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Wicca: Out From The Shadows

     For centuries, many people have believed in Christianity, Jesus, and God as central and main beliefs. Before anyone could remember from the old books in which Christianity was recorded, there was yet another religion all together. This religion was and is still known today as Wicca. The purpose of this document is not to offend anyone in any way, but to show the other side of many disputes and arguments to prove that Wicca is neither evil nor non-existent.

     Wicca has been known as the "Old Religion", "The Craft", and many other names as well. The religion has been dated as the oldest religion known as an independent belief. It has many similarities with Christianity, but in a way has "added" things to it. Wicca is a neo-pagan religion of Nature Worship. It goes by the words "And if harm none, Do what thou wilt." Meaning that you are allowed to do anything as long as it has nothing to do with harming nature. This would also include anything of "Human Nature." What is usually called Human Nature is really just Human Habit.

     Wicca consists of two higher powers, a God and a Goddess (also known as the Lord and Lady). One male and one female higher power exists to explain the belief of creation, unlike the single-god religion, Christianity. The Christian Mary is what takes the place of the Wiccan Goddess and the Christian Jesus is what takes the place of the Wiccan Mother Earth Spirit. Both, the God and Goddess are worshiped for different things. For instance, the God, who looks like Pan of Greek Mythology, is the keeper of masculinity, war, strength, and stupidity (along with other things). The Athena-like Goddess is in control of feminism, dexterity, health, peace, and brilliance (also with shared characteristics of the God). Both powers work together to show unity of both sexes and spiritual minds.

     There is nothing evil with Wicca itself, although things can go terribly wrong without the right education. That is why all who begin Wicca are to study it very well before they go further in with their practices, if any practicing is done. Most of the religion is taught, not by book, but by word of mouth. Now, in this age, there are books supplied for the Wiccan beginner. This includes rituals, spells, celebrations, and holidays, although, in Wicca, Magick (which includes the rituals and spells) is an optional "bonus" in the religion. Many people, like myself, only follow the religious beliefs and do not practice the Magick side of it.

     Magick in Wicca is a way of "praying" to the Lord and Lady. Just like in Christianity, Wiccans ask for things to be given or granted from the higher powers, but just in a slightly different method. Most rituals involve candles, incense, and special rites for different wishes. For example, if one would want a family member to get well from a very bad condition faster than normal, they would spark a light blue candle and burn a dry mint leaf over the flame as they would say the person’s name out loud until the leaf was completely burnt to ash. This is a way of praying to the Goddess (the Goddess is called upon for her gifts of health) for help in a time of need. No Magick in Wicca has anything to do with sacrificing animals or doing any harm to nature or humanity, for doing harm to nature is just like expressing disrespect towards the higher powers and the Mother Earth Spirit.

     The laws of Magick is very simple for Wiccans. It is described as "The Law of Threes." This is meaning that anything that is done by Magick or prayer, good or bad in effects, is to come back to you in the same way three times as strong and three times as fast. This, for example, could be a blessing of a safe journey for a loved one, and in return, you will also be watched over for protection. This also works as a self punishment law. If one was to use Magick to harm another, this could be looked at in different ways. One way of observation is to note that using harmful Magick is a way of stepping out of Wicca and leaping into regular Paganism without any knowledge of what they are doing. This will prove as a way of betraying the higher powers (Wicca Magick is a force of blessings and healing that are never used for bad things. Any evil Magick would be "Black Magick" which is not in any way a part of Wicca.) and therefore making a punishment to themselves that had been harming nature or anything in general. The only way of punishment would be, of course, to make the same thing happen to them that they did to other people or things. In other words, if you do the crime you do the time.

The celebrations of Wicca are done on holidays. There are many holidays of Wicca faith …

Lady Day - March 25th  - Day of the Goddess returning from her journey of harvesting.

Beltane - April 30th - Spring celebration and fire festivals.

Summer Solstice - June 21st - Summer celebration.

Samhain (SOWAIN) - October 31st - Night of all evil spirits to be destroyed.

Winter Solstice / Yule - December 21st - Wedding of the God and Goddess. Time of                                                                           great joy and gift giving. Equivalent of                                                                                   Christmas.

     Each celebration had their purposes as you see in the chart above. Many good times were shared during this time.

     Wicca is a very precise and well constructed religion. If we all start to understand the beliefs, there would not be a dispute on it being evil or not. As we all should now know, "Do unto others as others do unto you." Meaning, treat others the same way you wish to be treated. We now should understand that all should get together for religious peace, not war and chaos. Merry partings and blessed be!