[ Poll ] Wiccans on Gaia

How do you feel about Wiccans and Witches?

I am a Wiccan/Witch		32.7%	[ 1792 ]
I respect their beliefs		38.2%	[ 2096 ]
I'm not sure about them		5.2%	[ 286 ]
I don't know much about them		14.6%	[ 801 ]
I do not respect their beliefs		3.6%	[ 197 ]
I am strongly against them		5.7%	[ 310 ]

Total Votes: 5482

[Briar Rosethorn]

--------------------

Introduction
Merry Meet!

I just thought it would be interesting to start a thread where Wiccans and Witches on gaia can just come together and chat about their faith and even just chat about general topics.

I'm a solitary Witch and have been for three years. It's difficult for me to find other Wiccans and Witches in my area to talk to and connect with so I thought I would create a place on gaia where I could do that.

Even though this thread is largely Wiccan-based, everyone is welcome to take part in our discussions (which may not even be religion-based) as long as they are courteous and respectful towards everyone.

--------------------


Rules
1. This is a PG thread. That's right, people. Absolurely nothing vulgar in here which includes both language and images.
2. Discrimination will not be tolerated. If you are only here to destroy the faith and beliefs of others, then you may as well leave, because there is no room for intolerance here.
3. All people of all religions are welcome here, not just Wiccans. Even though this thread is mainly for Wiccans and Witches on gaia, it would be wrong to exclude anyone else who wants to contribute positively to our discussions.
4. This is a supportive environment. We encourage, comfort and strengthen one another here.
5. Please don't be intimidated to ask questions if you are curious about some of the beliefs and practises of Wiccans. As long as your questions are honest and respectful, we won't get offended.
6. Under no circumstance will swaying people to change their faith be accepted. No one is trying to discourage you from believing what you want. Freedom of religion is a wonderful thing and will never be ignored here.
7. Please no bumping or spamming. If you are not here to contribute intelligently to this thread, then do not bother making a post. There are plenty of bump threads in the Chatterbox forum for that, thank you.

--------------------

Wall of Shame
This is where people who have violated the rules and been reported to a moderator will go.
- FlipKing1
- Daimyo Shimazu
- inuasha_x

--------------------

Wall of Honour
This is where people of any religion who I feel are excellent role models to this thread will go.
- ArcaneVision
- Vampire Princess Akasha
- Deathscythe Hell
- Sanguina-chan

--------------------

Well, that's everything important out of the way. Abide by the rules and have fun.

Blessed Be!

[IgnoreThisPerson]

Ok, you seem nice so i'll try get the ball rolling, im not Wiccan, i dont bind myself to any religion, i enjoy the freedom of being able to think and act how i feel is needed.

But, please can you explain what the believes/practices of the average wiccan?

[Briar Rosethorn]

Of course. biggrin

To put it simply, Wicca is a nature-based religion focusing on the patterns and cycles in Nature.

Almost every Wiccan observes the lunar cycles and the changing of the seasons and celebrates them as aspects of the Divine.

As for Deity, Wiccans believe that the All Being is whatever we perceive of it. We believe that Deity can take whatever form or shape is necessary to connect with every living thing.

Deity can be the Christian God, and Jesus and Mary, and Hecate and Bastet etc. It is all the same Being, just in a different perception. Therefore, Wiccans draw the conclusionthat there is no one true or right religion because the All Being can be perceived in any way we imagine.

[That one perv O_O]

I do not wish to share with you whether i am wiccan or not for i fear the consequences.But i will gladly stay and chat smile

[Vertigo_Kiwi]

I'm a Kemetic Pagan, basically I honor the Ancient Egyptian gods. I have to say I'm a little ticked off about those "wiccans" who decide to honor a god without researching them. For instance, Egyptian gods have many purity requirements and foods/items you are NOT supposed to offer them. How many take the time to research that?

[IgnoreThisPerson]

Proud_Witch

Almost every Wiccan observes the lunar cycles and the changing of the seasons and celebrates them as aspects of the Divine.

Hmm thanks for elaboration 3nodding but now you've thrown me again, im always willing to learn, but why would the lunar cycles be taken as divine?



Off on a tangent here; If you observe the pattens in nature then you do see how out of place humans are on this planet?

[Briar Rosethorn]

Well, Kiwi you do bring up a good point. However, from experience I know how difficult it can be to find accurate information on various Deities and for people who are just starting to learn about Wicca, it can be a very daunting task. I do agree that if you plan on asking a specific Deity to join you in a ritual or worship, you should do your background research so as not to offend them or put yourself in danger.

Ummm... I'm not sure if I should call you by your username, lol but I respect your wishes and that's great that you'd like to stay and chat with us.

[Briar Rosethorn]

Quote:

Hmm thanks for elaboration 3nodding but now you've thrown me again, im always willing to learn, but why would the lunar cycles be taken as divine?



Off on a tangent here; If oyu observe the pattens in nature then you do see how out of place humans are on this planet?

Well, since the female aspect of Divinity is associated with the lunar cycles then many Wiccans would agree that the lunar cycles are Divine. Personally, I think the spirituality behind it is Divine and that something Divine controls the cycle but I don't necessarily think that the cycle itself is divine.

Actually, I think that naturally, humans are in balance with the rest of the natural world however in our advancements, we have become more and more distant from the natural world and have cut ourselves off from our original place within the cycle. Modern day Wiccans seek to re-connect themselves with Nature and bring back that balance.

[IgnoreThisPerson]

But as animals we have no balance to our surroundings, we develop no equilibrium, maybe the idea that we are more than animals seems to be a somewhat reasonable explanation.
Maybe we should stop viewing ourselfs as something greater?

Ok i could of guessed about the female aspect of it, but still i like to hear it as fact. Ok, so now i get it, but as far as the idea of a divine presence being behind it seems, to me a little old fashioned, im not saying that science and religion cant co exist, im just saying it seems a little outdated with most people putting their fingers in there ear going 'LA LA LA CANT HEAR YOU!'
or at least thats how it seems to me =

[Briar Rosethorn]

Well, today I read something interesting by Saint Thomas Aquinas. He tries to prove the existence of Deity. One of his proofs was that since nothing can create life on its own, nothing can come into existence from nothing, then a seperate Being must have created it. It kind of supports my belief that there is something controlling all these cycles and patterns in Nature that are so structured it seems impossible that they came into existence at random.

I agree with the fact that in order to truly be one with the patterns and cycles of Nature, we have to stop thinking of ourselves as greater beings than animals and plants. We are just another link in the chain.

(I'm really enjoying this discussion, by the way wink .)

[slanderous4G]

My best friend is a wiccan.

[IgnoreThisPerson]

Dosn't that beg the question how the separate being came to be?If nothing can create life on its own then how did it become to exist? Im not an evolutionist but i'll fall back on the theory for debatings sake, Survival of the fittest? every animal seems to have some natural advantage over each other, isnt it possible they grew to adapt to it, for the lesser animal to survive it'd need to develop patterns & structure to deal with it, after all evolution dosnt happen in a day.

(Thanks, i like the challenge of learning, but while making it difficult for myself.. i could never sit back nodding blankly to every statement said. whee

[Lenne-Chana]

yay wiccans!

i love a wiccan

named christian ruiz

biggrin

[Briar Rosethorn]

Ah, see now that's a serious question! (Can you tell I'm loving this, lol?)

Well, in saying that life cannot spring from nothing so therefore, there cannot be a Deity that created us because nothing created It, makes the assumption that Deity is alive in the way we perceive being alive. Now, this is falling more towards theology rather than philosophy, but perhaps Deity is not alive in the way we know life.

After all, we know that matter cannot just randomly come into existence. Therefore, something must have made us come into existence along with the universe. We also know that this something must be a higher entity than ourselves and our understanding, because it is so "unknowable" so to speak and if we are to assume that it created us withouthaving its own creator, it must be a higher entity because it seems to defy our understanding of what it means to be alive.

That's a very theological argument, based more upon faith but I think it does have valid points.

EDIT:

Quote:

I have heard that in order to be a true Wiccan, that one has to be initiated, so I guess I'm classified as Neo-Wiccan, because I am a solitary and have not been initiated. I've been studying on and off for 7 years now.

That isn't true. In fact, the first Pagans were Solitary. Some of the greatest Witches in history were solitary. Covens didn't come into existence until the Renessance when the Catholic Church was persecuting Pagans and Wtches created supportive groups where they could gather and worship in secret and safety.

Your studies are just as valid as those done by a coven witch. wink