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Wicca. The Misunderstood Religion. SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS. Witchcraft and New Age Wicca are the same thing. It is a devil-worshipping religion. All magic is “Black Magic” meant to hurt others. MORE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS.
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Wicca The Misunderstood Religion
SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS • Witchcraft and New Age Wicca are the same thing. • It is a devil-worshipping religion. • All magic is “Black Magic” meant to hurt others.
MORE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS • Wicca is a rebellious phase a majority of teenagers go through to scare their parents. • Witches think they can do “Harry Potter” magic. • Male witches are warlocks.
THE TRUTH ABOUT WICCA • Witchcraft and “New Age Wicca” or “Modern Druidism” are from different time periods; thousands of years between the two time periods in fact. • Witchcraft is believed to have originated in Western Europe at least 7,000 years ago, well before Christianity and Judaism. • It is a nature-based religious system.
MORE TRUTH ABOUT WICCA • “New Age Wicca” was a movement started by “hippies” in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as a type of rebellion. • Many “Real” witches refuse to be known as wiccans because of the hippie generation. • Many people watched the “New Age Wiccan” movement as a joke.
EVEN MORE TRUTH ABOUT WICCA • Wicca does not believe in a devil, and while there is “Black Magic” meant to hurt people, there is also “White Magic” meant to help and guide people. • In reality, “Magic” used in spells and incantations will not save you from oversized snakes, trolls, and Voldermort-like individuals. • Male Wiccans are also witches. • The term “Warlock” has a different meaning.
WHAT IS WICCA? • It is a polytheistic, natural religion, first practiced by Druids in Europe about 7,000 years ago. • Wicca maintains a significantly large following today, especially among young adults. • Uses rituals, spells, and mediation as main ways to worship. • No set practices; there are many variations.
MAIN PRINCIPLES • Wiccans do not believe in sin like Catholics do. • The Wiccan Rede is the guiding “golden” rule. • The Rede says it is acceptable to do anything, as long as no one (including yourself) is harmed by its doing. • Otherwise, the law of three will get you.
BELIEFS • There is both a God and Goddess (everything balances), although the Goddess is focused on more and is more important in the practice of Wicca. • The different aspects of these two elements (God and Goddess) are broken down into different deities. • Nature is sacred and brings one closer to the Goddess.
INITIATION • A person may choose to be a solitary or group practitioner, or even a bit of both. • Typically, a person studies for a year and a day before dedicating themselves to the Goddess. Celtic Goddess Brigid
INITIATION • Initiation can be done alone or with others. • It can be an elaborate ceremony or just a small prayer. • It is not unusual for a Wiccan to adopt a craft name at this time, signifying rebirth into the religion.
THE BOOK OF SHADOWS • The Book of Shadows is the witch’s version of the Bible. • It is the place to write down spells, charms, potions, etc. • No two Books of Shadows are the same, since everyone makes their own.
DEATH AND REINCARNATION • Witches believe in reincarnation. • When the body dies, the soul goes to the Summerland, where it reflects on its life. • Once done reflecting, the soul is reincarnated. • This reincarnation process happens numerous times. • When the soul is worn out, it is returned to the “Greater Spirit.”
