Chapter 2

Some Wicca Basics

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If you are planning on working with a group, you probably are already familiar with most of the basic tenets of Wicca, and how to practice it. Still, I am including here some of the groundwork for ritual and everyday Witchcraft, for those who need it. It is a good idea for your group to sit down and discuss this chapter together to make sure that you are all starting from the same place.

What is Wicca?

Wicca is both a spiritual path and a nature-based religion. It follows the changing seasons of the year, and has its roots in ancient pagan practices. The name comes from a Latin word meaning “wise one.” There is an ongoing debate about whether the Craft, as it is practiced today, is actually descended directly from the teachings of the Witches of old or if it is a modern creation based on whatever knowledge escaped the Burning Times: those years when people were routinely burned for being witches, whether or not they actually were. (Much of the pagan knowledge that would have been handed down to later generations was lost or driven into hiding during those terrible times.)

Here’s my opinion, for what it’s worth: I don’t know, and I don’t care. Either way, this path works well for those who follow it, and it honors the old gods, and that is what really matters. You can come to your own conclusions, of course.

Wicca emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and exploring the divine within and without. It is an accepting, open faith that celebrates diversity and considers us all to be children of the same Mother. Unlike adherents of many other religions, Wiccans do not believe that those who practice Wicca are “right” and all others are “wrong.” Those who practice the Craft wish only to be allowed to worship in their own way without interference by others.

We do not judge others. Nor do we seek to convert people to Wicca. We believe that those for whom it is the path will find their way to it when the time is right for them. It is important to remember this if you are starting or running a group. There is nothing wrong with inviting someone who is interested in learning more about Wicca to come to a ritual or celebration; most of us start our journey that way. As long as you feel that their interest is serious (or that their curiosity is benign—remember that we also try to educate non-Pagans to undo the harm done by years of political and religious propaganda), then by all means allow outsiders to come to any ritual that does not involve intense spiritual or magickal work. But never push your beliefs—or your group—on those who are not interested. Remember that others are entitled to worship in their own ways, too.

Who do we worship?

The most obvious difference between Wicca and most other religions is the worship of a female deity: goddess, as opposed to the patriarchal male God that many of us grew up with. For women especially, goddess worship gives us a connection that many of us never have felt with previous modes of religion. But Wicca is not a religion only for women. On the contrary, because we all contain aspects of both male and female, Wicca resonates with men and women alike.

So do Wiccans worship only the goddess, or both goddess and god? Well, like so many other aspects in the pagan belief system, that varies from Witch to Witch and from group to group. Most Wiccans worship both the male and female aspects of divinity and follow the Wheel of the Year, a cycle that celebrates the changing forms of the gods. As with all the ways you choose to worship, this choice should be based on what feels right to you and your group. Again, make sure that you all agree on this important issue before you start to practice together.

My group, which at the time of this writing happens to be all women, worships both goddess and god. We believe in the pagan tradition that says that all things on Earth contain the essence of both male and female, and that both are equally important and equally sacred.

Although Wiccans believe that all deities are one, they can go under many names and guises. And Witches often choose to call on specific deities from the various different pantheons (Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, and so forth), picking whichever ones appeal to them the most. Again, this is for the most part an individual decision, but make sure that everyone in your group agrees, at least so far as your common practice is concerned.

In my group, we mostly just call on goddess and god, and use specific names only on occasion.

One of the most important beliefs in Wicca is that we do not see deities as completely separate from us. The divine lives in us all. Because of this, we do not need a priest or minister to intercede for us—all Wiccans are priests and priestesses, capable of talking directly to the gods. So even in groups with High Priests or High Priestesses, all the members speak to goddess and god, as they will. This is one of the great joys of Wicca.

What are the rules?

There is one main tenet, or rule, in Wicca, known as The Wiccan Rede. (Rede is an old word for law.) The Wiccan Rede is very simple, and consists of only eight words:

An it harm none, do as ye will.

This means, essentially, that you can do whatever you want, as long as it harms no one. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Ha! Not so fast.

Let’s explore this in a little more depth. To begin with, “no one” includes yourself. This means that if you follow the Wiccan law, you can’t do anything that is harmful to yourself (including, for instance, anything that threatens your health). Just got a little more complicated, didn’t it?

Does this mean that no Wiccans drink to excess, smoke, eat junk food, or watch way too much bad TV? Well, no, hardly. What it does mean is that you need to strive to be always improving yourself, and work to remove or reduce any of the things that you do that hurt you.

What about sex? Many non-Pagans think that Wicca means free sex for everybody all the time. And believe it or not, they say that like it is a bad thing . . .

True, in contrast to most of the other religions in the world, Pagans have always had a much less repressed view of sex. In fact, sex is seen as yet another way to channel the gods using our own bodies, and is therefore another form of worship. Sex, in and of itself, is not considered to be either good or bad (and certainly not a form of sin, since Pagans don’t believe in sin).

Does this mean that you can have sex with anyone you want? Well, sure. As long as there is nothing involved with the act that could hurt you, your partner, or anyone else. That means safe sex, willing partners, and no cheating, lying, or misleading. And you thought it sounded so simple.

So what about things like lying and stealing? Remember, if you are hurting anyone, it is against the rules. And it gets even trickier: because Wiccans believe in the power of words and thoughts, we are told to guard our words (no gossip or saying mean things to hurt people intentionally) and our thoughts (not thinking thoughts such as “I hate her”).

Impossible? Well, yes, probably. But being Wiccan means that you strive toward this ideal, and do the best you can. Be kind to others and to yourself, and you’re halfway there already.

There are a few other “rules” on which all Wiccans agree. One of these is The Law of Three. There are different ways to phrase it but, in essence, this is the belief that everything we put out into the universe comes back to us threefold: karma, if you will, with a punch. So if you are putting out positive thoughts and actions, that is what you will get back. On the other hand, if you are putting out negative things . . . well, just watch out.

What does this mean to our practical everyday lives? Well, two things. First of all, it means that if you want health, happiness, and success in your life (and who doesn’t?), you need to be careful what you’re putting out there. If you walk around saying, “My life is terrible,” then chances are that it probably will be.

Remember that Wiccans believe that we can actually change our own realities with our will and intent. So if you focus on the positive, you can make it happen. Believe me—I’ve seen it for myself.

Secondly, this means that the “Wicked Witch” is a myth. Sorry if that disappoints you, but the so-called “evil” Witch is an invention of the Christian Church (politics and power struggles have been around for almost as long as religion, alas.) Seriously, think about it. If you really believe in the threefold law, would you put a curse on someone, knowing that it would eventually come back to you three times stronger? Not likely. Wish your boyfriend’s ex would get pimples, only to end up with warts yourself? Not me, thanks.

Does this mean that there are no Wiccans out there using magick to harm others? Sadly, no. Just as there are Catholics and Jews who don’t live up to the ideals that their religion preaches, there are Wiccans who don’t follow Wiccan laws and beliefs. But they are not what we are all about, and the threefold law pretty much guarantees that they will eventually learn from their mistakes the hard way.

In the meantime, if you realize that someone in your group is purposely trying to harm others, and you can’t persuade them that they’re following the wrong path, your only choice is to invite them to leave. (If you are worried about them using negative magick on you, see the protective magick basics in the appendix.) And when you practice magick, whether as an individual or as a group, remember to always ask yourself, “Does this harm anyone?” before you start.

This brings us to another important rule of Wicca: Free will for all.

Wiccans are firm believers in personal responsibility. You can, and should be, responsible for your own thoughts, words, and actions. You cannot, and should not, be responsible for anyone else’s (parental duties aside, of course).

What does this really mean? Among other things, it means that you should never use magick that would go against the free will of another. For instance, no matter what you see in some of the less reputable spell books, you should never, ever cast a love spell that would force someone to love you. It doesn’t matter how much you think you love them, or how sure you are that you are the perfect person for him or her. If you truly love a person, you will not force your will on him or her, even if you are sure it is “meant to be.” Would you want someone to do that to you?

What it really comes down to is that you should never do a spell that affects anyone else unless you have asked for his or her permission first. Even such beneficial spells as those for health or prosperity should not be done for anyone else other than yourself unless you have cleared it with that person first, or know them well enough to be certain that it would be acceptable to them.

Why? Wouldn’t anyone want you to do a spell to make them healthy or rich? Not necessarily. The truth is that, no matter how much they may complain about it, there are some people who really want to be poor, or sick. It is not up to you to judge whether or not that is a good thing; sometimes that’s just the way it is. But if you do a spell to improve the health of someone who has chosen (on some level, not necessarily consciously) to be ill, then you are still going against free will.

Does that mean you can never do a spell to help someone else magically? Of course it doesn’t—just be sure you ask first. Some non-Wiccans might be uncomfortable with the thought of you doing a spell for them. Others might be happy that you’re willing to go to the trouble, and are glad to have any help they can get. But if you are doing spellwork, remember to ask yourself: will this spell directly affect anyone other than me, and if so, am I absolutely sure that it is okay with them if I do it?

The final “rule” that Wiccans agree on is this: Perfect love and perfect trust. When we join together in circle, for magickal practice and to worship the old gods, we come together in perfect love and perfect trust. Powerful things happen in circle, and we all have to be more open to each other than we might be in our normal, everyday lives. We have to be able to rely on those we are working with to keep our secrets, and to work with us for the greater good.

Does that mean that you have to actually love everyone who ever takes part in a ritual with you? Yes and no. Whether or not those people are your friends, your family, or just some folks you happened to bump into at the local Renaissance Fair, while you are in circle, you accept them for who they are, as equals and as companions in the Craft, without judgment or reservations.

For once, this turns out to be easier than it seems. Something truly magickal happens in a circle that is really working, and you can feel yourself becoming more loving and more accepting. This is one of the gifts we are given by the gods. And the more you practice, the more it stays with you once you leave the circle. It can bring about amazing changes in the way you view the world, and those you share it with. Be open to it, and see what happens!

Perfect love and perfect trust also means that you try to be loving and supportive to the people in your group, even when you are not in circle. They are your chosen family (and for many Wiccans, they become as close as, or closer than, the family they are born with), so treat them accordingly. If you have a problem with someone in the group, talk to that person about it; don’t just complain to others. Like families, no group is perfect, or able to get along all the time. Just treat each other with respect, be honest and up-front about your needs and concerns, and you will do fine.

When do we celebrate?

Aside from the Esbats (Full Moons) and New Moons, Wiccans usually gather together eight times a year to celebrate the sabbats, or Wiccan holidays. While the Esbats center on the moon as a symbol of the goddess, and are often used to practice powerful magick, the sabbats are more likely to focus equally on both the goddess and the god, and are primarily times of celebration and renewal.

The sabbats follow the Wheel of the Year and the seasonal cycle of changes from birth, fertility, death, and rebirth. There are many good books that go into each holiday in detail, so I will give only a brief overview here. (Feel free to skip this section if this topic is old news to you.) Be sure to note the number of holidays that have been “adopted” in one form or another by the Christian Church, and turned into familiar, modern holidays.

The pagan year starts with Samhain (a Celtic word, pronounced sow-win), on October thirty-first. More commonly known these days as Halloween (from Hallow Evening or E’en, the Christian holiday of All Hallows’ Eve), this is said to be the time of the year when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. This is the time we use to say goodbye to all those we have lost in the past year, or to speak to our ancestors.

Then comes Yule, or the Winter Solstice. It falls around December twenty-first (solstice and equinox dates can vary from the twentieth to the twenty-second of the month in any given year. Check a calendar for the exact date.) At Yule, we celebrate the rebirth of the god as the son of the goddess. We sing songs, bring in pine boughs or a Yule log, and celebrate the rebirth of hope. (Is any of this starting to sound familiar? Most of the traditions of Christmas came from the pagan holiday of Yule.)

On February second, we gather for Imbolc, which celebrates the quickening of the year. The infant god grows, while underneath us the earth stirs and begins to reawaken. (Where I live, in Upstate New York, we just have to take this on faith.) In olden times, this was often when lambs were born, signaling to those who lived off the land that they had survived another winter, and would probably live to see the spring. A time for celebration indeed. Imbolc is a fire festival, and is known today as Groundhog Day.

Next comes Ostara, or the Spring Equinox, (also known as Eostre, after a Saxon goddess of spring), around March twenty-first. At Ostara, the world is in perfect balance between light and darkness, and so we work magick to try to bring balance into our own lives. The god is youthful, and woos the goddess in her aspect as Maiden. We celebrate spring, and rebirth, and follow the old pagan custom of painting or dying eggs, which symbolize fertility. (As you can tell from the name, what we now know as Easter was based primarily on Eostre.)

Beltane (May Eve, or May Day) falls on May first, and we often observe it starting at sundown on the night before. Earth is blossoming, the god and goddess consummate their relationship, and we celebrate the transformation of the goddess from Maiden to Mother. Beltane is a holiday of fire and fertility. We lay flowers on the altar, leave offerings for the fairies, and tend the sacred places. It is also traditional to dance around the Maypole and jump the Beltane fires for luck—preferably with someone you love.

On June twenty-first, we gather for the Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer or Litha. At this time, Earth is at its most fertile and full of life. The goddess, as Mother, is pregnant, and her consort the Sun God is at the height of his powers. Midsummer is the longest day of the year, so we have plenty of daylight to celebrate the abundance and the glory of nature. This is a traditional time for handfasting rituals. (Handfastings are pagan wedding rites.)

Lammas, or Lughnasadh (named for the Celtic god of light, Lugh—pronounced Lew), falls on August first. It is the first of three Wiccan harvest festivals and celebrates grain. Remember that early Pagans depended on their crops for survival—a good grain harvest could make the difference between a hard winter and an easy one. Even though we are no longer as obviously dependent on the land today, we celebrate these holidays to remind us of our connection with the earth, and of the source of our food before we buy it at the local grocery store. At Lammas, the Corn King is sacrificed for the good of the land and the people, and we mourn the death of the Sun God. Witches bake bread, put sheaves of grain or corn dollies on the altar, and use this time to give thanks for the planet’s gifts.

After Lammas comes Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, around September twenty-first. As on the Spring Equinox, light and dark are again in perfect balance. The god sleeps in the womb of his Mother, and awaits the time of his rebirth. This is the second of the Wiccan harvest festivals, when we celebrate the fruits of our labors and the culmination of our magickal efforts in the preceding year.

That brings us back around to Samhain. The goddess, in her aspect of Crone, is old and wise. She rests from her labors, and the god waits to be reborn as the sun at Yule. This holiday signals us to prepare for the long cold time, when we too will slow down, become quieter and more introspective, and gather our energies for the challenges the next spring will bring. Samhain is the Witches’ New Year, a time of sorrow, as we mourn those we have lost—and of joy, as we celebrate the year just passed and look forward to the year to come. This holiday is a favorite of many Witches, and a special time to gather together in larger groups to celebrate the very essence of who we are as Wiccans.

What tools do I need?

Really, all you need to be a Witch is your mind and your heart. Pagans often use tools and props both because they make certain tasks easier, and because they help us focus. For instance, if you always pass a sage smudge stick when you are preparing to cast the circle (as my group does), eventually the smell of sage acts as a cue and helps to put you in the right mental “space.”

Sage also has the magickal qualities of purification and cleansing, so we use it to prepare the site for sacred work. Various incenses will do the same thing. Some groups use one, some the other. Some don’t use either. You should decide together as a group which practices you want to follow. Remember that there are practical issues to consider too—if one member of the group is allergic to strong incense, then you might want to use sage or find incense made from essential oils. (And try not to use so much that you set off the smoke alarms when you practice indoors.)

The rituals you will find in this book are taken from ones actually performed by my group, Blue Moon Circle. As such, they are designed in the format that we usually use: sage, salt, and water used for cleansing and purification of the circle, the circle cast with an athame or hand to hand, and so forth. If you and your group want to substitute incense for sage, or use a ritual sword to cast the circle, feel free. These rituals are only guidelines, and you can do whatever you wish to make them your own.

As for tools, most Witches have some or all of the following:

I would also add to this list one of my favorite tools—books. Lots and lots of books.

One of the principles of Wicca is that we are always growing and learning, and reading the wisdom and information gathered by those who have walked the path before us is one of the best ways I know to do this. Besides, books are fun.

Who is a Witch?

Essentially, anyone who follows the path and belief system of Wicca is a Witch. Because there are so many different ways to follow the path, there are many different types and styles of “Witch.” Although we believe many of the same things, we also may disagree on just as many. So, who is right? We all are. There is no wrong way to practice the Craft, as long as you follow the few simple rules I mentioned earlier in this chapter. We are all children of the same goddess—and as long as we agree on that, we don’t have to agree on everything else.

Do you have to be dedicated to the Craft by a High Priest or High Priestess in order to be a “real” Witch? There are certainly some sects of Wicca whose members believe that to be so, but I—and many other Witches—don’t agree. As with all else in Wicca, intent is most important here. You can dedicate yourself to the path in any way, as long as you are serious about making the commitment.

I know of one group that, lacking a High Priestess, took turns dedicating each other. The important thing is that whatever you do works for you, and for your group, and is done with reverence for the gods and for each other.

Wiccans come in all sizes and shapes, and from all walks of life. In my group, for instance, we have had a nurse, a college professor, a shop manager, and a library professional, among others. Not exactly who most people think of when they hear the word “Witch.”

The most important thing to remember is that Wicca is a way of life, as much as it is a religion. You can’t just celebrate the fun holidays, and forget about it the rest of the time. Wiccans try to “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” Doing so means caring for each other, and for Earth our Mother. It means learning and growing, and coming together in reverence and mirth to worship the old gods, and follow the ways of our ancestors.

If this sounds like you, then you are a Witch. Welcome, and blessed be.

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