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Wicca is a Pagan Religion
• Wicca (and Pagans) Honor:
The Elements of Nature : Earth, Air, Fire and Water
The God and Goddess (or Lord and Lady)
• Are Wicca and paganism the same thing?
The word pagan comes from the Latin word pagani meaning civilian or rustic – which would be equivalent to today’s “redneck” or “hick”
Wiccans are pagans, but pagans are not necessarily Wiccan.
• What Make Wicca a Religion and Paganism a Non-religion?
While both are a way of life, Wicca believes in Divine Spirit above all
Paganism – while spiritual – is not (necessarily) a religion
Yes, you can be spiritual without being religious!!
What is Wicca??
Wicca is an Earth-based spirituality founded on the pre-Christian belief systems of European peoples, combined with modern concerns such as environmental issues and social justice.
Wicca does NOT have a single, written book of laws (like the bible).
Wiccan Traditions• Alexandrian - founded by Alex Saunders in 1933
• British Traditional - Saunders/Gardner descended
• Celtic - uses Celtic/Druidic practices
• Church and School of Wicca
• Correlian-Natavist
• Covenant of the Goddess
• Dianic - Goddess based – not female only, but is feminist
• Eclectic - a little bit of everything!
• Fairy/Faery
• Gardnerian - Founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s – 1st “out of the broom closet” tradition – famous member Aleister Crowley
• Georgian - founded by George Patterson in the 1970s
• Seax-Wica - one of the first traditions that “allowed” self-initiation and solitaire work
What is a Pagan??
When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple, its plants and creatures our partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is both male and female, a mother Goddess and father God, who together created all that is, was, or will be. We respect life, cherish the free will of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of all creation.
~Edain McCoy
Pagan Traditions• Asatru/Odinism -Asatru is the modern rebirth of the pre-Christian indigenous
faith of the Norse peoples • Celtic Traditionalism - reconstruct the beliefs and practices of the original Celtic
people, as opposed to Druidic learnings • Ceremonial Magick - followers of this Tradition uses a great deal of ceremonial
magick in their practices. Detailed rituals with a flavor of Egyptian magick are sometimes a favorite, or they may use the Quabbalistic magick
• Church of all Worlds - is dedicated to "healing the separation between mind and body, men and women, civilazation and Nature, Heaven and Earth.
• Discordianism/Erisian • Druidism – Celtic/Britannic natural religion – not just for men• Egyptian-Isian Kemetic - resurrection of ancient Egyptian religion in one form or
another • Gnosticism - Gnosticism is a concept of spiritual experience which has its roots
in many religious practices and is not restricted to Christianity • Golden Dawn• Greco-Roman• Green Witch • Hedge Witch - hedgewitch is one that follows in the footsteps of the old village
wisewoman • Shamanism• Stregharia – Italian witchcraft• Wicca
Is Wicca a Religion or A Way of Life??
It’s BOTH!
Wicca…Witch…What’s the Difference?
Is There A Difference?
Wicca is First and Foremost a Religion that Practices Witchcraft…
A Witch isn’t Necessarily Wiccan
The MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION…
What is a Witch?
Francesco Mario Guazzo, Compedium maleficarum, 1608)
(The Famous History of Lancashire Witches, 1780)
Hans Baldung GrienWitches' Sabbath, 1510
• A Witch is an individual who works magick through natural means and treats each spell as a scientist would: with methodologically, scientifically, and in an organized manner.
• A Witch is an individual who works to empower themselves to their highest potential through means of practice of magick and by practice of deeds.
What a Witch is…
• The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or control others. But if the need rises, the Power shall be used to protect your life or the lives of others.
• The Power is used only as need dictates.
• The Power can be used for your own gain, as long as by doing so you harm none.
• It is unwise to accept money for use of the Power, for it quickly controls its taker. Be not as those of other religions.
• Use not the Power for prideful gain, for such cheapens the mysteries of Wicca and magick.
• Ever remember that the Power is the sacred gift of the Goddess and God, and should never be misused or abused.
Beliefs of Wicca/Witchcraft Regarding Magick
Lest in thy self defense it be, ever mind the rule of three
Do ye what thou whilst, an it harm none.
Of the many different traditions, there are two key beliefs that all
traditions share…
