What is Wicca

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What isn't Wicca

Q. What is a Witch?

A. Generally speaking, Witches practice a nature-based religion which observes the cycles of the seasons. Witches seek to live in harmony with Nature and the cycles of the Universe. A Witch believes that the divine exists both within the individual and without. Many Witches refer to their religion as Wicca, though not all do. Some practice in groups known as covens, while others (either by necessity or preference) practice alone, or as what is commonly called a "solitaire."

Q. Are there Male Witches?

A. Witches can be either male or female. Incorrectly, many people call male Witches "Warlocks." This term is considered quite rude and a slur. Warlock is an old Scottish word meaning "oath-breaker," and would imply someone of a traitorous nature. Since Pagans hold integrity and trustworthiness in extremely high regard, referring to someone as Warlock is considered serious business. 

Q. You mentioned Pagans. Are all Witches Pagans?

A. Not all Pagans would consider themselves Witches, but generally most Witches consider themselves Pagan. You see, 'Pagan' comes from the Latin 'pagani', which means 'country-dweller'. During the Middle Ages, the new religion of Christianity was becoming more accepted in the population centers of Europe and the British Isles. However, the new religion was not so popular among the common people, who were more inclined to tend their flocks and crops than to curry favor with the nobility in town. The courtiers, educated by Latin-speaking clergymen, referred to these un-Converted masses as pagans, or 'hicks', as might be said today.

Q. Do you believe in "God?" And what about Satan?

A. We believe in God, and the Goddess! We believe the divine is everywhere and in all things. The Gods are also within us, because we contain a divine essence in common with all that exists.  Satan is an invention of the Christian and Muslim religions. An important aspect of male deity worshipped by Pagans of old is the "Horned God," who is still revered by Pagans to this day. Because of this, Christians chose to represent Satan as a hooved and horned creature. Since Witches don't accept the beliefs or tenants of the Christian or Muslim religions, we do not recognize the existence of Satan, and certainly don't worship him/it. We believe that every individual makes choices, either good or evil, and that each is directly responsible for the results of their actions.  We believe that the good or evil one does in life returns to the individual. If one chooses an evil path, we believe the laws of Karma will punished them. We also believe that the same laws will reward actions considered beneficial or good in nature.  Witches believe in reincarnation, and feel that the Karma one sends out in this lifetime may follow into the next. When considering this, it may be easier to understand why terrible things happen to wonderful people.

Q. Ok, well what about that Satanic symbol you use?

A. The pentagram is not Satanic. The origins of the pentagram include Pythagoras and his followers. To them, it was symbolic of health and worn to recognize one another. In Witchcraft, the five points of the pentagram correspond to the elements Air, Earth, Fire and Water, with the top point corresponding to the "Akasha" or "Spirit."  Satanists turn the Christian cross upside-down. Would this make the cross a Satanic symbol? Of course not! They also do the same with the Pentagram. Likewise, inverting the pentagram does not make it a Satanic symbol.

Q. Do witches Believe in Jesus?

A. Some Witches believe that Jesus existed, in the historical sense. Still, others believe in Jesus much the same way they view the Yule child who is reborn each year; others don't believe in Jesus at all, and for them the issue of Jesus is irrelevant. Many of my brothers and sisters feel Jesus was a genuine Divine Being who taught a path of love. And in his role as the Sacred King, gave his life so that the lives of the people would be renewed. Many Witches honor him in this way.

Q. The Bible says, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live"; What about that?

A. The passage you read is from the 'King James Version' of the Bible, upon which virtually all English-language translations are based. This version was begun and completed during the Burning Times (our term for the anti-Pagan holocaust in Europe). It is well known that King James was extremely paranoid of Witches and Witchcraft. So it is not surprising that he decided to change the translation in the final version from the original meaning of "evil-doer" or "poisoner" to Witch.

Q. Do you practice "white" or "black" Witchcraft?

A. Witches tend to believe these terms promote racist thinking when used to describe the morality of one's Magick. Witches are just Witches. Asking someone if they are a good Witch or bad Witch is like asking if someone is a "good" Catholic or "bad" Catholic.

Q. What about reports of blood sacrifices and ritual murder?

A. We have nothing to do with such practices. The taking of life is something we believe isn't our choice to make, and we wouldn't sacrifice another creature for our own gain. For this reason a large percentage of Witches are vegetarian. Witches maintain a deep reverence for all life. Involvement in any sort of these practices would run opposite to everything we hold sacred. It would be, quite literally, "against our religion." 

Q. Do Witches cast spells?

A. Magick and spellcraft are one of the most important aspects of Witchcraft. However, what the term "spell" actually means, is widely misunderstood.  Spells are similar to positive thinking, combined with self-awareness and a clear understanding of exactly what one hopes to achieve. Spells are used to create needed change in one's own life or the life of a others (although Witches generally will not do a spell for anyone who has not given them their permission). One might consider the spells Witches cast as being similar to prayers.  The differences? We believe the divine exists within ourselves. Whereas, when most people pray, it is to an external deity somewhere. Spells, then, are the channeling of our own divine selves and our own energies, to create the change. Spells and Prayers are basically just different approaches to the same goal. Since no true Witch will use magick to harm, manipulate, or influence others without their consent and knowledge, love spells, hexes, curses, and "the evil eye" (whatever that is), are specifically out of line and out of the question for a true witch. Anything which violates the free will of another is considered wrong. It runs counter to our belief system to enjoin such things.

Q. You call Wicca a religion, isn't it really a cult?

A. Cults are lead by unforgiving leaders, who expect their members to blindly follow and never question their authority. In our religion, we welcome the sharing of knowledge, and the discussion and debate of many concepts and ideas. There are no grand, supreme, or 'omnipotent' gurus who lead Witches and Wiccans. In fact, many Wiccans practice their religion alone, or as "Solitaires." Those in groups or "covens" come together at appointed times to share the love, joy and 'fellowship' that life holds for us, and to take note of and celebrate the lessons that the events of the seasons, and of our lives, have to teach us.

Q. Do Witches have orgies and wild sex?

A. This is another misguided rumor largely perpetrated by anti-pagan propagandizers, or those who simply don't know (seldom does a week go by that we don't get email from some guy wanting to "join up" so he can "score!") Witches are generally quite open-minded regarding sex, and have no rules prohibiting homosexuality, nudity, or pre-marital sex. The one rule of Witchcraft, "An 'ye harm none, do what thou wilt," indicates that harm to others by any means including misusing sexuality is wrong. Sex is a perfectly natural act and is viewed by Witches as something sacred.

Q. Why do people become Wiccan?

A. The reasons are many any varied. Many women feel alienated from the mainstream religion they grew up with because there is no existence of feminine divinity. The Wiccan concept of the Goddess as the Mother of all living fulfills their spiritual search. Because Wicca is an earth or nature based religion, many are drawn by a need to get back to the Earth. Another reason is our only rule, which very simply states, "Harm None." It means that we are free to act as we see fit, providing that no other person suffers injury, pain, anguish, loss, or corruption, as a result of our actions.

Q. So what do Witches DO?

A. Pretty much the same thing as everyone else. We live our lives, and eventually pass on. We have families both directly and extended, and pay taxes as most people do. We don't preach our religion or try and force it upon others. Above all, we value personal responsibility. We hold that each of us is responsible for choosing our own words, deeds, opinions, thoughts, feelings and responses. More and more Witches are open about their beliefs, but still many others must keep their religion private for fear of persecution and intolerance. As we are a nature religion, we prefer to worship out-of-doors. We believe that no building can give us the sense of contact we feel when our bare feet rest upon the Mother Earth, or the sense of blessing we feel when a breeze caresses our skin. Being with nature brings us closer to the divinity who creates it. Unlike many other groups, we have no hidden agendas. What we seek from the rest of existence is really quite simple - that we be allowed to practice our religion without intolerance or prejudice as is our right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America.