Table of Contents:

This Page is designed for those of you who are interested in Wicca and the Craft to explore the many aspects of the religion.

Wiccans believe that Wicca (or witchcraft) is a religion that links the feelings and aspects of this world to the next, and to the space beyond. Everywhere in the world; cities, countryside--everywhere; Wiccans and other Pagans (men, women, gay, straight, all colours of the world's people) gather together on the new and full moons to gather energy and raise it, in order to connect with the world and space around them. They honor many different goddesses and gods, from many different traditions; including the Triple Goddess of the full, waxing and full moon, and the Horned God of the sun and animal life.

Ours is a religion that is contrived of many ancient beliefs. Which of these beliefs one Wiccan chooses is entirely up to them. There is no "right way" or one God to worship. Wicca is based on "...know thyself..." we believe this is key to being able to reach out and experience the mystery of all life. Wicca is not something one "dabbles in". You must decide in your heart that it is right for you, before you begin. Our congregations called covens gives room for each individual to contribute to the group through self-knowledge with agreed-upon structure and tradition.

"There are many traditions or sects within the Craft. Different groups take their inspiration from the pre-Christian religions of certain ethnic groups (e.g. Celtic, Greek, Norse); in the liturgical works of some modern Witch poet or scholar (e.g. Gerald Gardner, Z Budapest, Alex Sanders, Starhawk, Robert Graves); or by seeking within themselves for inspiration and direction. Many feminists have turned to Wicca and the role of priestess for healing and strength after the patriarchal oppression and lack of voice for women in the major world religions."~(find author)

As I have mentioned, there is no "one path" to spiritual growth. Wicca is a celebratory action that leads to a greater understanding of oneself and the universe. There is much to learn form the past, through poetry, song, myth and living in harmony with the earth.

Holidays

Many people in the twentieth century "life in the fast lane" seem to take time to reflect on each holiday or Sabbat as most Wiccans call them. Wiccan and Pagan Sabbats are actually the basis for many of the Christian-based holidays (e.g. Christmas-Yule, Hallowe'en-Samhain, etc).

The 'Wheel of the Year' with its eight spokes is the embodiment of the sabbats. The four major agricultural and pastoral festivals and the four minor solar festivals commemorating seasonal solstices and equinoxes. As with many other agricultural and ancient people, most Witches consider the day as beginning at sundown and ending at sundown on the following day. Therefore, a sabbat such as November Eve runs through the day of November 1st. Solstice and Equinox dates may be different each year.

'Yule' means 'wheel', the wheel of the year has now reached a turning point--the longest night of the year. This is the seedpoint of the solar year, mid-winter, time of greatest darkness when we seek within ourselves to comprehend our true nature. In almost all Pagan religions, this is the night the Great Mother Goddess gives birth to the baby Sun God, and, from this day forward, the days begin to lengthen. The Christian religion adopted this theme as the birthday of Jesus, calling it 'Christmas'. The alternative fixed calendar date of December 25th (called 'Old Yule' by some Covens) occurs because, before various calendar changes, that was the date of the solstice.

This holiday is most usually celebrated beginning at sundown on February 1, continuing through the day of February 2 but again, most calendar changes are responsible for the messed-up dates. 'Imbolc' means 'in the belly (of the Mother)' because that is where seeds are beginning to stir. It is spring. Another name for the holiday is 'Oimelc', meaning 'milk of ewes', since it is lambing season. It was especially sacred to the Celtic Fire Goddess, Brigit, patron of smithcraft, healing (midwifery), and poetry. A Coven's High Priestess may wear a crown of lights (candles) to symbolize the return of the Goddess to her Maiden aspect, just as the Sun God has reached puberty. 'Groundhog's Day' is a folk holiday associated with this sabbat. The Christian religion adopted many of these themes: February 1 became 'Saint Brigit's Day', and February 2 became 'Candlemas', the day to make and bless candles for the liturgical year. The 'Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary' adapts the Maiden Goddess theme. The alternative date of February 14 ('Old Candlemas', Christianized as 'Valentine's Day') is employed by some Covens.

Sping reaches its mid-point as night and day are in balance with light on the increase. The young Sun God now celebrates a hierogamy (sacred marriage) with the young Maiden Goddess, who conceives. In nine months, she will again become the Great Mother. This a time of great fertility, new growth, and newborn animals. The next full moon (a time of increased births) is called the 'Ostara' and is sacred to Eostre, Saxon lunar goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word 'eostrogen'), whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit. The Christian religion turned these into the emblems for 'Easter', which is celebrated the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The theme of the conception of the Goddess turned into the 'Feast of the Annunciation', occurring on the alternative fixed calendar date of March 25 ('Old Lady Day'), the earlier date of the equinox. 'Lady Day' may also refer to other goddesses (such as Venus and Aphrodite), many of whom have festivals celebrated at this time.

'Beltane' means 'fire of Bel', Belinos being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. It is a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity.

Young people spend the entire night in the woods 'a-maying', and dance around the phallic Maypole the next morning. Older married couples may remove their wedding rings (and the restrictions they imply) for this one night. May morning is a magical time for 'wild' water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health.

The Christian religion had only a poor substitute for the life-affirming Maypole -- namely, the death-affirming cross. Hence, in the Christian calendar, this was celebrated as 'Roodmas'. In Germany, it was the feast of Saint Walpurga, or 'Walpurgisnacht'. An alternative date around May 5 (Old Beltaine), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus, is sometimes employed by Covens. (Both 'Lady Day' and 'Ostara' are names incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca.)

Although the name 'Litha' is not well attested, it may come from Saxon tradition -- the opposite of 'Yule'. On this longest day of the year, light and life are abundant. At mid-summer, the Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is also lord of the forests, and his face is seen in church architecture peering from countless foliate masks. The Christian religion converted this day of Jack-in-the-Green to the Feast of St. John the Baptist, often portraying him in rustic attire, sometimes with horns and cloven feet (like the Greek god Pan)! Midsummer Night's Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie faith. The alternative fixed calendar date of June 25 (Old Litha) is sometimes employed by Covens. (The name 'Beltaine' is sometimes incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca, even though 'Beltaine' is the Gaelic word for 'May'.)

'Lughnasadh' means 'the funeral games of Lugh', referring to Lugh, the Irish sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. As autumn begins, the Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. It is also a celebration of the first harvest. The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas', meaning 'loaf-mass', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. An alternative date around August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes employed by Covens.

In many mythologies, this is the day the Sun God, the God of Light, is killed by his rival and dark twin, the God of Darkness -- who was born at Midsummer, reached puberty at Lammas, and lives a mirror-image life of the Sun God. From this mid-Autumn day forward, darkness will be greater than light, just as night becomes longer than day. So it is a festival of sacrifice, including that of the Sun God in his aspect of Spirit of the Fields, John Barleycorn -- for this is the final grain harvest. The Christian religion adopted it as 'Michaelmas', celebrated on the alternative date September 25, the old equinox date (Old Harvest Home). (The Welsh word 'Mabon', meaning 'son', is used by some Witches for the name of this holiday, although such usage is recent and not attested historically.)

The Goddess and the God:

The Goddess and the God are the embodiment of the Wiccan path they are in a way an astral Mother and Father. They are aspects of what can be referred to as "The ALL" which is the unconscious source of life and existence. The Goddess and the God are the conscious manifestations of this unconscious source of life.

Within nature we find the need for two counter parts, female and male, to form a union in order for life to be created. The beliefs, lore, and pantheon found in Wicca are taken or rather interpreted from Nature. The Goddess is generally seen as being associated with the Moon, nighttime, and the Earth, etc., and the God is generally seen as being associated with the Sun, the Sky, the living plants and animals, and the daytime, etc. An example of their union is the light of the Sun (God) shining down upon the Earth (Goddess) and the result are the plants that grow. Or another example: The seed from a plant (God) burying itself deep within the Earth (Goddess). The result is life. This last example is very similar to the union of a couple during sex.

So Wiccans believe that our own existence is the result of a union between two higher beings.

The Moon is seen as Female because it goes through monthly phases the same as a mature woman. Every twenty-eight days the Moon has a full phase and about every twenty-eight days a mature woman has her period. Each of the phases of the Moon is seen as a different part of a woman's life.

Waxing- the Goddess is seen as the Maiden- young and carefree

Full- She is seen as the Mother- fertile

Waning- She is seen as the Crone- old and wise

The Sun is seen as Male because it is viewed as being opposite of the Moon. And since the God is the "other half" of the Goddess the perfect representation of him is the built from the opposites of her. Since she is the Moon and the night, he is the Sun and the day. He's Jelly and she's peanut butter so to say. Perfect coexisting codependent compliments.

The Do's and Don'ts of Witches

*Excerpt from "Power of the Witch" by Laurie Cabot*

Simply put: He's Their Boy... NOT Ours! Witches do not have a Satan/Devil or any all-evil deity in their religious structure. Witchcraft is a religion that underscores polarity and views the God and the Goddess as equal entities.

Witches wear clothing of every color and every style...

Many Witches do choose to wear black clothing or ritual robes. The color black is the culmination of all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. Black absorbs light information and helps Witches to be more receptive to psychic impressions and energies.

Many Witches are professional people holding positions of responsibility such as Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers, Teachers etc. Witchcraft does not discriminate against color or ethnic origin and does view everything as equal in the eyes of the Goddess and the God.

A spell is a thought, a projection, or a prayer. Other religions use prayer, meditation, projection and ritual to produce an intended result. The word "spell" does not imply doing evil or harm.

Often you see the use of magic wands in children's cartoons and movies making the idea seem frivolous. In actuality they are used in healing for directing energy.

They use their knowledge and magic in harmony with the Universe and Nature around them.

As defined by the English Oxford dictionary "Witchcraft" is a Celtic (pronounced Kell-tick) word meaning the wise, good people. "Wicce" (wick-kay) designates a female Witch whereas "Wicca" (wick-kah) designates a male Witch.

In the religion of Witchcraft we view the pentacle as an amulet and a symbol for protection...

The five-pointed star represents the human body and the earth. In combination, the star surrounded by the circle represents the human body encompassed by the protection of the Goddess/God force. The pentacle is the symbol for Universal Wisdom.

They have never forgotten this basic fact: the world is not our enemy. Neither is it inert, dumb matter. The Earth and all living things share the same life-force. They are composed of patterns of intelligence, of knowledge, and of divinity. all life is a web. We are woven into it as sisters and brothers of All. Witches need to be grounded in both worlds and awake to their responsibilities for both worlds. It is only by being responsible human beings that we can be responsible Witches and only responsible Witches will survive.*

The Meaning of the Pentacle

by Laurie Cabot

excerpt from The Power of a Witch

I believe the pentacle to be one of the oldest geometric symbols known to humans. It consists of a five-pointed star inside a circle. It is the key symbol in the Craft. It is the Witch's mandala, a geometric diagram of all existence, that encompasses both creatrix and creation.

The pentacle has a rich history in the magical and spiritual customs of many cultures. In Greece it was the symbol of Demeter's daughter Kore, the Goddess of vegetation and the fruits of the field, because the apple contains a star composed of five seeds in its core. Today gypsies call the five-seeded pentacle in the apple "the Star of Knowledge." Pythagorean mystics honored the pentacle, which they called "Pentalpha," because it consisted of five interwoven alphas: the Greek letter A, which stood for birth and beginnings. In Egypt a five-pointed star represented the great underground womb of Mother Earth. The Celtic tribes also saw it is a sign of the Goddess of the Underworld, Morgan. In Babylon the pentacle was an amulet of protection and healing. In Judeo-Christian traditions the pentacle was the first of the Seven Seals, which represented the secret name of God; and King Solomon wore a pentacle on his ring as a sign of his power to work magic. Among the old European tribespeople the pentacle represented the Horned God, a shapeshifter who had five manifestations: a human, a bull, a ram, a goat, and a stag. The Celtic hero Gawain had a pentacle inscribed on his shield.

The star is always drawn with one continuous stroke, with one point upright, and to me it represents the continuous outline of the human body: the head at the top, the two arms, the legs, the mystic center where all points cross. It is a symbol of the human body that goes back millennia, and it resonates to something old and sacred in our souls. Even people who know little about Witchcraft feel this when they look at Leonardo daVinci's famous representation of the Microcosmic Man that shows the muscular male body, arms and legs outstretched, standing as a five-pointed figure in the perfect circle. It looks as if he could lift off the page and soar. Instinctively we know that this proud, self-confident, almost defiant stance is at the heart of what it means to be human. Perhaps it is the strength of the triangle, one of the strongest geometric figures, that resonates with our sense of purpose.

The five points also represent the five senses, through which earthly knowledge enters the mind. The center can stand for the sixth sense, the deep unconscious, or the ethereal connection of each human being with the All or the Higher Self.

The circle around the pentagram represents the totality of all intelligence. It is the sign for the God and Goddess, the fullness of cosmic intelligence. The circle pulls in light and directs it toward the center along its many radii. Each time I see a pentacle I am reminded of the encircling power of the All that surrounds and protects us, assuring us that each human being is at the center of divine life. Our Divine mother encloses each of us in her womb. No matter where we are, what we do, in her we live and move and have our being. Other religious groups and even political bodies have instinctively understood the power and meaning of this sacred emblem. While traveling through Europe I was startled but overjoyed to find the pentacle pieced into mosaics and stained-glass windows in Catholic cathedrals. The states of Oklahoma and Texas use the pentacle as a part of their state seals.

To use a scientific metaphor ... the pentacle is a circuit charged with energy. The star reflects and refracts light, and light carries information ... When made of silver it draws in light just as the moon does, retaining all the rays except those reflected as silver. When made of gold it draws in and carries the strength of the sun. Metallurgists tell us that molecules of silver are crescent-shaped, like the moon, and molecules of gold have spires or rays, like the rays of the sun. By wearing a pentacle on our bodies we are constantly drawing down and in the moon power or sun power found in light. The circle is the never-ending, perfect intelligence that fills the universe and runs down the arms of the star, inward to the human body, uniting All That Is and the individual in perfect wisdom. Such is the ideal. Of course not every Witch fully realizes the ideal in her or his life. We must cooperate with the power of the pentacle, allowing its power to shape our consciousness. We must return to it often, meditating on its mystic meanings and seeking within it the universal wisdom."

The Points of the Pentagram

The Wiccan Tools

Wicca makes use of certain items as tools in ritual and in the performance of magick. These tools are symbolic, but they do have purpose. They direct and receive energies, invoke the God and the Goddess, and banish all realms of negativity. As Witches, it is important that we gather at least some of these tools, consecrate them, and use them. It is not necessary to have tools, but they do lend their energies, energies that you have infused them with, to whatever magick or ritual you are performing.

The Tools of the Craft

Altar

Symbols and tools are placed on the altar for ritual use. An altar may be any flat surface: a table, a stone, or the ground.

Athame

The athame (pronounced ah-thah-may by most Witches) is a double-edged knife used to direct energy and is often employed when casting circle. The athame is the tool of the East and is associated with the element of Air. In some traditions it is the tool of Fire. However, this knife is not used to cut things in the physical world.

Bell

Some Wiccans use bells during ritual, especially when casting the circle.

Bolline

This is often called the white handled knife. It is used for cutting herbs and cords and for carving symbols in candles and in wood.

Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows is a book that contains a witch's rituals, spells, runes, dreams, recipes, etc. Within covens, the initiates copy the original Book by hand. A solitary may also keep a Book, recording within spells, etc. The Book is normally a secret book. To make a Book of Shadows, any blank book will do. Most are hard bound, but that's not mandatory. The color of the book is optional, but black does seem to be traditional. Today, many witches are keeping their Books on their computers. Just keep in mind that if you keep your Book on computer to back up the data!

Broom

The broom is a tool of magick and ritual that is still used by Witches today. The traditional Witch's Broom is made of ash, birch and willow because of the attributes of those woods, but it can be made of just about any wood available. Although not employed for flying purposes, the broom does have many uses. It is used for protection. It is also and most commonly used for physically and magickally cleaning an area that will be used for sacred space. The broom does not have to touch the ground to sweep away the psychic clutter that often collects in well-used spaces. Brooms are also often used in handfasting rituals (broom leap). The broom is associated with Water and is sacred to both the God and Goddess.

Candles

Cauldron

Censer

The censer is an incense burner. It can be an ornate brass burner that hangs from chains or something as simple as a small ceramic bowl. The censer is used to burn the incense that are often offered to the Deities, as well as being used to invoke the spirits of the Air, the Sylphs and Faery. The censer is a tool of the element Air.

Chalice/Cup

The chalice is actually used more today than its direct descendent, the cauldron. The chalice has the same attributes and is used in many of the same ways as the cauldron (minus the cooking parts). This is again an example of Witches using what they had and what would not get them burned at the stake. During those dark years, everyone in had drinking vessels, but not everyone had cauldrons.

Dishes/Bowls

Dishes are used to hold the water and the salt for ritual use. They can also hold anything you need for the spell.

Pentacle

Of all the symbols and tools used in Wicca and witchcraft, this is probably the most misunderstood. The pentacle is usually a flat piece of metal or wood inscribed with a pentagram, a five-pointed star. It can also been made of wax and then melted into candles. This was widely done during the Inquisition. The pentacle came from ceremonial magic and has been used in ritual and magick for thousands of years. It is used to represent feminine energy and to consecrate objects such as amulets and charms. The pentacle is also a traditional symbol of protection and is one of the official symbols of a Wicca. The pentacle is the tool of the North and is associated with Earth. The pentacle is feminine in nature and represents the Goddess.

Scrying Mirror

A scrying mirror is a small, darkened mirror. This is used for divination, especially at Samhain.

Wand

The wand is one of the most renown of the tools and one of the most versatile. Traditionally, the wand is made from the wood of many different kinds of trees including willow, elder, oak, hazel, and fruit trees. The length of the wand varies from tradition to tradition, but it is safe to say that the wand should be fairly straight, comfortable in your hand and is not so long as to be unwieldy. When searching for wood for your wand, even wood from a building supply store will work. If you take your wood from a living tree, remember to ask the tree first, then thank it for its sacrifice. Wands can also be made of crystals and metal. Make the wand your own by carving or painting symbols on it, adorning it with ribbons, whatever makes the wand special to you. For thousands of years the wand has been used in both magick and rituals. The wand is used mostly to invoke the God and Goddess, direct energy, and to charge other objects. It is used to draw symbols on the ground and even to stir the cauldron. The wand is the tool of the South and is associated with Fire. In some traditions it is the tool of Air. The wand is phallic in nature, is a masculine tool and is sacred to the Gods.

Other Tools

These are some of the other tools that are used by witches. For a few of these tools it is believed by some that they are a direct result of the persecution of witches over the centuries. Take for example the sword. A sword is long, cumbersome, and very visible. During the darkest years of the Burning Times, for a villager, especially a woman, to possess a sword was very suspicious. Some believe that to blend in, to assimilate if you will, the sword became the dark-handled knife we call the athame. It was not unusual for all walks of life to possess daggers. The same applies to the staff. The staff is several feet high and again, very visible. Some believe the wand is a direct result of "shrinking" the staff to a stick, something that could be found in every home in one form or another.

Staff

The Staff directly relates to the wand and has the same attributes and uses. Witches use staves very frequently today.

Stone

The Stone is used in much the same way as the pentacle and relates to it in many ways. It is a tool of the North and represents the Earth. For those of the Faery Tradition, the Stone has a very rich history. Again, the Stone is another tool that is often thought to be a trade off for many witches. Just about everyone has rocks lying around in some form or another.

Miscellaneous Tools