Articles
Articles written by Dawn Black
Beware of Creepy Teachers
The Pagan community is beset by issues related to its lack of organization and not the least of these is the very real possibility that people claiming to be Pagan teachers will use the mystery of Pagan religion and the promise of power associated with magickal traditioni in order to victimize Pagan and magical seekers. We periodically hear in the news about adults claiming to be Pagan or Wiccan luring young people into their homes with promises of mystery, excitement, power and drugs only to victimize them in one way or another, oftentimes claiming that this abuse is a normal part of the Pagan religious experience, or is necessary to gain the "power" needed to perform magicki.
Recently a grown woman revealed to me that she had been approached by a much older man who claimed that she was a "natural witch" and that he had been attracted to her aura and would like to teach her. As she had been looking for a teacher she was thrilled. Later he told her that the hierarchy had approved of her as his sex magick partner and that she was to meet him at a particular house where, supposedly, the entire coveni would be there to witness her induction to witchcraft through sex with him. Huh? This was a woman who had no clue what sex magick was. She had not even been properly inducted and had not learned the basics of magick and now she was supposed to just show up at some house and put out so that she could be part of a coven she really knew nothing about? I think not. We didn't hear about her on the news because she didn't go.
Not that sex magic doesn't have it's place. Of course it does. But it is not for beginners. No teacher of any integrity would insist that a pure newbie perform a sex act in order to receive training. Beginners are terrible at sex magic anyway. If you have no idea how to control your energies in the first place, just exactly how are you supposed to do it while having sex? Throwing sex magic at a newbie is a sure sign that a potential teacher is no good.
Another warning sign to watch out for is the old "natural witch" line. Anyone who says that you're a "natural witch" is selling something. He or she is playing up to your ego. The fact is, everyone is a "natural witch". Every human being on this planet is born with the potential to create magic. Alli you need to do is learn how. Some people are more attuned with different styles, but nobody is born absent the ability.
Drugs are another tool used by these predatory "teachers" to victimize unsuspecting seekers. Yes, drugs have their place within some magical systems. However, anything you can do with drugs, you can usually do without them. Astral projection sober is easy, unless you've gotten used to doing it stoned. If you use drugs as a crutch to achieve altered states of consciousness, you'll soon find that you're unable to do it without the drugs and that's a dangerous position to be in. Addiction is not helpful in magic. It hides our true selves and it makes our intent unclear and thus our results unreliable. If you must use drugs, you cannot use the same drugs during rituali that you use for recreational purposes. Otherwise you will soon find yourself leaving your body at a party or unable to do so at a ritual. If your teacher doesn't understand this, then your teacher needs some more training before he or she teaches someone you.
Most Pagan religions emphasize following the law of the land among their rules of conduct. If your potential teacher wants you to do something illegal, or anything at all you're not sure is right or that makes you feel uncomfortable, then listen to your warning bells and just walk away.
Any teacher who attempts to victimize a potential student in this way should be reported. Unfortunately, because Pagans are poorly organized, we have no internal structure to deal with predatory teachers, no outline for certifying good teachers and no recourse aside from going to the police and having the entire community look bad in the eye of the media. Don't let this hold you back. Predators must be stopped. If you do not report someone who attempted to victimize you, this means they get a free pass to go victimize the next person. Don't be responsible for someone else's pain. Go to the police immediately. The Pagan community will sort itself out.
Check out Isaac Bonwits' Cult Danger Evaluation Frame for more information and tips.
College Success for Homeschooled (and other) Kids
The homeschooling movement is gaining more adherants all the time and many Pagan families are enthousiastically jumping on the bandwagon. It has not escaped my notice that I am often in a the minority in any gathering of Pagan parents. Sometimes I feel I'm the only Pagan mom in the world who sends her kids to the evil public schools. Every parent must make those decisions that he or she feels are best for his or her own child. But whatever school option you choose for your child's early years, everyone agrees that a college education is usually necessary for success in adult life. So how do you prepare your child for college? Are public or private school educated children more prepared for college life than homeschooled or unschooled kids? Will your homeschooled kid be left in the dust by the public school kids or leave them in their tracks?
The fact is that college is a great leveler. There is really no way to predict your child's success based simply on academic style. Even ACT and SAT scores aren't very good predictors. Some say homeschooled kids do better because they are used to working independantly, but then maybe public schooled kids do better because they aren't used to getting one on one attention. In my experience (I work at a University, I look at the numbers and I made an impressive bid at the title of Career Student.), college success can be best determined by very specific knowledge and skills which are probably actually easier for the homeschooler to impart on their progeny than a public schooler, due to time factors. That is, public schoolers don't necessarily want to hear the extra stuff after they've done their homework for "the Man", but it's really not alot of stuff.
Most important is writing. I cannot believe the number of public school educated kids that come to our University with no clue how to write a paper. Not to mention the number of adults who send us requests for records and evaluations who obviously have no clue how to properly format a business correspondance. Obviously, you can graduate without knowing how to do the latter, but how does one get a job? So, first, make sure your student knows how to properly construct a business correspondance, a research paper and an argumentative paper (one that tries to convince someone of something). They should be familiari with standards for footnoting, endnoting and bibliographies. Basic grammar is also important. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White will help. Also, a subscription to a scientific journal of interest to the student will familiarize him with the sort of formats used in scientific research papers. This will help when the time comes for her to present her own research at the University level.
Next is Math. The fact is, students can get all of their math in college. You could ignore math altogether in your homeschooling and students can go from beginning math on up in college- but it'll cost you. Most Universities do not grant any credit for courses below college level algebra, but they chargeii the same for them and usually apply them to the GPA. In many cases, if a student isn't able to test out of these classes, they become prerequisites for more interesting classes, such as sciences and statistics. This can seriously stall a student's forward momentum. Therefore, it is in your student's and your checking account's best interest to make sure your student has a firm grasp of mathematical concepts up to advanced algebra.
Literature is something that is often overlooked. When I was a child my father used to tell me to read the classics instead of the nonsense youth romance series that was popular at the time. I didn't get it. But I read them anyway, and I enjoyed them. When I had children, I read them to them and the effect is pretty remarkable. We have always breezed through our english, art, cinema and other Humanities classes because we have a solid literary background. Symbolism hidden in these artistic forms is obvious to us because we are familiar with the artist's inspiration. And none of us has ever had the problems with Shakespear that the world at large seems to. So don't hesitate to expose your children to the big fat classics. Some of them may be a hard read at first, but you get used to it and so do the kids. They expand vocabularies, broaden perspectives, stretch imaginations and provide good examples of good grammar and cleverly turned phrases. Alli of these are advantages not just in college, but in life. Lay off the abridged for children versions. Seriously, your kids can handle it. Just starti with little bites- 10 minutes or so a day- and expand from there. There's an added advantage that storytime (family time) remains attractive even to older kids. Some great books, poems and plays for kids and grownups alike were written by Nathaniel Hawthorn, Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Herman Melville, Lewis Caroll, Robert Louis Stephenson, Jack London, Lorraine Hansberry, Johanna Spyri, Lucy Montgomery, Mary Shelly, Braham Stoker, Homer, Hesiod, Ovid, Sophacles, Aristophanes, Shakespeare. And don't neglect the more modern authors kids love Rick Riordan, Edith Nesbitt, J K Rowling, Philip Pullman, Diane Duane and more.
Finally, your future University valedictorian will benefit from a broad knowledge of American history and geography. You don't need to worry too much about facts, the college will teach them what they want to know. It's not going to benefit your kids too much to already know the date the declaration of independance was signed, unless they're planning to skip that day in their American History class at college. However, it will benefit them immensely to head off to school knowing exactly where all these places mentioned in their classes are. A kid with a detailed map of the US and at least a general map of the world firmly in his brain will do better in all of his classes. It makes it easier to remember facts when you have a location to go with it. This will help in Political Science, History, Global Studies and also in some Humanities classes.
As you can see, it's not hard to get a kid ready for college and it can be done with a Pagan homeschool education as well as with a mundanei one, provided the magical education includes math, writing, literature and geography. These are easy to incorporate into every day lessons and family fun time. Math is probably the biggest challenge for homeschoolers. If this is the case for you, head over to your local University and find a math or education major who would like to spend a few hours a week with your child in exchange for some spending money.
Common Misconceptions About Paganism
Pagans engage in animal sacrifice
There seems to be a common rumor that Pagans engage in animal sacrifice as a rule. This is false. In fact, many Pagans are vegetarian. There are some, however, that do perform animal sacrifice and this is something that deserves a little attention and explanation. There are a few occasions in which animal sacrifice may be appropriate.
It makes sense that anyone who eats meat, ought to know where it comes from. Thus, an animal sacrifice may be a part of a coming of age ceremony, or a ceremony inducting a new member into the group. In most cases, the person for whom the ceremony is being performed must slaughter an animal, dress it and cook it. The meat is then shared with the group, with a serving set aside for ancestors, Gods and other spirits who may have been invited to the feast.
There may be other occasions when it is deemed appropriate to have an animal sacrifice. At Thanksgiving, the turkey may be ritually slaughtered and dressed, with portions offered to the Gods. At Samhain, a pig may be roasted in honor of the ancestors. (Porki is a favorite food of the dead.) However, the sacrifice of a black cat at Samhain, contrary to popular lore, is not an officially sanctioned practice of any Pagan religion that I am personally aware of. On the contrary, many Pagans really love cats and would be horrified at the thought.
It is very rare, and terribly wasteful for an animal to be sacrificed to the Gods and ancestors and not shared by the group. This sacrifice is a form of communion with these spirits, and sometimes with the spirit of the animal itself. Not sharing in the feast doesn't make for a very functional communion. There are a few Pagans only eat sacrificial meat, believing purchasing pre-killed meat at a store to be disrespectful.
In those cases where animal sacrifice may be appropriate, this does not mean that the animal is tortured or mistreated in anyway beyond the actual killing. Traditionally, animals offered to the Gods were expected to be the best of the bunch, fat and “without blemish”. It is very difficult to present a fat offering “without blemish” when the animal is first ill fed, beaten or otherwise mistreated. Indeed, many hold the belief that negative energy can be transmitted from one being to another. A poorly treated animal will have built up a great deal of negative energy which would certainly counteract any sort of positive rituali.
This is not to say that there aren’t crazy people out there that do horrible things in the name of their religion and, I assure you, there are crazies in every religion. Rest assured, however, that, in most cases, these are just crazy people acting out and their religion has little to do with their action. If they were Christian, they’d say Jesus told them to do it, but they’d probably still do it.
Pagans engage in human sacrifice
As far as human sacrifice is concerned, I have never met anyone who thought that was a good idea or in any way necessary. I have heard news reports, but the sources seem to be mostly hostile and upon further investigation, there is often a personal motive involved. Since the majority of my friends and acquaintances are Pagan, I think that if it were a common practice among any path, I would have heard of it by now. It is true that human sacrifice took place among many ancient religions both Abrahamic and Pagan, despite the vehement denials of many of their modern day adherents, but today, this practice is long gone.
Once again, this is not to say that there are not crazy people out there who wouldn’t use their religion as an excuse to commit murder. This has been going on since the birth of religion, and I expect it will continue within every religious family.
Pagans worship the devil
It has been a long-held notion that Pagans worship the devil, particularly those Pagans who call themselves Witches. This is, of course, false, with a qualifier. Pagans worship various Gods, spirits, ancestors, heroes, etc. The Devil simply does not fit into our theology, so how could we worship Him? Some Polytheists may include the Christian God and Satan in their pantheon, but if they are the dominant Gods, then they are not, by definition Pagan. The Devil, or Satan, is a Christian deity.
Many JudeoChristians believe that to worship anything other than their God is to worship Satan. Convincing them otherwise would mean talking them out of one of their core religious beliefs. Most Pagans feel that it is morally wrong to try to talk someone out of (or into) a religion. Therefore, if you are one of these people, it is better for my morality and your peace of mind to let you go on believing that Pagans worship the devil.
This is not to say that some witches do not worship Satan, but we are not talking about witches here. Just Pagans specifically. Not all Pagans are witches, and not all witches are Pagan. Not all Satan worshippers are witches either. But some witches do, in fact, worship Satan.
Pagans are pro-abortion
On the contrary, Pagans as a whole are not pro-abortion. Most Pagans are, in fact, anti-abortion, but many are also pro-choice. In some Pagan belief systems, the child chooses the parents in order that he or she can learn those things that he or she was meant to learn in that particular incarnation. Aborting said fetus would be, to say the least, extremely ungracious. Even those who do not hold this belief may hold a belief in re-incarnation. Thus, in aborting a fetus, you may be re-killing your grandma, also very rude. Aside from all of that, the act of bearing a child can be viewed as a demonstration of the holy power of creation shared by all women and Goddesses. It’s a sacred state. Again, terminating it would be terribly ungracious.
However, most Pagans understand that circumstances are not always ideal and feel that raising a child in a less than ideal environment is unfair to the child and unbefitting the sacred duty attached to the names Mother and Father. Also, since so many Pagans have felt the sting of stigma, (whether real or imagined) we tend to be more sensitive to what we see to be an infringement upon the rights of others.
Pagans are sexually promiscuous
The idea that Pagans are adulterous is understandable and not entirely groundless, depending on your own morality and worldview. It is true that many (but certainly not all) pagan groups carry a view of sexual activity that may seem to be much freer than those of Judeo-Christians. Contrary to popular belief, ritual sex is not common, though it’s not unheard of. In cases where it is performed, however, it is usually between people who have sex anyway. Polyamoury is also not unheard of, and is quite common among some groups. It is, however, just as frowned-upon among Pagans to cheat on your spouse as it is among any other group, though the definition of cheating may vary slightly and the idea of divorce is not nearly as stigmatized among Pagans as it is among other groups.
While sex among unmarried people, heterosexual or homosexual, is not nearly as bad a thing among most Pagans as it is among others, most Pagans have a huge respect for women and children. Thus, anyone who commits rape or pedophilia is viewed with utter disgust.
Pagans run around naked all the time
It is true that some Pagan groups do worship in the nude. This is commonly referred to as “skyclad”. The idea is that you are closer to your most natural state in this way. You come before the God/Goddessii in the way you first came into the world. Those people who are comfortable with their own nudity also be comfortable in participating in other activities in the nude and may also visit nude resorts and attend nude events. This is not usually part of the religion; it’s just a personal choice. Most Pagans do not engage in public worship in the nude, even those of us who do in our private worship. We were socialized into the same society you were and being naked in front of other people is just as uncomfortable for us as for anyone else.
Living a Magical Life
The motto of the Sacred Hearth is “Living a magical life”, but what exactly does that mean? What does it take to live a magical life? Does it mean to separate ourselves from the non-magical elementsi of the world? Or does it mean to announce our status as magical people to everyone we meet?
A magical life need not be an extravagant one, and a magical person need not be public about their magical status. But as a Pagan, I choose to live magically, though certainly not all Pagans do, and I encourage magical living as a tool toward the ultimate goal we all share; Joy. Magical living is an attitude, a state of mind, and a practice that allows us to connect more closely with the Divine, by whatever name we call it, with ourselves, and with our world around us. Therefore, magical living isn’t just an option for the Pagan, but for anyone.
So what is it, exactly?
Some features of a magical life include:
1. Being mindful of the Alli. That is, recognizing the Divine in all things, and your connection to it.
All things are connected as part of this great web of life and nonlife. The more you understand this connection, the more successful your magical workings will be, if you choose to perform them.
2. Maintaining your body as a sacred temple of the Divine.
Your body is a physical representation of the Divine. Not only is it sacred in this respect, but it is also the vessel of your personal energy. Your energy is the force behind your Will. The healthier and stronger your body, and the more aware of it and knowledgeable about its workings you are, the better control you will have over your personal energy and by extension your Will.
3. Maintaining your home as sacred spacei.
Your home is your temple. It is where you relax at the end of the day, prepare your food, plan your life and if it isn’t, it should be. The home should be maintained as a relaxing, nurturing environment and sanctified to the deity of your choice.
4. Expanding and cultivating knowledge and wisdom.
The more you know about the world, the more successful you will be in manipulating the energies around you. A successful healer, for example, does not just know about sickness, but also about the way a healthy body functions, the affects of nutrition, exercise and psychological issues that can affect the body. He must study not only healing herbs, but harming herbs and not just those, but synthetic drugs as well, their affects, counter indications and interactions. A healer must explore death, birth, health and sickness to be truly great. Ignoring any aspect won’t make him a failure, but it will keep him in the realm of mediocre. Knowledge is power. It’s not just a corny saying. Wisdom comes from a combination of knowledge and experience. We must seek not just to read about things, but also to experience them, to become a part of them, to really know them.
5. Walking softly on the Earth.
The Earth is our material source. More than that, it is our home. It should therefore be treated in the same reverent manner as the building we call home. Walking softly on the Earth may seem like simply a moral issue, and it is, but it is also a magical issue. Many energies a magic-user manipulates or uses comes from the Earth itself or, at the very least, travels through the Earth or is altered by Earth energies. Every single person who walks softly on the Earth helps to strengthen and balance these energies, thus making them more useful for all of us. Also, in walking softly, we are able to learn more about these energies, as we are not blocking them or scattering them by our actions. We are thus able to expand our own knowledge through this practice.
For help with this last bit get fun, free eco living tips delivered M-F to your inbox - IdealBite.com
Living Pagan in a Non-Pagan World: When Family and Friends Just don't Understand
One of the most upsetting aspects of Pagan life is the occasional (and sometimes constant) disapproval of those we love. Many of us find ourselves looking over the breakfast table every day at someone who is absolutely certain that we are insane, or at the very least, going to hell. Yes, marriages can break up over these things; children can be estranged from parents and siblings from one another. It is very telling, I think, that this subject has been brought up in divorce and custody proceedings.
Before you pull your hair out in despair, run away from home, or turn away from your chosen path, sit down, relax and think about this rationally. The key to family harmony is, and will always be mutual respect and tolerance. This means that yes, they should respect and tolerate your wishes and beliefs, but you must respect and tolerate theirs as well. Resistance leads to more resistance, as respect leads to respect.
Remember that whatever your family members or friends believe, they believe it just as strongly as you believe what you believe. Their belief is just as valid as yours, respect that and acknowledge that. Do not expect them ever to give you the same courtesy until you have done it first.
If they threaten you with hell, don't get upset. Remember, to a Christian, hell is the most horrible place imaginable. If you thought that someone you cared about was going to a horrible place full of torture and misery and would be trapped there for eternity, you would do your best to save them from that fate, wouldn't you? Try to understand this position and tell them you appreciate their concern. You are free to explain that you do not believe in hell, and tell them you’re your alternative belief is, but if they are not open to listening, don't push it.
Do not try to convince them that they are wrong or turn them over to your way of thinking. Not only will this only serve to exacerbate the problem; it is against the teachings of most Pagan paths. If they ask, by all means, explain things to them. But if they counter you with an argument against what you are saying, simply bow out gracefully telling them that they are free to believe what they wish, you are simply sharing, not trying to convince.
Many people, in an effort to smooth things over, will go underground with their beliefs, hiding them from friends and family, hoping this will decrease tension. This is a mistake. Dishonesty can only damage relationships and hiding what you're doing makes it seem even more like you're doing something dark and shady. You don't need to advertise it, of course, but the best thing to do is just to carry on as if what you are doing is the most normal thing in the world, which, for you, it is.
In the same vein, however, you should not try to flaunt your actions to people who disapprove of them. Be respectful of social norms and the sensibilities of those around you. If you have chosen a Pagan path just to shock people, then this article isn't for you anyway. But if you're truly dedicated to your path, there is no need to advertise it, because it's your path and not anyone else's business. There is no Pagan "look" there is no special way Pagans are supposed to act. Pagans are just people, who happen to be Pagan. If you're going to act crazy and dress crazy, you can expect to be treated like you are crazy. In which case, it won't be because you're Pagan; it will be because you are acting crazy.
Most important of all, you must set a good example by your actions. Remember that most people think that Pagans are baby killing sex fiends who do strange things to small animals. Show restraint, respect and love. Walk with Nature and express Pagan ideals in your actions more than your words. Eventually people who love you will come to see that Paganism reflects beautifully in you and they will come to accept it as part of the wonderful person you are.
Dawn Black is an up-and-coming Pagan author. Visit her at http://www.sacredhearth.com and look for Simply Magic: Beginning, coming soon to a bookseller near you. Dawn can be reached at dawn.black@gmail.com
Love Spells
I get more requests for love spells for anything else, so it would seem that this is an issue I should address. There are a number of concerns that need to be addressed before performing a love spelli; not the least of these is understanding exactly what a love spell can and cannot accomplish. Also, one must look at the ethical implications of a love spell and the possible unforseen consequences such a spell can lead to. One must understand that magicki cannot solve all of one's problems. It can be a valuable tool and help in certain situations but relationships require work.
Through magick, I, or any trained Witchi or Magickian can enhance your attractiveness to the opposite (or same, if you prefer) sex for a period of time. (It is difficult to specify exactly what this period of time may be. Magickal time is not linear, so only a ballpark may be given.) I can also cause a specific person to have dreams and thoughts about another specific person (even if they have not yet met) through astral techniques. I can also use similar techniques to find the ideal person (whom you may or may not yet have met) and give him or her nudges in your direction, as well as the thoughts and dreams given above. However, I will not go on using these techniques indefinately as this is a form of harrassment/stalking. The followup to these techniques, which are really just nudges in your direction, is entirely up to you. Magick cannot make love, it can only make interest and, sometimes lust. It is up to you to turn that interest and/or lust into something lasting.
If you are already in a relationship, I can use similar astral techniques to help pinpoint problems in the relationship and help clear negative energy that may be affecting the situation, but the work that must be done is up to you. I can also tell you when you are wasting your time- but most people don't want to hear this.
There are many more things that I can do, that many other magick workers out there can do, but I will not. I must draw a line somewhere. I can remove a competator for a certain mate and I can make someone who has absolutely no interest in you obsess over you, but I will not. This is an ethical issue for many people, but for me it is just a matter of wasting time. If it is someone's time to go, it is there time to go. We are here for a purpose and binding someone to you whose path, whose True Will is leading them elsewhere is not only wrong, it's pointless. They will leave eventually, and their eventual departure will not be pleasant. Someone who is bound to you by Magick, who would rather go away, may become irritable, abusive, neither party will be happy and eventually, you're going to split anyway. So just accept it now and wait for the next person the Universe sends you. Each person is sent to give you a new experience which allows you to grow in wisdom. Preventing their departure not only stunts their spiritual growth, but yours as well. If, however, there are issues surrounding the relationship that are making it not work, we can take a look at those and see what can be done. Maybe your relationship will get back on track, or maybe it won't.
No matter what you choose, or ask me to do, you must understand that work is required on your part. If you tell me you are having trouble in your relationship and I tell you that it is caused by a trust issue, please do not reply asking me to make him trust you more. That's your responsibility.
Pagans in the Media
There has been much discussion in the mainstream that might give the impression that NeoPagans in general are lawless and hedonistic, and perhaps even a danger to ourselves and others. The religious right constantly uses the word “pagan” to describe things that are decidedly not NeoPagan, adding to this impression. I would like to counter this by giving a short list of those values that are common in America’s Pagan subculture and even a list of Pagan “sins”, which many seem to believe do not exist. But first I’d like to make a few points that many who follow the mainstream media seem to miss.
It seems to be a very big deal both within the Pagan community and without when a Pagan is convicted of a crime. Half the Pagan community rushes to his or her defense and the other half rushes to condemn the accused to underline the Pagan community does not encourage such behavior and the mainstream says, “Oh look, another Pagan shot his wife.” I would like to ask all of these people to take a moment and think about all the people in the world, no, just America alone, who commit horrible crimes. How often is religion mention, excepting of course, those cases when the offender is a member of the clergy? Since the majority of Americans are Christian, one can assume that the majority of the crimes reported by the media, though they neglect to tell us their religion in most cases, are Christian. However, since Wicca has already been named by the media as the fastest growing religion in the America, with 134,000 in 2001 (according to The Graduate Center of the City University of New York), and one can assume that other NeoPagan religions, such as Druidry and Eclectic Paganism has grown right along side it, there are going to be a few Pagans among those Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Atheist criminals. It’s just common sense.
Whether or not it’s appropriate for the media to bring religion into these things is another issue altogether, though in some cases it’s necessary. Just as it’s appropriate to report a Catholic Priest molested a boy in his confidence, it is also perhaps appropriate to report that a NeoPagan teacher “married” a student in a Pagan ceremony. These are details that simply wouldn’t have the same impact, or wouldn’t make sense, without the religious information. But let me assure you, just as the Catholic community was certainly shocked and horrified about the Priest, the Pagan community was just as shocked and horrified about the teacher. We were not, for the most part, horrified that two females joined in a religious union, but we were certainly horrified that one of them was underage and entrusted into the care of the one who was not. We were also horrified for reasons that the meanstream would not understand. We were horrified that a NeoPagan would “convert” a child without their parents’ consent. Most of us won’t even talk about our religion, much less teach it, to anyone under 18 without parental consent, and are very strict that people wishing to learn come to us. We are not out to recruit new members, and a Pagan missionary is a rare, and to most, laughable concept.
Another issue that has been brought up in the past is the issue of faith based charities. It has been said that there are no faith based Pagan charities, that Pagans don’t care about the poor or worry about such things as volunteerism and charitable giving. I would like to beg to differ on this point. For one thing, many Pagans are very active on environmental issues. It is practically a requirement within some groups as tithing is among some Christian groups. These people organize cleanup days, recycling drives, and get out in the muck to count bugs to guage the health of their River Goddess. In addition to this, many Pagans take an active role in combating poverty. It is true that many keep their charity within the fold, so to speak, but many Pagans find this sort of thing to be discriminatory and insist on providing equal charity for any person regardless of religion. This is why you will find many Pagans cheerfully donating to Christian charities and volunteering at Christian shelters. This is not to say that there aren’t Pagan charities out there. There are a few. Though NeoPaganism is growing by leaps and bounds, it’s still not very big or very well organized, so most NeoPagan charity takes place outside of established NeoPagan organizations.
Ritual Groups for Children
It is my experience that pagan parents usually have one of two choices when it comes to public (or private group) sabbati and esbati observations: Either leave their kids at home, or risk exposing them to some of the less desireable behaviours that are sometimes seen in the pagan community or the distaste of other pagan adults who do not approve of their presence- also distasteful. Many non-parents are concerned that children can't handle some of the "heavier" themes of these groups, but many parents will agree that kids are in many cases far better equipped to deal with "mysteries" than adults. Children are closer to their spiritual center than adults. Children are natural dreamers. Any child that can sit still through a story can sit through a guided meditationi and any child that can sit still in school can sit through a 40 minute rituali. Drum circles, ecstatic dancing and processionals are a child's delight. Why leave them out?
The sad fact is that many pagan adults (the younger ones get the rap for this, but my experience is that the older ones are just as guilty) see ritual time as party time. I have been approached more than once by a drunken fool who learingly informed me that I was so sexy when I was ecstatic dancing, he couldn't stand it. Guess what? I'm not going back to that particular circlei and I'm definately not taking my kids. My children and I have been kept awake by drunken wooping and other partying noise, quite unrelated to spirituality at spiritual retreats. This is not the sort of ethics and morality I wish to instill in my children. Alas, what is a parent to do?
Of course, the answer to many problems in the Pagan community seems to be to form your own group. I am of the opinion that you should join an existing group if at all possible, but if it's not possible, then you must do what you must. Find a friend or two that has similar concerns and create your Circle.
A problem may arise with differences of traditioni. That is why we're calling these groups Circles, rather than Covens. These are, and should be, all-path groups. We want our children to be exposed to spiritual things, but not necessarily indoctrinated. We want them to chose their own path. So, welcome all paths into your group and keep things as general as possible.
Lay down the rules from the beginning: Smoking takes place away from the children. Drinking and illegal drugs are not permitted. Abusive language and behavior is not permitted. Nudity is not permitted. No hitting on Circle-mates during Circle time. Make sure all members of the group are aware of these rules from day one. If someone makes a minor infraction (such as unthinkingly bringing a six pack or inappropriately lighting a cigarette), don't make a huge deal about it, just gently remind the group. Those who make severe or repeated infractions should be removed from the group.
Another reason to call these groups Circles instead of Covens is that you don't want to limit the participation of your members to just this group. This group focuses on kids. There are adults involved too and they may wish to be involved in other activities with their own Covens or other groups that are separate from what you do. This should be encouraged.
There should be no central leadership in this group. Central leadership encourages teaching one tradition over another, and we don't want that. Members of the group should take turns providing different services to the group. You can take turns hosting, leading, providing snacks, planning activities, etc. but don't let one person do too much for too long. This causes burnout and resentment and that is the leading cause of many good groups going bad. It can also cause holier than though syndrom, which is another leading cause for groups falling apart. You will need someone to be in chargeii of keeping people contacted. You'll probably want to set up a Yahoo group or similar for this.
Now that you've got your group, your rules and your lack of hierarchy sorted out, you'll want to set up a ritual outline. This should be somewhat tradition neutral. Doing things in a similar manner each time provides a sense of sacredness and also makes things more comfortable. It also provides a clear division of labor.
This is what the Sacred Hearth Circle does:
1. Establish Sacred Space and Opening Prayer.
You don't need to do this the same each time. You should take turns doing this part and each person should do it in the way that best suits them. This shows the kids that there are different ways of doing this. Later when they chose their own tradition, they will do what feels best for them, but for now they are exploring.
2. Guided meditation
The meditation should focus on the theme that has been decided for the group. It should be short. No more than 10 minutes at the very most and 5 minutes is better. This serves as an introduction to the theme of the day and helps the kids settle down and focus. But if it goes on too long, it will have the opposite effect and the kids will lose it. Remember that kids don't necessarily know how to do the "relax" thing before the meditation, so include that. Many guided meditations you find on the net or where-ever assume that you already know to do the preliminary relaxation before beginning the guided part, so you may need to add it.
3. Craft or Activity and Story or Lesson
The craft should be related to the theme of the day. While the kids are working on it, you can talk to them about the theme by telling them a story or discussing how the craft relates to the theme. For example, you might go apple picking and you could tell them about harvest Gods and Goddesses while picking apples. Or you could tell the story of Persephone while planting bulbs, or you could talk about sacrifice while baking bread to be used as a harvest sacrifice.
4. Closing prayer
The closing prayer should be simple and brief. The kids are going to lose it in a minute, especially if they're tweens. You've already lost the teens. The 4-9 year olds are still enthralled and you can work more with them later. I suggest lighting a candle as part of the opening prayer and saying a simple, "Thank you [God/Goddessii of the day or ancestors] for being with us here today as we share your story and explore your mysteries. We say goodbye to you now, but you are always in our hearts." and then putting out the candle. Simple, quick and the candle is a clear indicator for the kids of when the sacred time ends and begins.
One thing to keep in mind when doing circles for kids is that kids are crazy and unpredictable and things are not going to go as you plan. Keep it casual and don't get upset if things go a little haywire. Just give the kids a few minutes to calm down and get yourself back on track. Themes can be chosen according to the Sabbats or the names of the full moons, or the things that are going on in your community, or you may wish to do a God/Goddess of the month type of deal.
In addition to the more formal circles, you may wish to expand your Circle's events to include social gatherings. Many people turn to their faith groups in times of need, and there is no reason your Circle should be any different. Vigils for sick children and parents, shared rites of passage, and mom's and dad's kid free sanity nights (maybe you could take turns babysitting) are all appropriate. You can invite your group to birthday and graduation parties, to come see school plays, recitals and gigs. Your Circle should be your extended family and you should be there for each other.
What is Druidry?
What is Druidry?
History
In ancient Celtic culture, Druids were the priestly class, possibly similar to the Brahmins in Hindu culture, or similar to the idea of a Shaman. They were considered very powerful and gifted and studied many years to earn the title. They commanded respect. Wherever they went they were to be offered hospitality and were often employed as teachers and advisors for the ruling classes.
The ancient Celts roamed the British Isles, Wales and much of the European continent. Legends and history record them coming into contact with the Greeks, the Romans, the Etruscans and their language and folklore suggests that there was some overlap with the Germanic and Norse cultures as well. They were agricultural, skilled in animal husbandry and produced beautiful metalwork. They were also somewhat warlike and delighted in raiding each other to prove their manly might. They were at war at one time or another with the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans and were finally conquered by the Romans.
With the coming of Christianity, famously credited to Saint Patrick who drove the “snakes” out of Ireland (popular opinion has it that the snakes were a metaphor for the Druids or perhaps Pagans in general- there never were any actual snakes in Ireland). The Druids went the way of extinction but were remembered in legend. A famous saint of Ireland, Saint Brigid, is said to have had a Druid father (though some say she was actually a Goddess who was granted Sainthood by the Christians because they couldn’t get rid of Her), the great tales of King Arthur, the Mabinogion and many of the poetic Cycles of Ireland and Wales make much mention of Druids.
The Modern Druid revival began about 300 years ago. These Druids were not the same as the Druids of old and truly don’t claim to be. They are attempting to reconstruct ancient Celtic beliefs and because “Celtic” is actually a term for an ethnic group, many of whom are devoutly Christian, they can’t use that as a name for their religion, so they have chosen Druidry. It works, it fit. These people need not study for years like the ancient Druids to become Druids- though they are encouraged to continue to study their entire lives as knowledge is highly valued, and they do not consider themselves to be of a privileged class as the ancient Druids were. They are simply attempting to recreate the religion that the ancient Druids would have presided over.
Because there were so many different Celtic tribes in the past, and they were certainly not unified, there are many different interpretations when it comes to reconstructing these paths and forming them into the faith now called modern Druidry. Because of this, I’m afraid my information will be somewhat incomplete. There are several different schools of Druidry and you should look into each of them as they all vary slightly. Particularly, European and American Druidry are quite different.
My information comes from Ár nDraíocht Féin, an American Druidic Organization with many “Groves” or congregations scattered throughout the country. I have personally worked with one of these groves, and so it is from this viewpoint I present this information.
Divinity
There were many different ancient Celtic tribes and thus many different traditions. Each tribe really had their own Patron and Mother deities. Much of their worship seems to have centered around bodies of water and the bones of ancestors.
Each ADF Grove, upon its formation begins the sometimes very long process of contacting and establishing a relationship with the Groves Patron Deitiesi. Either they choose historical Deities, or they use Astral techniques to find new Deities to devote their Grove work to. These Deities are most often Celtic, but they don’t have to be. Generally Deities are chosen who represent the Sun, Wildlife/Animals/Hunting, Grain/Agriculture and the nearest body of water, but this is flexible. Additionally, other Deities may make themselves known to the Grove and be added to the Grove Pantheon. A Mother Earth or Mother of the Gods Deity is also generally worshipped.
In addition to their Divine Patrons, ADF Druids worship their ancestors, or at least honor them strongly. Some are honored by name and are either mentioned in certain rites or their names are listed on a plaque or other item kept on a special altar. In addition to specific ancestors, ancestral archetypes are honored at each rituali. These are the Warrior Archetype, the Producer Archetype, and the Sage Archetype. They do not just honor dead producers, warriors and sages, but also living ones.
Druids are hard Polytheists. That is, they don’t see all Gods as aspects of one whole as some other groups might. They believe that each God is an individual with His or Her own personality, desires and tastes. That being said, they do believe that some Gods are called by different names in different places, however.
Basic Tenets of Druidry
Unlike many Pagan religions, Druidry is very ordered and structured. Druids are expected to strictly follow the law of the land and will be turned over by their own (and will not be the least bit surprised) if they do not. They also believe strongly in equality and will not tolerate discrimination. They are accepting of many different lifestyles, including homosexuality, mixed and polygamous marriages and single parents. In a group of Druids, no one will bat an eyelash at some things that would horrify other groups.
Druids hold children in very high regard and consider the birth of a child an extremely worthy event to celebrate. They will also not hesitate to discipline other peoples’ children if they need it. A pregnant woman is considered to be in a very sacred state and her blessings are sought at gatherings.
Druids favor wisdom, creativity, self control and sobriety. Druids are expected to take excellent care of their personal selves, to seek out wisdom and further their education on both magical and mundanei issues. Druids are also encouraged to practice a craft or art of some sort. Music, poetry, sewing and other crafts are highly looked upon. In fact, the products of these are considered to be worthy offerings to the Gods.
Magic is not a major part of Druid worship, with the exception of Divination which is traditionally performed at most rituals. Many Druids, however, do study magic and perform privately or in small groups.
Organization
As mentioned, there are many different Druid organizations. The larger organization serves the individual Groves by offering training materials and liturgical assistance, registering new groves and qualifying new clergy.
Each Grove is presided over by a High Druid or Arch Druid (may be male or female, a female Druid is sometimes called a Druidess or Baen Drui). Rarely, a couple may preside. The Arch Druid is usually a legally ordained minister. He or She is assisted by several Deputies or Officers. The Grove itself is divided into several Guilds, which meet separately to pursue common interests.
Druid Worship
Druids meet for worship for 4 major and 4 minor festivals throughout the year. These correspond basically to the festivals most Neo-Pagan groups observe. They do not, as a rule meet on the full or new moon as other groups do, however. They may meet other days, on a regular basis to study and also have “Guild” meetings. These are groups of people within the Grove who have similar interests who meet to share these interests. Some examples may be a Healer’s Guild, a Magician’s Guild, a Crafter’s Guild, etc.
The ritual is begun by offering thanks to the place spirits for allowing it, and giving an offering to the Chaos spirits in hope that they will not interfere. Alli participants are blessed by Earth (ocre), Sky (incense) and Sea (water). Then, the three Gates (or Portals) are opened. These Gates, the Tree, the Well and the Fire are all considered to be passageways between the three worlds (Earth or Middleworld, land of the living, Sky, or Upperworld, home of the Shining Onesi, and Sea or Lowerworld, home of the ancestors.) by opening them the area is placed in between all worlds and sacred spacei is established.
The main ritual follows which consists of songs, praise and offerings to the Deity or Deities to which the particular Holy Day is devoted. Dancing, sharing and other group activities are generally a part of the ritual as well. Druid rituals are usually quite fun, actually.
The ritual is closed by thanking the Deities and spirits and closing the Gates.
For more information about Druidry
Check out the Ár nDraíocht Féin website.
Some good books are
The Solitary Druid: A Practitioner's Guide
Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism
and, for history
Witches, Druids and King Arthur
and
The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy
Yes, I'm a Hutton fan. Can't help it. He appeals to my nerdiness.
What is Magic(k)
What is Magic(k)?
Magic (which is often spelled Magick, to distinguish it from stage magic or prestidigitation) is the manipulation of energy to bring about change according to one's Will.
What is Will?
Will is an extremely complicated and multi-layered subject. Many people believe that Will simply means whatever you want, and it sort of does, but that's an oversimplification.
Every living thing in this world has a purpose. We are all like Cogs in an enormous machine called Gaia or the Earth, or the Universe if you prefer. Or like cells in a great body. Each plant, animal, rock, river, etc. It is our duty to fulfill our purpose, but it is our choice how to go about it. (Most of us, especially those of us who are sentient (i.e. humans) never fully grasp our purpose, but, if we pay attention, we get some clues by midlife.) The Will is a combination of our Purpose and our Free Will. It is the path we choose to take to get to our destination, it is a unique path and nobody can follow it except us.
There are a few laws associated with the Will that you may have heard. The Wiccan Rede says "An it harm none, do as ye Will" it means (again arguably) follow your path to your purpose as you chose it, but don't hurt anyone on the way. In contrast, Aleister Crowley gave us: "Do as ye Will shall be the whole of the Law" "Love is the Law, Love under Will" That is, respect and love others, let love be your guide, but don't let that love interfere with your own Will. Fulfill your Will (your Purpose as guided by Free Will) at any cost, but allow others to fulfill their Will as well, through Love. Crowley believed that if everyone followed their own Will perfectly, we would never get in each others' way anyway.
Besides Witchcraft, what other types of magic are there?
Magic is (arguably) generally divided into 4 categories. Witchcraft, Sorcery, Shamanism and Alchemy. Alli of these involve the manipulation of energy, but differ in how it is accomplished. Witches cast spells which involves releasing their own energy "coded" for their intention into the Universe. Sorcerers summon spirits, demons, daemons or other energetic (spiritual) entities and compel them to accomplish the task for them. Shamans engage in Astral Projection. They leave their bodies and go out into the Universe to accomplish the task "manually" and convince spirits, usually by establishing friendly relationships with them, to assist in accomplishing their desired ends. Alchemists (they often go by other names, such as Kitchen Witches) research the energy contained within natural objects, plants, stones, chemicals, elementsi, etc. and combine those objects to make potions or charms (or even meals and clothing) so that the energy from the finished product- once ingested or worn, will draw something to the user or send something away from him or her.
Most magic-users do not stick to just one technique.
What is a spelli?
A spell is a specific kind of magic that involves altering the energy of the Universe (or a specific person of object) through the force of your own energy in order to bring about a change in accordance with your Will. To accomplish this, you must first change the "flavor" of your energy before sending it out. There are many ways to do this. An accomplished Witchi can change her energy by simply changing her mood at will. The majority of Witches surround themselves with objects, colors, scents, etc. that represent their intention and say chants to help them focus which allows them to change the "flavor" (sometimes referred to as color or vibration) of their energy before sending it out into the world. A spell generally has 3 parts.
1. Establishing your intent- During this part, you "get in the mood". You surround yourself with objects that represent your intent or simply focus on it, whichever method you prefer.
2. Build energy- Once your intent is established, you continue to focus while building up your personal energy. This is done through chanting, dancing, beating a drum, shaking a rattle, visualizationi, meditationi and/or sexual activity.
3. Release energy- Once the energy has peaked, it is released into the world. Some Witches simply visualize the energy releasing into a person or object or disappating into the Universe at large, while others may perform some physical action to release the energy, such as pointing, throwing their arms wide, or collapsing to the ground.
What is Paganism?
At its most basic, the term Paganism, is an umbrella term covering all religions that are not related to the Judeo-Christian family of religions. The word itself once denoted those “country folk” who were not up on, or didn’t care about, the fashions of the day, including the state religion. Since Judeo-Christianity has been the dominant, indeed, only acceptable religious choice for some time, it has come to mean those who aren’t Judeo-Christian. This would include all “Primitive” animist and polytheistic religions that are common among native groups as well as the Classical religions of ancient Greece and Rome (though it wouldn't have in their heyday). It does not include Hinduism or Buddhism because those religions are dominant in their native areas and socially acceptable choices elsewhere. It would also exclude all religions that have stemmed from Judeo-Christianity, including Satanism and various syncretic religions. However, when most people say the word “Pagan”, they really mean “Neo-Pagan”. Neo-paganism is really a subset of the larger term “Pagan” and is itself an umbrella term covering a wide range of beliefs.
Now that I have thoroughly confused you, I will attempt to unravel my meaning into something that makes sense.
Neo-paganism is a form of paganism, and there are many forms of Neo-paganism. Neo-paganism is either the modern practice and adaptation of an ancient religion, or a new religion based on either ancient or new religious concepts; but usually based on a combination of these. Neo-paganism means simply modern, or contemporary paganism and there are many varieties, although they do tend to share some characteristics.
Most Neo-Pagan religions share a combination of one or more of the following characteristics, but none have them all:
A belief in multiple deities, including male and female deities. Sometimes the female is dominant, sometimes male and female deities carry equal status, but only rarely does a female deity carry lesser importance to a male deity. More rarely, there is a single deity who is quite often female or a main deity (usually female) with one or more helpers of somewhat lesser importance, usually a male consort. In those cases where a single deity is worshipped, it is quite often either sexless or androgynous; made up of both male and female aspects.
Pagans with predominantly female deities may tend to be more feminist, and occasionally may even seem to be somewhat anti-male, but this is not always the case. Some on the other hand are proponents of 'traditional' gender roles and have strong beliefs that a woman's place is in the home. Perhaps surprisingly often, there is a combination of the two.
A revival of ancient or ancestral beliefs. Many modern Pagans strive to rekindle the beliefs of their ancestors or of an ancient (non-Abrahamic) culture to which they feel an attraction. Their beliefs and practices may be shaped by the oral traditioni of their families, archaeological evidence, scholarly research, the myths and legends of their chosen culture or a combination of any of these. Some strive to keep their beliefs as close to those of their ancient forbearers as possible while others blend these practices with modern ones. Some may combine the beliefs of different cultures or study many cultures and select common threads on which to base their religious observances.
Animism and a belief in spirits. Quite often a Pagan faith will include the belief that spirits inhabit natural objects, plants and animals and these things will be treated accordingly. There may also be a belief in free roaming nature spirits and house spirits as well as the belief in the presence of spirits of the dead, especially ancestors. These spirits may be helpful or harmful and people are usually able to communicate with them in one way or another, usually through some sort of rituali, to appease them or ask for their aid. Offerings may be left for them. Often Gods or other spirits are believed to inhabit, or are represented by certain things in nature such as the sun, moon, sea, rivers, springs, lakes, mountains, forests, etc. or certain places.
A belief in the soul. Most pagans believe in a soul and some believe in a large collective soul that all beings are a part of. Thus, many pagan religions have a firm belief in either an afterlife or reincarnationi, or both. Your behavior in this life may or may not affect what comes after, depending on the specific path.
Exactly who has a soul may differ. Many Pagans believe that plants, animals and sometimes even inanimate objects have souls. Others may believe that only humans have souls.
Note however, that there are rare groups who do not believe in the soul at all. In which case, returning to the Earth, decaying and returning to the bottom of the food chain may take on a mysticism of its own. This same type of mysticism exists among many who believe in the soul as well.
A sense of equality or brotherhood with other living things. Many modern pagans believe that all people, animals, plants and even some inanimate objects possess a soul, and a specific place in the world That is; we all exist for a reason. Some may not take the belief so far, but may still believe that every living thing is just as important as any other. As such, all people, animals, plants, ect. are created equal and must be afforded respect. Because of this, you may see pagans performing such odd (to the outsider) behaviors as asking a tree for permission to pick a fruit, or apologizing for uprooting an herb they grew themselves, or thanking their food for allowing them to eat it.
Pagans with political activist tendencies may be more likely to support programs that align with this belief and oppose policies that do not. For example, many Pagans are environmentalists, human rights activists, or animal rights activists. Some are also vegetarians, but again, many are not. Eating an animal places one in the food chain, the natural order of things, and this is also part of Pagan mysticism. Likewise, if plants have souls as well as animals, and are just as important, how do we choose which we eat and which we don’t? We would starve.
A belief that your actions will return to you in kind. There are many versions of this. Karma (in a new westernized form), the Wiccan Rede, ect. are some examples. Most Pagans generally believe it is not their place to pass judgment on others, that the natural results of their choices will afford the proper reward or punishment through the natural progression of time. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction?
This is often, however, dichotomized by the belief that allowing a wrong to go unanswered is dangerous. After all, if someone hurts you, they could hurt someone else. The action of natural reward or punishment may take a very long time, and often may not even manifest in this lifetime. Therefore, many Pagans may feel morally obligated to enact revenge for a wrong done to themselves or, more often, a loved one; especially if they are responsible for the victim through familial ties.
An observance of the cycles of Nature. Many pagans time their religious observances to coordinate with the phases of the mooni. Also, many of our holidays are associated with seasonal changes and are calculated astrologically, though many people have established fixed dates on the modern calendar for these holidays. Much of our myth and folklore has to do with the changing of seasons and other natural events. In addition, those cycles that mirror the cycles of Nature which take place within the human body may be more carefully observed and revered than they would be among other groups.
I would like to qualify these statements by stressing once again that not all of these features are found in all NeoPagan religions. Usually you will find a combination of two or more. Thus, one cannot accurately state that a NeoPagan religion is always an Earth-based or Goddess-centered one. Nor can one state that NeoPagan religion is always based on ancient religion.
NeoPagan religions include Wicca, Modern Druidry, Hellenism (Reconstructionist and Neo-Hellenism), NeoShamanism, and others. Heathenry, including Odinism and Asatru is often placed in a separate category. Although many will agree that they are in the same religious family as Pagananism, many Heathens will balk at being referred to as NeoPagan and only a few of the generalizations I have made for NeoPaganism will apply to Heathenry. I will have to comment on Heathenry, therefore, another day.
Similarities between NeoPagan religions are cosmetic and their differences become more pronounced the more you learn about them. For instance, there are, in my opinion, more similarities between the morality and practices of Islam and Judaism than between Wicca and Neo-Hellenism, even though both are modernized versions of ancient practices.
Dawn Black is an up-and-coming Pagan author whose work is featured at http://www.sacredhearth.com. She may be contacted at dawn.black@gmail.com. This material may be distributed electronically, with no changes to the content and with the footer intact. Please contact the author for print distribution.
What is Wicca?
What is Wicca?
While Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions in the world, and one of the most well-known of all modern Pagan religions, it truly has little in common with other Pagan religions and perhaps less in common with other Witchcraft traditions. It has a history that is fraught with conflict and its members often find themselves at odds with other Pagans, especially reconstructionist Pagans and members of other faiths that embrace Witchcraft. That being said, it is a religion that embraces just about anyone in a non-judgemental way and is truly a beautiful and meaningful spiritual path to those who choose to follow it.
The History of Wicca
Wicca was first made public by Gerald Gardner
This claim seemed to be backed up by the earlier writings of Margaret Murray
There is really no way to prove or disprove the antiquity of the Wiccan religion, but it does seem to follow the pattern of various occult orders that sprang up around the turn of the century, bears a striking resemblance to the ramblings of Aleister Crowley
Wicca was brought to America by several elders of the tradition and spread by various writers including Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Wiccan God and Goddess
The Wiccan God and Goddess, also known as the Lord and Lady are one in the same, two parts of a divine whole. Every God that ever was and every Goddess that ever was is part of this divine whole. It’s like a disco ball with every facet a different face of the God or Goddess. Wicca has come under some fire from other Pagan religions for this seeming heresy.
Many Wiccan traditions give the Goddess far more importance than the God, while other Wiccans see this as somewhat of a heresy itself as it eliminates the concept of balance that is central to the divine androgene concept.
The God is generally seen as being horned and according to the popular history of Wicca (mentioned above) the early Church saw horned God images and men playing the part of the God in a horned mask and mistook it for their Satan, or perhaps that their Satan got his horns from an attempt to demonize the horned God. The face of the Goddess changes according to the seasons from maiden to mother to crone. The names they are called differ according to the culture that appeals most to the coven or solitary Wiccan or according to the request they wish to make of them. For example, if they are doing a spell for love, they might include a prayer to Aphrodite, a spell to protect their dog, Artemis, a spell for creativity, Brigid. (This, of course, annoys the heck out of Recons, Heathens and Neo-Hellenics.)
Basic Tenets of Wicca
The Wiccan religion is extremely flexible. The tenets of each individual coven is set forth by its leadership and daughter covens may keep those codes of conduct, interpretation of Deity and ritual style or develop new ones. This doesn’t mean, however, that Wicca is a “whatever works” kind of deal, though unfortunately many people who call themselves Wiccan will say it is.
Gerald Gardner originally set forth many very specific rules that most Wiccans today aren’t even aware of. The 161 laws of Wicca may or may not have been written by Gardner himself and are more or less ignored by most solitary Wiccans and most covens today, especially in America, though some still follow them. More familiar is the Wiccan Rede, which exists in many forms, but is summed up by Gardner’s contemporary Doreen Valiente
Organization
Although many Wiccans are solitary, that is, they practice alone, some work in groups known as covens. Covens can be of any number and are usually presided over by a Priestess and/or Priest (Sometimes members take turns filling these roles.). New members are given an initiation and training. There are three degrees or levels of training. Once the third degree has been reached, a Wiccan is then qualified to lead his or her own coven.
Each coven has its own way of operating and its own particulars about how they worship and as each new coven is formed, things change slightly from the way things were done in the mother coven. Thus there are in reality countless forms of Wicca in existence today.
Wiccan Worship
Wiccan worship has many ritual elements. In those circles I have attended, the ceremony began by calling the quarters- standing to each direction in turn and inviting the elemental spirits associated with that direction to join the circle, and then a circle was cast. Generally the ceremony included a purpose or a spell of some sort. The Goddess and/or God was evoked under one or many names and asked for blessing. The simple feast (cakes and ale or bread and wine or cider) was then shared with the group and a bit offered to the God and Goddess, the Gods and spirits dismissed and the circle opened.
Wiccans may worship in the nude, in ceremonial robes or in street clothes. The altar is usually covered with a special cloth reserved for the purpose and decorated with God and Goddess images, seasonal flowers, an athame and a chalice (representing the phallus and the womb) various objects representing the elements and occasionally a wand for directing energy.
The pentacle is the symbol of the Wiccan faith (and others as well) and to Wiccans it represents the five points of the human body and the five elements, earth, air, fire, water and spirit.
This is just an overview, of course. One cannot fully explain any religion, much less one so complicated as Wicca in a brief and admittedly biased outline. I’m not Wiccan but merely a scholar of every religion that will let me learn about it. If you’re interested, you should get your information from the experts!
For more information about Wicca:
Check out Wicca for the Rest of Us (This is absolutely the best website about Wicca I have ever seen. It is clear, concise, dedicated to squashing misconceptions and determinedly fluff-free.)
Of course you need to read, read, read. Read these first. (In order) But please verify the history with other (preferably secular sources) before quoting it to anybody. I recommend The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft
Witchcraft for Tomorrow
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Wicca For Life: The Way of the Craft-From Birth to Summerland
A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook
Witchcraft Today
This article is copywrited Dawn Black, 2007. It may be distributed electronically with this footer intact. Dawn is an up-and-coming Pagan author featured at http://www.sacredhearth.com.
Yule Entertaining
It's that time of year again, when a combination of seasonal days off, inhospitable weather and the prospect of presents calls on us to welcome people into our home- and feed them. Maybe you've got the Yule entertaining bug this year, or maybe it's "your turn", or maybe you're kind of feeling like a freeloader eating everyone else's free food and thought you'd try your hand at it. Or maybe you're like me and just can't get enough of feeding people!
Whether it's your first time, or you're an old pro, holiday entertaining- any kind of entertaining- can be daunting. Even if you're entertaining people you know quite well to your own home, there's always that little bit of stage fright, and (the part my boyfriend dreads) that last minute rush to make sure it's all perfect. You want it to be at least somewhat unique, relaxed and enjoyable- not just for your guests, but for you as well.
Here are some ideas
Have a cookie party
In the days leading up to Yule, host a cookie party for you and your closest friends (or your kids friends moms). This party can take one of two forms. You can have a bake-off, at which everyone brings recipes, you pool your ingredients, and bake like crazy all day, everyone taking home baggies of the finished products. Or you can have a cookie swap. This is much easier on the hostess. Everyone makes several dozen of their favorite cookies and brings them along to trade for other peoples' cookies. Either way, you all end up with lots of cookies to share with family and friends.
Keep snacks simple for this. Finger foods. You don't want people to have to sit down with a plate with all that cookie business going on. You also don't want them to have to wash their hands every five minutes, so keep toothpicks on hand. Some good ideas are raw fruits and vegetables with dip, cheese cubes (crackers inspire the use of fingers, so don't include them) and a pickle tray. Fondu may also have its place here, if you are so inspired!
Host a card party
Pagans notoriously have few choices when it comes to selecting greeting cards for any occasion. Our choices usually range from "what's the least Christian" to "which of these Pagan greeting cards looks least shocking?", so gathering together to create greeting cards to send to friends and family might be something your friends would appreciate. If you have a craft store nearby that has stamping and scrapbooking materials, you could inquire if they have a staff member who would be willing to do a workshop at your home for a reasonable fee. Or you could contact your local Stamping Up representative and see if she is able to help you.
Food for this party should also be simple finger foods, like the cookie party. But it doesn't matter so much if the fingers are dirty, as long as they are dry. Keep napkins on hand and feel free to put out the crackers and chips (preferably baked or fat free so oily fingers don't mess up the cards) and dip.
Host an all night watch
You may be inspired this year to stay up all night and watch the newborn sun emerge over the horizon at dawn and it follows that you may be inspired to share this with some friends. But what to do all those long hours between sunrise and sunset? I'm sure you can think of something. You might consider a movie marathon, and the old geeky/Pagan standbys Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars and don't discount those Christmas classics like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, The Nightmare Before Christmas and various versions of A Christmas Carol (The Muppets is my favorite) just because they got the name wrong!
If movies aren't your thing, maybe you'd rather spend the evening playing games. Cranium is my all-time favorite (and they've got lots of Pagan-friendly trivia) (PS I would like a Cranium Booster Box for Yule this year!) and CatchPhrase is also fun in a big group of course, if you have a Wii, you could bowl, box, or fence the night away.
Alternatively, you may wish to spend the evening doing some traditional campfire activities, especially if you have a fireplace or you can sit around the fire pit without risk of hypothermia. A story circlei (one person starts the story, talks for a designated amount of time and the next person continues it and so on) or a drum circle might be fun, or you can spend the night chanting or singing. You my wish to refer to some of the Books and CDs available or check out http://www.bardicarts.org or http://www.earthspirit.com/mtongue/chtlib/chtlifr.html for some suggestions.
The menu for this gathering can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Since people will be there all night, you might want to provide dinner and breakfast (see recipe suggestions below). And be sure to keep plenty of Cider, Cocoa and Wassail on hand to keep the bellies warm and the whistles wet.
Yule Dinner
For many of us, Yule dinner with family is a traditioni. Here's a vegetarian menu for Yule that's sure to be a hit. Not a vegetarian? Add a turkey or a ham!
Bean Salad
Jerusalem Artichoke Soup (Use miso or vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.)
Crusty French Bread
http://www.sacredhearth.com/recipes/yamsnapples>Maple-Pecan Yams & Apples
Green Bean Casserole
Cran-apple Sauce
Plum Pudding
Yule Breakfast/Brunch
For those of us who haven't abandoned the tradition of Yule morning presents, and for those who enjoy the Yule night watch, breakfast is the most important meal of the Holiday! Try this vegetarian breakfast/brunch this Yule. Not a vegetarian? Cook up some bacon and sausages to go with!
Spinach & Mushroom Quiche
Cinnamon Rolls
Harvest Fruit Salad (Replace the apples with pears in this recipe.)
Apple Dumplings (Replace the blueberries with apples in this recipe)
Feeling lazy? Don't stress yourself out this holiday season. Pick up a ready made quiche, some Pillsbury cinnamon bread dough and you can often get your fruits pre-cubed. The apple dumplings are really easy if you use Bisquick.
Have fun! And a blessed Yule to you and yours!