The Wicca Religion: Worship of the Goddess
The type of Wicca introduced in this paper is one where one looks to the Goddess and nature for enlightenment and the ability to have some “magickal” control on the environment and things around them. This paper will look at the aspects of Wicca from ritual ceremonies to the environment in which Wicca is practiced. According to Fisher (2005), “Wicca can be partly traced to the writing of Gerald Gardner in England in the 1940s.” Though after experiencing this practice and talking to those who practice Wicca, this religion seems to be one with much deeper roots. Wicca to a Wiccan or witch as they are commonly referred is something that has always been. Wicca is not new, it just “is”. Wicca practitioners believe that every human has the ability to manipulate the environment in which we live if one learns the art of magick. Delving into this religion for research can be an interesting journey and a journey of enlightenment.
Overview of the Religion of Wicca
Fisher (2005) refers to Wicca as a Neo-pagan religion, or new religion, though Wicca has been around in one form or another throughout the centuries. Essentially, the worship of nature, the worship of Gods or Goddesses, and the Druidic beliefs are some forms of Wicca. Wicca is normally considered in the classification of indigenous religions, but has emerged anew in today’s society. According to the Religious Tolerance (2006) web site from a Chicago Tribune report, Wicca is the fast growing religion in the world and is estimated to double in size about every 18 months. This site also tells us that if these rates are accurate and Wiccan continues this growth, it will be the third largest religion in the United States by about 2012, with only Christianity and Judaism having more followers.
Herne (2006) tells us that Wicca is a religion that draws on the old customs of Witchcraft. Herne (2006) goes on to say that, “Wicca is a recognized religion, while Witchcraft itself is not considered a religion.” Wicca is religion that is full of peace, harmony, and balanced thinking and a balanced life which upholds the idea of oneness with the divine and all which exists, according to Herne (2006). Herne (2006) also believes that the origins of Wicca can be traced back to the Paleolithic people and their worship of a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess, as depicted in ancient cave paintings. This would make Wicca or Witchcraft one of the oldest belief systems in the world, according to Herne (2006), predating Christianity by about 28,000 years.
The Religious Tolerance (2006) website, tells us that though Wicca beliefs differ, most Wiccans or Witches think of “The One” or “The All” as the creative force that exists in the universe. Also, according to this site, the Goddess and the God are female and male representations of The One or The All, and in turn the Goddess and the God are represented by various other Pagan Gods and Goddesses, such as Athena, Pan, Diana, Odin, Zeus and many other numerous deities. Wicca is essentially a monotheistic religion because even though Wiccans or Witches my worship different deities on different occasions they are all believed to be only aspects of The One. The Religious Tolerance (2006) web site also informs us that Wiccans have no mystical incarnation that could be likened to the Lucifer of the Christians and Muslims.
An interesting point brought up by the Religious Tolerance (2006) website, it that Wiccans feel that human sexuality is something to be valued, and engaged with joy and responsibility and without [magickal] manipulation. “Wiccans generally accept the findings of human sexuality researchers that there are three normal, natural and not chosen sexual orientations: heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality” (Religious Tolerance, 2006). The rule of three is something this author has came across on numerous occasions while researching this subject. Wiccans or Witches believe that anything they do comes back three folds, which may be likened intensified karma. According to the Religious Tolerance (2006) web site, this belief is a motivator to practitioners of the Wicca religion to steer clear of any attempt to dominate, manipulate, control, or harm another person. Wiccans are often looked at by other religions as Devil worshipers but nothing could be farther from the truth. They are gentle, normal, and caring people. Their love for nature also makes Wiccans ecologically friendly when they practice their religion, normally out-doors.
Religious Ceremonial Site Visit
Those who practice Wicca, normally due so in secluded groves in forests that surround their towns, in order to be close to nature and escape persecution from those who do not understand or believe in Wicca or Witchcraft. The author of this paper was blindfolded and lead to the sacred ritual location in order to keep its whereabouts secret and to allow the coven, or group of Witches, see that they were trusted, while hopefully gaining some trust. After about a thirty minute ride in a vehicle, the author was led by the coven into what seemed to be a forest, and after the blindfold was removed it was obvious that this spot was in a grove in one of the forest that is around town. It was also obvious that this was a sacred place and had been used many times before for rituals like those that were going to be performed on this night.
As the sun faded the coven started chanting and the one that was called the high-priestess was given a stick by three others in the coven, she quickly bound these together and placed something on the end and lit it. She lit five other torches that had previously been placed in the ground then lit a fire in the middle of the circle. At this point it was realized that the torches were at each point of a pentagram that had been laid out of rocks. The author was told that on this night the ritual was to give thanks to the Goddess for brining the coven an interested spectator.
Each of the Wiccans, touched herbs of some type to the head of the author, while ritualistically chanting, “Blessed Be to the one who comes to see”, and then throwing said herbs into the center fire. It was a very peaceful feeling in this Wiccan spot of spirituality and one that the author would like to experience again. The author did not feel threatened by these people or uncomfortable in any way. Candles were then lit of various colors and more chanting and ritualistic dancing occurred, though much of the chanting was not understandable and perhaps was not meant for the ears of the author, but for the ears of the Goddess. The night ended with a wonderful glass of “blessed” wine and the author was blindfolded and returned to the house of a friend, hoping to return for another ritual in the near future.
Interview with a Witch
The author of this paper interviewed a Wiccan or Witch as she called herself, named M. Henderson (the first name was left off intentionally). When asked how long she had practiced the religion of Wicca, Henderson (2005) responded, “A little over 10-years.” The author then moved on to ask if Henderson believed in one deity or many. Henderson (2006) responded, “That she worshipped many different aspects of The One, and that The One was everywhere and in everything at all times.”
Henderson allowed the author to look through her Book of Shadows, but much of it was written with symbols unfamiliar to the author. When asked about this Henderson (2006) responded, “Much of it is written with the Wiccan or Theban alphabet in order to keep those without the knowledge of our practice from reading what is in our personal Book of Shadows.” Henderson (2006) also stated that much of it was just spells, recipes, and rituals that she performed and left it at that. This interview was completed after the visit to the ritual site, so the author would like to point out that a spiritual bond was felt during this ritual. Henderson (2006) said, “I always feel the presence of the Goddess when performing my rituals, it is like a small amount of electricity running through your body.” This feeling was the same one the author could feel during the ritual. Henderson (2006), when asked about the afterlife, responded, “I believe in reincarnation and am in touch with some of my past lives, though prefer not to discuss them to be written down in a research paper.”
Henderson (2006) also told of the herbs that were used and that they each have different powers associated with them. Some, according to Henderson (2006), are used in healing, others are used to bless a person, animal, or object, and others are to enhance ones psychic ability. There are many herbs with to many uses to list in one paper, but this is something the author hopes to research more in the future.
Hindu and Wicca: A Comparative Evaluation
These religions share many similarities. Such as multiple deities that are simply different aspects of a divine “One”. Both religions from the author’s studies also believe in reincarnation, though Hindus, according to Fisher (2005), believe they eventually achieve liberation from this and strive to accomplish this liberation. Wiccans on the other hand rejoice in this reincarnation and are happy to continue the cycle of life they are blessed with by “The One”, not seeking liberation from this type of existence. An interesting way of looking at the religion of Wicca was found by the author on the internet, where Wicca is likened to a vehicle made of many components. “The same is true about Wicca. It has a Hindu engine, an Egyptian torque converter and a Celtic transmission” (tSaoir & O’Laoghaire, n.d.).
Conclusion
The Wicca religion is one of the fastest growing in the United States and the rest of the world. This religion is one of peace and Wiccans do not believe in anything like Satan or the Devil. Many of the rituals practiced by the Wicca are performed in nature and herbs and chanting is part of these rituals. These rituals are used for blessings, manipulation of ones environment, and other reasons. Wiccans believe in a form of intensified karma, where if one does good, they will receive it back three times and if one does bad, they will also receive it back three times. This gives the Wiccans a moral obligation to do good or to pay the price. Wicca is similar to Hinduism, but also has many differences. This is a religion that the author will definitely do more research on in the near future.
This fascinating religion is one that is filled with respect for nature. They ask of nature for the items used to perform there rituals. The Wiccans that the author had the opportunity to meet were kind and compassionate about explaining their religion to the author. They did not try to force there religion on the author, but instead tried to bring understanding. The opportunity to actually get to watch and participate in their ritual is one that will not soon be forgotten, and one the author of this paper would like to have the opportunity to experience again. If others were willing to take an interest in a religion other than there own, not to change religion, only to understand them, tolerance among different religions would be greatly increased.
