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What is Wicca? -

Wicca has roots in Paganism, drawing on pre-Christian beliefs and rituals. Followers worship nature and practice witchcraft.

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Druidism -

Wicca shares some commonalities with Druidis, especially in its environmental aspects. 

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Duotheistic -

Many Wiccans are duotheistic and worship both a female goddess and a male god. These are sometimes referred to as a Mother Goddess and a Horned God.

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The Wheel of the Year -

Wiccans celebrate eight Sabbats, which are festivals celebrating solstices, equinoxes, and the mid-point between them.

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Nature -

Wiccans believe nature is sacred and view ecosystems as living manifestations of their deities. Nature's cycles are celebrated through rituals and festivals.

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Esbats -

Esbats are held once per month on the night of a full moon or new moon. Esbats are a time for formal worship, similar to Sundays for Christians or Friday nights for Jewish people. 

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The Wiccan Rede -

Wiccans believe a full moon to be the peak of lunar energy, making it an ideal time to perform rituals, spells, and divination. However, Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, which advises against causing harm.

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Margaret Murray -

The rituals of modern Wiccan practice began with Margaret Murray. She wrote books on medieval religion centered around witch cults, including 'The Witch-Cult in Western Europe,' published in 1921, which inspired British people to create their own covens.

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Gerald Garner -

Gerald Garner, often called the "Father of Wicca," devoted himself to promoting the religion. He was initiated into the New Forest coven in 1939 and published some of his experiences in his books 'Witchcraft Today' and 'The Meaning of Witchcraft.'

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The Book of Shadows -

Gerald Garner was allegedly introduced to a Book of Shadows by members of his Bricket Wood coven. A Book of Shadows contains instructions for rituals, spells, or notes on experiences and practices.

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Aleister Crowley -

Aleister Crowley was a British occultist who lived from 1875 to 1947. He wrote extensively on topics like magick, mysticism, and spirituality. Gerald Garner took great inspiration from Crowley's rituals.

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Alex Sanders -

Alex Sanders founded Alexandrian Wicca in the 1960s. Alexandrian Wicca is based on gender polarity and believes rituals should be carried out with a High Priest and Priestess.

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Sybil Leek -

Sybil Leek helped to popularize Wicca in America. She was involved with the New Forest Coven in the late 1940s.

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Dianic Wicca -

In the 1970s and 1980s, feminism strongly influenced Wicca. In 1971, Zsuzsanna Budapest started Dianic Wicca which was a form of matriarchal lunar worship.

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Ritual structure -

Wiccans typically follow a structure that includes casting a circle, invoking deities, performing the ritual, and then closing the circle.

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The Rule of Three -

Many Wiccans believe in the Rule of Three. This rule states that whatever energy (good or bad) a person puts out into the world, will be returned to that person three times.

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Alter -

A Wiccan altar is a place for worship or prayer. Symbolic or functional items are placed on the altar to worship the God and Goddess, cast spells, and say prayers.

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Ritual tools -

Common Wicca ritual tools include the athame (ritual knife), wand, pentacle, chalice, and cauldron.

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Sacred space -

Wiccans often create a sacred space in their home for conducting rituals and to honor their deities. 

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Initiation -

Wicca often involves a process of initiation into a coven. If you wish to practice alone, you can self-initiate by making a commitment to following a Wiccan path.

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Divination -

Wiccans may also use divination practices like tarot reading, scrying, and astrology to gain insight and guidance.

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Eclecticism -

Eclectic Wiccans incorporate elements from various spiritual and magical traditions, creating a personalized practice.

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Covens -

A coven is a group or meeting of Wiccans or witches. They typically gather to perform rituals or celebrate festivals. 

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Solitary practice -

Some Wiccans prefer to practice alone rather than joining a coven. The advantages of solitary practice include setting your own schedule and working at your own pace.

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Animal familiars -

A familiar is a spiritual guide or protector that takes the form of an animal and frequently acts as a companion to Wiccans and Witches. 

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Healing -

Wiccan practices often incorporate herbalism, energy healing, and other forms of holistic health.

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Legal status -

Since 1986, Wicca has been recognized as an official religion in the United States. While it is difficult to provide exact numbers, sources report anywhere between 300,000 and three million practitioners in the US.

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Public perception -

Wicca has often been misunderstood and is wrongly connected with Satanism, despite having no acknowledgment or concept of the devil.

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Wicca today -

In 2020, less than half of Americans belonged to an organized religion, with some favoring alternative forms of spirituality. In the last decade, social media has fueled an interest in Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft.

Sources: (History) (National Geographic) (BBC)

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