Wiccans are a contemporary pagan religious group that follow the beliefs and practices of witchcraft. Their system of beliefs is centered around nature, magic, and the worship of deities. While there is no singular deity or god in Wicca that all followers pray to, there is a widespread belief in a dualistic god and goddess. Wiccans believe in a male god, often referred to as the Horned God or the Green Man, who symbolizes masculine energy, nature, and the wild. This god is typically associated with the animal world, hunting, and fertility. The Horned God is often depicted as a stag or a man with antlers.
The Horned God is often depicted as a stag or a man with antlers. In addition to the Horned God, Wiccans also believe in a female goddess, often referred to as the Triple Goddess. The Triple Goddess embodies the three stages of life: maiden, mother, and crone.
Priestess explains Wiccan practices and rituals in the modern era
Michelle Mueller stood with her arms raised high above her head in a “V,” palms facing up and head tilted back in prayer. Amid the bowed heads and folded hands at the Parliament of the World’s Religion in Barcelona 2004, she stuck out.
She was in the Goddess position, a traditional pose for a Wiccan witch.
“I didn’t think much of it; they said prepare to pray, so I go like this,” Mueller said, lifting her hands and assuming the Goddess position, replicating the picture on her PowerPoint presentation. “My elders in the Pagan community loved it. (They) thought it was really important how proud I was.”
Mueller, a practicing wiccan and professor of religious studies at the Cherry Hill Seminary in South Carolina, explained Wicca and neo-paganism in the 21st century during a roundtable discussion on witchcraft, the Wiccan community and Wicca on Thursday at Cal State Fullerton, organized by the Comparative Religion Student Association.
“There are different myths maybe truths about the origins of some the words that we use and we don’t totally know where the words come from. People usually have stories but the stories have meaning,” Mueller said.
Mueller was invited by Jeanette Solano, Ph.D., a professor of comparative religion, as a guest speaker for her course on religion and sexuality.
Solano invited Mueller to speak at her Religion and Sexuality class but the campus showed such interest in the Neo-Pagan Wiccan priestess, that they decided to have a second talk all about Wicca and Paganism.
“It’s not a religion we often have time to include in our world religion courses,” Solano said. “We were very pleased that Michelle could come and share a little bit about a lived religion through the vision of a Wiccan priestess.”
Wicca is one of the three Neo-Pagan religions, together with Asatru and Druidry. Wiccans pray to the Goddess and God, who are sometimes known as the Lord and Lady.
“The God and Goddess is a central metaphor because it is about creation and fertility,” Mueller said.
Wiccans also pray to several other individual deities, sometimes incorporating ones that originate from other religious practices. For example, Kuan Yin is a figure from Buddhism, but is honored as an aspect of the Divine Feminine, Mueller said.
“Wiccans have different beliefs about the goddesses and gods,” Mueller said. “Some view each deity as distinct and individual; some view them as manifestations of the greater whole.”
Prayers are done through rituals, spells and magic, which Mueller considers more to be involved prayer.
There are a number of rituals Wiccans practice. They celebrate eight Sabbaths, which are religious festivals to celebrate the changing of seasons, and hold rituals during full moons to honor the lunar cycle.
“The sabbaths are more celebratory and full moons are more for magic,” Mueller said. The coven creates ritual actions which intend to magically produce an outcome by portraying it. “For example, if a loved one is sick, we visualize them being healthy and happy.”
One of the basic tenets of Wicca is “Do what you will, but harm none,” Mueller said.
“Wiccans aim for balance in the universe,” Mueller said. “We sometimes add verbiage to our spells, such as ‘if the Goddess wills,’ so that if we make magic for a specific effect, we don’t offset something else that is important too.”
Patti Wigington is a pagan author, educator, and licensed clergy. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal.
She represents femininity, fertility, and the cycles of nature. The Triple Goddess is typically depicted as a beautiful young woman, a nurturing mother, and an aged wise woman. Wiccans view the Horned God and the Triple Goddess as complementary forces in the universe. They believe that these deities are immanent in nature and can be accessed through prayer, meditation, and ritual. Wiccans may pray to these deities for guidance, protection, blessings, or assistance with their magical workings. Prayers in Wicca are often personalized and spontaneous, rather than following a set script or formula. They can be spoken, chanted, or written, depending on the individual preferences of the practitioner. Wiccans may pray to the gods and goddesses individually or as a pair, depending on the specific purpose or intention of their prayer. It is important to note that Wicca is a diverse and decentralized religion, and different individuals and groups may have different interpretations and practices when it comes to prayer and deity worship. Some Wiccans may also incorporate other deities or spiritual beings from various mythologies into their practice, depending on their personal beliefs and cultural background. Overall, while there is no singular god or goddess that all Wiccans pray to, there is a general belief in a male god and a female goddess who represent the divine forces of nature and the universe. Wiccans may pray to these deities for various reasons and can personalize their prayers according to their individual needs and traditions..
Reviews for "Wiccan Prayer: Honoring the Divine Feminine and Masculine"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars
I was highly disappointed with "Who do Wiccans pray to". As someone who was curious to learn more about Wiccan beliefs, this book provided little to no information on the main deity or deities that Wiccans pray to. Instead, it went off on tangents about irrelevant topics and was filled with repetitive content. I felt like the author didn't fully understand the subject matter, which left me feeling misled and unsatisfied. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking to learn about Wiccan prayers or beliefs.
2. John - 2/5 stars
While "Who do Wiccans pray to" did touch upon the topic of Wiccan prayers, I found the information provided to be quite lacking. The book lacked depth and failed to delve into the various deities worshipped by Wiccans. I was expecting a more comprehensive exploration of Wiccan spirituality and the concept of prayer within their belief system, but unfortunately, this book fell short. It seemed more like a brief overview rather than a detailed examination of the subject. I would advise seeking alternative resources for a more thorough understanding of Wiccan prayers.
3. Megan - 2/5 stars
I wanted to gain insight into Wiccan prayer practices, but "Who do Wiccans pray to" did not satisfy my curiosity. The book presented a very basic overview of Wicca and only briefly mentioned the deity worshipped by Wiccans. I was hoping for a more detailed analysis of the deities, their roles, and how Wiccans engage in prayer rituals. The lack of depth and detail left me wanting more and questioning the accuracy of the information provided. If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on Wiccan prayers, I suggest looking elsewhere.