The Wiccans: Witches

Wicca is a positive, harmonious, nature-based religion, and the largest within Neopaganism (Neopaganism refers to all Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and so on). Wicca, is also known as Pagan Witchcraft and as the name says, it is the practice of white Witchcraft and the worship of nature and it’s seen as a religion that’s based on pre-Christian traditions. It is relatively modern, it has been around for only about 50 years and was developed in England by Briton Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant, in the 1940’s and 50’s.

Chapter Six: Witch’s Calendar Wheel of the Year festivals represents the active and passive states of nature, man and cultivation. Each of the festival periods was ruled by a ruling deity, whether a God or Goddess, with each part having its own related deity. From sowing to reaping to winter to summer... the seasons were of vast importance to our ancestors, for their very survival rested on fruitful harvests, moderate winters, and adequate rainfall. Our days start at dusk on the preceding day.

Wicca is actually a modern pagan religion, and is concentrated on a more peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of life. It is actually a belief system that is of pre-Christian that is mostly how our ancestors lived

Samhain is celebrate on October 31, the name literally means “Summer's End.” This is a Celtic holiday that was considered the end of the years and the beginning or the new year. It is the time that is between time. Samhain was changed to All Hallows when Christianity was booming. But the Christians celebrated it on May 13, but since this was one of the favorite pagan holidays, it was not easily given up, so the Christians moved the date of their All Saints/ All Hallows from May to November first, the day after Samhain. Later in England, the holiday was abolished because of all the pagan undertones that it had and was not restored until 1928. The reason for restoring it then was because there was an assumption that all the old pagans have died

There is a great deal more to Wicca and witchcraft than meets the eye. It is only after you scratch the surface do you see what lies beneath. People think of hexes, potions and cauldron when thinking about witches. Society has taught us to associate witches with these stereotypes. Not all of these stereotypes are

I found it interesting to know that the Wiccan religion does have holidays. There are 8 holidays called Sabbats. The Wiccan calendar follows the seasons. These holidays are Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon. Kathy states the Goddess also goes through the seasons as Maiden, Mother and Crone. Here are a few dates and Holidays that Kathy mentions. Samhain is the Wiccan New Year. Which is October 31 or November 1. This is a big holiday for her. Her family gets together and has a big feast on this day. Kathy states “The veil between worlds is the thinnest during this time.” I found that very interesting. Imbolic is the holiday that celebrates the beginning of the preparations of Spring and planting. The time of year for this holiday is February 1st and 2nd. Kathy is real big into harvest and planting. She has a big garden in her backyard. She was so kind as to give me some of her cucumbers that she planted and grew in her garden.

Most historians agree that the witch craze began in the 15th century, during the early modern period. However, many factors that contributed to the witch craze had been brewing for several centuries prior, in as early as the 12th century we see the persecution of heresy by the Medieval Inquisition, which is basically a large-scale model of religious groups suppressing and killing anyone who does not agree with them, or speaks out against them. This similar type of rational is seen happening in Colonial America: men, women, and children who were educated, and spoke out against the social norms were labeled as witches and targets of hate crimes.

Some stories and anecdotes from the late 1600's into the mid-1800 's have them shown in a more malicious light. Stories of witches taking or leaving something in your home, so as to curse a member of that household and make them ill or them being able to steal from others by wringing the items out of a towel, (Chawell & Martin, 2016). However, witches were also sought out for help, although they were known under another name. " [Granny women] were ingenious and incredibly pragmatic, practical thinkers who had an understanding of their land..." (Ward, 2017).

The first rite of handfasting is ‘for a year and a day, or as long as love shall stay.’ This can be considered a sort of trial union for very serious couples. If a couple is still serious after this, they may go through a second rite of handfasting, which usually involves a legal marriage agreement. There is also a third rite, called a handparting, which is the Wiccan version of divorce. However, unlike most divorces where the couple are fighting over who gets what stuff, Wiccans are meant to remain friends when parting, and always be open to being together again if they choose” (Gregory Meyers).

Here the four lesser sabbats falling on the solstices and equinoxes are talked about. First, we have the spring and fall equinox when day and night are equal. Then summer with its longest day and winter’s longest night.

The five points on both stars represent the four elements, plus the spirit. The difference between the two is that the fifth point is pointed up on the pentacle, and down on the pentagram. The pentacle places the spirit at the top, sending a positive message. As far as satanic practices go, no animal sacrifices will be taking place in Wicca. The life of another is too sacred to allow this to happen.

Paganism and Wicca are full of many traditions and simple culture. Though the two may be different religions they correlate with each other. Wicca is in a way based off the pagan religion and is very open and easy to practice if you practice another religion. Wicca celebrates the seasons and has many holidays. Bothe Wicca and Paganism celebrate what’s around us and are very interesting religions sense they have so much variety and importance as to how most people now celebrate holidays.

The Wicca religion mainly focuses on: “Feminine as being at least as important as the masculine, the importance of preserving the environment, and positive attitudes towards human sexuality as a gift of the Goddess” (Robinson 1). The author Herne talks about how a Wiccan's main goal is to make the earth peaceful and harmonious: “Wicca is a deep appreciation and awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day” (Herne 1). Everything a Wiccan does mainly consists of helping the environment: “We also revere the spirits of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water which combine to manifest all creation” (Herne 2). By using the four elements, Wiccans have a clear view of nature and who they are as a person. The author Raven Grimassi, who is an author of many Wicca books, states that sometimes as a symbol of the four elements, Wiccans wear a pentagram. A pentagram is a five-pointed star that is enclosed in a circle. “The top of the star represents pure spirit and each of the other points symbolize one of the four elements of creation” (Grimassi 326). It is a sign of protection and balance. When worshiping, a Wiccan worships their divine, the God and the Goddess. Their personal relationship with the God and Goddess helps Wiccans become more powerful (Herne 1). It is also how a Wiccan draws their power and energy when practicing

These religions were based on the celebrations of the seasonal cycles of nature.¨ Witchcraft has came a long way from our ancestors because back then they had it all memorized plus more people were fond of the religion. Today, most write down things to remember or people buy a

“Have you ever wondered if Magic or witches and wizards really exist in this modern world? Well yes, they do exist, and they are quite active in the modern world. There are more than 10 million witches in the United States, with new practitioners on the rise daily.”(Caine) Being a witch is much different than what you may have seen in the movies. There is real magic to the craft, but witches or wizards don 't walk around turning people into to frogs with a flick of their magic wands. They don 't disappear into thin air, nor do they fly around through the night on broomsticks. They also don 't live in a big castle or mansion. They walk around as normal people and you wouldn 't be able to tell them apart for anyone else. The art of real witchcraft is one of the oldest practices in the world. “The oldest instruments of the real craft that have been discovered date back to 40,000 years ago, while the practice of real witchcraft dates back to paleolithic times. It is very much a way of life, as you may have heard from the modern followers of Wicca. During the middle ages, and in the event known as The Inquisition, the practice of witchcraft became outlawed throughout most of the Christianized world, an offense punishable by death.”(Caine) A witchcraft frenzy broke out in the early colonial history of America in Salem, Massachusetts. Insane torture tactics were put in by the church to draw out confessions. This period of time is often cited as the start of "the burning times."