Wicca
Wicca is a nature-centric religion that draws from pre-Christian pagan beliefs, particularly those rooted in ancient Celtic traditions. Emerged in the early 20th century in England, Wicca is primarily a ditheistic faith, with followers typically worshiping a goddess associated with the moon and a horned god linked to the sun and nature. The modern practice gained traction in the 1950s, largely due to the writings of Gerald Gardner, who integrated various historical and mystical elements into the belief system. Wicca is characterized by a decentralized structure, allowing practitioners significant freedom to develop personal rituals and traditions, often within small groups known as covens.
Central to Wiccan beliefs is the reverence for nature, with rituals that honor seasonal changes and the spiritual energies of the natural world. Key celebrations include Sabbats, which occur eight times a year, marking significant seasonal transitions. While many Wiccans adhere to the Wiccan Rede, emphasizing harm-free living, views on morality, deities, and afterlife beliefs vary widely among practitioners. This diversity in practice and belief makes it challenging to estimate the number of Wiccans, with estimates in the United States ranging from a few thousand to over 700,000. Overall, Wicca celebrates the interconnectedness of life and the power of nature, fostering a unique spiritual community.
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Wicca
Wicca is a nature-focused religion based on pre-Christian pagan beliefs. Wicca is most often a ditheistic system with many practitioners worshiping two deities: a goddess, who is associated with the moon, stars, and Earth; and a horned god, associated with the sun, forests, and animals. Although the concept of Wicca is founded on centuries-old Celtic ideas, it is a modern belief system, formed in the early 20th century in England and popularized in the 1950s through the writings of Gerald Gardner. Wiccans revere the spiritual power of nature and hold among their most cherished beliefs that followers never harm another person. Wicca is a decentralized religion with no widely accepted set of core beliefs. Adherents are free to practice their faith as they choose, often on an individual level or in small groups called covens. Because of this, many have developed their own specific traditions, rituals, and worship practices. This disorganized structure and different denominations of Wicca make an accurate count of practitioners difficult. Estimates vary widely from a few thousand to more than 700,000 in the Unites States.
History
Some elements of Wicca can be traced back to ancient religious traditions that predate Christianity by hundreds of years. Wicca's symbols, celebrations, beliefs, and concept of a fertility goddess and hunter god have their roots in the Celtic societies of Iron Age Britain from about 800 B.C.E. Modern-day Wicca has its beginnings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when several books on witchcraft were published. Notable among these were the works of anthropologist Dr. Margaret Murray, who theorized that witches persecuted by Christian churches during the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries were descended from a line of pagan witch-cults dating back to Celtic Britain. While research has discredited her theories, the idea of the witch-cult garnered public attention and was influential in the rise of witchcraft traditions in the 1930s.
In the early 1950s, Gerald Gardner, a retired British customs official and witchcraft practitioner, published a series of books about witchcraft detailing its beliefs, rituals, and practices. Gardner's works drew heavily on the ancient Celtic traditions but also included elements of druidism, Freemason practices, and ceremonial magic. Gardner's books were instrumental in popularizing the religion, which soon spread from England to other parts of the world. Early practitioners called themselves witches and referred to their beliefs as witchcraft, or the Craft. The term Wicca was not used to describe the religion until the 1960s. The word is taken from the Old English word wicca, meaning "male sorcerer."
Beliefs
- Wiccan beliefs and practices are diverse and often vary by individual or group. In most cases, it is a ditheistic religion with belief in two deities. While most Wiccans revere the goddess and her companion the horned god, others have different ways of viewing these deities. Some believe in the concept of "The All," which views the goddess and god as female and male aspects of one being. Others believe there are many deities, often taken from Greek, Egyptian, or Norse mythologies. Among these deities are Aphrodite, Artemis, Dionysus, Isis, Pan, and Thor. Others hold to an atheist perspective and view Wiccan deities only as symbols.
The reverence of the natural world is very important in Wiccan belief. Wiccans see nature and the environment as a spiritual force, and many practitioners hold rituals to greet the sunrise, mark the phases of the moon, or passage of the year. There are eight Wiccan celebrations, or sabbats, each timed to correspond with a particular season. These are
- Imbolc or Candlemas, February 2: A celebration to mark the middle of winter and look ahead to the approaching spring.
- Ostara, March 21: A celebration of fertility and the spring equinox.
- Beltane or May Day, May 1: A festival heralding the approach of summer, the middle of spring, and the death of winter.
- Midsummer Eve, June 21 or 22: A celebration of the summer solstice.
- Lughnasadh or August Eve, August 1: A festival marking the beginning of the harvest and the middle of summer.
- Mabon or Harvest Home, September 21: A celebration of the autumn equinox.
- Samhain, October 31: A festival marking the end of summer and honoring the elders and the dead.
- Yule, December 21: A celebration of the winter solstice and the symbolic rebirth of the god.
Wiccan philosophy is as varied as its belief system, but there are several common themes. Wiccans believe in equality between the sexes, holding the feminine aspect of nature in as high regard as the male. Human sexuality is viewed as a gift from the goddess. Morality is an individual's choice, with many practitioners following a code called the Wiccan Rede, which advises "if it harm none, do as you will." Participants seek harmony and balance in life and view nature's power as a form of energy that resides in every living being. Some Wiccans try to harness this power through the practice of magic. This practice often utilizes sacred symbols or shapes, such as the circle or five-pointed star known as a pentacle. Traditionally Wiccans believe in an afterlife and the concept of reincarnation, but the form this belief takes differs. Some believe the soul can return in any living creature, while others hold it can only return in humans.
Organization
There is no governing body for the Wiccan religion and no centralized belief system. Most Wiccans practice their faith on an individual level and are free to tailor it to their needs. Some Wiccans form covens, each with its own individual traditions of worship. While covens often number thirteen members, not every group holds to this practice.
Bibliography
"Basic Tenets of Wicca-Craft." Church and School of Wicca. Church and School of Wicca. Web. 13 Aug. 2015. http://www.wicca.org/Church/basictenets.html
"Eight Sabbats or Festivals of Wicca." Wicca - Lunar Spirituality - Element Symbols. Wicca - Lunar Spirituality - Element Symbols. 23 Feb. 2009. Web. 13 Aug. 2015. http://www.wicca.in/eight-sabbats-of-wicca/
Robinson, Bruce A. "Wicca: A Neopagan, Earth-Centered Religion." Religious Tolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 24 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2015. http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
Robinson, Bruce A. "Wicca: An Introduction." Religious Tolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Aug. 2015. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic‗intr.htm
"Wicca." BBC. BBC. 2 Oct. 2002. Web. 12 Aug. 2015. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/subdivisions/wicca.shtml