Questions (tradition, beliefs, myth, experience, pray)

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Circle_One

Magick itself is not different to each Wiccan/Pagan/Witch. Magick, as Unedited said, is a force, an energy (which is why it can neither be black nor white as well.). The way it is viewed by each Wiccan or Pagan can vary greatly, but it in itself is not different.

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. Candles and such are used as focal points or for added energy. Some Deities simply prefer the candles.

So spells or prayers are a means of manipulating these energies/magic? Am I on the right track?

I was of the belief that praying is useless. Has anyone reported any success in using these spells?

[Circle_One]

So spells or prayers are a means of manipulating these energies/magic? Am I on the right track?

Yes, you are. It is a means of using our own divine enery, the energy given to us through the Goddess and all she creates, to make this change come about.

[Feathers in Hair]

Again, I pre-apologize if these answers are non-Wiccan, since that is not my path. All I know is that I am Pagan (not sure which branch, if any), which Wicca stems from, so I hope that my answers will still be welcome!

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

Wicca appears 'girly' (for want of a better term) are there male wiccans?

I know several male Wiccans. I do know some that tend to be 'goth-like,' but most of them are more nature-oriented guys that are willing to celebrate the divine feminine.

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

Wiccans worship one God and one Godess, right? Does this follow from an older culture?

More than likely, though many Wiccans I know celebrate several gods and goddesses. They simply see them as being aspects of the same Diety. More older cultures actually tended to be goddess-centered, than celebrating the dual nature.

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

What is magic/majik/magick etc?

Different things to different people, hehee!
I see it as being a manifestation of intent.

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

Spells?

Some see it as prayer, others as intent.

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

Magic circles?

If I remember correctly, you're a Discworld fan, too, right? See Nanny Ogg's "circle" in "Lords and Ladies". Terry Pratchett must know some actual witches/ magic-workers to get them down as well as he does.

Originally Posted by truthseekingsoul

And a personal one, why do you follow this religion?

Again, I can only speak for why I follow the Pagan path. Thus far, it is the only one I've found to encompass the things that I am and that I love. It doesn't say that any other religions (including atheism) are wrong. It celebrates the feminine, which I really need at this point in my life. It doesn't attack males, or dismiss them, and that's the only way I'd have it. It also venerates nature and acknowleges spirits that one can't see.

The thing that I like most about it, though, is that it does not tell you what to believe. It's a path toward understanding what you know.

[Prima]

If magic is different for every wiccan, how do you know you're all talking about the same thing?

Well, for one thing, we're never talking about exactly the same thing. No one person's religion is exactly the same as another's. Speaking from Roman Catholicism, there are numerous beliefs. What binds Wicca together is the same thing that binds other religions together - similar beliefs. Not exactly same beliefs. The same goes for magic. When we talk about magic, we talk about a power that is not accepted by the majority of people. For some of us, we believe it comes from any living thing. Others believe it comes from the Goddess. Others believe both! (that'd be me! ) Some believe it comes from anything. Some believe it's 'just there' How do Christians know they're talking about the same god? Well, the answer is, they don't. They think they are, and we think we're talking about the same 'force'

You've defined spells as being like a prayer. Praying has always mystified me, what do these spells entail? Why candles?...results?

I have an interesting answer for this one, so you'll have to bear with me while I explain.

How many times have you heard someone say 'Thank God' or 'Please God, help me pass this test (or whatever)' ? How many times do they really mean it? Well, they usually mean it at least a little, but how important is it really to them?

In a series of books I read (fiction, by Mercedes Lackey) the Goddess requires sacrifice. The reason was explained as thus: isn't it better to have her followers actually think about whether or not they really need something, instead of just going to her for every little thing?

I think this is an unintentional result of the Wiccan use of candles and other 'props' If you're going to ask for something, you have to go through at least a little work! The end result of this is that we don't ask for things that we don't really mean, or that we don't need. If I'm going to go through a spell to get something, I'm going to darn well make sure I actually need it! That isn't to say that there is unnecessary or ridiculous 'stuff' involved in a spell - but it generally does take a little more than sending up a little prayer.

As for results...yes, yes, and yes! The Goddess really does take care of her own. I'll give you a personal example.

There is a ritual (in this particular case, very similar to a spell) that I do in which you take some kind of pain, confusion, or negative feeling inside yourself, and send it to the Goddess, asking for her to take it and send it back as something good. I don't remember what I asked for (that's how gone it was!!!) but it was something that was causing me a lot of pain. I did the ritual (without much optimism, because this was when I had just started) Well, I'm bisexual, and for over a year, I've been wracked with worry as to what my parents would think. The next day, my mom told me that she knew, and that she loved me and accepted me for who I was, and that my dad did too. She told me she hadn't been planning on telling me that she knew, but that yesterday she decided to.

Okay, you can yell 'coincidence!' all you like. But the fact is that it was amazing timing, and also that no one else besides me knew how terrified I was, and how much I needed that!

Circles are used to protect those inside. Protect from what exactly? What protection does a circle on the ground offer?

This is easier to understand than you'd think. Let's take it in steps:

- circles are often done when one is doing a spell, ritual, prayer, or something similar
- when doing any spell, ritual, prayer, or whatever, you are gathering power around yourself to work with
- there are always people or creatures who want 'free power' and will take it at any cost to the person with the power
- like many things (crosses for Christianity, for example) the physical aspect is a representation of something else. The cross represents the inner faith. The circle represents a protective 'shield' or 'bubble' that you create
- the circle can contain power and keep it from 'leaking' out. It can also, depending on how strong it is, keep other people and things out
- thus, it protects you from negative people or things that want your power
- also, it can help protect you from distractions. It's kinda important to be able to focus! A circle can even mute sound if need be.

[Prima]

Oh, I forgot one thing! yes, Wicca is relatively new, but it bases itself much on other, older ideas. There are lots of old Goddess religions, and some Wicca is based extensively on Celtic culture.

[Seyorni]

Male Roman Catholics seem to have no problems venerating Mary.

[Prima]

Ah, yes, another excellent point. Although that's not actually worship.

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Prima

When we talk about magic, we talk about a power that is not accepted by the majority of people. For some of us, we believe it comes from any living thing. Others believe it comes from the Goddess. Others believe both! (that'd be me! ) Some believe it comes from anything. Some believe it's 'just there' How do Christians know they're talking about the same god? Well, the answer is, they don't. They think they are, and we think we're talking about the same 'force'

When it's described as any energy or force I can contemplate it. When described as a tool to alter a practitioners (or someone the practitioner knows) situation I find it difficult to accept.

Makes me think of the way MV describes chi, or was it tao? One of them anyway.

I can accept the all life and things 'have' energy. I see it as energy and that's it. Kinetics. What makes this magic malleable to Wiccans?

I think this is an unintentional result of the Wiccan use of candles and other 'props' If you're going to ask for something, you have to go through at least a little work! The end result of this is that we don't ask for things that we don't really mean, or that we don't need. If I'm going to go through a spell to get something, I'm going to darn well make sure I actually need it! That isn't to say that there is unnecessary or ridiculous 'stuff' involved in a spell - but it generally does take a little more than sending up a little prayer.

I get your point. I don't think I could discuss this any further since I find it hard to accept the concept of gods and godesses (I'm an obligate skeptic).

There is a ritual (in this particular case, very similar to a spell) that I do in which you take some kind of pain, confusion, or negative feeling inside yourself, and send it to the Goddess, asking for her to take it and send it back as something good. I don't remember what I asked for (that's how gone it was!!!) but it was something that was causing me a lot of pain. I did the ritual (without much optimism, because this was when I had just started) Well, I'm bisexual, and for over a year, I've been wracked with worry as to what my parents would think. The next day, my mom told me that she knew, and that she loved me and accepted me for who I was, and that my dad did too. She told me she hadn't been planning on telling me that she knew, but that yesterday she decided to.

I always strive to turn adversity to my advantage. I had a bit of a personal revelation in a sense today in fact with something that troubled me for a bit. Nothing religious but it has shown to me why people might 'feel' faith.

I'm glad that turned out alright for you.

- circles are often done when one is doing a spell, ritual, prayer, or something similar
- when doing any spell, ritual, prayer, or whatever, you are gathering power around yourself to work with
- there are always people or creatures who want 'free power' and will take it at any cost to the person with the power
- like many things (crosses for Christianity, for example) the physical aspect is a representation of something else. The cross represents the inner faith. The circle represents a protective 'shield' or 'bubble' that you create
- the circle can contain power and keep it from 'leaking' out. It can also, depending on how strong it is, keep other people and things out
- thus, it protects you from negative people or things that want your power
- also, it can help protect you from distractions. It's kinda important to be able to focus! A circle can even mute sound if need be.

I can't think of anything to say to this, circles on the ground seem pretty redundant to me. But since no-one here has actively tried to convince me that Wicca is truth (and gave me answers in the dummy terms I often need) it would be disrespectful of me to dismiss your own beliefs (as it would be anyway).

I would like to thank every one who took the time to answer my questions. I am beginning to really enjoy learning about religions and I am thankful to all those who are facilitating my learning. Cheers guys.

No doubt more questions will arise over time.

One more thing, Prima, is your avatar a picture of yourself and a younger family member? From a purely asthetic point of view it is a lovely photograph.