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Category: Misc.
There is a gross misunderstanding of Wiccans in society today. The common conception is that Wiccans are evil, devil-worshiping, brainwashing cult members.
The truth is far different. Wiccans follow codes of conduct such as the Wiccan Rede which states, "As long as it harms none, do as your true will leads you". Wiccans do not worship the devil. As a matter of fact, there is no devil in Wiccan beliefs. Wiccans do not brainwash people. Unlike many religions, Wiccans are not interested in converting people to their beliefs. However, most Wiccans are more than happy to explain their beliefs to anyone who is interested enough to ask and open-minded enough to listen.
The information presented here comes from things I have read, and my own personal opinions. While I feel that the following information represents Wicca in general, all Wiccans hold different beliefs to some degree, as is their right.
What Wicca Is
Wicca is a modern practice of witchcraft. However, since the term "witch" is commonly associated with negative images by many people, many of todays witches refer to themselves as Wiccan.
Some Wiccans practice their craft in a group, called a coven. Others prefer to practice alone. Although each Wiccans beliefs may differ, there are some basic ideals that most of them hold.
"The Wiccan Rede" is the basic code of conduct and can be summed up in its closing verse, "An ye harm none, do as ye will". This means that as longs as you cause harm to no one, even yourself, you may and should do what your true will leads you to do.
Another commonly held belief of most Wiccans is the Rule of Three, or Threefold Law. It states that the energy from everything that you do, bad or good, comes back to you three times as strong as what you sent out. This means that if you do something to cause harm, through intent or negligence, you will receive three times the negativity that you caused to happen.
Also, Wiccans try to hold themselves in balance with the earth, respect life in all its forms, and show respect for the divine. Most Wiccans view the divine as having male and female aspects. These aspects are commonly refered to as the God and Goddess, or the Lord and the Lady. Wiccans do practice magick. Some Wiccans cast spells by burning candles, some use herbs, some tie knots in cords, some do all of the above, some do none. There are almost as many forms of spellcasting as there are Wiccans.
What Wicca Is Not
Wicca is not devil worship. I cannot stress that enough. Wiccans believe in causing good things to happen in their lives and the lives of those they love. Wiccans do not align themselves with anything or anyone that would cause harm to themselves or another person. The concept of the devil comes from Judeo-Christian beliefs that have no relation to Wiccan beliefs.
Wiccans do not try to convert people to their way of belief. As a matter of fact, though most Wiccans will discuss their beliefs with other people, acceptance into a coven or as a student is a slow process. A teacher or members of a coven will take an appropriate amount of time getting to know someone who is interested in Wicca before even considering to teach them. This is to insure that the student has sufficient interest in following the Wiccan path and for the student to get to know and trust the person or persons who will be teaching them.
Another misconception about Wiccans is that they spend most of their time casting spells. Although Wiccans do practice magick, for most Wiccans, spellwork is a small part of their lives.
One last point is that because Wiccans respect life in all of its forms, they do not perform human or animal sacrifices.
Covens and Teachers
If you find yourself looking for a coven to study with or an individual teacher, there are a few things to keep in mind.
A true teacher will not charge you for sharing their knowledge. However, they will probably ask you to provide your own tools and supplies. Also, no true teacher will ask you, or try to force you, to do anything that you find legally, morally, or spiritually wrong. They will not pressure you to have sex, use drugs, or do anything else to harm yourself or others.
If you find yourself in a situation where this is happening, let go of the person or people and walk away. Two of the foundations of Wicca are love and trust. No true teacher would violate that.
What does all of this mean?
Wiccans generally have a "live and let live" attitude when it comes to other religions. We attempt to be good people who live in harmony with nature and who hold great respect for the divine. We do not wish to convert you to our beliefs. We only hope that you will respect our decision to believe as we do and allow us the freedom to practice our religion.
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Click To Visit:MorningMoon...thoughts on Wicca
This site is dedicated to furthering the understanding of the Pagan religion called Wicca, as well as having an interactive introduction
to Wicca.
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