The Wiccan faith, also referred to as Wicca, is a modern pagan religion that worships nature and follows a belief system based on witchcraft and magic. Wicca originated in the mid-20th century and draws inspiration from various ancient spiritual traditions. **At its core, Wicca revolves around a reverence for nature and the belief in a divine power that manifests through the natural world.** Wiccans consider themselves to be practitioners of magic and often perform rituals and spells to connect with the spiritual energies present in nature. **Unlike traditional witchcraft, Wicca does not advocate for harmful or manipulative magic, but rather embraces practices that promote positive intentions and personal growth.** Central to the Wiccan faith is the belief in a divine duality, often represented as a goddess and god, who are responsible for the creation and sustenance of life.
Friday, June 21 will be the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. And for one religious group it's a time to celebrate the Oak King falling to the Holly King.
Owen Davies, author of the book America Bewitched , joins two local Wiccan practitioners, J and Thorgo to discuss the Wiccan faith locally and internationally. Even the names of the days and the months owe a lot to these Nordic and Roman Gods, says Thorgo, even after 2000 years of a dominant Christian faith, a thread of Paganism runs through everything we do.
** Central to the Wiccan faith is the belief in a divine duality, often represented as a goddess and god, who are responsible for the creation and sustenance of life. **Wiccans believe in an immanent and pantheistic approach to divinity, which means that they perceive the divine as present and intertwined within all aspects of the natural world.** Rituals and ceremonies play a crucial role in Wiccan practice, and these often involve casting circles, calling upon elemental forces, honoring ancestors, and seeking guidance from deities.
Why Wicca Is A Misunderstood Religion
Friday, June 21 will be the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. And for one religious group it's a time to celebrate the Oak King falling to the Holly King.
We take a look at the often misunderstood Wiccan religion. Recently they’ve made inroads into popular acceptance, but practitioners still say there's more to be done. Owen Davies, author of the book America Bewitched, joins two local Wiccan practitioners, "J" and "Thorgo" to discuss the Wiccan faith locally and internationally.
First, Owen Davies talks about the history of the the Wiccan religion as an offshoot of Paganism, much like Heathenry or Neo-Druidism, although Owen Davies is quick to point out, "There is no continuous line of witchcraft from Paganism to today."
Modern Wiccan religion began in earnest in 1939 when Gerald Gardner was initiated into the New Forest coven. Often regarded as the father of the Wiccan religion, Gardner wanted to revive some of the Pagan practices of the Pre-Christian era.
From there Owen Davies has been charting Wiccan's steadily growing popularity through the alternative culture of the 1960s to the prevalence of pop culture witches in the 1990s with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed (First Episode Title: "Something Wicca This Way Comes".)
In terms of modern practices, both "J" and "Thorgo" are high priests/priestesses of their covens, and they have been involved in Wicca for a number of years. They spoke a great deal about the current practices of a typical Wiccan.
"Wiccan religion is all about self-empowerment. We believe that a deity is within us, but that we are responsible for our own actions," says J. "We don't think that magic is supernatural. In fact, it's just the opposite. Magic is a part of nature, and exists all around us."
"Casting spells is like saying prayers," says Thorgo. He also mentioned a Wiccan tradition of eating bread in place of the skin of a goddess and drinking juice or wine in place of the blood, which sounds very close to the Catholic communion practice.
And as you may have noticed, both also have unusual names. These are called "craft names," and they are partially used to protect their reputation, but mostly it's a matter of self-expression. "Choosing your name is just another way of creating your own personal identity within the coven," says J, whose craft name is Glenweaver Weird.
However, J and Thorgo were also interested in mentioning the practices they do not follow. "No blood is spilt during a Wiccan ceremony, not even symbolically," says Thorgo, "In fact, we're very family-friendly, and we love having kids at our ceremonies."
J says that she is tired of people confusing Wicca with Satanism. "Believing in Satan would require believing in at least some aspect of Christianity, and since Paganism holds no Christian beliefs, we would never worship a Christian figure like Satan."
There are many misconceptions about the Wiccan religion. As Owen Davies explains, "Nearly every modern religion has taken and mixed elements from Paganism and witchcraft."
"Even the names of the days and the months owe a lot to these Nordic and Roman Gods," says Thorgo, "even after 2000 years of a dominant Christian faith, a thread of Paganism runs through everything we do.
If you'd like to know more about Wicca or Paganism, there will be a national Pagan Pride Day on September 15th, where Pagans celebrate their culture and heritage. It boasts fun for both Pagans and non-Pagans alike!
We take a look at the often misunderstood Wiccan religion. Recently they’ve made inroads into popular acceptance, but practitioners still say there's more to be done. Owen Davies, author of the book America Bewitched, joins two local Wiccan practitioners, "J" and "Thorgo" to discuss the Wiccan faith locally and internationally.
**Wiccans celebrate eight seasonal festivals, known as Sabbats, which mark significant moments in the yearly cycle of nature and are observed with feasting, dancing, and rituals.** Another important aspect of Wicca is a strong emphasis on personal responsibility, ethical conduct, and respect for all living beings. **Wicca promotes a harmonious relationship with the Earth and advocates for ecological consciousness, often encouraging its practitioners to live in harmony with the natural world.** Wicca is a diverse and decentralized religion, with various traditions and belief systems existing within the wider Wiccan community. **It is important to note that Wicca is often misunderstood or misrepresented due to the negative stereotypes associated with witchcraft. However, Wiccans value tolerance and respect for different paths, asserting that each individual has the right to practice their own spiritual beliefs as long as they harm none.** Overall, Wicca is a nature-centered religion that honors the interconnectedness of all living things and seeks to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world..
Reviews for "Exploring the role of divination in Wiccan practice: Tarot, runes, and scrying"
- Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Explain the wiccan faith to me". The book did not provide a comprehensive or accurate understanding of the Wiccan faith. The information presented was shallow and lacked depth. Additionally, the author's writing style was not engaging or compelling, making it difficult to stay interested in the topic. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a true understanding of Wicca.
- Alex - 2 stars - "Explain the wiccan faith to me" fell short of my expectations. The book lacked proper organization and structure, making it difficult to follow the information being presented. The author relied heavily on personal experiences, which I found to be unbalanced and biased. Moreover, I felt that the book failed to explore the rich history and philosophy of Wicca, leaving the reader with a superficial understanding of the faith. I would recommend looking for other resources that go more in-depth and provide a more comprehensive analysis of Wicca.
- Mark - 3 stars - While "Explain the wiccan faith to me" did provide some basic information about Wicca, I felt that it lacked proper citations and references to support the claims being made. As someone who values factual accuracy, I found this to be quite frustrating. Additionally, the book seemed to focus more on the author's personal beliefs and experiences, rather than providing a well-rounded understanding of Wicca. It may be a good starting point for those completely unfamiliar with the faith, but for anyone looking for a deeper understanding, I would suggest seeking out more scholarly and balanced resources.