Wiccan and Pagan Study Group (Australia) *F .A. Q*

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Wiccan & Pagan Study Group (Australia)
Frequently Asked Questions
Created: Friday 2 January 1998
Update: Tuesday December 22 1999
This FAQ will be updated annually.

Ask Me a Question: Paganism / Wicca

Table of Questions

Is there a reading list that I can have?	What is your basic view of the Paganism/Wicca?	Why? That is, why do you practice what you do?	What is your path, anyways?	What Gods/Goddesses do you worship/invoke/relate to, and why?
Do you use elements of ceremonial magic in your practice? If so, why?	What other elements do you use or require students to learn? Aromatherapy? Herbalism? Minerology? Other?	Do you use elements of the Qaballa?	Do you see the God/Goddess as eminations from a single divine source, or do you see the male/female divine as inherently separate?	Do you practice the Great Rite?
Do you celebrate the wheel of the year?	What is the wheel of the year, and how does your practice relate to it?	What other paths do you borrow from? Yoga? Other forms of Hinduism? Buddhism? Native American practices? Gnosticism? Something else?	Do you make physical practice (such as some forms of astanga Yoga or pranayama or walking meditation) a part of your religious beliefs?	How often do you meditate?
How often do you recommend others to?	Do you see socio-political statements or philosophies as a part of your path, or separate from it? If they are a part (or even if they are separate), how do you believe your politics are effected by your beliefs?	Do you require ritual nudity at any time?	What materials will I be required to buy?	What if I miss a class?
What format for classes do you use?	How do you handle anonymity issues?	How long do the classes meet and do they ever run over?	Will there be tests?	May I tape record the class?
How long have you been in the Craft?	What tradition do you currently practice?	Have you trained in more than one tradition?	What's your lineage?	How long have you been teaching this class?

Is there a reading list that I can have? Yes. All you have to do is e-mail me asking for the Reading List.
For those new to or interested in Paganism, Wicca and/or Witchcraft - I have an email that will help you find your footing, as such. The Reading List is included in it.
The Online Study Groups are based upon a book(s) considered relevant to each group.

What is your basic view of the Paganism/Wicca? Okay. These are only MY views I know there are people who believe differently. My beliefs are not the Study Group's beliefs. The Study Group has no set beliefs you must follow. Now that's been said...
Witchcraft is a modern lifestyle not a religion. It's an earth-based, magickal lifestyle and anyone of any faith or path may practice it. When I say Earth-based, I mean a belief in the Earth and its inhabitants as sacred and "alternative" forms of medicine that compliment 'Western' (aka Modern) medicine. As you can see this has nothing do with 'God' or the 'Devil'.
Paganism (a.k.a Neo-Paganism) is a spiritual path. Paganism is a dual divinity (god and goddess), earth-based, magickal belief system. I follow Neo-Paganism: where the beliefs are old but the practices are modern.
Wicca is only one of the many tenants or paths of Paganism. It has a few set rules and/or beliefs that makes a "Wiccan". Wiccans have the option of incorporating Witchcraft into their beliefs hence the reason why most (not all) Wiccans also call themselves Witches. Wicca has 2 rules: The Wiccan Rede and Threefold Law.

Why? That is, why do you practice what you do? I practice what I do because that is what I'm most at peace with. I practice and believe in Paganism because it has answered all my questions and my soul is at home here. It has also helped me become a better person.. not a perfect person just a better one.

What is your path, anyways? Solitary Pagan Witchcraft. I have chosen, for now, to practice solitary as I have alot to learn about myself. Pagan as I want a spiritual belief that incorporates balance and co-existance. My tradition of Witchcraft is only as old as I am - I celebrate the seasons (Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring) but ulitmately am not Wiccan. I'm still searching for the tenant of Paganism for me, but I want to learn about all of Paganism. The path/tradition you follow is true for you as truth is subjective. What may be true for you is not necessarily true to me.

What Gods/Goddesses do you worship/invoke/relate to, and why? I woship the God and Goddess without names. I also invoke the God and Goddess without names. I relate to:
Lilith : due to how I "see" Her. Lilith to me is a strongly sensual dark Goddess who is a "feminist" as such. She's a darkly sensual, wild, untamed, strong Goddess. I just love Her story and what she is all about! She's the first Goddess that I discovered.
Bast: due to her many qualities, not just the fact that the cat is symbolic of Her. Bast to me is a goddess of joy. She's the lion-goddess of sunset (my favourite time of day!), pleasure, dancing, music and joy. All the thing I love! I love dancing and music.. I love celebration.. and life should be pleasurable.
Diana: I was introduced to Diana through my studies of Stregharia (or Strega) Witchcraft. She is the Goddess of the Moon and Hunt. I like how She is a mixture of the feminine and masculine.
As for Gods..
I recently on my (Re-)Dedication Week researched a few Gods. I had previously been concentrating on Goddesses and felt the need to balance myself again and look on the many faces and fables of 'God'.
Some of the Gods I researched and now have a relationship with are Neptune, Horus, Diónysus and Khepera. I have an interest in the Egyptian Gods, currently.

Do you use elements of ceremonial magic in your practice? If so, why? Not at present. I do not know enough nor practice high magick to say I do. I will further on down my Path but it's not right for me to learn high magick yet.

What other elements do you use or require students to learn? Aromatherapy? Herbalism? Minerology? Other? There is, currently, one Online Study Group per topic: Tarot, Herbalism, Sabbats, Spirit Guides and Divination. These Study Groups are not compulsory to join. The five Study Group topics are decided from the results of a Survey that is undertaken once a year by Mailing List members. Once again, the survey is not compulsory to do but will help me make an informed decision on which five topics will become Online Study Groups.

Do you use elements of the Qaballa? No, not a present. The limited knowledge I have of the Qaballa has lead me to the decision that I, currently, am not interested in persuing this path right now.

Do you see the God/Goddess as eminations from a single divine source, or do you see the male/female divine as inherently separate? (Disclaimer: These are my opinions only!) Eminations of a single divine source! They are the male and female (ying and yang) energies or essences of the Divine Essence (a.k.a. Godhead, The Source of All Things). My belief in Divinity are like so: Godhead which then splits into two branches.. God - Goddess.. these two sub-branches spread into many sub-branches.. each sub-branch is the name of a God - Goddess... if you'd like an illustration- email me. wpsg@yahoo.com

Do you practice the Great Rite? I currently do not practice any rituals which involve the Great Rite symbolically or physically. My 'magickal' workings are mostly simple spells (what I call "simples") and meditations. I'm focusing more on the spiritual aspect of my Path. I involve the magickal but at a lesser degree.

Do you celebrate the Wheel of the Year? Currently, I only celebrate the Soltices and Equinoxes whilst recognising the other 'Lesser' Solar Sabbats to a very small degree. The Wheel of the Year is not a purely Wiccan concept, alot of other Pagan paths follow a similar God/Goddess Cycle Myth.

Beginner's question : What is the Wheel of the Year, and how does your practice relate to it? The Wheel of The Year is the cycle of seasons- Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring- that is celebrated through Sabbats. Sabbats are the equinoxes and cross-quarter days of seasonal celebration in the Pagan calendar. I relate to the Wheel through the Sabbats. The beginning of the Wheel is Samhain whilst the end is Mabon. Each Sabbat is based on it's corresponding season and god/desses. The Sabbats are to help us become more intune with nature and its cycles.
Some Pagan paths have a God / Goddess Myth which is told at each Sabbat. For example, the God/Goddess Myth associated with Yule is when the God has recently died and the Goddess is in the Underworld with him where she gives birth to the Young God. This God/Goddess Myth at Yule is very similar to the Christian Christ Child story and is a reflection of the natural cycle where the Sun is born and Winter starts to fade.

What other paths do you borrow from? Yoga? Other forms of Hinduism? Buddhism? Native American practices? Gnosticism? Something else? I borrow from Chrisitian, Buddhist, Islamic, Gnosticism and various traditions within Paganism. I agree with Christianity in some of it's teachings. I do not believe nor agree that The Bible (which Bible?) or any 'Holy Book' is infallible but each 'Holy Book' still contains wisdom. IMHO all the Holy Books of all faiths contain wisdom. No "book" is more better or more 'true' than any other book. Also, no one should exclude all the other great books of the other religions.. in excluding oneself from all "Holy Books" except for one in spiritual teachings confines wisdom and hinders spiritual knowledge. I agree with Islamic POV in that Jesus was a "Messanger of God" hence prophet. I agree with alot of Buddhist, Taoist, Jungian teachings, such as, reincarnation, balance, and a form of Nirvana.