A Wiccan is someone who practices Wicca, a modern pagan and witchcraft religion. Wicca was developed in the mid-20th century and is rooted in ancient pagan beliefs and practices. Wiccans worship and honor nature and believe in the existence of a divine power that is present in all living things. Wiccans celebrate the cycles of the seasons and believe in the concept of a dual goddess and god. The goddess represents femininity, fertility, and the earth, while the god represents masculinity, strength, and the sun. Wiccans believe in the balance of these energies and strive to achieve harmony in their lives.
What it’s about (synopsis via Goodreads):
The Massacre of Glencoe happened at 5am on 13th February 1692 when thirty-eight members of the Macdonald clan were killed by soldiers who had enjoyed the clan s hospitality for the previous ten days. The era of witch-hunts is coming to an end but Charles Leslie, an Irish propagandist and Jacobite, hears of the Massacre and, keen to publicise it, comes to the tollbooth to question her on the events of that night, and the weeks preceding it.
Wiccans believe in the balance of these energies and strive to achieve harmony in their lives. Wiccans perform rituals and spells to connect with the divine and harness their own personal power. They believe in the power of intention and use magic as a way to manifest their desires and bring about positive change.
Sherry Sharpnack's Reviews > The Highland Witch
This was a much better story than I expected. I was not expecting the depth of emotion and lovely description of the Highlands of Scotland.
Corrag is the daughter and granddaughter of “witches”—woman who didn’t fit in to the society of the seventeenth-century English-Scottish borderlands. Corrag’s grandmother was judicially drowned as a witch, w/ her husband watching, helpless. Corrag’s mother, Cora, raised her daughter alone, out on the moors. They made what money they could w/ their herbs and medicinal preparations. Cora was visited by the men of the village after dark, but called her “witch” in the daylight. She made fun of her plight by naming her daughter “Corrag”—a mix of “Cora” and “hag,” which was another name for a witch.
The story is told backwards. We meet Corrag in a Scottish prison, awaiting her execution for witchcraft. An Irish minister, an early “Jacobite”—someone who wanted the restoration of the deposed King James to the English throne—visits Corrag to find out what she knows of the massacre at Glencoe, where a branch of MacDonalds was wiped out by British soldiers. Had the MacDonalds committed treason, or was it treachery on the part of the soldiers?
We watch Mr. Leslie’s opinion of Corrag soften from his anti-witchcraft stance to one of understanding and then sympathy for Corrag, through the plot device of letters to his wife back home in Ireland. These end every chapter. We find out that Mr. Leslie also know sorrow, as he and his wife lost a daughter at her birth.
Corrag had fled northern England w/ a stolen mare on the night the townspeople finally turned on her mother. She ended up in a beautiful, secluded valley where she builds herself a dugout home and a life off the land. She meets the McIain, the head of the Glencoe clan MacDonald when she is called to tend a wound. She falls for his second son, who is married already. I was worried that this would turn sordid, but it never did. In fits and starts, Corrag finally tells Mr. Leslie about witnessing the massacre, when the soldiers turned on their MacDonald hosts and murdered most of them. Corrag is caught warning the family to flee and she is imprisoned.
Mr. Leslie is moved to try to save Corrag from her fate. I don’t want to spoil the ending, so will again emphasize the painstakingly-drawn beauty of the Highlands and descriptions of women living outside of what society considered “normal” at that time. A surprising five stars.
This was a much better story than I expected. I was not expecting the depth of emotion and lovely description of the Highlands of Scotland.
Wiccan rituals often involve the lighting of candles, casting of circles, chanting, and the use of tools such as a wand or athame. Wiccans believe in the importance of personal responsibility and adhere to the Threefold Law, which states that whatever energy is put out into the world, whether positive or negative, will come back to the individual threefold. This encourages Wiccans to think carefully about their actions and to strive to live in harmony with others and the natural world. Wiccans often come together in small groups called covens to practice their religion and support one another in their spiritual journeys. However, many Wiccans also practice as solitaries, choosing to work alone and follow their own individual path. In conclusion, a Wiccan is someone who practices the religion of Wicca, a modern pagan and witchcraft tradition. They believe in the power of nature, worship a dual goddess and god, and use rituals and spells to connect with the divine and manifest their desires. Wiccans strive to live in harmony with others and the natural world and may practice in groups or as solitaries..
Reviews for "The Wiccan Transformation: Finding Personal Power"
1. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars
This book was a major disappointment. I was expecting to learn about the Wiccan religion and its practices, but instead, I found a poorly written and confusing mess. The author seemed to have a limited understanding of Wicca and threw in random facts without providing any meaningful context or explanation. The lack of structure and organization made it difficult to follow along, and by the end, I still had no clear understanding of what Wicca truly is.
2. John - 2 out of 5 stars
I picked up "Who is a Wiccan" hoping to gain insight into the beliefs and ritualistic practices of Wicca. Unfortunately, the book fell short of my expectations. The writing style was dry and repetitive, making it a struggle to stay engaged. Additionally, the author seemed to have a biased perspective, presenting Wicca in a negative light throughout the book. It would have been more beneficial if the author had provided a balanced view and explored different aspects of the religion.
3. Emma - 1 out of 5 stars
As someone who is genuinely interested in learning about different religions, "Who is a Wiccan" was a huge letdown. The book lacked depth and seemed more like a shallow overview than an in-depth exploration of Wicca. The author failed to address the misconceptions surrounding this religion and instead perpetuated stereotypes and misinformation. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an accurate and comprehensive understanding of Wicca.