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 Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:17 pm
Introduction to Wicca
The purpose of this guide is to educate people on what it is to be a Wiccan. This guide is to dispel any misconceptions on what is or what isn't Wiccan. This guide is not to whatsoever steer people away from Paganism. But to realize that they were believing in common misconceptions brought on by various writers. Those who will read this, will understand that what they thought was a mere misconception and will take steps to becoming a Wiccan or will embrace being an Eclectic Pagan and realize that having a fancy title isn't necessary to worshiping their deities and performing rituals.
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Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:32 pm
Wicca and it's Creator
Wicca was created in 1954 by a man of the name of Gerald Gardener. Gardener was initiated into the New Forest Coven however the existence of this coven is up in the air, we don't know if it actually existed, he claimed that it was apart of the Old Religion. Unfortunately, he did the most undesirable thing and had Margret Murray write the forward the forward to his book Witchcraft Today. Murray's theory of Wicca being the Old Religion has been debunked in recent years however there are still people that believe it today.
Gardener took from many of the old religions, the Golden Dawn and commissioned Alestier Crowley to help, along with many Masonic Rituals. However that doesn't make Wicca an old religion. It is a fairly new one, only 50 years old.
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Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:45 pm
What Wicca is Really About
Wicca is not in any way shape or form, an earth based religion. Yes Wiccans do believe in a Moon Goddess but it is not Earth based. Wicca is a fertility cult. Because it is a fertility cult, many of the rituals are based on sexual encounters, this includes the initiation rites. Because of it's sexual nature, those wishing to become Wiccan, must be 18 or 21 and be considered what is known as a Proper Person.
Wicca is not polytheistic nor is feminine based. Wicca is a ditheistic as they worship in the Lord and Lady of the Isles. Wiccans do not favor the Lady nor do they favor the God. Wiccans believe in both the Lord and Lady equally.
Wicca is not a belief system. It is a practice. Thus why many people describe it as a orthopraxy. It doesn't matter what you believe but it's how you practice it. Wicca is not like Christianity, as Christianity is an orthodoxy, which means that to that religion your beliefs matter versus how you practice.
Wicca is an oathbound religion. A good majority of the religion is bound by oaths. No one may know the rituals, or the names of the Lord and Lady. Whosoever breaks the oaths will invoke the Curse of the Goddess
The initation ritual introduces one formally to the Lord and Lady. It is when you learn the name of the Lord and Lady. In order to prove that you are indeed of the Wicca, you must be able to trace your initiation lineage all the way back to Gardener. The initiation ritual provides a proper context of the mysteries.
As many have claimed the Wiccan Rede isn't the end all be all rule of Wicca. It is merely advice, a Wiccan doesn't have to follow it if they don't want too. However the Adranes are closer to being the Laws of Wicca and therefore must be followed.
Wicca is a mystery cult. Much of what Wicca is about, including the Inner Court rituals are oathbound. The names of the Lord and Lady are oathbound. In order to be of the Wicca you must be initiated. The Mysteries of the Wicca are experiential and therefore cannot be read out of a book
Valid Traditions of the Wicca:
-Gardenian
-Alexandrian
-Moshian
-Central Valley
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Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 3:08 pm
The Neo-Wiccan Movement
Neo-Wicca is a new movement of the Wicca. However it is not accepted by many Trad Wiccans, and those in support of the Trad Wicca. Many of them consider Wicca to be a new religion that does not need a new movement. This is because they see Wicca as a religion being 50 years old or so. However if any of us has learned about religions and the age of religions, 50 years is not new or ancient. If something is 50 years then by all means, it is old. But not old in the sense that we describe Hinduism or Judaism. Christianity is a fairly new religion compared to Hinduism however at the same time it is fairly old, being only 2000 years.
Neo-Wicca is a system based on the outer court teachings of the Wicca. However it strays from the Traditional Wicca. However other forms of Norse, Egyptian, and other pantheons. Unfortunately, that isn't Wicca but Eclectic Paganism.
Neo-Wiccans do follow the Wiccan Rede, however many of them know that the Rede are just basic guidelines to be followed. Those who follow them too strictly are what are known as fluffies. They also follow the three-fold path. which is a watered down form of karma. As stated before, anyone taking this to an extreme is a fluffy.
Neo-Wiccans also believe in reincarnation. Basically it's when the soul is reborn into a new body or it's a rest stop after death, which is called the Summerlands.
Neo-Wiccans believe in what is known as the Ultimate Divine, that is split into two beings, the Lord and Lady The Horned God and the Mother Goddess. Most Neo-Wiccans believe in the Triple Goddess which is mother maiden or crone. Either generically or within certain mythologies.
Neo-Wiccans do have their covens and do have initiation rituals of some sort but they aren't Trad Wiccan. Solitary Neo-Wiccans don't neccessarily have to be initiated but they do have self-dedication ritual. It is like initiation, however the Neo-Wiccan dedicates themselves to that they have clearly defined for themselves and dedicate themselves to whatever deities they are honoring. Self-dedication should be accepted and respected by all others. It should also be seen as valid and should not be scorned. However if someone is claiming that they are self-dedicated, you can be sure that the Gods and Goddesses are more than likely laughing because they are fluffy.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:33 pm
Trad Wicca vs Neo-Wicca
Now in the Gaia there is much debate over who is Wicca and who isn't. Trad Wiccans and Trad Wiccan supporters alike will say that in order to be a Wiccan you must be 18 and initiated in a coven. They also say that you must be able to trace your initiate lineage back to Gardener.
However there are Neo-Wiccans, that do belong to covens and/or do perform the outer court rituals of Wicca. There are Solitary Neo-Wiccans who have self-dedicated rituals that are valid.
Neo-Wiccans know that what they believe isn't fluffy by a long shot. They study and learn the history of Wicca and understand that it's not BTW by a long shot. However it does get severly marred by the uprising of the fkuff.
Because of this, Trad Wiccans and Trad Wiccan supporters alike feel the need to call anyone who is not of the Trad Wica, fluffy bunnies. This includes Neo-Wiccans.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:39 am
Q&A
Questions and answers will go here.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:48 am
Conclusion
In conclusion, Wicca is not something you can simply learn from books, nor is it something you learn from Silver Ravenwolf. Much of Silver Ravenwolf's books misconstrues what Wicca truly is. Along with much of Paganism.
It would be wise to seek Traditional Wiccan covens, join mailing lists, look up information, and do as much research as you can.
Beware of fluffy material and fluffy bunnies.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 12:04 pm
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