What is a Wicca Religion & its Traditions

Wicca is a modern Pagan mystery religion that was introduced to the public in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. It combines traditional British folk magic beliefs with early 20th-century hermetic ritual practices into a dynamic whole.

Much of its folkloric history is based on the work of Archaeologist Margaret Murray. Wicca is a Witchcraft tradition, meaning Wiccans are taught and encouraged to practice Witchcraft as part of their spiritual experience and religious expression.

Who is a Wiccan?

The word Wiccan used as a noun refers to an individual that belongs to the religion Wicca. As an adjective, the word Wiccan is used to describe anything relating to Wicca.

For example, a Wiccan ritual, a Wiccan altar, a Wiccan esbat, a Wiccan Sabbat, the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. Wicca itself is occasionally described as “the Wiccan religion”.

For an exceptionally redundant example: “Stacy is a Wiccan, she discovered Wicca 10 years ago and joined our Wiccan coven last month.”

Wiccan Traditions

Many Wiccan traditions and offshoots of the original came into being as new covens were formed. Each Wiccan coven is an autonomous unit led by a High Priest and/or High Priestess and specific beliefs and practices differ between covens.

Generally, Wiccans are dualists and honor a God and a Goddess who exist cooperatively. In some cases, these are two parts of the same being.

All other Gods and Goddesses are different aspects of this God and Goddess. There are some variations on this. The Goddess is usually identified as the three-part “Maiden, Mother, Crone” Goddess who advances through these three life stages as the year progresses.

She is associated with the moon and magick. The God, often identified as the Horned God, is associated with wild places, animals and death. He is at various points throughout the year her child, then her lover and then he dies and the cycle begins again.

Wiccan moral and value system is summed up by The Wiccan Rede, though many people disagree on the interpretation of certain parts of it. Some covens still abide by The Old Laws, but some do not.

Wiccans gather at defined times during the year. An Esbat is a gathering that takes place on a monthly basis, usually during the full moon.

A Sabbat is a special feast day, a holiday. Wiccans celebrate 8 of these. The Wiccan liturgical calendar is often referred to as The Wheel of the Year.

More Information

Websites

• Wicca.com
• http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccaandpaganismbasics/p/Wiccan_Basics.htm

Books

These selections offer a look at a few of the different flavors of Wicca.

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