Midsummer Eve (Summer Solstice), June 21st or 22nd:  This is the longest day of the year and is therefore considered a very powerful time for the light.  This is the day to get out and charge amulets with power and we spend a lot of time feasting and welcoming the Summer months. 

Mabon (Autumn Equinox), Sept 21:  The day and night are of equal length and it is the start of Autumn.  On this day we prepare for the coming cold months and have a feast.  It's also traditional on this day for proposals to be said and weddings to occur as the equal day and night represent the equality of men and women.

Some Terminology Associated with Wiccan Ways

Animism: Known as probably the most ancient religious view and is considered the basis of Shamanism; Animism is the belief that every living thing in Nature has a soul.  Trees, plants, rocks, animals, people, elements, weather, stars, etc. all have a soul and all go to a place of reward in the afterlife.

Spirituality: Spirituality is a term used often today by many people who have been disenfrancised by religious institutions and many Neo-Pagans prefer to define their religion as spirituality in order to not associate themselves with organized religion and therefore avoid the pitfalls or mistakes often made by those who practice a major religion such as Catholicism, Christainity, or Islam.  Spirituality is just the state of being spiritual or having a refined or enlightened spiritual state of mind.  A Spiritualist is a person who works and communicates with spiritual beings such as ghosts and Neo-Pagans like talking to ghosts, if they can find a way to do it!

Shamanism:  Animistic practice that involves esoteric trance (reaching an out-of-body or alpha state of consciousness) to recieve information from the spirits of other living beings who have passed into the afterlife.  Knowledge gained from these spirits are used in order to heal and help living people.  There are two types of Shamanism today; Tribal Shamanism which is more culturally based (such as Native American spiritualists known as medicine men/women; basically doctors who use spiritual means to heal members of their tribe) and Multi-Cultural Shamanism which is a more contemporary integration of old and new Shamanism borrowed from more than one tribal or cultural source.  It's also important to note that the purest form of Shamanism practiced today are by the Shamen of Siberia who have culturally different spiritual ways than those practiced in North America. 

Polytheism: The belief in more than one God.  We believe in numerous Gods and Goddesses from many different cultures the world over.  It's important to point out here that reverence to the Gods of All Cultures means Neo-Pagans do not condemn other cultures for believing in Gods we aren't familiar with and we do not try to convert others to our faith because of this.

Duotheism: Most American Neo-Pagans and Wiccans revere The God and Goddess or Lord and Lady which suggests we are, despite polythesitc tendencies, generally duothestic.  In other words, we revere the Gods as one mother figure and one father figure.  In the Faery Tradition of Wicca, one creation story tells of the Goddess giving birth to Herself and producing the God and together their divine love making brought everything to life in one great orgasm or explosion (which matches the Big Bang theory).

Pantheism: The belief that our Gods are everywhere, in everyone and everything, and that every thing has some Divine aspect to it.

Panetheism:  Not to be confused with Pantheism!  Panetheism is the belief that the Gods, despite being numerous, are also viewed as one sacred whole.  Some Neo-Pagans refer to the Gods as "The Many and the All" or "The All Who Are One."  Besides being just a convenient way to narrow down our many God/desses, it's a belief that even some Christians hold as sacred known as the "I AM" (God being known by many names yet all names lend to the belief of just one God) yet not all Monotheists (people who just believe in one god) share the belief that all Gods are The One God that they worship! 

Nature Spiritualism: also called Earth-Centered Spirituality; an umbrella term that doesn't just define some very important aspects of Paganism, but also includes Eco-Christianity and Eco-Buddhism that revere God or the Divine in Nature.  This doesn't mean that Pagans or Pagan Christians (yes, they do exist!) worship nature itself; they merely acknowledge that God/dess exists in Nature and is not outside of it.  This is a very important point to bring across because, when a culture reveres the Divine in Nature, the Earth is therefore considered sacred and worth protecting for future generations.  

Magico-Religion: A form of proto-science or psudeoscience used as a form of religious practice to influence the forces of Nature and the Paranormal.  Many Neo-Pagans include magic as part of their spiritual practice.  We don't just pray to our Gods, we ask the Gods to work through us to help us and others.  The Gods lend us their power and it is through them that we can empower plants, objects, things, places, and people to change in positive and useful ways for the benefit of all.  We don't just rely on magic to bring about results, we practice magic along with modern medicine and science to work even more benefits for our people.  Ours is a religion that moves along with the times and isn't just a quaint set of beliefs inspired by the ancient past.  
Goddess Spirituality : A religion that prefers to revere God in a female form. You will hear many Pagans call upon the Goddess more than the God at times. This isn't because we never revere God as male, we are just making up for all the institualized religions who have foresaken the feminine form of the Divine. Yet there are Pagans who are more feminist in manner and taste who will solely refer to God as Goddess. Goddess Spiritualists are Polythestic in that they revere the Goddess in all her many forms defined by cultures the world over.

Ecofeminism: A feminist environmental philosophical world view often expressed by Neo-Pagans, Wiccans, and Witches. Ecofeminists recognize that the longer religions do not revere God in the feminine, the more society will not view women as sacred. Ecofeminists feel that the oppression of women in society is directly linked with the oppression of Nature. Most contemporary western Christian beliefs are influenced by a patriarchal political system that preaches men are to rule over women and the Earth. Ecofeminists stand up to spiritually and politically liberate women and men from this abusive belief system.

Wiccan Shamanism : A multi-cultural blend of Animistic and Wiccan practices.

Wiccan Reincarnation: Most or all Neo-Pagans believe that, after we die, we can be born again. However, unlike the reincarnation beliefs of other religions, we do not all universally believe that our souls transmigrate. Soul transmigration is the process of a soul coming back to live in various, multi-species or forms. To most pagans today, it is believed that once you're human, you can be human again because you were probably human before. Just about any Pagan you talk to has had a Past Life Regression; in other words, they have memories from lives they've lived before and sometimes, through trance, regress back into these other lives to seek knowledge from what they've learned in a past life to help empower or heal themselves in this life. Occultism: Occult is a word derived from the Latin Occultus referring to secret knowledge; often meaning that it is the knowledge of the paranormal or supernatural. To today's Occultists (including Pagans) it means the study of a deeper spiritual reality that can't be measured solely by science or logic that embraces a life long pursuit for truth and wisdom that can only be found by extraordinary means.

Esotericism: A lot of people incorrectly use this term to define their form of Magico-Religion. In reality it means advanced knowledge and practices only suitable for the privleged or initiated as opposed to the term exoteric which is public knowledge. Mysticism: Mysticism is the pursuit of achieving an advanced state of consciousness or communing with the Divine or God through direct personal experience. Many Neo-Pagans claim that they, like the mystics of old, have direct communication with their Gods and other otherworldly beings. Pagan mystics seek to experience the spirit world in the everyday world and such experiences may come unbidden without preparation. Pagan mystics practice meditation and other forms of spiritual practice to open their minds and bodies to the spirit world to tap into what we believe are natural abilities of insight that have long been suppressed by monotheistic, patriarchal society.

As you can see, Wicca has been very hard to define because it includes a little bit of each of these religious belief systems and the terminology I have used here isn't always used in a correct, concrete, non-biased-by-Christianity manner to help define Paganism on a Pagan's own terms.