Pagan/Wiccan FAQ (rituals, Earth, Buddhism, beliefs, homosexuality)

[Circle_One]

To follow Prima's Myth Vs. Reality thread in the Wiccan section, I thought I'd post a Pagan/Wiccan FAQ for those with questions still unanswered. I know I've been posting a lot of new threads in the Wiccan and Pagan sections lately, I just really want to get these two sections going. It seems we have a lot of Pagans on this site, but there are rarely discussions in these sections. I'm hoping to help a little... So here we go. Feel free to add your own if you feel I've missed any.

Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?

There are good people and bad people in every society and every religion. When a person breaks the laws of their society or religion, they are held accountable for their actions. The same goes for Paganism/Wicca, but one doesn't turn to Wicca or Paganism with the intentions of being a "bad" Witch. The explanation given by Witchvox.com quotes "When you ask someone if they are a 'good' Witch or a 'bad' Witch, it is the same as asking someone if they are a 'good' Presbyterian or a 'bad' Presbyterian."

Just what DO Witches do?

We are people just like you. We are your neighbours, friends, coworkers, etc. Normal everyday people. We drive cars, walk or ride bikes. We are teachers, lawyers, doctors, students, parents, truck drivers, office workers and anything else you can think of. We are hard-working, over-stressed, under-paid, mortgage owing people just like you.

Is Paganism/Wicca a religion?

Yes, I consider it to be, as do, I would say, the majority of its practitioners. Some may and do argue otherwise, but to those of us who follow it, it's just as much a religion as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, etc. It's a way of life.

I want to be a Witch and learn to cast spells.

Sorry my darlings, it doesn't work that way. You don't just pick up a few books and start practicing Magick. It's not like TV or the movies. It's not The Craft, Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Charmed. It's not like David Copperfield. If you think this is the way it is, then you need to re-examine WHY you want to be a Witch--are you aware it's a religion?

Do you worship Satan or the Devil?

As a Pagan, I do not even believe in Satan or the Devil, nevermind worship 'him'. Satan is part of the Christian mythos and since I am not Christian I neither believe in or follow any part of their religion, no matter what others may think. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.

Do you do blood sacrifice?

Goddess NO! We do not believe in ANY blood sacrifice of ANY kind. Nor do we believe in harming other beings for ANY reason.

What is a male Witch called?

A Witch. Simple enough. Both men and women are called Witches. You must forget everything the media has taught you regarding this.

How do you convert or recruit new Pagans/Witches/Wiccans?

We don't. We don't seek to convert or recruit anyone. We don't knock on doors, call on the phone or otherwise try to take you away from any religion. According to our beliefs, it is up to the individual to choose his or her own path. It is a personal and private choise. If Paganism or Wicca is the right path for them, they will come to it of their own accord and in their own time.

Isn't the Pentagram the sign of the Devil?

No. The Pentagram is a symbol of the Pagan/Wiccan religion. It is a five pointed star in a circle and it represents the element of Earth and the Goddess as the union of all things. Each point represents an element, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit.

Do you believe in God?

Not in the Christian sense of the word, no. Most believe in the duality of nature: if there is a God then there is a Goddess, and worshipping both.

Can you give me a spell?

NO! I do not give out spells (and neither do, nor should they, most practitioners). For a person with no knowledge of rituals or Magick, trying to do a spell is like trying trying to do brain surgery or fly a plane with no knowledge of it. It is DANGEROUS.

Can you do a love spell for me?

No. Wiccans follow a law called the Rede ( and most Pagans follow something similar) that states "An' it harm none, do what ye will." This 'harm' does not only mean physical harm. Performing a love spell on someone is a manipulation of their free will and this too is considered harm by our standards.

Is Wicca a cult?

No. A cult is defined as a group with a centralized leader, generally trying to recruit others to join and are usually convinced that their leader is of some divine origin. This is not Wicca. As Wiccans and Pagans tend to be free-thinkers, there is no one person that we consider to be THE leader. Thus we cannot be called a cult.


How do I learn more about Wicca/Paganism?

Read, search online, go to the library, visit a bookstore.

Do Witches and Wiccans cast spells?
Yes. Well, some do anyway. However, the term "spell" is widely misunderstood.
Spells are somewhat like prayers and are used to create needed change in one's own life or the life of a loved one. But while prayers are a petition to an external Deity to create the change, most Wiccans believe that Deity is present in everything, including ourselves. Spells, then, are the channeling of our own divine selves, our own energies, to create the change.

Do you have ritual orgies?
These rumors come from our lack of taboos regarding sex. We have no rules which prohibit homosexuality, nudity or pre-marital sex. Sex as the generative force in nature is seen by most pagans as something utterly sacred. We feel that the physical act of love is to be approached with great respect and responsibility.

In short though, No, we do not have ritual orgies. However, many Pagans and Wiccans practice 'sex magick' which is the coupling of energies of two people in order to put forth a greater energy during a ritual or spell.
That's all that's coming to mind at the moment. Again, feel free to add your own and I will add more as I think of them.