An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 12

We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as ‘Satan’ or ‘the Devil’ as defined by Christian tradition.  We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

 

This principle is of extreme importance.  One common error people make is in assuming Wicca is “anti-Christian” and more specifically “Satanic.”  The above principal is designed to address this stereotype, stating that in no part of the Wiccan religion is there reverence for, or worship of Satan.  Wiccan philosophy emphasizes seeking balance through polarities in all of nature.  We seek to utilize the concept of polarities to maintain balance in ourselves and the environment around us.  Thus, it is only natural that Wiccans would recognize the existence of a counterpart to what is good, creative and benevolent.  We view this natural opposite to good as inherent in the necessary destructive force in nature.  We recognize that night follows day, birth eventually culminates in death, and warmth eventually gives way to the cold.  We do not align certain natural forces with any type of Satan figure, as we do not view a single Deity as encompassing all that is evil.

 Within the Wiccan pantheon there are aspects of Gods and Goddesses which are less “cheerful” than others.  There is for example, recognition of the spirit of aggression in Warrior deities, and death in Crone or Sage deities.  These deities are worshiped as keeper of the great mysteries of death and rebirth.  They may not carry the light and carefree energies of some of the other deities symbolically aligned with birth and nurturing, but they are significant and benevolent in their own way.  We do not seek out deities associated with justice, darkness, or harsher realities of nature to do our bidding in order to gain power or revenge.  We recognize their existence and we give honor to them as representations of life forces to which we all eventually succumb.  We do not seek personal gain through the suffering of others, and we do not promote the idea of denigration of others or ourselves.

Individual practitioners and covens have their own interpretations of concepts surrounding evil as a force in nature.  Some practitioners recognize balance in nature in the view of some forces of energy that are malevolent.  Others view all forms of energy as inherently containing their opposite to some degree.  In other words, to some Wiccans all that is “good” contains some potential for “evil” and vice versa.  Even among practitioners who recognize evil in the form of malevolent spirits or entities, there is no concept akin to the Judeo-Christian Devil.  The Devil or Satan as a singular evil being is actually a unique figure in monotheistic philosophy.  In most pagan religions recognition of evil beings or forces are typically seen as negative spirits, but not beings that are ruler over by a being of absolute evil.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 11

As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions.  We are concerned with our present and our future.

The general public has only recently begun to openly warm up to the existence of the modern Craft movement.  It is no surprise that many assume that Wicca is a “new” religion.  Wiccans know that it is not the Craft that is new, but rather the more open awareness of Wiccans in the community as religious tolerance slowly increases.  The above principle is designed to not only challenge the misconception that the Craft recently emerged, but also to remind Wiccans to keep perspective when issues of our own heritage arise.

Contrary reports of the legitimacy of Wiccan history have developed as a result of periods of time when accurate record keeping was not possible due to oppression from the Church.  As a result, it appears as if paganism was prevalent worldwide, then disappeared, then reappeared centuries later with a new name.  The finer points of this controversy are beyond the scope of this article, suffice it to say that there has been debate among Wiccans and non-Wiccans alike about just how much of modern Wicca stems from these ancient pagan practices as it was impossible to keep open records through centuries of persecution.  There is additional controversy surrounding research methods and anthropological studies that link Wicca to various ancient pagan cultures.

Regardless of the extent to which modern Craft practices stem from ancient cultures in verifiable accounts, there remains a common thread weaving pagan religions with basic principles and practices of Wicca and relating all of this back to prehistoric polytheistic societies.  Our link is to our heritage and the Deities we serve, and while controversy arises from terms like “neo-pagan” vs. “reconstructionist religion,” we acknowledge in the Wiccan faith that we are not primarily focused on proving fidelity to traditions practiced in prehistory.  We practice adaptations of pagan practices in America in the modern day. It is Wicca’s ability to adapt and maintain pertinence to larger spiritual goals that has allowed our faith to evolve through the centuries.  We seek to explore our heritage and its relevance in the present, but are not threatened by discrepancies among traditions.  We do not seek to invalidate fellow Wiccans by focusing on such trivia.  Our practice in the present will continue to lead us into the future and with an increase yearning for wisdom and tolerance, what better time to honor our differences with respect?

With all that being said, let’s also consider that saying that we do not debate the history of the craft does not mean we simply forget about what has happened in the past as we move forward into our futures.  Let us also say that to forget the past is to risk repeating it.  While we are not threatened by debates regarding the history of the Craft, Witches are all too aware of the prejudices and religious biases that led to the persecution and death of thousands of people allegedly accused of witchcraft, even when many of those who were accused were not practitioners of the Magickal arts at all.  The Burning Times and the Witch Trials of the past are not to ever be forgotten; they are a constant reminder of what can and does happen when there is no religious understanding and tolerance.  If we were to ignore such events, we would be moving forward into our future blindly, perhaps dangerously, since the past can and does shape future events, especially if it is repeated.

By Angela Kaufman and Dayna Winters: the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Wicca: What's the Real Deal? Book Trailer

Take a look at our book trailer and learn exactly what's inside Wicca: What's the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions!  Visit our official book website to read reviews, testimonials, view our complete calendar of upcoming events, another blog, and learn more about us at www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 10

“Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.”

This principle explains that the extent of animosity, dislike, ill will, enmity, or the adversarial nature toward Christianity or toward any other religion is the extent of hostility that is warranted in response some representatives of the latter faiths who have sought to limit or deny the rights of Wiccans to believe and worship how they choose to do so.  There is also a dislike for those who outright renounce our beliefs.  In other words, it is not part of Wicca to be “anti-” any other religion or philosophy and Wiccans do not convert or proselytize or solicit membership.  We reserve our teachings for those who openly seek them.  If tensions exist between Wiccan groups and those of other belief systems it is a direct result of hostility expressed in the form of harassment and discrimination against Wiccans for our own religious practices.

There is also no part of Wiccan doctrine or general belief that is mutually exclusive of other systems; Wiccans, as a whole, do not deny the right of others to practice their religions even though it may not coincide with our specific beliefs.  In Wiccan practice, we acknowledge that not everyone in the world may honor the Goddess Isis, for example, but we do not inherently conclude that those who do not worship Her are doomed to some ill fate.  We see it as our practice to honor Her and not to convince others of their dire need to do the same.

A part of this principle extends to Wiccans as a guide, and that is in the specification that this animosity is in correlation to confrontation by others and is not an open invitation to rant on others of different faiths or to become lost in a martyr role.  It is not appropriate to direct anger, unprovoked, at members of other faiths who are not responsible for the derogatory or discriminatory acts or speech of the larger institutions with which their religion is aligned.  We do not seek to discriminate or retaliate against individuals of other religions as a repercussion of their religious institution acting in a discriminatory manner toward those who practice our faith.  It is a statement of defending one’s religious rights when warranted and a reminder that harmony is the overall goal when possible.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Enya - Boadicea

The song Boadicea by Enya was used as the signature music for Stephen King's film, Sleepwalkers in the early 1990s.  The song comes from Enya's first self-titled album released in 1987.  The album was later re-released as The Celts in 1992.  The title of the song is actually the name of the British Iceni tribe's queen who was responsible for leading an uprising against the Roman Empire when the Romans were attempting to occupy the tribe's territory.  Her name is rooted in the Celtic bouda word meaning, "victory." 

The music is soft, light, and eerie, making it ideal music for meditation, deep thought, and reflection.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 9

We acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the universe we know, and to our personal role within it.

Wiccans seek to fulfill spiritual development by holding a conscious regard for nature and our place in the world. We see ourselves as part of an ecosystem, nurturing and nurtured by all of life.  We seek to attune our energies to that of the greater world and to find personal and spiritual fulfillment.

Wiccans are spiritual seekers whose religion is entwined with the forces of nature and expressed through worship of the God and Goddess as well as the natural cycles.  To Wiccans, Magick is harnessing energy and psychic “gifts” are merely a skill in tapping in to currents of information that are open to anyone who is willing to take the time to receive it. Dress down the Halloween Witch and what remains is the hard work, dedication and commitment that Wiccans carry in serious pursuit of spiritual development.  This idea may come as a surprise to those whose understanding of Witchcraft developed solely based on media portrayals: depictions based only the frills associated with Witchcraft and Wicca. 

We believe in fulfillment in our spiritual purpose.  The true attraction to this path is to seek harmony in one’s self and the connection to natural forces. Wiccans seek fulfillment in aligning with the cyclical progressions in nature and to develop spiritually. The arts of divination, healing, and Magick are merely part of a greater process in living a Wiccan lifestyle.  What the media often portrays as the culmination of the Wiccan lifestyle, including Magick, psychic phenomenon, ritual, or occult wisdom, are simply fringe benefits of being a Wiccan, not the main focus. The true focus of a Witch is found in following a calling that speaks to one’s own life purpose as a part of the tapestry of nature.  We seek to develop our own consciousness as we exist in relation to the world around us.  We seek to understand our role in the world and carry out our spiritual development in balance with nature and those around us.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 8

Calling oneself ‘Witch’ does not make a Witch – but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations.  A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and without harm to others and in harmony with nature.

It may seem at times like Wicca is so flexible it defies limitations.  Wiccans are frequently accused of being “self proclaimed” or “self-styled,” but let it not be forgotten that the term Witch is being used to describe the practices an individual holds as a valuable part of their craft and way of life. Someone calling himself or herself a Witch in title alone does not a Witch make.  An individual’s deeds, beliefs, and actions must back this title to make it authentic.  It is often believed that one can be given a title, degree, or “gifts” associated with Witchcraft simply by birth.  While many religions have followers who believe in instilling a line of faith to next of kin handed down like a surname, Wiccan practice does not uphold this tradition.  Perhaps because many Wiccans have come to the Craft of their own volition after spending time in faiths bestowed upon them from birth, it seems more common for modern Wiccans to want to allow those to come to this tradition who seek it for personal reasons, and not simply as a matter of family tradition.

This is not to say however that family members cannot introduce others to the Craft.  It is possible that children raised in a Wiccan household will grow comfortable enough with the beliefs of their parents to which they cannot help but be exposed, to want to seek out their own practice in the Craft; however, this may not always be the case.  In many Wiccan traditions children may be welcome at rites when appropriate, or will be exposed to discussion of their parents’ beliefs and practices, but will not be expected to engage fully until at an age to make a conscious commitment to study and practice as a Witch themselves.      

There are also families wherein interest in parts of Witchcraft beyond the spiritual traditions of Wicca prevail sparking an interest in the Occult and supernatural that may yield a study of elements of Witchcraft.  To briefly explain, Witchcraft is the practices involved in performing healing, divination, Magick etc., but does not necessarily embody the spiritual beliefs associated with Wicca as a religion.  Therefore, some families define particular practices as being inherent in their culture: for example, Tarot reading or healing arts, and these practices are taught and fostered in other family members who show interest and potential.  

Some families choose to continue the tradition of Wiccan practice throughout the generations; thus, individuals who do continue to follow Wicca as it was introduced to them by family members are known as “hereditary witches.”  Nevertheless, regardless of family ties, for “hereditary witches” it is typically expected that they will need to learn, grow, and develop skills in practicing elements of Witchcraft and to grow spiritually as a Wiccan, just like anyone else. For comparison, if one is born to parents who speak German, one still needs to learn to speak German.  It may be easier than someone growing up in a Spanish-speaking household who later wants to learn German, but it remains a learning process nonetheless.  It is erroneous to assume that someone will have more potent Magick, more capacity for divination or healing or a better aptitude for telepathy just because their parents were Witches.  There are certainly examples of families who have high numbers of individuals highly attuned to psychic phenomenon but the opposite is also found in some occasions to be true, and it remains controversial to what extent a genetic advantage is involved as opposed to openness, exposure, and practice.  In all, it is how one lives, and follows the path of the God and Goddess, that wisdom to practice Witchcraft develops, not from family history alone.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Belief: Part 7

We see religion, magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it – a worldview and philosophy of life which we identify as Witchcraft – the Wiccan Way.

For serious practitioners of Wicca there is more to the term Witch than casting spells, more to being Wiccan than setting oneself apart by being part of an esoteric path, and more to Magick than wearing misunderstood symbols.  Our practice is our way of life, and it embodies our worldview.  Sure, the jewelry is fun and studying divination and healing is enriching, and Magick can be energizing, Sabbats remarkable; but to call one’s self a follower of the Wiccan way is more than dressing the part and saying the words.  It is a way of life, a manner of existing in the community and a course of journeying through the world while holding what is sacred in perspective every step of the way.

        

Serious practitioners are not out to toy with Magick or misuse divinatory practices in unethical or harmful ways; we simply do not have the time and energy to go out of our way to indulge in practices that do not advance our commitment to the Goddess/God and nature.  We practice our religion that acknowledges the power of Magick in the synthesis of energy all around us, but we also attune ourselves to needs of our immediate surrounding while we maintain the wisdom to “fairly take and fairly give.”  Our philosophy carries the importance of co-existing with nature.  We identify with our craft in daily decisions that honor the God, Goddess, and the Earth and provide spiritual fulfillment.  Even the rituals that are part of the Wiccan faith in honoring the changing seasons through Sabbats and the phases of the moon through Esbats are not the total of a Wiccan lifestyle.

Wiccans do not seek to neglect a lifelong connection to the God and Goddess in favor of emphasizing Magick or ritual, but use Magick and ritual to maintain connection to the God and Goddess.  One who is a Wiccan practitioner seeks to align the spirit and philosophies of magick, religious rites, honoring of Deities, and communing with the spirit world into a lifestyle that encompasses daily acts and decisions.  For Wiccans, wisdom, Magick, and religion are all connected in a lifestyle that attunes us to the God and Goddess.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief: Part 6

We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

Wiccan practices allows flexibility, and it is essential to realize that there is no singular structure or hierarchy adhered to by all practitioners of Wicca.  In addition, there is no uniform system of establishing authorities in smaller work in covens or groves that is shared by all practitioners.  It is up to a specific coven to develop a hierarchy: one delineated by their own traditions.  This hierarchy will often recognize some form of rank or eldership, usually individuals titled clergy Priest or Priestess.  These titles may continue to be defined based on specific tradition; for example, a High Priest and High Priestess might hold the most seniority and are the highest ranking elders in the specific coven.  Other clergy in a coven group might hold rank of Priest, Priestess and, in some traditions, this is further broken down into degrees of which there are usually three.  In many but not all covens, there are also significant milestones recognized in spiritual development that are acknowledged through title and privilege, such as a distinction between neophyte, dedicate, initiate etc. Such titles generally imply rank related responsibilities and privileges like the ability to hold ceremonies and rites specific to that tradition which are unknown to those of a lower rank; the ability to begin practicing Magick; the definition of role within the group as healer or in another specialty, or the ability to study and be attuned to the energy of a specific elemental force.

Traditions vary and the structure of specific covens differ. There is within each Coven also an understanding that the elders and clergy of a coven are to be respected for their knowledge and work, but the elders are not part of a larger council or governing body. This allows for autonomy and integrity of various traditions. It is also known in coven and solitary practice that, in this faith, there is respect given to those who have established themselves as pioneers in the re-claiming of the Craft and who have worked to promote Wicca as a legitimate, positive, innocuous religion: this respect comes prior to a title, degree, or rank. For example, much progress has been hard earned by Wiccans who fought to obtain the right to have a Pentacle signify the grave of Wiccan soldiers fallen in battle. Whether the individual was a High Priestess, Priestess of any degree etc. is not held as fundamental, but the respect of the perseverance of individuals and groups involved is acknowledged. Regardless of title, we strive to lead by example. In such a way, we recognize that our titles may not be given credit by the outside world, but our deeds will. We also acknowledge that neophyte through elder, our deeds are what truly delineate our connection with the Divine.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief: Part 5

“We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconsciousness, the Inner Planes etc – and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical exercises.  We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.”

The intermingling of physical and paranormal phenomenon ebbs and flows in popularity in the mainstream and carries a cyclical threshold of acceptance throughout the centuries, perhaps related to the cyclical nature of trends both spiritual and occult.  Wiccan beliefs give credence to the paranormal, the existence of Magick, the power of the subconscious and unconscious, and the interaction of inner experience and the outer world.  For us, it is not a matter of whether supernatural or occult interest is in vogue, it is our way of life to interact with realms that parallel, but that are not limited to the mundane.  We see the supernatural as a quite natural extension of what our five mundane senses can perceive.  We interact regularly with forces beyond the readily apparent to the mere five senses.  Wiccan beliefs acknowledge interaction with the spiritual and mundane worlds.  It is a normal way of life for us to not be limited to the purely physical realm.  In fact, Wiccans are not shy about acknowledging the “spirit” in “spirituality.”

We seek to gain proficiency in accessing the realms and energies beyond the mundane physical plane including the unconscious and astral planes, but we also seek to hold a balance between our mundane and our spiritual needs.  We do not promote the negligence of material, mundane matters in extending our interaction in spiritual realms to the detriment of our basic needs.  In other words, we do not seek to explore spiritual worlds to the negligence of care of our bodies, homes, families, and routine life tasks.  We seek to access spiritual components of parallel planes in order to accentuate our lives.  We recognize it would be unwise to neglect the spiritual realms for a purely mundane focus, and vice versa.

While in the past many Witches faced ridicule, harassment or alienation for what now is a subject of bestselling books, retreats and workshops to unleash secret knowledge, to ghost tours, to séances to holistic healing journeys, Wiccans have been exploring, studying and talking about our beliefs in the reality beyond the mundane for decades, and Witches and pagans of all forms worldwide have long held the belief in and daily interaction with, these powers.  While popular and even scientific acceptance of these practices varies through the ages, Wiccans see this as an integral part of our lifestyle and practice.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief: Part 4

“We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity – as masculine and feminine – and that this same Creative Power lies in all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and the feminine.  We value neither above the other knowing each to be supportive of the other.  We value sex as pleasure as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energy used in magical practice and religious worship.

Most practitioners of Wicca recognize energy in all forms of life consisting of duality. These opposing forces are conceived of as “masculine” and “feminine” energy; although, this does not refer to gender in a mundane sense, but the nature of this energy being a projecting or receiving force. Like tides in an ocean the ebbing and flowing waters are both necessary, and as one tide advances while another recedes, neither is dominant or superior to the other.

This energy is embodied as a God and Goddess who carry the nature of this receding and advancing energy. As all things in nature must have balance, Wiccans see polarity of opposites in the God and Goddess.  With the God and Goddess as the culmination of energy manifest in Divine form, it is then only natural to hold the exchange of energy between them, or the combination of masculine and feminine energies, as an act of divine union. In Wiccan religion, this is considered the “Great Marriage” of the God and Goddess and their union is the source of nurturing and fertility of all nature on a seasonal cycle.  Thus, the Wiccan view of combining masculine and feminine polarities in sexual union is considered sacred. In viewing sex in this manner, we see it as a Divine act of combining powerful energies, and it is an act to be treated with respect. Whether for pleasure or procreation we see it as an extension of the act of creation that allows nature to continually rejuvenate season after season.

We hold the concept of balance as being critical as we see all things in nature as existing in the context of their polar opposite. Joining with a partner in sex, regardless of gender, is a bringing together of complimentary energies which some choose to engage in for magickal practice; however, this is completely up to the individuals and should never be performed under any type of coercion.  One can be just as successful in magickal workings combining energies with others through gathering in a circle to raise energy through rituals that do not contain any intimate physical contact, or that contain symbolic representations of the God and Goddess joining in the Great Marriage, such as holding the athame (ritual knife) with the blade inside the ritual chalice (representing the Goddess). Magick is about harnessing energy through intent, and for a Wiccan to channel the powerful energy of opposites in nature, the act need not be literal but can be represented symbolically.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief: Part 3

By Angela Kaufman

“We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person.  Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called ‘supernatural’, but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.”

Courtesy of NASA.

As Wiccans, we are often asked if we are “also psychic.”  We view capabilities to access senses and information not readily available to the five basic senses as something that is available for cultivation by anyone who chooses to spend the time and effort developing such talents. Sure, some people may grow up in a culture that foster the development of psychic tools and intuition, and others may find a more natural inclination toward clairvoyance, telepathy, or some other “psychic” talent.  Nevertheless, the potential to access information or harness the energy that flows through the Earth and Universe is not a “gift” that is reserved for only “a select few.” 

We acknowledge that such power and capabilities exist which gives us an advantage in knowing that we have the capability to access and utilize senses beyond the mundane. However, it does not give us any more of an advantage than it would an individual who also acknowledges such power, even outside of practice of the Wiccan religion. Conveniently, this power is labeled “supernatural” or “paranormal” because it is on the outer fringe of what traditional sensory perception would offer, but as Wiccans, we perceive “psychic” abilities as a birthright or something that is inherent in all beings.

Although traditionally the supernatural has been relegated to fringe groups, religious gurus, mystics, Witches, or traditional healers, again it is the belief in being able to access our natural abilities that allows us to cultivate a talent in doing so.  Let’s imagine the following scenario: a group of people start a community and believe in the existence of only what they had bothered to scout out (the fields, trees, etc,). The villagers establish an entire community based around what they have encountered and experienced. The group spends time tending to the trees and fields.  Thus, the villagers’ understanding of their external environment is only based on the knowledge of the things that they have already physically encountered.   Now imagine that a few villagers wandered beyond the established perimeter of their community and that they discover a nearby lake. They spend enough time by the lake to learn to swim and fish; later, their peers may consider them special or gifted since they have mastered the ability to swim or to provide food through fishing. However, the reality is that if any of the villagers chose to spend time at the lake learning how to fish or swim, they could master the same talents.

The realm of the “supernatural” in which Wiccans believe and with which we interact consists of harnessing energy for healing or Magickal workings, accessing intuitive or psychic guidance, interacting with Spirit Guides or Animal Totems or even the Deities and Ancestors. Even the enigmatic “Magick” associated with Wiccans and Witches is not a special gift reserved for winners of some supernatural lottery. Magick is the art and science of directing will and intent to manifest desires in the mundane. Just as praying is accessing Divine assistance in co-creating an outcome (protection, healing etc.), so too is Magick the practice of combining Divine, elemental, and other natural and spiritual forces to help orchestrate a specific result.  The practice of accessing intuitive guidance or working with Spiritual Guides and helpers is also not too far removed from the practice of asking intervention of saints and angels in other belief systems. In fact, to Wiccans, accessing assistance from the Divine or Spirit Guides is parallel to calling tech support when experiencing a computer problem. It is not a special privilege, as all you need is a phone and the number to access this guidance. So too with “supernatural” assistance, it is simply a matter of awareness and cultivation of the practice of interacting with spirits, the “higher self," and/or the Divine. 

Join in the discussion!  What does this principle mean to you?

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca: What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief - Part 2

By Angela Kaufman

“We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment.  We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.”

This principle carries a heavy message, and it should be considered as a sum of smaller parts.  Recognizing an intelligence that gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment; this intelligence, of course, is cognitive, but it is also spiritual awareness.  Our intelligence in this regard refers not to IQ but to an awareness of and regard for nature and our true place within the tapestry of our ecosystem, not standing atop it with motives of dominion.  Our Wiccan beliefs support an awareness of the delicate balance in the natural world and our role as a part of nature not the dominant force in nature.  Having realized the significance of this Wiccan truth, that nature and the Earth are living, evolving, spiritual energies, that the Earth is our Mother, that the plant and animal life are connected to us, not inferior or dependent upon us, the Wiccan practitioner now carries a solemn responsibility to consider upholding this balance responsibly in their every action.  The intelligence then is an awareness of the natural currents that are physical manifestations of Divine energy in all forms of life on Earth. The responsibility is to respect, honor, and treat life on Earth as if life depends on it, as it does!

We seek to live in harmony with nature is of course a natural byproduct of this realization.  We seek to “fairly take and fairly give” as it is essential in Wiccan perspective to continuously observe the flow of energy (energy manifest in nature, growth, material things etc.) and that stagnation is the root of decay.  We seek to facilitate the balance in flow of energy in nature and ourselves.  We seek not to acquire for acquisition sake, nor to dominate people, animals, nature, or things for conquest or titles.  We seek to live in harmony recognizing our place is within the ecosystem and not at some imaginary throne on top of the food chain.  Our goal in attaining balance to the best of our abilities requires that we observe ways to fulfill our spiritual purpose that does not rely on the dominion of the natural world, but realizing our place within it, as facilitators of growth, harmony, balance and the flow of energy.

The phrase “offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept” supports this idea as well.  We seek to find our fulfillment in our role as part of nature and the ecosystem of our community, including the environment surrounding us.  Our sense of consciousness does not end with the human beings in our lives, but is believed to be inherent also in animals, plant life, and natural forces that all seek survival through evolving and growth, but also follow the cyclical patterns of nature, thereby also retreating, decaying, transforming and growing anew.  We seek to recognize these cycles within our own lifespan and to co-exist in the environment in which we live with an understanding of sustainability and balance.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca:What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

An Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief: Part 1

By Angela Kaufman

“We practice Rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross-Quarters.”

Wiccans practice rituals throughout the year to celebrate the forces inherent in nature that promote growth and transcendence through the sacred alignment of the self, soul, and environment.  We observe the changing of the seasons and the tides of the Moon, Sun, and Mother Earth by honoring these transition times throughout the calendar and seasonal year.  To a practitioner of Wicca, the change in season means more than a reason to change wardrobes, winterize the home or car, or open the pool for the season.  These fluctuations in nature strike a personal chord that resonates deep in the lifestyle of the practitioner so that we may feel the energies of the Goddess and God as recognized as a part of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.  We recognize in these cycles the energy of transformation and we seek to parallel the transformation process in our own personal lives.  We follow the axiom “As Above, So Below.”  Thus, as the Earth, Sun and Moon interact to produce abundance or a scarcity of growth or light, so do we as spiritual seekers on the Wiccan path, observe the hope of the long sun filled days, or the seasons of darkness with introspection examining our lives and ourselves.

We observe eight annual milestones in the waxing or waning of Sun known as the Sabbats.  These power days also mark the seasons recognized by all humankind even aside from their religious connotations.  The Sabbats are the equinoxes, or days of equal day and night time (occurring in the start of both spring and fall), the solstices, days of greatest and least sunlight (first days of winter and summer), and the cross quarter days, which mark the transitions to spring, fall, winter and summer.  This cycle also represents milestones in the growth of the God and Goddess as representative of the lifespan (birth, puberty, adulthood, full maturity, death) and the lifespan of growth seasons (planting, growth, harvest, barrenness).  Thus, the multi-layered forces at work in all natural creation and destruction are represented, celebrated in symbolic birth, growth, death, and rebirth of plant and animal life as seen in the changing seasons.

Attunement to the cycles of nature need not wait for summer or winter, but is experienced in the growing and waning power of the Moon, signaling the power ebb and flow of the Divine Feminine.  By observing the lunar cycles, we work with the energies of growth and productivity in both Magickal and mundane tasks during the waxing Moon.  As the Moon wanes, we acknowledge the change in energy as we focus on banishing from our lives what is no longer useful.  We acknowledge the Divine Feminine as a lunar Goddess whose height of power is celebrated at monthly Esbats, or full moon rituals.

Wiccans find fulfillment in synchronizing periods of growth or loss, preparation or introspection in conjunction with these shifts in nature.  It is through attuning with Mother Earth’s cycles that we are able to keep our own growth and development in perspective and carry the connection to our divine and fluctuating world in our daily lives.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca:What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.