What is Wicca?
A Basic Primer
Wicca is an earth-based religion, which means that Wiccans revere the earth and focus on the cycle of the year and the cycle of life.
Wicca is a relatively new religion, created by Gerald Gardner (the "Father of Modern Wicca") in the 1940s and '50s, that contains concepts and elements of ancient Paganism. It continually evolves with each new tradition (see below) that is developed, whether by coven or by solitary practitioner.
Wiccans adhere to a specific code of ethics that encompasses these principles:
- Following the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do what you will"
- Heeding the Maxim of Return (the energy you send out returns to you in kind)
- Accepting responsibility for what you do and for what happens to you
- Striving for knowledge and growth
- Creating positive change
- Connecting with divinity
This code is an active guide for daily living as a Wiccan.
Wiccans make use of a blend of traditional and personally meaningful symbols and rituals to connect directly with an experience of divinity. Whether this means casting a circle and invoking patron gods and goddesses, or creating your own unique rituals with found objects or magickal tools of your own making, anything is acceptable as long as it works for you in forging your connection with divinity.
Wiccans are actively involved in an ongoing search for the divine in any and all of its forms. Many of us believe that magic -- energy invested with will and purpose -- can help us commune with divinity and effect change in ourselves and in the world. While we believe that everything is connected, our specific beliefs about deities can and do range all over the map. Aside from monotheism (belief in one god) or atheism (no belief in any form of divinity), Wiccan beliefs run the gamut from pantheism to polytheism, from animism to anthropomorphism* (see definitions below). These beliefs are based on personal experiences and personal connections with divinity. There is no one truth, no one path. You discover your own truth, and your path will change as you grow and change.
As you research Wicca, you will find references to various traditions, which are simply sets of beliefs, symbols and rituals that bind their members together (although a tradition can have only one solitary member). For example, the Gardnerian tradition closely follows the customs first created by Gerald Gardner (the "Father of Modern Wicca") beginning in the 1940s. The Dianic tradition focuses on the female aspect of divinity. Other traditions revere certain pantheons or patron deities, while still others focus on natural magic, home and hearth.
Our tradition, Progressive Eclectic Wicca, uses elements and practices from many other traditions in any combination that works. We encourage individual exploration and experimentation. Where we come together is in our shared code of ethics, our emphasis on life-long spiritual journeying, and our communal search for divine connection.
Wicca is not about ends or conclusions. It is about the journey you take. It is about exploring the depths within your mind and expanding your limits. It is about using your new-found knowledge and strength to create positive change in the world. It is about seeking the divine in the universe and within yourself.
If you'd like to learn more about Wicca, please consider the resources listed below. Remember that each of these expresses the experiences and opinions of its author(s), and is not meant to be taken as absolute truth or dogma.
Suggested Books
Witch Crafting by Phyllis Curott: A lovely, non-dogmatic entree into the "why" of Wicca.
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham: A classic, highly recommended.
Suggested Web Sites
CollegeWicca.com Basic Wicca Files: A conversationally written group of brief essays and FAQ's by a Wiccan college student.
ReligiousTolerance.org Wicca Pages: A series of informational and political articles and essays compiled by a Canadian religious tolerance organization.
* Pantheism - the belief that the universe itself is divine, i.e. worthy of awe and reverence; non-belief in a personal or creator deity.
Polytheism - the belief that there are many gods and goddesses.
Animism - the belief that divine spirit infuses everything in the universe.
Anthropomorphism - the belief that everything in the universe has some level of consciousness or human characteristics; also, the belief in sentient non-human beings such as faeries and demons.