by Hannah Rice Myers

Created on: June 10, 2008

The religion of Wicca is often misunderstood, with many feeling as though it is an occult due the many of its practitioners using magick. This is a perversion of the truth, a sad distortion of a religion whose members are on a journey for peace and an improved life for themselves in the way of health, prosperity, and spirituality. Those who associate Wicca with an occult are void of knowledge, wallowing in a pool of ignorance. It is for this reason that it is vital to present some basic facts about Wicca so that we may all have a better understanding of their appreciation of the seasons and to recognize why they celebrate them with an abundance of joy.

WHAT IS WICCA?

Wicca is a blend of many different spiritual cultures and beliefs, choosing not to limit themselves in their worship. There is no real evidence of any established Wicca religion before 1951, even though Pagan rites, Shamanic customs, and Goddess worship have all predated Christianity.

Wicca is a popular religion due to the fact that it focuses on the individual who is taught not only to think for themselves, but to alsotake responsibility for their own lives. They strictly adhere to and live their lives by the Wicca Rede which states, "An ye harm none, do what ye will."

In modern witchcraft and in the practice of Wicca, there are two branches which are referred to as Devotional and Functional. While they vary in their forms of worship, they both work with the phases of the moon and with the changes of the seasons.

WICCAN BELIEFS

Those who practice Wicca have a great respect for the land and for nature, and an unsurpassed appreciation for the bounty that Mother Earth gives us, which is why they live by, observe, and celebrate the seasons.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ELEMENTS

Since Wicca is a nature based religion, it stands to reason that its practitioners have a profound respect for all that surrounds them. They believe that the elements -Air, Fire, Water, and Earth- are the symbolic forces of power and energy in the universe. They believe that once the elements are understood, controlled, and arranged in a specific manner, they can assist the individual devise a more perfect reality. It is believed that the feeling of energy that is contained in the elements can affect the way we think, feel, and behave, and that the understanding of nature, our environment, and one's self is required to fully understand spirituality and deity (divinity). To them, the elements correspond directly to the seasons.

IMPORTANCE OF SUMMER

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>