Frequently Asked Questions About Wicca
Used with permission from the CoG
website
Q. What is the basic philosophy?
Wicca, or
Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking (re-ligio) with the life-force
of nature, both on this planet and in the stars and space beyond. In city
apartments, in suburban backyards, in country glades, groups of women and men
meet on the new and full moons and at festival times to raise energy and put
themselves in tune with these natural forces. They honor the old Goddesses and
Gods, including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning moon, and the
Horned God of the sun and animal life, as visualizations of immanent nature.
Our religion is not a series of precepts or beliefs,
rather we believe that we each have within ourselves the capacity to reach out
and experience the mystery -- that feeling of ineffable oneness with all Life.
Those who wish to experience this transcendence must work, and create, and
participate in their individual religious lives. For this reason, our
congregations, called covens, are small groups which give room for each
individual to contribute to the efforts of the group by self-knowledge and
creative experimentation within the agreed-upon group structure or tradition.
There are many traditions or sects within the Craft.
Different groups take their inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of
certain ethnic groups (e.g. Celtic, Greek, Norse, Finno-Ugric); in the
liturgical works of some modern Witch poet or scholar (e.g. Gerald Gardner, Z
Budapest, Alex Sanders, Starhawk); or by seeking within themselves for
inspiration and direction. Many feminists have turned to Wicca and the role of
priestess for healing and strength after the patriarchal oppression and lack of
voice for women in the major world religions.
There are many paths to spiritual growth. Wicca is a
participatory revelation, a celebratory action leading to greater understanding
of oneself and the universe. We believe there is much to learn by studying our
past, through myth, through ritual drama, through poetry and music, through love
and through living in harmony with the Earth.
Q. What form does the practice of Witchcraft take?
The form and context vary from group to group and between each ritual, and may
run the gamut from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous ritual to simple
meditation. Generally the practice is to consecrate a sacred space, the "circle"
and then work magic and worship the Goddesses and Gods within it according to
the forms agreed upon by that particular group of Witches.
Q. How do you see the Goddess?
As the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos, the
interconnectedness of all life.
Q. Do all Witches practice their religion the same
way?
Yes and no. Wicca is a highly individual religion. Moreover, the number of
different sects within the Craft may give the impression that no two groups
practice the same way. Though practices may vary, most traditions have many
similarities, such as the working of magic and a respect for nature. Most
Witches find enough common ground for mutual support and productive networking
throughout the Craft community.
Q. Is Witchcraft a "cult"?
No. A cult is generally taken as a gathering of people who owe blind allegiance
to one charismatic leader who ostensibly represents "truth". They indulge in
"extravagant homage or adoration" (Webster's Dictionary), usually of their
leader, thus trading the ability to think for themselves for "salvation" and a
sense of belonging. This is the antithesis of the Witchcraft experience. Most
Witches come to the Craft through reading and communing with nature and later
finding like-minded groups. Witches tend to be highly individualistic.
Q. Do Witches have a "Bible"?
No. A bible is supposedly the word of a deity revealed through a prophet, or
more generally, "a book containing the sacred writings of any religion"
(Webster's Dictionary). Witchcraft is a Pagan folk-religion of personal
experience rather than transmitted revelation. A Witch may keep a "Book of
Shadows" which is more like an individual's workbook or journal -- meaningful to
the person who keeps it -- containing rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb
lore, etc. Covens may keep a similar group book. There is no one document taken
by all Wiccans as authoritative, as in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
Q. Do Witches cast spells?
Some do and some don't. Since a commonly-held belief is that what is sent out is
returned to the sender threefold, Witches tend to be very careful with spells. A
spell is a formula, or series of steps, to direct the will to a desired end.
Energy is drawn from the earth, concentrated, and sent out into the world. It is
believed that with proper training and intent, human minds and hearts are fully
capable of performing all the magic and miracles they are ever likely to need,
through the use of natural psychic power.
Q. Do Witches fly on brooms?
No. Brooms were (in rural Europe) and sometimes still are ridden astride in
ceremonies. In one such ceremony, people ran through the fields astride a broom
to coax the grain to grow, or participants would leap over a broom, telling the
grain to grow to the height of the highest leaping. Uninformed observations of
such ceremonies could lead to tales of flying on brooms.
Q. Do Witches worship the Devil?
No. The concept of "the devil", a personification of a supreme spirit of evil
and unrighteousness, is a creation of Middle Eastern thought which is
fundamental to some religions of that region, including Zoroastrianism,
Christianity and Islam. Worship of this being as "Satan" is a practice of
profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy rather than a Pagan
religion. The gods of Wicca are in no way connected with Satanic practice. Most
Witches do not even believe Satan exists, and certainly do not worship him.
Historically, the gods of an older religion are often branded as the devils of a
newer one in order to promote conversion.
Q. Are Witches only women?
No, but in this country women do predominate in the Craft overall (in Britain,
men predominate). Some traditions have only women practitioners, just as others
have only men. Most traditions admit both. Men are also called "Witches", and
most take exception to being called "Warlocks".
Q. With the bad mental image people get at the mention
of Witch and Witchcraft, why do you still use these names?
Virtually every religion can look back into the dark corners of history and find
a period when it was held in disrepute. Some religions were accused of crimes
through ignorance and malice (e.g. Medieval Christians were sure that Jews ate
Christian babies). Other religions face prejudice because their practices are
different from those of their accusers (e.g. the Mormons for their polygamy).
Others defame each other for being on the opposite side of some power struggle
-- consider the many incidents from the Crusades through the Inquisition to
current affairs in nations such as Ireland or Iran. Just because a group was or
is persecuted and maligned is not a reason for it to change its name. The
practices of prejudice and scapegoating seem to be universal human pastimes, and
we have had our share of being victimized.
Q. How can someone find out more about Witchcraft?
Wicca is not a missionary religion and does not proselytize. One must seek
rather than be sought after. There are excellent books available, and many
Witches teach classes or facilitate discussion groups. In this way, people may
connect with a like-minded coven or form a study group of their own. There are
also many good periodicals, networks, and national and regional festivals
through which a seeker can make contact with the larger Craft community. The
Covenant of the Goddess is one such group fulfilling all of these functions.
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