Wiccans acknowledge a variety of higher powers in their spiritual beliefs. The central concept in Wicca is the worship of a divine dualism, represented by a God and a Goddess. The God is associated with masculine energy, sun, and strength, while the Goddess represents femininity, moon, and fertility. These deities are often seen as archetypes and are celebrated in seasonal rituals. In addition to the God and Goddess, Wiccans also recognize a pantheon of other deities from different cultures and mythologies. This allows Wiccans to connect with various aspects of divinity and find personal meaning in their spiritual practice.
The advisor said she invited the owners of Elemental Magick to discuss the process of starting a small business. But the women also identify as Wiccans, a coven of witches who worship nature. And the advisor was called to task by the school and Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh after it was learned they gifted the students crystals, which the Wiccans believe have special powers. "I know that the aspect that was brought into our school is not appropriate for our schools," said Michelle Peduto. Peduto, the diocesan director of Catholic education, said educators in the diocese sign a pledge promising to align their instruction with Catholic teachings, and the crystals and the visit run counter. "I am not a theologian, but I am a mom and I'm a Catholic mom and I'm a Catholic school administrator," Peduto said. "I do understand what we want to have in our Catholic schools and what does not fit in our Catholic schools, and this clearly did not fit." "I was led to believe this was kind of a big deal and a letter of warning would happen," the counselor said. "I said OK fair, I get it." The employee was put on administrative leave while the diocese and school investigated. In the meantime, the school sent an email to parents and guardians telling them to dispose of the crystals and advised them to say a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel to cleanse their homes. The diocese won't comment on what action was taken next, but the employee said she got a letter calling her error "egregious" and asking her to resign.
And the advisor was called to task by the school and Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh after it was learned they gifted the students crystals, which the Wiccans believe have special powers. Karen Holland accused her newsagent bosses of turning on her when they found out she practiced Wicca, and took them to the English Employment Tribunal with claims of unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and religious discrimination.
This allows Wiccans to connect with various aspects of divinity and find personal meaning in their spiritual practice. Some common examples of these deities include Athena from Greek mythology, Isis from Egyptian mythology, and Brigid from Celtic mythology. Apart from these traditional gods and goddesses, Wiccans also acknowledge the existence of spirits, elementals, and ancestors.
Air Force Pledges to Review 'Witch' Complaint from Fired Hindu
Deborah Schoenfeld, a former Air Force contractor and Hindu who said she was called a witch by coworkers and then fired by the service when she complained, now plans to sue. (Photo courtesy Military Religious Freedom Foundation)
13 Nov 2015 Military.com | By Bryant JordanThe Air Force says it will continue to look into allegations of religious discrimination against a Hindu woman fired in September from her job as a contract dental technician at Epes Clinic at Fort Meade, Maryland.
The Air Force Equal Employment Opportunity office located at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, in October dismissed the discrimination complaint that Deborah Schoenfeld filed in September, saying it arrived too late and because the employees she named were not in the Air Force.
Schoenfeld told Military.com Nov. 6 that she plans to sue the service.
Air Force Capt. Connie Dillon, chief of public affairs for the 11th Wing at Andrews, told Military.com Nov. 12 that wing officials "take these allegations seriously and will continue to look into them through the appropriate processes.
"To ensure the integrity of the ongoing processes, we have no additional comment but remain confident the matter will be handled appropriately," Dillon said in an email.
Schoenfeld was fired from her job at the clinic, where she worked for an Air Force dentist, on Sept. 2, the same day she made an informal complaint to the EEO about harassment. She said her supervisor gave as a reason for firing her that she swore at a fellow-employee -- an allegation Schoenfeld denies.
She said co-workers had called her a witch and Satan, and told her that the meditation and yoga she practiced as a Hindu was witchcraft. She described the work environment at the clinic as openly Christian, with workers placing religious tracts on desks and office celebrations -- birthdays or promotions -- starting off with a Christian prayer.
Schoenfeld said that she followed up on her informal complaint with an official on Sept. 9, well within the 15-day time period for filing. She filed the notice by U.S. mail but the EEO office claimed it never received it; she emailed a digital copy on Sept. 29.
The complaint was rejected on Oct. 27, with officials saying the Sept. 29 filing date was 11 days too late.
They also claimed that no one named in her complaint was an Air Force employee, though it does accuse her first-line supervisor, Air Force Tech. Sgt. LaShonda Jones, of soliciting back-dated letters of complaint about her from other clinic employees.
Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said the organization is close to finding a lawyer to represent Schoenfeld.
--Bryant Jordan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.
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Schoenfeld was fired from her job at the clinic, where she worked for an Air Force dentist, on Sept. 2, the same day she made an informal complaint to the EEO about harassment. She said her supervisor gave as a reason for firing her that she swore at a fellow-employee -- an allegation Schoenfeld denies.
They believe that these beings can help guide and support them in their spiritual journey. Spirits are often associated with natural elements such as earth, air, fire, and water, while elementals are believed to dwell in and govern these elements. Ancestors are revered and honored for their wisdom and guidance. Overall, Wiccans believe in a diverse and inclusive spiritual worldview, where higher powers can take various forms and be found in multiple cultural traditions. They emphasize the importance of personal experience and individual spiritual growth in establishing connections with these higher powers..
Reviews for "Wiccans and Shamanic Practices: Incorporating Animal Spirit Guides into Worship"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I found "Whom do wiccans acknowledge as their higher powers" to be quite vague and poorly explained. As someone with limited knowledge of Wicca, I was hoping for a clearer understanding of who Wiccans consider their higher powers. Unfortunately, this article seemed to dance around the topic without ever providing a concrete answer. I think more research and effort could have been put into explaining this crucial aspect of Wiccan beliefs.
2. Brian - 2 stars - I was disappointed with "Whom do wiccans acknowledge as their higher powers". The article lacked depth and failed to provide a comprehensive answer to the question. It felt more like a basic overview of Wiccan beliefs rather than a focused discussion on the higher powers they acknowledge. I believe the article should have delved deeper into specific deities or spiritual entities that Wiccans typically recognize, rather than providing a general explanation that left me wanting more.
3. Megan - 3 stars - While "Whom do wiccans acknowledge as their higher powers" had some valuable insight, I felt it fell short in its presentation. The information provided felt scattered and lacked a clear structure. It would have been beneficial to have a more organized breakdown of the different higher powers acknowledged in Wiccan belief systems. Overall, the article could have been more concise and provided more concrete examples to better illustrate the topic at hand.
4. Alex - 2 stars - I did not find "Whom do wiccans acknowledge as their higher powers" to be very informative. The content felt superficial and left me searching for more substantial information. I was hoping for a deeper exploration of the deities or spiritual entities Wiccans typically recognize, but instead, the article provided a simplistic overview without diving into the nuances. It left me wanting a more thorough understanding of this important aspect of Wiccan beliefs.