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Follow in Willow's footsteps, read about Wicca!
So, Buffy has seen a lot of witches lately, Amy, Willow, and more recently Tara. Wanna know what it'd all about? Well read my guide to the religion (yes...religion) that is Wicca....
Here is where I got my info from; Spirit online.com .
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What is Wicca?
Wicca is an unending path of light, magic, love, and constant learning. We revere nature and see the true divine beauty of the universe. It's is about recognizing that we all have the ability to take our fate into our own hands, and we have the right to choose how we use that power. There is no bible and no prophet. Our only rule is a simple and logical one: "An it harm none, do as ye will". 1
Wicca is an earth religion based on ancient (even prehistoric) paganism. Wicca itself is relatively new, a reconstruction loosely based on old religion and early witchcraft. Its roots are hard to trace because of persecution, which caused people and records to be hidden or destroyed.
Most Wiccans worship the Goddess and the God. They have thousands of names given to their many aspects by various cultures. 2 Each name given to the Goddess and God in old mythology represents a different facet of the Goddess and the God's personality. Today, we invoke them by the name that is most appropriate for the purpose.
Wicca is based on the concept of natural and essential equilibrium. All things have spiritual "life"- people, animals, plants, and even stones. Everything is part of a delicate balance of light and dark, day and night, good and evil, male and female. Even the Goddess and the God are both creators and destroyers. They give life, nurture it, and eventually take it away. This cycle is seen in the seasons and in the cycle of the moon, and is often symbolized by the Triple Goddess- Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The mother creates, the maiden develops, and the crone eventually fades away. We see this each month when the moon is a sliver, then grows to be full, and then becomes a sliver and fades away, before beginning again. Because of this, the emblem of the triple goddess is a full moon with a crescent on each side.
We do not believe that Wicca is the only valid religion, nor do we try to convert people to Wicca. It is an open-minded path and there are many traditions, which offer different rules and ways to follow the religion. But many of us are "eclectic", and choose what elements of paganism we wish to incorporate in our practices as a Wiccan. One might choose to include things they learned from studying Buddhism, Asatru, Santeria, Baha'i, etc. into their tradition, if they are eclectic. (There are, however, some limitations that come about with non-pagan religions. 3)
We are not Satanists. In fact, we do not believe in Satan or a supreme evil, nor do we believe in hell. Let's just clear up a few misconceptions about witchcraft while we are on the topic. We do not sacrifice animals or people. We are not trying to become gods. Love spells, revenge spells, and hexes are not a practice supported by the Wiccan rede. We do not run around in black pointy hats and cloaks, turn people into toads, or fly on brooms. Never believe what you see in Hollywood; it's probably wrong or exaggerated for interest. Magic is more complicated and has a more subtle nature. Merely pointing a finger will not give someone a fatal disease or knock down a tree. Some of us do have special abilities- telekinesis, psychic power, shapeshifting. But these takes years and years of concentrated study and practice and are incredibly rare to see. Wicca is not about easy answers!
Don't be in any big hurry to convert to Wicca. There is no instant way to "become" Wiccan, it's the result of learning and growing into it. There is no initiation ritual that can give you all the knowledge in the world in a few minutes. Study, practice, advance. You'll get there!
The most valuable advice I can give to the beginner is read, read, read. Learn from the wisdom of others. Learn to listen to yourself, as well... you already know a lot about Wicca, you just don't realize it. Once you begin down the path, you will recognize many of the landmarks along the way. You are more familiar with the God and Goddess than you might think.
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Principles of Wicca
We are not bound by traditions from other times & other cultures, & owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being.
As American Witches, we welcome & respect all life-affirming teachings & traditions, & seek to learn from all & to share our learning within our Council.
It is in this spirit of welcome & cooperation that we adopt these few principles of Wiccan belief. In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies & practices contradictory to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge & beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins, or sexual preference.
We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept these few basic principles:
1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon & the seasonal quarters & cross-quarters.
2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, inecological balance offering fulfillment to life & consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity - as masculine & feminine - & that this same creative Power lives in all people, & functions through the interaction of the masculine & feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the symbol & embodiment of Life, & as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practices & religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds & inner, or psychological worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious & Inner Planes, etc. & we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena & magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge & wisdom, & acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
7. We see religion, magick, & wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one views the world & lives within it - a world view & philosophy of life, which we identify as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way.
8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch - but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees & initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within herself/himself that makes life possible in order to live wisely & well, without harm to others, & in harmony with Nature.
9. We acknowledge that it is the affirmation & fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution & development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, & to our personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed tobe "the one true right & only way" & have sought to deny freedom to others & to suppress other ways of religious practices & belief.
11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present, & our future.
12. We do not accept the concept of "absolute evil," nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil" as defined by Christian Tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.
13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health & well-being.
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Wiccan rede
Wiccans follow a basic law called the Wiccan Rede. The idea of the law is to that you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone- including yourself.
Since the Wiccan Rede is the spine of Wicca, every action you take must adhere to it. The basis of the rule is ethics. Ethics must be taken into consideration in every decision, most especially when it comes to writing and casting spells. Spells must never manipulate someone to make them think or feel a certain way, and they must never cause psychological or physical damage.
A common misconception is that one can cast a love spell at will to cause someone to love you involuntarily. This is a violation of the Wiccan Rede and is, in fact, often considered black magick. It manipulates the will of the individual being targeted. There are intricacies to love magick... you can cast a spell to draw a willing person to you, but you cannot cast a spell to force a specific person to love you.
Since we've been leading up to it, here it is- the Wiccan Rede. Make sure you understand it thoroughly before continuing. It's an essential piece of information to help understand all aspects of The Craft- why we do certain things and not others.
This poem known as the Wiccan Rede today was written by Adriana Porter who died in 1946.
The Wiccan Rede
Bide the Wiccan laws ye must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live -
fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch -
speak ye little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon -
sing and dance the Wiccan Rune.
Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady's Moon is new,
kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the Moon rides at Her peak,
then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale -
lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
When the West wind blows o'er thee,
departed spirits restless be.
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Four rules and one law
The Four Rules:
I. Live - Live each day as if it were your last, for one day you will be right.
II. Love - Love yourself first and foremost. For when you truly love yourself, loving those around you will come as easily as breathing - and we all must breathe.
III. Learn - Learn your life's lessons - each as it comes - for that is the reason we are here.
IV. Enjoy - Enjoy your life, because if you do not most likely someone else will enjoy it for you... and then your time here will have been wasted.
The Law:
Harm None.
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Ready to start?
Here are some spells...
WISH SPELL:You may use this only three times in between the new moons.
While gazing at the moon, repeat the following:
"Moon, moon, beautiful moon, brighter that any star, Goddess of light and love, Diana if it might be, pray bring fortune unto me".
A sign that the spell worked would be coins doubling in the purse or pocket, or seeing a hare before dawn. Note: The spell won't work if done with evil intent.
MONEY SPELL:This spell should be cast on the evening of a New Moon.
Find a flat surface or use your altar. Light a green candle, and place a bowl and a spoon on the surface before you. Mix a teaspoon of nutmeg and a teaspoon of cinnamon in the bowl. As you mix the ingredients, think of an amount of money you would like to see in your bank account. (Don't go overboard, though, or you will "scatter the spell's energy".)
Continue to focus on that amount of money as you take three coins of low denomination and toss them repeatedly, until you get one tail and two heads.
Place the coins and the powder together in an old wallet or purse and shake it up as you chant:
"Attraction powder
let it be…
send me all the luck I need."
Place the purse in the same place as you keep all your financial documents.
POWER SPELL: Perform this ritual to improve psychic powers three days before the moon is full, and preferably when it is in either the astrological sign of Cancer, Pisces or Scorpio. Begin by brewing a strong magickal tea made from yarrow or mugwort (herbs that stimulate the psychic senses) and then light thirteen purple coloured votive candles to help attract psychic influences. Drink the tea and then gaze fixedly into a magick mirror, black bowl full of water, crystal ball, or crystal pyramid as you chant thrice the following incantation:
"I invoke thee, oh Asarial,
Archangel of Neptune
And ruler of clairvoyant powers.
I ask thee now to open my third eye
And show me the hidden light.
Let me see the future.
Let me see the past.
Let me perceive the divine
Kingdoms of the unknown.
Let me understand the wisdom
Of the mighty universe.
So mote it be!"
After chanting, relax, breathe slowly and concentrate on opening your Third Eye. Do not permit any negative thought to contaminate your mind. The Third Eye, an invisible chakra located in the middle of the forehead above the space between the eyebrows, is the human body’s highest source of power, supernormal sight and clairvoyant vision.
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