Everything I always wanted to know about Wicca... (Earth, beliefs)

[Katzpur]

...and wasn't afraid to ask.

Okay, I know absolutely nothing at all about Wicca. Would some of you Wiccans out there be so kind as to give me some basic background as to what it's all about. Thanks a bunch!

Kathryn

[Feathers in Hair]

Oh, no!

I want to help, but I'm not a Wiccan, just a pagan... *tells self to shut mouth and sit still and let some of the Wiccans do the explaining*

[Crystal Red]

I think there is a sticky topic at the top of this page explaining it, or you could check out www.godulike.co.uk & find it there for a very irreverent approach to it, or find it on www.religioustolerance.org for a completely unbiased & factual (& also quite a big) section of information on it.

EDIT: In response to the added bit on the clone thread you made, not all Wiccans are female, most are, but by no means all.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by crystalred

I think there is a sticky topic at the top of this page explaining it, or you could check out www.godulike.co.uk & find it there for a very irreverent approach to it, or find it on www.religioustolerance.org for a completely unbiased & factual (& also quite a big) section of information on it.

EDIT: In response to the added bit on the clone thread you made, not all Wiccans are female, most are, but by no means all.

I should have thought to check out religioustolerance. I've found that I can trust most of what I find on that site (not all, but most, which is better than I can say for a lot of sites). So are you a Wiccan? That's not what your profile says. I've never heard of a Discordian!

[Crystal Red]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I should have thought to check out religioustolerance. I've found that I can trust most of what I find on that site (not all, but most, which is better than I can say for a lot of sites). So are you a Wiccan? That's not what your profile says. I've never heard of a Discordian!

No I'm not a Wiccan, but I don't blame you for thinking it. I am a Discordian, but I very nearly became a Wiccan, about 6 months or so ago, it was at a time when I was really establishing my beliefs so I learned alot from Wicca & most of my beliefs still come from WIcca. Discordianism is a very modern religion, very abreviated, based on chaos, if you want to know more message me because I don't want to clog this thread with Discordian ramblings.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by FeathersinHair

Oh, no!

I want to help, but I'm not a Wiccan, just a pagan... *tells self to shut mouth and sit still and let some of the Wiccans do the explaining*

What is the difference between Wiccans and pagans?

[Crystal Red]

Originally Posted by jonny

What is the difference between Wiccans and pagans?

Pagan is the general term for earth based beliefs, Wicca is a 'sub-religion' if you will, Wiccans are pagans but not all pagans are WIccans if that makes sense to you.

[Shadow Wolf]

Pagan, by the dictionary, is all religions that arent Christian, Muslim, or Judiasm. But I prefer to use Crystal Red's definition of Pagan.
Wicca is alot like Druidism, in the earth-worship aspect.
Wicca has the "harm ya none" law and "what you send out comes back three fold, whether it be good or bad." There are 8 major Sabbats, or holidays. Yule, Dec 21, celebrates the winter solstice. Imbolc, Feb 2, is when the God steps aside in favor of the Goddess and the first plantings of spring crops occur. Ostara, March 21, celebratets teh Spring Equinox. Beltain, May 1, represents the end of the spring planting season. Lughnasadh (lew-nassa), Aug. 1, the time when the goddess yields to the God as winter approaches and is essentially the first grain harves festival. Mabon, Sept 21, Autumn Equinox. Samhain (sow-en), Oct. 31, meaning the summers end in Celtic.
The above comes from Wiccan Beliefs & Practices by Gary Cantrell.
Wiccan's cast spells to help themselves or others, by casting a circle to make a sacred area. Then different candles, incenses, and other tools may be used. The ritual dagger, or athame, is to never be used to cut flesh. All rituals are to go by the harm ya none rule. And Wiccans do not worship the devil, and many do not acknowlege the existance of an entirely evil being.

[michel]

That's very interesting Luke; I never realized half of what you wrote. I suppose we just make assuptions, and put them into little mental boxes in our minds...


very imformative; thanks.