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Modern Wicca In America

Modern Wicca In America Wicca, an alternate and often preferred name for the religion of neo-Pagan witchcraft; a religion based, in part, on ancient northern European Pagan beliefs in a fertility Goddess and her consort, a horned God. Although the religion is a modern creation, some of its sources pre-date the Christian era by many centuries. Most Wiccans do not believe that their religion is a direct continuous descendent of this earlier religion. They see it as a modern reconstruction. Wicca may include the practice of magick1, which is defined as the process of causing change through the focusing of natural powers. The Wiccan Rede acknowledges the right of all people to choose their own paths, as long as their choices do not bring injury to another. “The term Wiccan Rede is derived from the old english terms Wicca (“witch”) and roedan (“to guide or direct”). Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill; An’ it harm none, do what ye will. (Encyclopedia of the occult, 1990, p. 363) Wicca is a recently created, neo-Pagan religion. It is based largely on symbols, seasonal days of celebration, and deities from ancient Celtic society, fleshed out with Masonic and ceremonial magickal components. A follower of Wicca is called a Wiccan2. Wicca and other neo-Pagan religions are currently experiencing a rapid growth in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Many North Americans of European descent, who are keen to discover their ancestral heritage, are being attracted to this religion. Wicca has long been shrouded in secrecy. Anyone interested in learning “the craft”3 had to content themselves with hints from books and articles. Growing numbers today are dissatisfied with traditional religious structures. Many are searching for a personally involving religion; one which celebrates both physical and spiritual realities, in which attunement with deity is coupled with the practice of magick. Wicca’s spiritual roots in antiquity, acceptance of magick and mysterious nature have made it particularly appealing. Until recently, the lack of public information concerning Wicca and its apparent exclusivity has caused much frustration amongst interested students. Cunningham (1988) explains that “all religions are structures built upon reverence of Deity”(p.11). Wicca is no exception. The Wiccan acknowledge a supreme divine power, unknowable, ultimate from which the entire universe sprang. Wiccans manifest this power personifying it into two basic beings: The Goddess and the God. Modern Wicca in America 2 “Wicca reveres these thin deities because of its links with nature. Since most (but certainly not all) nature is divided into gender, the deities embodying it are similarly conceived” (p. 13). When envisioning the Goddess and God many of the Wicca, see them as well-know deities from ancient religions. For example Diana, the Roman Goddess of fertility. The Goddess is the universal mother and the source of fertility. As the Wicca know her She is often of three aspects: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone, simbolized and followed by the phases of the moon. Since the Goddess is nature, all nature, She is both the Temptress and the Crone; the cradle and the grave. But though she is possessed of both natures the Wicca revere Her as the giver of abundance though they acknowledge her dark side as well. Many symbols are used in Wicca to honor Her, such as the cauldron, cup, labrys4, five-petalled flowers, the mirror, and pearls to name a few. The God is not the stern all-powerful deity of Christianity or Judaism, nor is he simply the consort of the Goddess. God or Goddess, they are equal, one. The Horned God is depicted as such to symbolize connection with beast. In earlier times, hunting was one of the activities thought to be ruled by the God. The yearly cycle of greening, maturation and harvest has long been associated with the Sun, hence so is the God. 3 It’s common knowledge even among the masses that Witches practice magick. They may have misguided ideas concerning the type of magick performed, but the Witch is firmly linked in popular though with the magical arts. Wicca is a religion that embraces magick as one of its basic concepts. “Magick plays a special role in Wicca .It allows us to improve our lives and return energy to our ravaged planet. Wiccans also develop special relationships with the Goddess and the God through magick” (p.19). As Dunwich (1997) discusses “There are three main sources of this energy (magick)-personal power, Earth power and divine power” (p. 22). Personal power is the life that sustains earthly existences. Energy absorbed from the Moon and the Sun, from water and food. Released during movement, exercise, sex and childbirth. “In magick, personal power is aroused, infused with a specific purpose, released and directed toward its goal” (p.23). Earth power is that which resides within the planet and its nature products. Stones, trees, wind, flames, water, crystals and scents all possess unique, specific-powers which can be used during magickal ritual. “Both personal power and Earth power are manifestations of Divine power. This is the energy that exist within the Goddess and God-the life force, the source of universal power which created everything in existence” (p.23). Wiccans invoke the Goddess and the God to bless their Magick with power. During ritual the may direct personal power to the deities, asking that a specific need be met. Magick is a process, in which Wiccans work in harmony with the universal power source, which is envisioned as the Goddess and God, as well as with personal and Earth energies, to improve lives and lend energy to the Earth. Contrary to popular belief, magick isn’t supernatural. “It is an occult (hidden) practice steeped in millennia of secrecy, slander and misinformation, but it is natural practice utilizing genuine powers that haven’t been discovered or labeled by science” (“High Magic’s Aide,” 1949 p. 33). In common with other religions, certain objects are used in Wicca for ritual purposes. These tools invoke the Deities, banish negativity, and direct energy. Some of the tools of the Witch (the broom, cauldron and magick wand) have gained firm places in contemporary folklore and myth. Through the popularization of folk tales and the work of Disney studios, millions know that cauldrons are used to brew up potions and that wands transform the ugly into the beautiful. Most people, however do not know the powerful magick behind such tools and their inner symbolism within Wicca. The Broom: Witches use brooms in magick and rituals. “ It is a tool sacred to both the Goddess and God. This is nothing new; pre-Colombian Mexico saw worship of a type of Witch deity, Tlazelteotl, who was pictured riding naked on a broom. The Chinese worship a broom goddess who is invoked to bring clear weather in time of rain”(Cunningham, 1988, p. 26). Today the broom is still used in Wicca; a ritual is preferably begun by sweeping the area (indoors or out) lightly with the magick broom. After this the altar is set up, the tools carried out, and the ritual is ready to begin. This sweeping is more than a physical cleansing. In fact, the broom’s bristles need not touch the ground. While brushing, the Wiccan visualizes the broom sweeping the astral buildup that occurs where humans live. Since it is a purifier, the broom is linked with the element of water. “Thus its as also used in all types of water spells including those of love and psychic workings” (Adler, 1979. P.187) The Wand: is one of the prime magickal tools. It has been utilized for thousands of years in magickal and religious rites. It is an instrument of invocation. The Goddess and the God may be called to watch the ritual with words and an uplifted wand. It is also sometimes used to direct energy, to draw magical symbols or a circle on the ground, to point toward danger while perfectly balanced on the Witch’s palm or arm, or even to stir brew in a cauldron. The wand represents the element of Air to some Wicks, and its sacred to the Gods. The censer: an incense burner it can be complex, swinging metal censer like those used in the Catholic church, or as simple as a seashell. The censer holds the incense during Wiccan rites. The Cauldron: an ancient vessel of cooking and brew making, steeped in magickal tradition and mystery. The cauldron is the container in which magickal transformations occur. The Wicca see the cauldron as a symbol of the Goddess, the manifested essence of femininity and fertility. It is also symbolic of the element of Water, reincarnation, immortality and inspiration. 6 Magick knife: (or athame) has an ancient history. It isn’t used for cutting purposes in Wicca, but to direct the energy raised during rites and spells. It is seldom used to invoke or call upon the Deities for it is an instrument of commanding and power manipulation. The knife is often dull, usually double-edged with a black or dark handle. Because of the symbolism of the knife, which is a tool that causes change, it is commonly linked with the element of fire. White-Handled knife: (or bolline) practical working knife as opposed to the purely ritualistic athame. It is used to cut wands or sacred herbs, inscribe symbols onto candles or on wood, clay, or wax, and in cutting cords for use in magick. The cup: is simply a cauldron on a stem. Used to hold water which is often present at the altar; it may also contain ritual beverage. The cup can be made of nearly any substance: silver, brass, gold, crystal and other materials. Pentacle: Five pointed star, which has been adopted into the Wiccan religion as a symbol of its magick practices. The pentacle represents the element of earth. Holidays (seasonal days of celebration) Samhain, means "End of summer", and is the third and final Harvest. The dark winter half of the year commences on this Sabbath. It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions prefer November 1st. It is one of the two "spirit-nights" each year, the other being Beltane. It is a magical interval when the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended, and the Thin Veil between the worlds is lifted. Communicating with ancestors and departed loved ones is easy at this time, for they journey through this world on their way to the Summerlands5. It is a time to study the Dark Mysteries and honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father, symbolized by the Crone and her aged Consort. Various other names for this Greater Sabbath are Third Harvest, Samana, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic), Vigil of Saman, Shadowfest (Strega), and Samhuinn. Also known as All Hallow's Eve, (that day actually falls on November 7th), and Martinmas (that is celebrated November 11th), Samhain is now generally considered the Witch's NewYear. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/holindex.htm) Imbolc Lore: by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm) Modern Wicca in America Beltane: (April 30) has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. 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. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/beltane.htm) Lammas: (July 31st) This day originally coincided with the first reapings of the harvest. It was known as the time when the plants of spring wither and drop their fruits or seeds for our use as well as to ensure future crops. As autumn begins, the Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. The God symbolically loses some of his strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/lammas.htm) Yule: (December 21st) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year. Much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/yule.htm) Ostara: As Spring reaches its midpoint, night and day stand in perfect 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. It is 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 the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility (from whence we get the word estrogen, whose two symbols were the egg and the rabbit). (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/ostara.htm) Litha: (June 21st) summer solstice 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. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/litha.htm) Mabon: (September 21st) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year's crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. (http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm) Overall Wicca is a spiritual religion, which prohibits its members from engaging in spells or other activities which harm others. This is a logical result of the Wiccan’s belief in the Three Fold Law: “All good that a person does to another returns three-fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold.” (Currot, Book of Shadows)6 Neo-Paganism in particularly Wicca are included in the fastest growing religions in the U.S. today, many different attempts to estimate numbers are considered inaccurate due to the fear of persecution and scorn Wiccans feel are directed toward their religion. An estimate of 750,000 in the U.S. and perhaps 30,000 in Canada is given by a tolerance website (www.religioustolerance.org). If this estimate is accurate it would make Wicca the 5th largest non-Christian religion in North America. (U.S. Census, 2000) Data on the size of faith groups is notoriously unreliable. Some Christian faith groups count the number of baptized infants, and assume that each of them will stay within the denomination into adulthood. Some count the numbers of adults on their active membership rolls. Others include casual adherents in their statistics. Still others keep their membership numbers secret. But at least such groups have a central administrative authority, which can communicate with its member churches to collect and collate accurate data. Modern Wicca in America Within Wicca and other neo-Pagan religions, there is no such organization. Many, perhaps most, Witches are solitary practitioners; they perform their rites alone. Others form covens, which are informal groups of Wiccans. There is often no coordinating group above the coven level; no state, provincial or national organization. Bibliography: Modern Wicca in America 12 Footnotes 1 Dunwhich (1997) describes magick as a tool of Witchcraft, the old spelling of the word with a final “k” is used to distinguish it from the magic of stage conjuring and illusion which has nothing to do with ceremonial workings or the magickal states of consciousness produced by ritual (p. 84). 2 Wiccans generally consider themselves to be Witches, neo-Pagans and Pagans. However not all Witches, neo-Pagans and Pagans are Wiccan. 3 Dunwhich also explains “The Craft” to be a term used for Witchcraft, Wicca or the practice of Folk Magick. (p. 38) 4 “In Goddess worship, the labrys is the ancient doubled-headed axe used to represent the Goddess as a lunar deity. (p. 78) 5 Summerlands: Pagan depiction of heaven. (Encyclopaedia of the occult, 1990, p.366) 6 Dunwhich notes: Books of Shadows represents a secret diary of magickal spells kept by many individual Witches or covens. In certain Wiccan traditions, a Witch’s Book of Shadows must be burned in the even of his or her death in order to protect the secrets of the craft. In others it is buried with the Witch or passed down to the surviving heirs. Although a Book of Shadows is traditionally kept confidential, there are a number of modern Witches who elect to have their Book of Shadows published in order to share their knowledge and magickal spells with other Witches. (p. 24) Modern Wicca in America 13 References Adler, Margot, New York: Viking Press, 1979. Drawing Down The Moon pp. 188-200 Cunningham, Scott, Llewellyn Publications. (First Edition 1988) Twenty Fifth Printing 2000. Wicca A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner . Pp. 11-30. Dunwhich, Gerina, Carol Publishing Group, 1997. Wicca A to Z: A Modern Witch’s Encyclopaedia. Pp. 22,23,24,38,78,84. Encyclopaedia Of The Occult, Citadel Press 1990 pp. 363-370 Unknown, High Magick’s Aide, 1949 p.33. Wiccan Holidays retrieved from http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/samhainlore.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/beltane.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/lammas.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/yule.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/ostara.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/litha.htm, http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/mabon.htm. From www.wicca.com Retrieved on [April 28th, 2001] Holidays by Akasha and Herne 1997-1999.

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