Wicca is a modern pagan religious movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is based on ancient pagan beliefs and practices, particularly those of pre-Christian Europe. Wiccans believe in multiple gods and goddesses, rather than a single deity. These gods and goddesses are seen as representations of different aspects of nature and existence. The most commonly revered goddess in Wicca is the Triple Goddess, who is associated with the phases of the moon and represents the three stages of womanhood: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The Triple Goddess is often depicted as the Maiden as the young and innocent aspect, the Mother as the nurturing and fertile aspect, and the Crone as the wise and elderly aspect.
The Triple Goddess is often depicted as the Maiden as the young and innocent aspect, the Mother as the nurturing and fertile aspect, and the Crone as the wise and elderly aspect. In addition to the Triple Goddess, many Wiccans also believe in and honor a Horned God, who is often associated with the sun, the wilderness, and the hunt. This god is seen as the male counterpart to the Triple Goddess and represents masculine energy and power.
Wiccans, Pagans worship the earth
Come Halloween, witches, wands, cauldrons and pentagrams seem to pop up everywhere. Shop windows, ads on the internet and the candy aisle of the grocery store all become inundated with pictures of ghoulish fiends, monsters and every other sort of strange and haunted thing.
For students who practice Wicca or paganism, wands, pentagrams and magic aren’t just meant for Halloween, they’re a lifestyle.
For Austin Toney, a senior working towards a Bachelors of Arts in Music, Wicca helps him live a thoughtful and peaceful lifestyle.
“Wicca is an Earth-based religion,” Toney said. “When we say we’re Earth based, we believe that the Earth in and of itself carries an energy. We seek to practice rites and rituals that attune ourselves to the energies of nature.”
Toney also explained that Wicca is a polytheistic religion, meaning Wiccans believe in and worship more than one deity. Wiccans believe in two gods, the Goddess and the God. Unlike Christianity, Wicca is a matriarchal religion.
“We focus more on the sacred feminine than we do on the sacred masculine,” Toney said. “In a matriarchal religion, the religious responsibilities are passed down female to female.”
Toney stressed that while much of popular culture has emphasized some of the darker parts of witchcraft and associated it with Wicca, Wiccans don’t believe or condone doing harm to another person, especially in the name of religion. Not only that, Wiccans believe that individuals who send out negative energy or thoughts will feel their negativity return back to them.
“We have that karmic thinking going on,” Toney said. “We call it the three-fold law. We believe that whatever you put out there, it will not only come back to you physical, it will come back mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
Toney explained that while popular media makes Wicca and witchcraft seem like they go hand in hand, they don’t at all. Many people in his coven, a Wiccan administrative unit similar to a congregation, practice Wicca but don’t practice witchcraft. He also said the reverse is true as well.
“At any given point, you can ask Wiccans what they believe and it all boils do to the Wiccan rede,” Toney said. “This basically says ‘Abide within the law you must, perfect love and perfect trust, harm not and do what thou wilt.’ That basically means do whatever you want, as long as it’s not harming yourself or others.”
Cecilia Delgado, owner of As Above, So Below, a pagan and Wiccan store in Roy, said that she belivees that one of the biggest misconceptions about Wiccans is that they are evil, devil-worshipers.
“People assume that because we wear a pentagram that we believe in Satan and that’s not true,” Delgado said. “We use the pentagram as protection. It symbolizes fire, earth, air, water and spirit. People are under the impression that we worship Satan but we do not. We don’t even believe in him.”
Delgado said that while she is Wiccan and her store provides herbs and stones used in Wiccan rituals, she said anyone can come in and use the herbs, oils and other products from her store. Delgado encouraged students who enjoy essential oils, incenses, loose leaf teas and homemade bath salts and lotions to come into her store.
Delgado also encouraged students that have questions to come in and ask them, not just to assume that because TV and popular culture has painted one image or another about Wicca that that image is reality.
“We teach people to heal themselves,” Delgado said. “It’s mostly healing and believing in yourself. Everything is spiritual here.”
Kirsten “Fluffy” Blake, event production manager for the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, practices paganism with Wiccan influences. For Blake, she said she was attracted to paganism and Wicca after attending a spiritual gathering with a friend in college.
Blake said that while paganism is mostly solitary practitioners, she is amazed by the sense of community that she feels from fellow pagans and Wiccans.
“I think we’re all basically drawn towards very similar things,” Blake said. “Being good to each other, having hope and faith in something that’s bigger than ourselves. Within that, knowing that we aren’t alone, we can be with each other and find comfort in the world that we’re living in.”
Delgado encouraged students interested in learning more about Wicca and paganism to join them for their Samhain ceremony. The celebration will be begin at 8:30 p.m. on Halloween night at As Above, So Below at 5978 S. 1900 W., Roy, UT.
For students who practice Wicca or paganism, wands, pentagrams and magic aren’t just meant for Halloween, they’re a lifestyle.
It is important to note that Wiccans view their gods and goddesses as immanent, meaning that they believe the divine is present and accessible in all things. They also believe in the concept of karma, the law of return, which dictates that the energy one puts out into the world will come back to them. Overall, Wiccans have a deep reverence and connection to nature and seek to live in harmony with it and the gods and goddesses they believe in..
Reviews for "The Wiccan Horned God: Symbolism and Significance in Nature Spirituality"
1. John - 1 star - This book was a complete disappointment. As someone who was genuinely interested in understanding Wicca and their beliefs, I found this book to be misleading and confusing. The title suggests that it will provide insights into the Wiccan concept of God, but instead, it offers a superficial overview that left me with more questions than answers. The author's writing style is convoluted, making it difficult to follow the main arguments and ideas. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Wicca and their beliefs.
2. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes when I picked up this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. While it attempts to explore the Wiccan concept of God, the author's biased perspective is evident throughout the pages. The book lacks objectivity and fails to delve deeply into the different facets and interpretations of the Wiccan deity. Additionally, the writing style is monotonous and repetitive, making it a struggle to maintain interest and focus. I believe there are better resources available for those genuinely interested in learning about Wicca's beliefs and the role of God within their practices.
3. Michael - 2 stars - "What god does Wicca believe in" left me unsatisfied and confused. The book lacked clarity and failed to deliver a cohesive understanding of the Wiccan concept of God. Instead of providing a comprehensive exploration, it presented fragmented information without proper explanations or examples. The author's personal biases overshadowed the objective analysis I was hoping for. It's disappointing to come across a book that promises to answer important questions but ultimately falls short in delivering substantive content. I recommend seeking alternative sources to gain a more accurate understanding of Wiccan beliefs and their relationship with the divine.