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What is Wicca?

  Wicca is a nature-based religion, founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's. Wicca or Wicce means "wise of the craft." Wicca attempts to align itself with nature and it sees all life as part of such. Wicca worships a deity who is divided into female and male aspects, as represented by the High Priestess and Priest. Wicca has become synonymous with Witches since its inception by Gardner. Gerald Gardner was born in England in 1874, moved to Maylasia as a child, entered the British Civil Service, staying in the Far East until he retired. Gardner claims to have been initiated in a coven in the New Forest region in England in 1939 by a friend named Dorothy Clutterbuck. Wicca is largely Gardner's creation, though it appears that he borrowed some information from others. In 1899, Charles Leland had Aradia, or the Gospel of Witches, a manuscript that was given to Leland by an Italian witch, printed. This book was a history of sorts concerning witchcraft in northern Italy. Another book that seems to have inspired Gardner is by Margaret Murray, A Witch-cult in Western Europe, printed in 1921. This book claimed that witchcraft was a fertility cult that survived for thousands of years and was very much alive today. While her thesis may have been proven false, her ideas have lived on. All of this led to Gardner's basic beliefs of what witchcraft should be. Using his personal knowledge of the craft and what he had read, he was able to create a tradition that lays claim to being thousands of years old, when in fact Wicca is less then 50 years old. Buckland, who was a protégé of Gardner's brought Wicca to America in the early 1960's. (Clifton, The Modern Witchcraft Movement, Witchcraft Today, pages 21-38)

The primary difference between Witchcraft and Wicca is that Wicca has been in existence for 50 years, while Witchcraft is probably one of the oldest traditons known to mankind. Witchcraft is a "craft"; Wicca is a religion, which happens to have witches as members. Witchcraft does not necessarily worship known deities, while Wicca is a Goddess based religion. Last, Witches do not have a rede or any written code or doctrine to follow, while Wicca does.

Wicca, as any other religion, has many sects. While all groups agreed in principle with Gerald Gardner, not all felt it necessary to follow his doctrine. This led to a division of paths, much like the Christian Church experienced. There are more "sects" that will be covered in this text, but the main Wicca denominations are, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Seax, Circle, and Dianic Wicca. Though there are many sects of Wicca, they do all have one thing in common; they all follow the basic Wiccan philosophy, "Harm none and do what you will." Gerald Gardner founded Gardnerian Wicca; the main feature that distinguishes it from other denominations is that they are required to be skyclad, or nude. Another feature about Gardnerian Wicca is that all of the coven High Priestesses can trace their lineage back to the original High Priestess. Alexandrian Wicca was the creation of Alex Sanders, which is an offshoot of Gardnerian Wicca. The principle difference between the two is that being skyclad for rituals is optional. The are some other differences, but these are primarily slight differences in rituals, i.e. the use of the Athame. Alexandrian Wicca was not named after its founder, but rather Ancient Alexandria. Raymond Buckland founded Seax Wicca after bringing Gardnerian Wicca to the USA. Founded in the 1970's, Buckland claims that this Saxon form of Wicca is different because of its democratic process and its open rituals (all of which can be obtained through your local bookstore). The main feature that makes this different from the previous two is that, either the Priest or High Priestess can lead the coven. Each coven can decide for itself whether or not to be skyclad during rituals. Selena Fox founded Circle Wicca in 1974. Selena Fox describes Circle Wicca as: "Wiccan Shamanism, also sometimes known as Circle Wicca and Shamanic Witchcraft, blends together multicultural shamanic practices and Wiccan ways. Central to this path is communion with Nature. Practices include celebrating the cycles of sun and moon; spiritual healing; honoring ancestors; working with animal totems; plant spirits; and other Nature spirits; ritual work at sacred sites; drumming/sacred rhythm making; ritual dancing and chanting; work with dreams; visions; trance/meditations; and personal and collective mythology. " "The Divine is honored as both Unity and Multiplicity (Goddesses, Gods, Elements, nature Spirits, Ancestors, Guides). Circle casting includes honoring seven directions and associated dimensions: North (Earth, physical realm); East (Air, mental realm); South (Fire, behavioral realm); West (Water, emotional realm); Above (Cosmos, universe); Below (Planet, biosphere); Center (Spirit, all that is). Although the term, Wiccan Shamanism, was coined by Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary in the 1970's, this type of Wiccan/Pagan Witchcraft is the orientation of a variety of different groups and individuals in the United States and other countries." Dianic Wicca is a tradition started by Ann Forefreedom, which primarily worships the goddess, not her consort. This religion, which does have both male and female practitioners, is matriarchal and does not use a male priest. They are many other traditions in Wicca, some which will be discussed, in later chapters. However, all the modern day Wiccans are based, if somewhat loosely, on Gerald Gardner's original Wicca.

The Wiccan Rede is the main tenet of Wicca. "An' it harm none, do what thou wilt." Simply put, do whatever you want, but don't hurt anyone in the process. The complete version of the Wiccan Rede is a poem. It is generally attributed to Doreen Valiente as the author in question, although this has not been proven. However when most refer to the Wiccan Rede they are referring to the shorter version. The rede means to counsel, advise or interpret.

The complete poem is as follows:

THE WICCAN REDE

Bide the Wiccan Rede we must

In perfect love and perfect trust.

Live and let live

Fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the circle thrice about

To keep unwanted spirits out.

To bind the spell every time

Let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch

Desoil go by the waxing moon

Chanting out the Witches' rune.

Widdershins go by the waning moon

Chanting out the baleful rune.

When the lady's moon is full

Kiss your hand to her, times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak

Then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North wind's mighty gale

Lock the doors and drop the sail.

When the wind blows from the South

Love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West

Departed souls will have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East

Expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go

Burn them fast burn then slow.

Elder is the Lady's tree,

Burn it not or cursed you'll be.

When the Wheel begins to turn

Let the Beltane fires burn.

When the wheel has turned to Yule

Light the log the Horned One rules.

Heed you flower, bush and tree

By the Lady, blessed be.

When the rippling waters go

Cast a stone and the truth you'll know.

When you have a true need

Hearken not to other's greed.

With a fool no season spend

Lest you be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part,

Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

When misfortune is enow

Wear the blue star on your brow.

True in love ever be

Lest your Love be false to thee.

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill;

And it harm none, do what you will.

The Wiccan Rede according to Gerina Dunwich is a " …simple and benevolent moral code of Wiccans that is as follows: 'An it harm none, do what thou wilt.' The exact origin of the Wiccan Rede is not known, but some have suggested that it is the Pagan version of the Christians' "love thy neighbor." It has been interpreted as meaning: Be free to do (magickally or mundanely) what you feel in your heart is right, provided no harm be brought to anyone (including yourself) as a result. Most Wiccans live by the Wiccan Rede and believe that if they violate it,even unintentionally, they will have to contend with a negative karmic return."

(Wicca A to Z) ...........

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