So, you want to know more about Wicca. First, and foremost, is how modern Wicca came into existence. Gerald Gardner publicly founded modern Wicca in the early 1950's after a lifetime of studying other religions. Gardner was a civil servant of Great Britain who served most of his career in Southern Asia. He was also an amateur anthropologist, among other things. When the British Parliament abolished the Anti-Witchcraft Law around 1952, Gardner published his first books: Witchcraft Today (1955) and The Meaning of Witchcraft (1959), in which he explains his new version of the Old Religion (pre-Christian).
Many people have been killed for their religious beliefs. In the 29 April 1991 issue of Christianity Today, in an article entitled "Drawing Down the Moon," Dave Bass writes about a fourth century pagan Roman Emperor, Julian the Apostate, who tried to bring about a return to the pagan traditions in the Empire. He failed miserably. His dying words were, supposedly, "You have conquered, Galilean!" (14). There have also been many non-pagans who have died with the label of "witch," which is another name for members of some pagan religions. For example, Joan of Arc was labeled a witch for leading an army into battle in France. This is a prime example of the old saying, "people fear that which they do not understand." It is plain to see that the pagan religions, consisting of Wicca, shamanism, druidism, and many other neo-pagan religions, have suffered much persecution in recent centuries. However, in the past half-century, they have been making a remarkable comeback.
So what, exactly, is all the fuss over? The glossary in Scott Cunningham's book Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner defines the word pagan' as "the Latin paganus, a country-dweller' or villager.' Today it is used as a general term for followers of Wicca or other polytheistic, magic-embracing religions. Pagan's aren't Satanists, dangerous, or evil"(203). Wicca,' in the glossary of Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, also by Scott Cunningham, is defined as being a humanistic religion which holds nature as sacred. Wiccans believe in "[a] reverence for the Goddess and the God; reincarnation; ritual observances of the Full Moon, astronomical and agricultural phenomena; spheroid temples, created with personal power,' in which rituals occur." (203-204).
Pagans believe in the Goddess and the God, and a Creator that they call the One' or the 'All'. To a pagan, nature is a source of personal power. Scott Cunningham defines personal power' in Living Wicca, as "That energy which sustains our bodies." (203). Wiccans hold their rites and rituals in this circle of power. This is where all higher magic is performed. The circle is raised in ritual with a combination of Personal and Divine Power through visualization.
Before Christianity was conceived in the minds of mankind, there was paganism. Paganism started with shamanism thousands of years ago, even before mankind organized into civilizations. A description of pagans in "Drawing Down the Moon", by Dave Bass informed us that the pagan synagogue is nature. Pagan worship groups are called "coven[s], grove[s], or circle[s].[and consist] of 10 to 20 members." (16). Wiccans also believe in magic. Now, this isn't your run-of-the-mill, hocus-pocus type magic'. They believe magic is the focusing of energies through ritual to affect a desired change in their lives and in the lives of others.
Even though Christianity has been bashing' paganism, there are some things that they do not understand about their own religion that were influenced by paganism. First of all, the roots of many Christian and American holidays can be found in paganism, such as May Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Christmas. Wiccans, because of their attunement with nature, hold their rites and rituals on a schedule based on the cycles of the sun and the moon. The holiday May Day is know as May Day or Beltane, and celebrates the renewal of life the season of Spring brings to nature. Thanksgiving is known as Lughnasadh, which pagans celebrate on August 1st. "This is the time of the first harvest.Lughnasahd [is] also known as August Eve, Feast of Bread, Harvest Home, and Lammas" (Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (67). This is the time when pagans give thanks for their bounty. The Catholic's All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween, is practically unchanged for the pagan Sabbat Samhain. Pagans view this Sabbat as the "Witch's New Year, a time to reflect upon the past 12 months and work high magic" (Melton, 22). Pagans "feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is thin" (Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, 68). The Christian holiday of Christmas is almost a direct derivative of the pagan holiday of Yule. Yule, otherwise known as the Winter Solstice, is believed by pagans to be the day of birth of their God by the Goddess (65). Wiccans also gather bi-weekly in attunement with the extreme movements of the moon: the New and Full Moons. These are also known as "Esbats".
Wiccans believe in reincarnation, or the Spiral of Rebirth. This is the belief that we are born, we live, we die, and then we are reborn. It is believed that when we die, we go to the Land of Summer (or Summerland), which is comparable to the Christian "Heaven", until we are reborn.
There are only two major laws in Wicca: the "Wiccan Rede" and the "Karmic Law" (also called the "Threefold Law" or the "Law of Three"). The Wiccan Rede states: "An ye harm none, do what ye will." The Karmic Law states: "What ere ye do, whether for good or for bane, shalt come back to ye threefold." To Wiccans, life is sacred. There is nothing to fear from them.
Keep in mind that, although Wiccans can be called Witches (Pagans or Wiccans who cast spells), they are in NO way "Satanists". Wiccans do not believe in a supremely evil power or the Christian "Satan". Also, in the same light, the magic that a Wiccan performs is not "black magic". In reality, there is no such thing as "white" or "black" magic. It is all in the manner that the magic is used. It is very important when performing magic to remember the "Karmic Law" and the "Wiccan Rede".
Now that you have a basic understanding of Wicca, use this knowledge however you deem beneficial. If you would like to learn more about Wicca, read books on the subject, enter the words "Wicca", "Witchcraft", or "Paganism" into any search engine on the Internet.
Here is a list of books on Wicca and other Pagan religions:
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
The Truth About Witchcraft Today by Scott Cunningham
Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland
Witchcraft Today by Gerald Gardner
The Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner
To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft by Silver RavenWolf
To Stir a Magic Cauldron by Silver RavenWolf
Wicca Sourcebook by Gerina Dunwich
Wicca Candle Magic by Gerina Dunwich
The Wicca Book of Days by Gerina Dunwich
The Wicca Spellbook by Gerina Dunwich
Everyday Wicca by Gerina Dunwich
The Witchcraft Today Trilogy by Chas. S. Clifton
The Sabbats by Edain McCoy
Witta: An Irish Pagan Tradition by Edain McCoy
Celtic Magic by D. J. Conway
Most of these books can be found in your local bookstores (Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble Booksellers) in the New Age section. There are also a few Pagan organizations you can write to, such as:
Circle Sanctuary
P. O. Box 219
Mt Horeb, WI, 53572
Pagan Spirit Alliance
P. O. Box 219
Mt Horeb, WI, 53572
Pagan Educational Network
P. O. Box 1364
Bloomington, IN, 47402-1364
Wiccan/Pagan Press Alliance
P. O. Box 1392
Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055
People are becoming more open-minded to Wicca, however. Instead of fear about this unknown religion, there is a curiosity that has never been there before. People are starting to ask questions about Wicca. This may be the reason that Wicca is the fastest growing religion in the United States. More and more, people are seeking out Wicca because they are tired of trying to deal with society's hostile attitude toward them, especially women. They seem to have found an elusive peace of mind and spirit that they could not find anywhere else. People practice Wicca, not because they want to be different, but because this religion appeals to them in a way that no other religion could. Most Christian religions may feel to them to be very impersonal. Wicca, on the other hand, involves them in the worship, which makes them feel closer to the Deities, the Goddess and the God.