Wiccan FAQ - ?????? PROFIT

******** THIS s**t IS HILARIOUS INNIT

STEP 1: CALL YOURSELF WICCAN	11.7%	[ 259 ]
STEP 2: BUY STRANGE CLOTHES	6.3%	[ 139 ]
STEP 3: WHINE ABOUT HOW OPPRESSED YOU ARE	10.7%	[ 237 ]
STEP 4: ????????	37.7%	[ 836 ]
STEP 5: PROFIT!	33.6%	[ 744 ]
Total Votes:			[ 2215 ]

[Kalyani Srijoi]

Axioma

Four plus aether? Jeez, update your cosmologies, people! It's four elements plus monodimensional strings!

EDIT: What is the elemental weapon of monodimensional strings? The garotte.

rofl

[Chibikerichan]

Kalyani Srijoi

Oh, that'd be nice. I ought to include a section about the elements. I think it'd be particularly good to discuss the origins of those four+aether... ooh, maybe I should do something about the pentacle. Origins if I can find them, and a bit on the idea that satanists 'perveted' the Wicca emblem. rolleyes

There are a lot of little things like that I should add... huh. I wish I had reserved more than two posts. gonk

That's a great idea! I always have problems with corresponding colors and such, because they almost seem arbitrary, unless you have knowledge enough to trace etymologies/idealogies/et al back to somewhere around the beginning. It makes them much easier to remember that way.

I have problems studying symbols by rote memorization.

[Phoenixfire Lune Soleil]

Kalyani Srijoi

Oh, that'd be nice. I ought to include a section about the elements. I think it'd be particularly good to discuss the origins of those four+aether... ooh, maybe I should do something about the pentacle. Origins if I can find them, and a bit on the idea that satanists 'perveted' the Wicca emblem. rolleyes

There are a lot of little things like that I should add... huh. I wish I had reserved more than two posts. gonk

Well I have an article on the origins of various aspects of Wicca if it'll help, but it doesn't go into much detail beyond "This is from the Golden Dawn, not Paganism" lol. Plus there are still some holes and misinformation that need to be edited sweatdrop and a lot I could add to it still

[Nadreth]

Oh, wow - I can't believe I totally forgot about the whole blue flame thing. I've heard that kind of stuff mentioned dozens of times, your right that could be it. Thanks!

Also - (and I'm sorry If this is an entirely stupid question, but I don't know the answer so I'm asking) what is 'aether' I've never heard that term before.

[Darin Rosewood]

Same thing as "ether," also called "Spirit." The fifth element in the 5-element system used in Wicca.

[SullaFelix]

I have a question- maybe this was covered before and I was just bad at paying attention. Considering it is a fertility religion, how do infertile people and homosexuals fit in with this religion? Since the rituals are symbolic I am sure they can perform them, but is it to a purpose relevant to them? Are they simply celebrating fertility in and of itself, even though they cannot make use of it with themselves?

[Starlock]

Kalyani Srijoi

Oh, that'd be nice. I ought to include a section about the elements. I think it'd be particularly good to discuss the origins of those four+aether... ooh, maybe I should do something about the pentacle. Origins if I can find them, and a bit on the idea that satanists 'perveted' the Wicca emblem. rolleyes

There are a lot of little things like that I should add... huh. I wish I had reserved more than two posts. gonk

Well, I don't expect you to take me up on this, but I've researched a considerable amount towards understanding the origins of the four elements. Feel free to PM me if you want me to write up something short and sweet. Most of the current research I have done focuses on the original Greek model, which is, what I figure, you'd want. What I ultimately set about to find out is what the rationalization is behind those bedamned correspondence tables... and where the system got screwed up by modern Pagans. Well, 'screwed up' is perhaps a bit harsh, but some of the correspondences used by modern Pagans and occultists alike do not follow in step with the Greek model.

And why is it people around here state Wicca is a fertility religion? Fertility is definately a strong theme in it, but I'm not sure I'd say that it's a fertility religion and nothing else... sweatdrop Depends slightly too on which brand of Wicca you're talking about, I suppose.

[Kalyani Srijoi]

Starlock

Kalyani Srijoi

Oh, that'd be nice. I ought to include a section about the elements. I think it'd be particularly good to discuss the origins of those four+aether... ooh, maybe I should do something about the pentacle. Origins if I can find them, and a bit on the idea that satanists 'perveted' the Wicca emblem. rolleyes

There are a lot of little things like that I should add... huh. I wish I had reserved more than two posts. gonk

Well, I don't expect you to take me up on this, but I've researched a considerable amount towards understanding the origins of the four elements. Feel free to PM me if you want me to write up something short and sweet. Most of the current research I have done focuses on the original Greek model, which is, what I figure, you'd want. What I ultimately set about to find out is what the rationalization is behind those bedamned correspondence tables... and where the system got screwed up by modern Pagans. Well, 'screwed up' is perhaps a bit harsh, but some of the correspondences used by modern Pagans and occultists alike do not follow in step with the Greek model.

And why is it people around here state Wicca is a fertility religion? Fertility is definately a strong theme in it, but I'm not sure I'd say that it's a fertility religion and nothing else... sweatdrop Depends slightly too on which brand of Wicca you're talking about, I suppose.

Because within Wicca, the power behind fertility is inextricably linked to the powers of magic and life itself?

And I'm quite interested in what you've found, particularly as it pertains to the Greek/Aristotelean model, which I know is the basis for the five-element system.

Felix: Concerning people who are infertile/homosexual - there are no condemnations of such people, and those Wiccans I have met have had absolutely no problem with homosexuality, nor, as far as I know, do they think of infertile people as 'bad' in any way - though I imagine you might come across a homophobic Wiccan if you looked hard enough, since there's no law that says you can't be homophobic.. While fertility is an important aspect of Wicca, there is no condemnation of other forms of sexual expression just as there is no condemnation of other religions inherent in Wicca. Basically, while homosexuality is not included in Wiccan practice, it is not condemned because of this.

The bottom line is that in Wicca, fertility is seen as something that is, as I said, inextricably tied in with the cycle of life and the forces of magic itself. As long as someone is tied to life and magic, then I would say that these rituals are absolutely relevant to them, and it would not be spritually dishonest for either a homosexual or an infertile person to participate.

Nadreth - As far as 'aether' goes, you may have heard it refered to as 'spirit,' which is more common among neopagans. You may also have seen it spelled 'ether' or maybe even called 'akasha.' Aether was defined by Aristotle as the Fifth Element, or the quinta essentia. Have you ever heard the word 'quintessence'? That comes from quinta essentia. It was supposed to be the matter that existed above the 'terrestrial sphere,' which is basically what was thought of as the atmosphere. It was the stuff beyond the earth, beyond even the air - it was sort of this pure, perfect essence that the gods existed in.

[SullaFelix]

Kalyani Srijoi

The bottom line is that in Wicca, fertility is seen as something that is, as I said, inextricably tied in with the cycle of life and the forces of magic itself. As long as someone is tied to life and magic, then I would say that these rituals are absolutely relevant to them,

Ahh, that's what I think I was looking for. Thank you. 3nodding

[hubbydirty]

witches rise

[A Soporific]

hubbydirty

witches rise

Care to explain that?

[Nattfodd]

A Soporific

hubbydirty

witches rise

Care to explain that?

I took it as a 'unity' sort of statement.

[Starlock]

Kalyani Srijoi

Starlock

And why is it people around here state Wicca is a fertility religion? Fertility is definately a strong theme in it, but I'm not sure I'd say that it's a fertility religion and nothing else... sweatdrop Depends slightly too on which brand of Wicca you're talking about, I suppose.

Because within Wicca, the power behind fertility is inextricably linked to the powers of magic and life itself?

The bottom line is that in Wicca, fertility is seen as something that is, as I said, inextricably tied in with the cycle of life and the forces of magic itself. As long as someone is tied to life and magic, then I would say that these rituals are absolutely relevant to them, and it would not be spritually dishonest for either a homosexual or an infertile person to participate.

I think describing Wicca as a fertility religion strikes me off because if I were to describe Wicca in as few words as possible, fertility would not be one of the words included. Wicca also, or so it appears, places a rather strong emphasis on death as well (as their highest holy day is Samhain, celebrating dead ancestors) so could it also be dubbed a death religion? Heh. xd Anyway, if I had to describe Wicca in as few words as possible I'd probably just say Wicca is a ditheistic Nature-based religion, the main idea behind Nature-based being inclusive of the idea of fertility, death, and the natural cycles all things pass through. Just a thought. whee

[TeaDidikai]

Small point of fact on the first page that might need to be updated:

Homosexuality was the primary reason Alex split from Gardner's coven and when on to form the Alexandrian sect if I recall correctly. The religion was anti-homosexual initially, but sects have been created with legit lineage and changed this policy from inside the theology.

Celeblin Galadeneryn

It appears that Tea will not make first page on this one either. Oh well.

And it's a damn shame. This is what I get for slacking.

Most of the good stuff was shot by the time I got to this.

A Soporific

hubbydirty

witches rise

Care to explain that?

Silly Soporific, as a Christian, you should know Witches Float. 3nodding
How else are you going to fish them out of the pond to burn them at the stake? twisted

On to the only interesting point I have:

killers_are_quiet_666

I spell magik with a "k" to seperate magik from stage magik, Real from fake.

Historically, we know that pagan priests from the Hellenic and Egyptian cultures used mechanical devices to perform "miracles", that were designed to inspire awe in the hearts of their followers.

These are largely documented in the works of Heron of Alexandria, and were designed to cause ritual swords to pass through the neck of a drinking stone statue, for other statues to move and dance and for doors to open.

The idea that illusion and pagan magic have a restraining order against one another is one that I find absurd.

Yasmine Galenorn (while not Wiccan) has some amazing things to say about pagan ritual involving invocation. She suggests that there is a difference between Deep Play and Dramatic Play. Her terms ascribe inspired spiritual gnosis and the actions that arise from such as Deep Play, the psychodramatic dimension of the role of a leader of ritual. Dramatic Play is considered to be the base element of drama that people bring in with them- and it is the fuel that Mr. Darks thrive on. Dramatic Play is the sudden scream of an Attention Whore as she collapses to the ground saying she is being ******** by the Horned Lord when this is quite clearly not the case.

Deep Play has room for theatrics. The communal spiritual experience has room for flash powder, and illusions- and the fact that we know how they work makes them no less magical than the chalice on the alter or the wand in the hand. They still benefit those who came to worship by creating the same feelings in them that they inspired in the Greeks and Egyptians.