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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

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