Even though Wicca is probably the most well-known Pagan religion, it's still probably one of the most misunderstood. Let’s take a quick look at Wicca and some adjectives that describe it well.
Wicca is a Modern Pagan Religion
Some believe Wicca to be an ancient religion of Witches, but it’s actually more of a reinvention of Witchcraft as a Pagan religion. Wicca was actually developed primarily by Gerald Gardner in the 1940s. It draws from sources that are ancient as well as those that are modern.
The original branch of Wicca, British Traditional Witchcraft (BTW), has always been and remains an outbound, initiatory mystery religion. Eclectic Wicca, sometimes called Neo-Wicca, branched out of BTW and outgrew it. Eclectics follow the outer court teachings, and many practice as solitaries or without a coven.
Wicca is a Polytheistic, Panentheistic Fertility Religion
Wicca was developed to be a theistic religion which honors Pagan Gods; some of Wicca’s most sacred rites, traditions, and practices revolve around the interplay between male and female deity. It is the union of these deities that Wiccans see as representing the generative force in nature from which all life bursts. With this, Wiccans hold a deep reverence and respect toward nature.
Traditionally Wiccans are polytheists-- either “hard polys,” in which each God or Goddess is seen as a distinct entity, or “soft polys,” in which various Gods or Goddesses are seen as different aspects of a divine being. Wiccans are also panentheistic, meaning the divine is seen as immanent within all of nature.
Wicca is a Ceremonial Religion
Wicca isn't Ceremonial Magic, but it was highly influenced by Ceremonial Magic and many elements of Wiccan ritual have been derived from it. Wiccans use tools, formal rites, and rituals all in worship and magical practices. This involves circle casting or creating sacred space, deity invocations, employing the classical Elements, and the Great Rite, or sexual union, usually symbolized by inserting a blade into a chalice. Rituals are called “esbats,” which revolve around the cycles of the moon, or “sabbats,” which revolve around the agricultural cycle.
Wicca is an Ethical Religion
With no scripture, morality is generally seen as relative rather than absolute. Taking responsibility for yourself, considering consequences of one’s words and actions, and how they affect others, respecting the rights of others, and finding a healthy balance are concepts around which ethical behavior revolves. Some liturgy looked up to for guidance include the Threefold Law (or the Law of Return), the Wiccan Rede which says, “If it harms none, do what you will,” and the Charge of the Goddess.
Wicca is a religion of orthopraxy—from the Greek orthos + praxis, meaning “correct action.” Wicca emphasizes action rather than faith. As such, there is no divine punishment for what one believes or thinks.
Wicca
By Sage
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