by Syd Hinese

Created on: January 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 15, 2010

Not-So Neo Religion

Wicca, or Neo-Paganism, really isn't so new age: it has roots in the ancient past. Before Christianity, and Judaism there were the people who worshipped the earth, the elements, and the stars. They believed in the healing properties of plants, incenses and the earth.

Paganism is very similar to many other religions; there are holidays, rituals, and ceremonies. There are also misconceptions; pagans worship the devil, they sacrifice animals and eat children. They do call themselves witches, and it is the proper name, since a witch is, "One particularly skilled or competent at one's craft" (Dictionary 1).

Many symbols are used in paganism, including the pentagram, septagram or fairy star, triple moon, and triquetra. Theban, was used as the Witches secret alphabet in the 1960's, it has been replaced with Germanic and Celtic runes.
The eight main sabbats (holidays) throughout the year, are usually represented on a witch's wheel. They are Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Vetalia, Lammas and Mabon.

Samhain, is the New Year, and falls on October 31 of every year. On this day the God dies and throughout the year he will be reborn and die again. Thus we have the seasons. Wearing the traditional colors of orange and black during spells will make it more powerful. On this night witches light candles in their windows to lead the spirits to eternal summer, and bury apples in the earth to feed them as they travel.

Yule, or Christmas, is the rebirth of the God as a baby. Like many people witches decorate a Yule tree, using garlands of dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks, quartz crystals wrapped in wire and dried apples, oranges and lemons. They also give gifts in the memory of the deceased, and tell stories amongst one another. There is also the custom of lighting a Yule log, to represent the rebirth of the God in the fire of the Mother Goddess. These logs are usually of oak or pine and have a carved or chalked representation of the God on them.

Imbolc, celebrated on February 1, honors the God and Goddess as children and the rebirth of light. It is traditional for a witch to light every lamp in the house, or a candle in each room to celebrate the return of the sun. If there is snow still, some may choose to walk in it, recalling the warmth of summer.
Ostara honors the new life and rebirth of spring. It is celebrated on the Spring

Equinox and many witches will go to fields to pick random wild flowers. Many will then use books, and intuition to find

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