Wicca and Witchcraft For Dummies E-Book

Diane Smith

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 609

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Examines Wiccan magic, rituals, traditions, and code of conduct Get the scoop on this ancient spiritual path Wondering what it takes to be a Wiccan? This plain-English guide introduces you to the vibrant world of Wicca and the practices of Witchcraft, describing its ancient origins, dispelling stereotypes, and explaining Wiccan beliefs, ethics, rituals, and holidays. You'll see what it means to live as a contemporary Wiccan -- and how to worship alone or with a group. Discover how to * Worship alone or join a coven * Perform charms, blessings, and spells * Obtain necessary tools and supplies * Spot spiritual scams and inappropriate behavior * Explore a spiritual path guided by nature

Leseprobe

Wicca and Witchcraft For Dummies

by Diane Smith

Wicca and Witchcraft For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005923742

ISBN-13: 978-0-7645-7834-2

ISBN-10: 0-7645-7834-0

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Diane Smith has been a Witch all of her life, but she realized the fact in 1987. She incorporates ideas from many diverse sources (including Shamanism, Bohmian physics, and String Theory) into her eclectic beliefs and practices. She has been a writer and an editor for more than 25 years, working in the fields of medicine, child advocacy, and book publishing.

Dedication

For my mother, Shirley Anne Smith, and my father, James Smith

Author’s Acknowledgments

I want to thank Brian Kramer, the editor for this book. I can’t begin to express in words my gratitude for his compassion, expertise, and professionalism. I deeply regret the unexpected challenges of this book project, and I appreciate his grace and good nature under extreme pressure. I wish him a Divine blessing on all his future endeavors.

I also want to thank Stacy Kennedy for her patience and compassion. I sincerely hope that she, too, is blessed and rewarded in the future.

I want to include a heartfelt thank you to Kristin Cocks, Kathy Cox, Diane Steele, and all the people at Wiley for their kindness.

I deeply appreciate the technical review of Debi Baker and her contribution and ongoing dedication to this project.

Thank you to Stuart Stuple and Bjoern Hartfvang for their invaluable input and assistance.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

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Acquisitions Editor: Stacy Kennedy

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Technical Editors: Debi Baker, Bjoern Hartfvang, Stuart Stuple

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Editorial Supervisor & Reprint Editor: Carmen Krikorian

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Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Cover Image: © Steve Sant/Alamy

Composition Services

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Layout and Graphics: Carl Byers, Andrea Dahl, Joyce Haughey

Proofreaders: Laura Albert, Leeann Harney, Jessica Kramer, Aptara

Indexer: Aptara

Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies

Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies

Kristin A. Cocks, Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies

Michael Spring, Vice President and Publisher, Travel

Kelly Regan, Editorial Director, Travel

Publishing for Technology Dummies

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User

Composition Services

Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Contents

Title

Introduction

About This Book

Conventions Used in This Book

What You’re Not to Read

Foolish Assumptions

How This Book Is Organized

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I : Seeing the World through Wiccan Eyes: What Wiccans Believe

Chapter 1: Believing That Everything’s Connected

Swimming in a Divine Sea of Energy

Finding Kinship in the Cosmos

Chapter 2: Believing in Deity

Honoring the Mysteries

Honoring The One

Honoring the Two

Honoring the Many

Honoring the Self

Chapter 3: Believing in Magic: Where Science Meets the Craft

Tapping into Different Kinds of Energy

Directing Energy: Why Magic Works

Chapter 4: Believing in Ethics, Responsibility, and Personal Relationship with Deity

Trusting the Individual Relationship with the Divine

Doing the Right Thing: Ethics and Responsibility

Part II : Looking at the Past, Present, and Future: How Wiccans Live

Chapter 5: Digging into the Past

Going Way Back: The Birth of the Goddess

Finding Witches and Wiccans in History

Remembering the Burning Times

Reviving Wicca

Chapter 6: Living Wiccan Today

Taking a Snapshot of Contemporary Wicca

Keeping Silent or Telling the World: The Wiccan Dilemma

Dancing the Circle of Life: Wiccan Passages

Chapter 7: Looking Back to the Future: The Rebirth of the Goddess

Coming Full Circle

Ending Discrimination and Persecution

Settling into the Big Comfy Couch of Legitimacy

Infighting in the Witch Wars

Part III : Coming Home: How Wiccans Become Wiccans

Chapter 8: Considering the Wiccan Path

Looking Inward

Asking the Big Questions

Knowing for Sure

Taking the First Step

Chapter 9: Going Solo or Joining a Coven: Wiccan Options

Exploring the Choices

Sizing Up Solitary Life

Considering Coven Membership

Chapter 10: Making Room for Everyone: Craft Traditions

Taking a Look at Trads

Choosing a Paved Path: The Traditions

Clearing a New Path: Eclectic Wicca

Part IV : Following the Sun and the Moon: How Wiccans Worship

Chapter 11: Setting Up an Altar and Choosing Tools

Creating Sacred Space

Focusing on the Altar

Surveying the Tools of the Craft

Carrying Out the Three Cs: Cleansing, Charging, and Consecrating Tools

Arranging Tools on the Altar

Chapter 12: Designing and Performing Rituals: The Heart of Wicca

Understanding What a Ritual Is

Creating and Performing a Ritual

Getting Inspiration: A Sample Ritual

Getting the Idea: A Ritual for Self-Dedication

Chapter 13: Waxing and Waning with the Moon: The Esbats

Celebrating the Moon

Enlightening Lunar Lore

Working with the Moon: A Labor of Love

Celebrating an Esbat: The Ritual of the Moon Trees

Drawing Down the Moon

Chapter 14: Turning the Wheel of the Year: The Sabbats

Celebrating the Sun

Observing the Sabbats during Ritual

Exploring the Individual Sabbats

Part V : Practicing the Craft: What Wiccans Do

Chapter 15: Making Magic Happen

Who Can Work Magic?

What Are the Principles of Magical Work?

When Do Wiccans Work Magic?

Where Do Wiccans Work Magic?

Why Do Wiccans Work Magic?

Chapter 16: Spellcasting: The Poetry of Wicca

Spellcasting: Matter-of-Fact Magic

Focusing on Intention

Spellcasting during Ritual

Staying Mindful of Ethics

Chapter 17: Boosting Magic with Fire, Stones, and Herbs

Gathering Magical Materials

Kindling the Magic Spark with Candles

Finding Power in Stones and Crystals

Reaching Back to Our Roots: Herbs and Other Botanicals

Working with the Mommets and the Poppets

Making and Using Charms

Maintaining Perspective

Chapter 18: Working with Trance and Dreams

Giving Trance a Chance

Dreaming Big Dreams

Chapter 19: Daring to Divine

Understanding Divination

Scrying with Water, Mirrors, Copper, or Crystal

Using a Pendulum

Casting Lots

Reading Tarot Cards

Surveying the Planets — Astrology Rules

Other Types of Divination

Chapter 20: Keeping a Book of Shadows, a Sacred Record

Understanding the Importance of a Book of Shadows

Choosing a Style for the Book

: The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: Ten Habits of Effective Wiccans

Grounding

Centering

Shielding

Visualizing

Meditating

Relaxing

Exercising

Living Well

Serving

Laughing

Chapter 22: Ten Wiccan Principles of Behavior

Don’t Ask

Don’t Tell

Put That Camera Away!

Show Respect at Public Rituals

Be Wise with Alcohol and Drugs

Care for Children and Animals

Take Care of Yourself

Don’t Touch Others’ Belongings

Be Tolerant

Chapter 23: Ten Warning Signs of a Scam or Inappropriate Behavior

Inflicting Harm

Demanding Control

Exercising Inappropriate Authority

Encouraging Isolation or Dependency

Charging Inappropriate Fees or Demanding Undue Money

Engaging in Sexual Manipulation

Making Inflated Claims or Promises

Using Illicit Drugs or Excessive Amounts of Alcohol in Spiritual Practice

Breeding Paranoia

Recruiting and Proselytizing

Appendix A: Wicca FAQ

Understanding Wicca

Worshipping Deity

Evaluating Ethics and Morality

Working Magic

Dealing with Negative Stereotypes

Looking at Lifestyle

Finding Wiccan Resources

Appendix B: Magical Properties of Colors, Herbs, and Stones

Magical Herbs, Not Medicinal Herbs

Choosing Colors, Herbs, and Stones

Introduction

T hank you for picking up this book. I hope it meets your need for reliable information. I didn’t write the book in an effort to convert anyone but rather to dispel false stereotypes and to share the facts about the real Wicca and Witchcraft.

First and foremost, Wicca is a spiritual path of personal discovery and experience of the Divine. From Deity, Wiccans receive wisdom, strength, solace, and surprising synchronicities. The way that Wiccans perceive or experience Deity is unique to each individual, but for most, seeking relationship or union with the Divine is the heart of Wicca.

Nature flows from Deity. Wiccan ritual and celebration are timed to the rhythms and the cycles of the natural world, especially the Earth’s journey around the Sun and the Moon’s passage around the Earth. The Divine energy and the web of life are what real Wicca and Witchcraft are all about.

About This Book

This book is my attempt to provide a general reference about Wicca and Witchcraft. Unfortunately, such a book is impossible to write. Here’s the problem: No author, including me, can write a book and claim that it definitively represents all of Wicca, because:

Wicca is a spiritual path of personal discovery and communication with Deity. Each Wiccan decides what to believe and how to practice.

Wicca doesn’t have a doctrine or holy book that Wiccans must follow.

Wicca doesn’t have leaders who require that people worship or live a certain way. No central authority or hierarchy of clergy decides who is and is not a legitimate Wiccan.

Wiccans differ wildly in their beliefs and practices. Most Wiccans happily respect each others’ opinions and follow their own hearts.

In this book, I try to thoroughly explain the core beliefs, ethics, and practices that nearly all Wiccans accept.

For more controversial issues, I try to offer an inclusive look across Wicca, including many examples of different Wiccan ideas and opinions. Of course, no one really knows what the majority of Wiccans believe and how they practice. No central organization collects such records, but I do my best to describe the predominant beliefs and practices.

Obviously, I can’t include every single Wiccan’s opinion about every single spiritual issue, and I had to make choices. The book undoubtedly contains some of my personal biases, but I made every effort to be fair and inclusive, and provide an accurate reflection of Wicca today.

You don’t have to read this book from front cover to back. You are free to skip around and read about the subjects that interest you.

One bit of advice: Don’t jump in and try to perform ritual or, especially, to work magic without first reading about Wiccan beliefs and ethics. Your practice will be more fulfilling, effective, and ethical if you understand Wiccan principles.

Conventions Used in This Book

Choosing the language to use in this book was a nightmare. Wiccans have no doctrine, and they are free to develop their own beliefs. They also define terms any way they darn well please. Many of the words or phrases commonly used in Wicca don’t have clear, standard meanings. Two people may use the same term with totally different ideas in mind.

This section explains the definitions that I finally settled on. However, if you intend to study further, you need to know that the definitions of some terms are inconsistent throughout the Wiccan community.

Defining the Divine

In this book, I use the words Deity, Divinity, and the Divine. I know that these words are generic and vague, and I use them intentionally, although some Wiccans may find them aggravating.

Nearly all Wiccans believe in some form of a Creative Being, however, they have different ideas about the nature of the Divine. Deity may be the Goddess and the God in perfect duality. She may be the primal Great Goddess that is the source of all life. The Divine may be the Higher Self or a symbol emerging from the unconscious mind. Some Wiccans believe that Deity takes many forms or has many aspects.

I deliberately use vague words because I don’t want to be disrespectful and assume that everyone perceives Deity in the same way. One alternative is to use Goddess(es) and/or God(s). That construction is far too unwieldy in the text, and even that awkward phrase discounts people who believe in a primal Source or Creative Being without sex/gender. I apologize to all of those who think that I am dishonoring the Goddess, Goddesses, God, Gods, The All, The One, the Triple Goddess, Earth Mother, Source, Supreme Being, the Ancient Ones . . .

Defining Paganism, Witchcraft, and Wicca

Every time I thought I had acceptable working definitions for Paganism/Pagan, Witch/Witchcraft, and Wicca/Wiccan, further research made me change my mind. No one agrees on the use of these terms. The following sections describe their definitions for the purpose of this book.

Pagan originally meant peasant or country dweller. Pagan was a term of derision, sort of like the word “hick” today. Heathen originally meant a person who lived in the heaths (open wasteland covered in heather, low shrubs, and so on). Paganism, today, is a collective or umbrella term that encompasses any of the pre-Christian religions and cultures. It usually refers to a nature religion that defines Deity as immanent. Immanence means that the Divine energy is manifest in nature. Deity is right here, right now, and is all-present in the world. Pagan also refers to indigenous or tribal religions and cultures. Historically, pagans and heathens were the rural folk who were the last to be converted to Christianity.

A Pagan is someone who practices and/or holds the beliefs of Paganism. Neo-Paganism is a continuation, revival, or re-creation of an old Pagan religion. A neo-Pagan is someone who follows a new version of old Paganism.

Wicca, for the purposes of this book,is a continuation, a revival, or a recreation of pre-Christian, primarily European, nature religion or spirituality. Wicca is a type or sect of Witchcraft. Although Wicca has its roots in ancient spirituality, the modern Wiccan revival began in the 1950s.

Most Wiccans agree with one of the following definitions:

Wicca is a continuation of a very old religion that has been passed down through families and groups since ancient times.

Wicca is a return to or revival of an old, even ancient, form of religion. Because not a great deal is known about the original beliefs and practices, contemporary Wiccans must add to the old tradition.

Wicca is a new form of spirituality that re-creates some very old practices and ideas. The modern form of Wicca began in the 1950s.

Put very simply, Wiccans generally accept two basic principles:

A belief in immanent Deity: A Wiccan’s main spiritual goal is to grow in his or her relationship with Divinity. Almost all Wiccans believe in a Creative Being. Many, but not all, Wiccans honor Deity in both the male and female aspects, the Goddess and the God. Most Wiccans believe that the Divine is immanent in the world, meaning that Deity is right here, right now, and is all-present in the world. People come from and are a part of the Divine energy, and Deity is within everyone.

A belief in interconnection: All of life — everything that exists — comes from and is a part of the Divine energy, so everything is interconnected. All of existence is an unbroken web or circle of energy. Nature is a manifestation of the Deity. Wiccan spiritual practice is based on the cycles of nature.

AWiccan,for the purposes of this book, is someone who practices and/or holds the beliefs of Wicca. Wicca is a type or sect of Witchcraft, and Wiccans are a type of Witch.

Note: Not all Wiccans consider themselves to be Witches. Some consider Wicca to be a separate system of beliefs and practices, different from all forms of traditional Witchcraft. Some Wiccans reject the Witch label simply because it has such a negative and evil connotation in the culture. They have abandoned the word, believing that Wiccans can never undo the centuries of propaganda and bad press that Witches have endured.

Witchcraft, for the purposes of this book, is an umbrella or collective term for the beliefs and practices of all Witches and Wiccans throughout history, beginning in ancient times, primarily in Europe. Witchcraft is a nature religion or spirituality. The term refers to both the spiritual practice (the honoring or worshipping of Deity) and the magical practice (healing, herbalism, midwifery, spellcasting, divination, and so on). I often use the word Witchcraft in references to history, because that is the word used in the documentation (for example, during the medieval and Renaissance Witch trials).

The word Witchcraft has many different meanings and contexts. The following are some of the — sometimes contradictory — definitions and usages for the word Witchcraft:

Wicca refers to the spirituality (the relationship with or worship of Deity). Witchcraft refers to the magical practice (for example, spell casting, healing, divination, and so on). This is a very popular definition, and you may encounter it often.

Witchcraft and Wicca are synonyms and are interchangeable.

Witchcraft is an umbrella or collective term for the beliefs and practices of all Witches and Wiccans. Wicca is a sect or a specific form of Witchcraft.

Witchcraft encompasses all the practices of Wicca, including rituals for worship and for magic. Generally, Wiccans create sacred space by casting a circle. Within that circle, they worship or honor Deity and they also work magic. Some Wiccans consider everything that happens in that sacred space to be Witchcraft. For them, Witchcraft is spiritual ritual and magical art.

Wicca is the modern-day revival religion, and Witchcraft is the old, pre-Christian nature religion of Europe.

Outside of Wicca and Witchcraft, there are a seemingly endless number of stereotypical and outlandishly inaccurate definitions for Witch and Witchcraft, even within credible sources (such as dictionaries). These definitions often characterize Witches and Witchcraft as evil or wicked and associate them with Satanism.

A Witch, for the purposes of this book, is someone who practices and/or holds the beliefs of Witchcraft.

Many Witches follow traditions that were in existence before — or are otherwise separate from — the traditions born during the Wiccan revival of the 1950s. The followers of these traditions commonly are called traditional Witches or sometimes Hedgewitches. Many traditional Witches focus on the oral teachings, literature, history, and folklore of a specific culture (for example, Celtic), and many traditional Witches have ancestry in their chosen tradition. Some Witches are from family (hereditary) backgrounds in Witchcraft. Some groups of Witches have well-defined spiritual beliefs, and others focus almost solely on practice (folk magic, healing, midwifery, and so on).

Note: Not all Witches are Wiccan; most traditional Witches don’t consider themselves to be Wiccan at all.

What You’re Not to Read

Wicca encourages independence and self-direction. If you don’t want to work practical magic, you don’t ever have to explore that topic. If you don’t feel comfortable using divination, such as tarot cards, skip that chapter. If you aren’t interested in dreams, pass up that information. However, before you engage in any practice (such as magic or trance), make sure that you read about the beliefs, ethics, and warnings that pertain to the practice.

Foolish Assumptions

I don’t assume that the readers of this book are now or ever want to be Wiccan. My only assumption is that you want factual, reliable information about Wicca and Witchcraft, free of false stereotypes and sensationalism.

This book is not an effort to bring people into Wicca. Proselytizing, trying to convert others, violates Wiccan ethics. Wiccans assume that those who are meant to follow the Wiccan path will find it on their own.

In some of the more personal portions of the book, and especially in the how-to sections, I use the word “you.” I use that word only to simplify the text. The use of the collective “you” doesn’t mean that I want to encourage or pressure you to engage in any Wiccan activity.

If you do intend to pursue a deeper exploration of Wicca or you’re moving toward making a commitment, I hope this book helps you on your journey.

I don’t want to promote the stereotype that Wicca is scary, spooky, and dangerous. Wicca is a means for self-development and positive change. But please keep in mind that certain Wiccan practices may be intense (for example, ritual, magic, and trance work). If you experience emotional or mental problems of any kind, please seek competent and compassionate treatment before engaging in any type of rigorous spiritual or magical work.

How This Book Is Organized

This book is divided into parts devoted to the beliefs, the everyday lives, the spiritual journey, the ritual and worship, and the magical practices of Wiccans.

Part I: Seeing the World through Wiccan Eyes: What Wiccans Believe

Many people think that Wicca is about casting love spells or using magic to come up with the winning lottery numbers. However, Wicca is a spiritual path, and the majority of Wiccans have thoughtfully developed and deeply held belief systems. Part I offers a description of the very different ideas about the nature of Deity. Read this part to explore the ideas and the elegance of Wiccan belief.

Part II: Looking at the Past, Present, and Future: How Wiccans Live

From the caves to the Internet, Part II looks at Wiccan lives. Explore mysteries of Wicca’s past, realities of the present, and hopes for the future.

Part III: Coming Home: How Wiccans Become Wiccans

Part III is about the spiritual journey of Wiccans. How does one find and follow the Wiccan path? This part is about the spiritual journey of Wiccans, from the decision about whether to dedicate oneself to Wicca to the options for Wiccan practice (alone or in a group, an established tradition of practice or an individual path). Find out how Wiccans find their way home.

Part IV: Following the Sun and the Moon: How Wiccans Worship

Part IV describes how Wiccans develop and nurture their relationship to Deity. It’s dedicated to the ritual and liturgy of Wicca. Here you can discover the Wiccan holy days (holidays) and explore the way that Wiccans celebrate the cycles and rhythms of the Earth.

Part V: Practicing the Craft: What Wiccans Do

Part V is optional. It describes practices that are not mandatory but are a part of most Wiccan’s lives, including spellcasting; using candles, stones, herbs, and charms; reading tarot cards and other forms of divination; as well as trance and dream work. The part also shows you how to write down your experiences in a traditional Book of Shadows.

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Part VI offers the ten habits of effective Wiccans, ten principles that make up the unofficial Wiccan code of conduct, and ten warning signs of a scam or inappropriate behavior in Wicca (or any other group).

Appendixes

The Wicca FAQ appendix conveniently contains answers to the most frequently asked questions about Wicca in one handy location. I hope it helps readers separate the truth from the propaganda about Wicca and Witchcraft. A second appendix lists the magical properties of various herbs and stones.

Icons Used in This Book

Like all For Dummies books, this one includes helpful icons sprinkled throughout the text. The following interprets the icons used in this book.

This icon marks text that clues you in to the history of the Craft. Text appearing with this icon explains major events in history or gives you the background information about a specific belief or practice. It usually signifies history that occurred before the modern Wiccan revival of the 1950s.

The Remember icon flags key concepts. I use this icon to point out information that is critical to a basic understanding of Wicca — information that you need to know so that the rest of Wicca makes sense.

The Tip icon signifies helpful information that makes Wiccan belief or practice more fulfilling, effective, or successful. Sometimes the icon marks an idea that makes the Wiccan path a little easier to travel. This icon gives you a heads up about an effective method or an acceptable course of action, or it points out a common challenge or pitfall of Wiccan life.

This icon is important. It often flags something that can be physically or psychologically dangerous. I also use this icon to point out potential violations of Wiccan ethics, for example, activity that can draw harmful energy to you. Occasionally, I use this icon to alert you to some aspect of Wicca’s unofficial code of conduct, so you don’t commit a breach of protocol that can seriously offend the Wiccan community. Sometimes it denotes an area of conflict or disagreement within the Craft, or a major stereotype or myth held by non-Wiccans that people should avoid repeating.

Where to Go from Here

If you decide to pursue a deeper exploration of Wicca or you’re moving toward making a commitment, remember that you are free to believe and practice as you see fit. Don’t feel obligated to follow the instructions found in this book, or any other book or Web site. I encourage you to read and train, but think of your study sources as guides, not Bibles. Your own revelations from Deity are just as valid as someone else’s. Follow your own heart.

Part I

Seeing the World through Wiccan Eyes: What Wiccans Believe

In this part . . .

When people are new to Wicca, they often want to jump into the practice of magic. Many are hoping to find a quick-fix cure-all for their lives — a spell to find love or to pay off their credit cards.

Before attempting to practice Wicca or before passing judgment on it, explore and understand the beliefs that underlie Wiccan practice. Wicca is based on personal discovery and direct experience of Deity, as well as reverence for nature and the web of life. This part reveals the foundation of the Wiccan path.

Chapter 1

Believing That Everything’s Connected

In This Chapter

Discovering the key to Wicca

Blending Wicca and science

Finding the Divine: right here, right now

M any people discover Wicca in bits and pieces. Perhaps Wiccan ritual empowers them. Or the Wiccan reverence for the rhythms and cycles of nature satisfies them. Or magic fascinates them. However, in order to fully understand and find meaning in Wicca, a person needs to grasp the big picture: the Wiccan worldview.

A few core ideas underlie all of Wicca, and if you understand these basic concepts about the world and the Divine, then Wiccan beliefs and practices make sense. This chapter provides the background to understand Wicca as a full-fledged spirituality and a specific way of experiencing and interpreting the world.

Swimming in a Divine Sea of Energy

You are about to discover one principle that is the key to much of Wiccan belief. Ready? Here it is: Everything is connected.

Everything that exists is part of an unbroken circle of vibrating energy. You may find it helpful to picture reality as a web of energy (like a spider’s web), or as an energy grid (like an electrical grid). Some people refer to this idea as the web of life or nature’s web.

Wiccans perceive Deity in vastly different ways (see Chapter 2), however, most believe in a Creative Being that is the source or creator of the web of life. Most Wiccans believe that Deity is immanent (is right here, right now, and all-present in the world), and also is manifest in nature (is evident and easily perceived). Most believe that the web of life — everything that exists — flows or unfolds from Deity. The Divine is the source of all life. Some Wiccans even believe that the entire cosmos is the living body of Deity.

The belief in Deity is a matter of faith. No one can prove that the cosmos has a Divine source; however, reality is one big, connected, infinite network — ask any Wiccan or any scientist.

Finding Kinship in the Cosmos

The Wiccan view of an interconnected world isn’t just a mystical, spiritual notion. Modern science, especially cutting-edge ideas in quantum physics, supports the ideas of life’s interconnection and interdependence. The following are some of the leading theories that blend perfectly with Wiccan belief.

Going quantum: Matter versus energy

People see the physical world as a bunch of independent and stable objects, but that’s not exactly the truth. Modern science reveals that matter and energy are not separate.

Energy flows in waves that form patterns. What you see as a separate object (a dog, a bird, or a tree) is really just a pocket of reality where the energy is more dense, according to quantum physics.

Quantum physics

Physical matter is made up of molecules and atoms, which are made up of smaller components, called subatomic particles. In quantum physics, particles of matter and waves of energy are the same thing.

A subatomic particle isn’t a little dot of matter that scientists can hold still and examine; it’s more like a little dancing point of energy. These particles can’t be understood as separate units. Scientists can describe subatomic particles only by talking about how they act with one another. The only way to meaningfully describe these particles is to explain the way that they interconnect.

Wicca meets quantum physics

Quantum physics clearly demonstrates the Wiccan belief that all reality is an integrated web of energy. Even at the subatomic level, life is interconnected.

Tuning up the strings and dancing with the universe

The preceding section describes subatomic particles as dancing points of energy. String theory suggests that they may not even be points, but strings.

String theory is bold and beautiful, but complicated. Read on to find out more, but if you start to feel a migraine coming on, take a break and watch a Gilligan’s Island re-run. It’s always satisfying to watch the Professor build complicated stuff out of coconuts.

String theory

A subatomic particle is not pointlike but is made of a tiny loop. Like a super-thin rubber band, each particle contains a vibrating, dancing string. Like a guitar string, each tiny string can vibrate. Every string is identical; the only difference is the way that it vibrates. Each string has a different vibration, like each guitar string creates a different musical note. The movements of the string — the “note” it creates — determine the kind of particle it will be. These itty-bitty vibrating strings make up everything in the universe — all physical matter and all forces (such as gravity). These strings vibrate throughout space-time.

We live in space-time. Space-time consists of three dimensions of space (length, width, and depth) and the dimension of time. All objects and all events exist in these four dimensions. Well, that’s what scientists used to think. According to string theory, space-time can have up to nine dimensions of space, plus the dimension of time.

Wicca meets string theory

String theory unites matter and energy, and confirms the Wiccan view that the cosmos — from the smallest particles to the largest solar systems — operates by the same principles and is made from the same stuff. At all levels, life is interconnected.

Spreading chaos

String theory shows the interconnectedness of life at all levels, big and small. Chaos theory deals only with the big — and super-complicated.

Chaos theory

Chaos theory suggests that the weather and other huge, complex systems in nature have an underlying order, but they are chaotic and virtually unpredictable. The problem with predicting the weather and the behavior of other big systems is that nature is extremely sensitive to changing conditions. Very tiny changes can have major effects. Nature on a large scale can drive a scientist nuts!

Any small inaccuracy in evaluating the initial conditions leads to growing errors in the calculations. For example, the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in one location may affect the weather on the other side of the Earth.

Wicca meets Chaos Theory

The important lesson here is that any action, no matter how small or insignificant, can affect everything else. Earth’s ecology is a network of relationships. All the members of Earth’s environment are interdependent. The success of the whole community depends on each living thing, and the success of each living thing depends on the success of the community. This idea forms the core of Wiccan ethics (see Chapter 4 for more explanation).

Gazing at Gaia

The universe appears to be made up of individual parts, and these parts may function on their own. However, the parts are all made of the same energy and are connected to form one giant whole. For example:

An individual cell is a part of a human being.

Human beings are part of life on Earth.

Earth is part of the solar system.

The solar system is part of the universe.

The point is that each part isn’t separate and isolated from the others, even though it may function by itself. Small parts join together to form a living thing. That living thing joins others to create a bigger living thing. Bigger living things join into groups to form an even bigger living thing, and so on. Throughout reality, small parts join together to form an integrated whole.

The grand mystery is that the whole is always much greater than its parts. For example, a human being is so much more than just a collection of simple little cells. The human brain’s cells work together in networks, and together, they create a brain that is so complex and sophisticated that the world’s top scientists can’t fully figure out how it works.

Some scientists believe that Earth as a whole is one big living system.

The Gaia hypothesis

Atmospheric chemist James Lovelock, microbiologist Lynn Margulis, and others have developed a theory termed the Gaia hypothesis, in honor of the Greek Goddess of the Earth. This concept describes all of Planet Earth as a living system that organizes itself and keeps all its parts in balance.

The Gaia hypothesis links Earth’s inanimate objects (rocks, oceans, gases, and so on) with living parts (plants and animals) and brings together all the planet’s cycles and rhythms into one unified whole. The hypothesis links the evolution and survival of a species to the evolution and conditions of its environment.

Lovelock and Margulis never suggested that Earth is a sentient being (a conscious, creative being), but others have expanded the theory to arrive at this idea.

Wicca meets the Gaia hypothesis

Of course, the view of Earth as a living being isn’t new. From Neolithic times, human cultures all over the globe have worshipped Mother Earth. This scientific theory reveals that life organizes itself into larger and larger networks that form one big integrated whole. If this is the model of the universe, then the idea of immanent Deity is rational and even probable. All reality may, indeed, arise from and be embedded in one creative source.

Unfolding and enfolding

Physicist David Bohm built an entire theory of physics on the idea that reality unfolds from one original, infinite source.

This concept is often called the holographic universe. Have you ever seen a hologram? A hologram is a three-dimensional image made with a laser. Many credit cards have these pictures. Each small piece of a hologram can reproduce the entire image. In other words, each part contains all the information about the whole. This structure is common in nature. A tiny seed contains all the information to grow a tall sunflower.

The holographic universe

Based on this model, Bohm (a former colleague of Einstein) suggested that the information for the entire universe is held in each of its parts. For Bohm, the explicate order is the separate parts of the world that we see. The implicate order enfolds all these parts into one whole. The implicate order is the original energy, the source of all reality.

According to the theory, this source is called the Subtle Nonmanifest. This holy intelligence gave rise to all space and time, all dimensions, and all planes of existence. All reality unfolds out from this primal source, and then enfolds back into the source, in a never-ending cycle.

All beings, including humans, are born from this source, are connected, and share consciousness. They continually have new experiences and grow in wisdom and knowledge. Then they enfold back into this source. This way, the source, the core energy that fuels the cosmos, is always advancing and evolving, along with everything that is a part of it.

Wicca meets the holographic universe

The relatively new model of the Holographic Universe reflects a worldview that Pagans have held since the most ancient times: We are all part of the Divine energy; we are all connected; and our fate is inexorably linked.

Human beings are a part of the Divine energy. They are a part of nature, not above it or separate from it. All parts of the Divine web of life are equal in value. This outlook profoundly impacts Wiccan religion, politics, and social relationships.

The next chapter explores more fully the diversity of Wiccan beliefs about the nature of the Divine, but the basic trust in immanence and interconnection is the heart of Wicca.

Nature flows from Deity, and Wiccan spirituality revolves around the celebration of our connection with nature, and the human place in the web of life. Much of Wiccan practice is devoted to developing relationship with the Divine energy, in which we are permanently embedded.

Chapter 2

Believing in Deity

In This Chapter

Respecting your own Divine mysteries

Building relationship with The One, the Two, or the Many

Exploring the Higher Self

M ost, although not all, Wiccans believe in a creative being or force. However, the way that Wiccans perceive and experience the Divine is unique to each individual. Wiccans stretch the idea of Deity to the outer limits of diversity.

Two people may comfortably call themselves Wiccan. They may perform the same rituals, work the same magic, and happily practice side by side, but they may have radically different concepts of who, or what, Deity is. Most Wiccans would rather celebrate their differences than become a religion in which everyone must conform to the same belief or seek the same experience.

This chapter dares to explore the nature of the Divine . . . er . . . the Goddess, the God, the Gods, the Old Ones, the Great Mother, the Higher Self . . . you get the idea.

Honoring the Mysteries

You won’t see an announcement like this on the 6:00 News: “The Goddess spoke to Jane Doe today and told her to quit her lousy job and join the Peace Corps. Film at 11:00.” Jane may, indeed, have received a Divine nudge to write the letter of resignation and pack her bags, but no other person can likely verify the encounter.

You may be absolutely, positively convinced that you received guidance, insight, or comfort from Deity. But here’s the thing about Divine revelation: It’s personal. Your experience is yours alone. Others may see the results in your life, but feeling the presence of or interacting with Deity is an individual and a unique experience.

The following sections outline some ways that Wiccans define the Divine. It’s an overall look at some common ways that people think about Deity. The information may help you understand the diversity of Wicca. However, you may not be able to pigeonhole your own experience according to these explanations. Don’t try to intellectually choose one of these categories and then force your spiritual life to perfectly conform to one of these examples. Let your spiritual life reflect what is true for you, whether it reflects one, a combination, or none of the following examples.

Honoring The One

Many Wiccans believe in a Deity who is the source of the cosmos. The Wiccan names for this Divine power include, but certainly aren’t limited to: The One, The All, the Ultimate Sacred, the Great Mystery, the Source, Creative or Supreme Being, the Life Force, and the All-Encompassing Unity.

Many believe that this Deity is too vast, too complex, too inscrutable, and too infinite (can something be too infinite?) for the human mind to ever comprehend. Although most Wiccans acknowledge this idea of Deity, they have many ways of defining, perceiving, or otherwise making the concept of the Divine more manageable. This section expands on the concept of a single Deity. Later sections deal with other perceptions.

Deity as life force

Deity, the Goddess (or the God), is the core energy of all that exists. All of reality is an unbroken web of vibrating energy, and that energy is the Goddess. The entire cosmos is the body of the Goddess (including physical and mental energy, as well as the forces of nature and the laws of physics).

The Goddess is immanent, meaning that She is right here, right now and is all-present in the world. She is manifest in nature; Her presence is evident and easily perceived. Everything that exists is the Goddess.

Deity as the primal Goddess

Deity is the primal Goddess. She is the source of all life, and the life force unfolds or flows from Her. Goddess is the only or the primary Deity, and She is a supernatural, creative being. If there is a God, He is the child, consort, or manifestation of the Great Goddess. Any other Deities that may exist come from Her. She is known chiefly in the Mother aspect, sometimes called Great Goddess or Earth Mother.

In addition to being immanent in nature, She also is transcendent, in the sense that She is a supernatural, thinking, creative being independent of the cosmos.

This theory is in keeping with the ideas of some early Paganism.

Deity as the Source

Although the outlook is not traditional, some Wiccans are reconciling their spiritual beliefs with the teachings of the new physics. Many scientists and philosophers have suggested this type of concept, but physicist David Bohm and scientist and paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin are largely responsible for the current popularity of this Deity theory.

According to this view, Deity is a being of pure, active, creative, holy intelligence. Bohm called it the Subtle Nonmanifest. Teilhard de Chardin and others have suggested many names, such as the Cosmic Apex, the Super-soul, the Hyper-personal, the Evolutionary All, and the Omega Point. Some people simply use the term, Source, because Deity, in this case, is the source energy for all that exists.

This holy intelligence existed before the cosmos was formed, and all reality comes from it. Everything is connected because all of reality flows from the Source. The Source encompasses all space and time, all dimensions, and all planes of existence.

Everything that exists unfolds out from the Source, and then everything enfolds back into the Source, in a never-ending cycle.

People continually have new experiences, and they gain wisdom and insight. All this new information becomes part of the Source energy, and the Source expands and evolves. People are part of the Source, so they also evolve and grow, reaching higher levels of consciousness. The Source, the core energy that fuels the cosmos, is always moving, advancing, and evolving. People are part of that evolution and even play a key role in the advancement.

Our own intelligence, our insight, allows us to perceive the Source. Our consciousness acts as the bridge between the regular world and this holy intelligence.

Through our consciousness, we take in information from our experiences in the world and share that information with the Source; and through our consciousness, we also can receive information from the Source for use in the world. In computer terminology, this is a feedback loop of information.

This view is consistent with modern physics. Although the language is contemporary, the theory isn’t so different from the old Pagan idea of the primal Goddess as both life force and creative being.

Honoring the Two

Many Wiccans believe in The One, the Source of the cosmos, but they see it as an energy field with two poles. The Goddess and the God are opposite poles of the Divine, and Wiccans honor or worship both the male and the female aspect of Deity. The majority of Wiccans probably hold this view or a variation of it, but no one can say for sure.

A world in balance: Polarity and duality

In Wicca, especially in certain traditions, polarity or duality is a key principle. Much of Wiccan belief and practice hinges on this concept. Many Wiccans honor the polarity or duality in nature and have incorporated the idea into their spirituality.

Here’s the idea: Energy flows in two opposite directions in nature; that’s what creates the familiar cycles of the natural world, for example: life and death, light and dark, summer and winter, male and female, and so on. Many Wiccans see the Divine in the same way; the Goddess and the God are like two poles on the same battery. If they were truly separate beings, according to these Wiccans, confusion and chaos would reign in the universe.

The Goddess and the God, or the Lord and the Lady (as some Wiccans call them) are exactly equal energies, and while opposing each other, they are not in conflict with each other. They are in perfect balance.

The Goddess

The Goddess is the feminine aspect of the Divine. She is known as the Great Goddess, Earth Mother (or Mother Earth), the Universal Mother, the Great Mother, the Lady, and many other names. She has been worshipped by many cultures throughout time.

Maiden, Mother, and Crone

In many traditions of Wicca, the Goddess is closely associated with the Moon. She often is viewed as having three aspects that correspond with the phases of the Moon:

The Maiden (the Waxing Moon) represents independence and youth. She is the virgin Goddess. She often is identified with a woman’s wild nature and is shown as a forest Goddess in the company of animals.

The Mother (the Full Moon) represents giving birth (not only to children, but to ideas, insight, and projects), and also nurturing, sexuality, sensuality, and creativity.

The Crone (the Waning Moon)symbolizes age, maturity, wisdom, and the command for respect.

Over the course of the eight primary Wiccan holidays, the Goddess shifts in Her aspects from Maiden to Mother to Crone and back to Maiden. She gives birth to the Divine God child, nurtures Him to adulthood, unites with Him and becomes pregnant, and rebirths Him to begin the seasons again and turn the wheel of the year.

The importance of the Goddess for women

Many researchers surmise that the reason that Wicca is growing so fast is because it offers a powerful spiritual alternative to women. Unlike most religions, within a Wiccan circle, a woman can honor and worship the feminine Divine.

The importance of that fact can’t be overestimated. In the doctrines of many religions, women are, at best, considered inferior to men and subject to their control. At worst, women are viewed as the source of sin in the world. This religious conditioning profoundly damages the psyches of women.

Within Wicca, women are equal; they are not “the other.” Women have authority and autonomy equal to men. When women experience their own holiness and when they have the opportunity to direct their own spirituality, their lives can be transformed.

“The Charge of the Goddess”

“The Charge of the Goddess” is a prose poem that is very popular in the Craft and reflects the Wiccan view of the Goddess. An early version appeared in the book, Aradia: Gospel of the Witches by Charles G. Leland (1890). Gerald Gardner produced a later version of the poem. Doreen Valiente wrote a substantially different and very moving version, and many groups use her text today. Possibly the most popular is the version by Starhawk, from her book, The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (1979, 2nd revised edition 1989, 3rd revised edition 1999).

The God

In many Wiccan books and groups, the God is given less page count or time than the Goddess. In American culture, most people are familiar and even conditioned to view Deity as male. The Divine feminine is a more difficult concept for many people to get their minds around, so I devote more of this chapter to explaining the idea.

The God is the male aspect of the Divine. He often is represented as the Sun and is sometimes associated with forests and wild animals. He has been worshipped by many cultures throughout time. In most traditions of Wicca, the God is considered equal to the Goddess. The majority of Wiccan groups, traditions, and covens, consider men and women to be equal.

The God can be three-formed as the Hunter, Warrior, and Sage. In some beliefs, it is His travels to the Underworld to free His true love that cause the shift in the seasons. Some Wiccans believe that the God, like the Goddess, has always existed. Some see the God as having originated from or been born from the Goddess. He often is viewed as Her consort.

Over the course of the eight primary Wiccan holidays, the God progresses through a full life cycle. He is born, grows to manhood, marries and impregnates the Goddess, and dies. He is then reborn as the child of the Goddess. He once again grows from the Divine Child to the Sun God, and begins the entire cycle again.

Honoring the Many

Many Wiccans honor or worship multiple Deities. These beings may be different aspects or parts of the one Divine Source, or they may be separate entities. They may be supernatural beings, nature spirits, or something else. They may or may not have human characteristics. You may hear them called The Old Ones, The Mighty Ones, or The Ancient Ones.

Some Wiccans honor and worship the Goddess and/or the God and feel no pressure to choose a named Deity or Deities. Other Wiccans feel very strongly that people should choose one or more named Goddesses or Gods to honor, worship, or interact with. For example, you may be familiar with the Goddess Diana or the God Pan. Some traditions (sects or denominations) of Wicca have specific, named Deities that they honor or serve.

The Gods are all part of The One

Many Wiccans recognize Deity as The One — the infinite, unknowable Source of the cosmos. They believe that Deity is too complex and vast for humans to comprehend, so these Wiccans may choose to define limited aspects, forms, or parts of Deity as Gods and Goddesses. In other words, the many Goddesses and Gods are various aspects or parts of one Great Source. Wiccans gain access to that Source by communicating with their Deities.

Or, perhaps, that one all-encompassing Source chooses to take many different forms in order to be perceivable and understandable to humans.

The Gods are separate beings

The Goddesses and Gods are separate, distinct, and named Divinities. Many different Gods and Goddesses exist, and each has its own personality and realm. Some of these beings may be Gods (male) or Goddesses (female), and some may contain both sexes or be able to shift sex and gender.

Sometimes Wiccans choose or feel called by a Goddess and/or God from an old Pagan pantheon for whom they feel affinity. Others choose or feel called by Deities of a particular cultural ancestry (for example, Celtic) and may work with several different Deities from that pantheon.

Honoring the Self

For some Wiccans, Deity may be the Higher Self, Deep Self, or Soul Self (a person’s spiritual essence), or a symbol arising from the unconscious mind.

The Higher Self

Some Wiccans honor, worship, or seek to communicate with their own Higher Self, Deep Self, or Soul Self. Some consider it to be the Divine energy emanating from within. Most Wiccans believe that people have a level of consciousness or some other part that transcends time and space. This consciousness is the essence of who we have been, who we are, and who we will always be, our own individual truth.

These Wiccans turn inward rather than outward for spiritual growth and fulfillment.

Truths, symbols, and archetypes

For some Wiccans, Deity and/or truth lie only within the human mind and imagination. Deity may be a truth or insight arising from the personal unconscious mind or the collective unconscious, shared by all human beings.

The unconscious mind has two parts:

The personal unconscious is the location of everything that isn’t presently conscious but can be, including memories that you can call up easily and those that you have buried deep in your mind.

The collective unconscious holds the accumulated knowledge and experiences of all humankind (and possibly animals). It is the inherited part of the brain. It holds instincts, which are patterns of behavior. Instinct tells a bird to build a nest, and a turtle to go to water. Humans also have instinctive ways of behaving.

The unconscious mind doesn’t have language to express these human behaviors and experiences. It communicates only in pictures. It uses symbols. A symbol is an image or object that represents something else. The collective unconscious uses archetypes, symbols that are common to all humans. An archetype is not an image, but a tendency for humans to represent certain ideas with a specific symbol.

These archetypal symbols appear in religions, dreams, myths, and fairytales. The Earth Mother is an example of an archetype. Some Wiccans believe that when they communicate with Deity, they are reaching this symbolic information in their own minds.

A person may be an agnostic or an atheist and still practice Wicca. Wicca is a very big tent. Each individual’s perception and experience of Deity is unique. Although Wiccans debate the issue, most would rather preserve their own freedom to worship as the Spirit leads them, rather than conform to a common doctrine about Deity.

Wiccans aren’t Satanists

Although Wiccans hold varying beliefs about Deity, Wiccans don’t believe in or worship Satan. Satan, as the opponent of God and the embodiment of evil, is a Christian concept. Wicca is a revival of pre-Christian nature religion. Wiccan belief and practices are rooted in a time well before the Christian era.

Historically, the Catholic and Protestant churches regarded Witches as followers of the Christian Satan. During the widespread Witch hunts of medieval and Renaissance times, the churches falsely accused alleged Witches of consorting with and worshipping the Christian Devil. (Actually, most of the accused were Christians, not Witches.) The historical link between Wicca and Satanism is unfounded but remains deeply embedded in many cultures.

In addition, some Christian groups today believe that anyone who worships a God other than theirs is following Satan. It’s true that Wiccans don’t worship the Christian God, nor do people of many other religions all over the world.

Wicca and Satanism were and are separate and entirely different systems of beliefs, practices, and ethics.

Chapter 3

Believing in Magic: Where Science Meets the Craft

In This Chapter

Using energy from the mind and the Divine

Finding sources of power and strength

Demystifying magic

M agic is a process of moving and directing energy to achieve a goal, so any explanation of magic has to begin with some talk about energy. That’s what this chapter offers: a tidy little explanation of the different sources and types of energy.

This chapter demystifies magic. Here, you can find out what magic really is. It’s powerful. It’s profoundly beautiful. And it’s a very real force that many Wiccans use to improve their lives and to help others. Additionally, magic is a means to honor and deepen the relationship with Deity and to help the Earth and her inhabitants.

Tapping into Different Kinds of Energy

Many different cultural traditions divide the self into three parts. Each part represents a different type of human energy and power. This division is prominent in modern psychology, in various types of Shamanism (especially the Hawaiian Huna tradition), in the teachings of Jewish Kabbalah, and in many traditions of Wicca and Witchcraft (especially in the Faery or Feri tradition).

In this chapter, I use the model of the Three Selves — the Spirit self, the conscious mind, and the unconscious mind — in order to clearly define the three types of energy and power that are important to Wiccans, especially in the working of magic.

Drawing from the Divine: Energy of the Spirit

The energy of the Spirit Self is called the Aumakua in Hawaiian Huna Shamanism and the Neshemah in Kabbalah. Various books on the Craft refer to this energy as Deep Self (in Starhawk’s books), High Self, Divine Self, True Self, or Bird Spirit. Modern psychology doesn’t have an equivalent idea, however, the Spirit Self is directly connected to the unconscious mind.