So what is Wicca anyway? Let me start out with what it isn't, first, to eliminate some confusion. Wicca isn't about snapping your fingers and making traffic lights change, or blowing on a candle to light it, or turning handsome princes into toads. There are no blinding flashes of light or sparks shooting out the ends of our magick wands, though we do use light/fire and wands in our workings. Wicca is not simply about casting spells, though that is a part of it. Wicca is not used to harm other people, to give us everything we want out of life, or to make ourselves famous and important.

Wicca is a way of life. It is a philosophy that reveres Nature and the natural cycles, as well as all beings in existence. The word Wicca comes from the Anglo-Saxon word wicce, meaning wise. Wicce is also the root for the word witch, another misunderstood and maligned word. You will find, however, that many Wiccans refer to themselves as Witches with pride.

Wiccans use the natural energies all around them, molding them and shaping them, to influence the outcomes of events, themselves, and sometimes those around them. This is called magick, not to be confused with the sleight of hand that stage performers use. It is a much more subtle process. There are no blinding flashes of light or puffs of smoke. The change is usually gradual, but noticeable. Magick spells and rituals are not the be all and end all of the Wiccan tradition, however. It is as much a mind-set, a way of viewing the world, as anything. Wiccans believe that whatever we do influences everything and everyone around us, to varying degrees. We are connected to each other, and we are connected to nature. To quote John Donne, a 16th - 17th century writer, "No man is an island, entire of itself; ... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee."

I once had a conversation in which someone, attempting to convert me to Christianity, said that you should worship the creator, not the creations. He made a good point... To people outside looking in, it may seem that Pagans and Wiccans worship nature. This is close, but not exactly right. Whereas some religions view Divinity as aloof and separate, Wiccans see the Divine, or aspects of the Divine, residing in everything - in the ground, in the trees, in candles, and even within us. So while it may seem that we are worshipping nature, we are in fact worshipping the Divine aspects inherent in nature.

Take a tree for example. The Druids saw trees as extremely sacred beings - their roots stretch deep beneath the earth, connecting them with the Underworld. Their branches reach upwards towards the sky, connecting them with the Divine. The trunk and leaves provide nourishment to the whole, thus connecting the tree to the physical world as well. The oak was especially sacred to the Gods, because of its strength and longevity. Thus when they gathered around a tree to worship, they were connecting to the Divine - a concept that is hard to grasp in its entirety - via a common, everyday symbol that is easy to understand.

Most Pagan and Wiccan rituals focus around this use of easily understood symbols to effect the changes they wish to make. Wiccans recognize Deity and its polar properties - masculine and feminine. They do not revere one above the other, for they each need each other for balance. Most worship simply a Lord and Lady, or a God and Goddess, though for specific workings, they may use a more specialized aspect of Deity to help with focus. An example of this would be calling upon Brighid, Celtic Goddess of poetry, smith craft, and healing, for a ritual involving inspiration or healing, or calling upon Venus, Roman Goddess of love, for rituals involving matters of the heart. Notice I did not say "love spells". These are considered to be unethical because they interfere with a person’s free will. Above all, true Wiccans do not put curses on people, sacrifice living beings, and most will not even cast a healing spell on another person without their express permission.

Because Wiccans do not really have a written set of scriptures, parables, and ethics, they are perceived to be without morals. This simply is not true. Check out The Wiccan Rede for more information on Wiccan ethics.

Because of the Law of Return, and the fact that we are rewarded and punished for our actions accordingly, while we are still alive, and when it does the most good, Wiccans do not believe in either heaven or hell. At death, the soul goes on to a place of rest and rejuvenation, euphemistically called the Summerland. If the soul still has life lessons to learn, after a time it will be reincarnated into the physical world. If not, it will move up the spiritual evolutionary ladder, so to speak, perhaps becoming a Spirit Guide to someone still in the physical realm - much like a guardian angel. Eventually, it reunites with the Divine from whence it sprang. So though Wiccans do not believe in heaven, or a being of supreme evil and a domain of eternal punishment, we do believe in accountability, an afterlife and reincarnation at the same time.

There are many Wiccan Traditions out there, some older than others, consisting of any number of covens, shrines, and groups. There is no central authority or hierarchy except within certain traditions. Usually the covens within a Tradition are autonomous, though they maintain ties with other covens of the same belief structure. The singular covens are set apart from the Traditions by the fact that the clergy within the Traditions are usually legally ordained - they can legally perform marriage ceremonies, rites of passage, and funeral rites. This is good news for those who don’t want a traditional wedding ceremony, but also don’t want the hassle of having to involve a justice of the peace in the process.

The most well-known and widespread Wiccan Tradition is the Gardnerian Tradition. This tradition was brought to light and perpetuated by Gerald Gardner in the 1950’s, when he was initiated into the ranks of a coven referring to themselves simply as the Wica. Today, all Gardnerian clergy and covens trace their lineage back to Gerald Gardner - this means that all Priests and Priestesses were initiated by someone who was initiated by someone, etc. etc. etc., who was initiated by Gerald Gardner. For a coven to be considered truly Gardnerian, the High Priest or Priestess must have reached the Third Degree in their studies before being allowed to hive off and start their own coven. Initiation and study includes the taking of oaths of secrecy, and the memorization of texts, spells, and rituals. These customs stem from a time when to reveal yourself meant instant death, and many consider these oaths too stuffy and limiting for the modern world.

Other traditions include the Streghe, or the Witches of Aradia. These are simply Italian witches with legends and folklore of their own, usually passed down by elder family members. It is from this area of Italy that the Vangello della Streghe - an allegorical tale of the creation of the universe, and the reasons behind the cycles of the seasons - comes to us. This document, published by Charles Leland in 1899, is one of the few written mythologies that Wiccans can claim as their own.

Still other branches of Wicca include the Dianic Tradition - a Tradition composed entirely of females, and sometimes associated with feminism. Other Traditions adopt whole pantheons - Greek, Roman, and even Egyptian Gods and Goddesses - as their chosen aspects of Deity.

Most Wiccans, however, would consider themselves eclectic. They borrow from different folk tales and legends at will, they use Gods and Goddesses from the different pantheons based on their need, and they generally do not take oaths of secrecy, except when working in a coven. They "keep the best and trash the rest" refusing to limit themselves to a set frame of mind. Thus cultural lines have become blurred as people have intermixed and shared their folk legends with others.

Also, most Wiccans are solitaires - they practice alone. They often celebrate the holidays at open Circles and Festivals, but do not belong to a coven and do the majority of their work by themselves. This can be due to geographic isolation, personal preference, or age. Most covens will not accept people under eighteen years of age for legal liability reasons, nor will teachers accept minors as students without their parents’ express written consent.

Another reason many people never belong to a coven is because of the membership requirements to join. I spoke about perfect love and perfect trust on the Wiccan Rede page, and how coveners must work nearly seamlessly together. Generally most coven members must approve of a new person before they will be asked to join, and as not everyone is a perfect fit for everyone else, it may take years before a person finds a coven with which they are compatible.

No matter if a Wiccan belongs to a coven or practices alone, they all celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats. There are eight Sabbats, or major holidays, and there are anywhere from twelve to twenty-six Esbats, or minor holidays. The Esbats are celebrated either on the Full Moon or New Moon, sometimes both, depending on how often a person feels it necessary. I'll cover these holidays, as well as some Thrifty Witch suggestions on celebrating, on the Sabbats and Esbats pages.

For more information on the philosophies that most Wiccans would agree on, go to Principles of Wiccan Belief.