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 Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:12 pm
What Wicca REALLY Is First, a brief list the properties of Wicca:
Orthopraxic
Right practice not right belief. This means that to be a member you must practice the rites and rituals of the religion. Simple belief isn't enough.
Initiatory
You need to be initiated by a coven. If you are not initiated you cannot be taught the secrets of their religion and practice.
Lineaged
You need to be able to trace your initiatory path directly to Gardner.
Oathbound
You need to swear certain oaths. Many of these oaths forbid members from sharing details about Wicca with outsiders.
Mystery religion
You need to know certain things which cannot be conveyed textually but only experimentally and only under guidance.
Witchcult
What it says on the tin. Every Wiccan is a witch.
Priesthood
Every Wiccan is both a witch and a priest or priestess
.
Service of a very specific God and a very specific Goddess who reveal themselves through the mysteries of Wicca.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:27 pm
As said by Scorplett (a verified Wiccan High-Priestess):
So what makes Wicca Wicca as opposed to Neopagan Witchcraft of another tradition or flavour?
In order to understand that, first we need a brief look at the real history. Vince already mentioned the best sources for this. Ronald Hutton, the worlds leading expert in the history of pagan and neopagan practices of Britain. Of course the work of Gardner is also essential reading here too, as Mule pointed out.
There are many beliefs concerning the origins of Wicca most of which are wrong. The provable facts are not hard to find and understand so long as you are willing to ignore self serving repition and objectively look at things. I believe this to be one reason why the greatest scholar on the subject is not even Pagan, let alone Wiccan. Objectivity is important here.
So some facts:
Gerald Gardner was the first person to write about a modern European based Witchcult. He named the members 'the Wica'.
The Word Wicca/Wicce and as Gardner spelled it in his public works, Wica, did not exist in the modern English Language until he wrote about it. It never before, not even in other languages such as Middle English and the earliest published record of the word in the Laws of Aelfred and Ine c. 893 AD, was used to denote or describe a religion of any description. The original context of the word was a derogatory one that was pronounced in such a way as sounded much like the modern word Witch. However, it specifically referred to those who used herb lore and chants. Neither of these things denote a religion and it is most likely Aelfred was referring to people who practiced skills unrelated to any religion and who were in fact Christians.
Not only was Gardner the first to use the word in any way relevant to a religious practice, but he also is known to have actually constructed the religion.
A commonly popular pursuit in Victorian times, was the study of the Occult. There were the developing 'Western Mystery Traditions'. The developing of the study of historical culture and development now known as anthropology was beginning also. With these sources informing him, and believing the older pagan ways of the Witch to be largely lost, Gardner set about 'filling in the blanks'. As such Gardner and his High Priestess Doreen Valiente, (1922 - 1999) and others, took the surviving beliefs and practices, and fleshed them out with material from other religious, spiritual and ceremonial magick sources. Gardner thusly CREATED Wicca.
Now, it is a fact recognized by independent academics that Gardner did in fact create Wicca. Regardless of what anyone else may say, this is the factual truth of the matter.
So then, if Gardner created Wicca, we should look at how he did so. There are certain things he put in place that mean only certain practices and people can actually be Wiccan.
Initiation is a requirement, as well as service to two specific Deities who's true names are oathbound and a core orthopraxy. The entire core is oathbound to be maintained as is, and to be passed as taught. Thereby preserving it from one initiatory generation to the next with the core in tact, unchanged.
I'll give you some quotes from Gardners books to back this up, because I really don't want you to take my word simply on the basis that I'm a genuine HPS. I want you to take my word because it's right!
This is a collection of things Gardner said:
Gerald Gardner, Witchcraft Today - pages 28-29:
Being initiated into the witch cult does not give a witch supernatural powers but instructions are given, in rather veiled terms, in processes which develop various clairvoyant and other powers, in those who naturally possess them slightly. If they have none they can create none. Some of these powers are akin to magnetism, mesmerism and suggestion, and depend o the possibility of forming a sort of human battery, as it were, of combined human wills working together to influence persons or events at a distance.
They have instructions in how to learn to do this by practice. It would take many people a long time, if I understand the directions aright. If these arts were more generally practised nowadays, we should call most of them spiritualism, mesmerism, suggestion, E.S.P., Yoga or perhaps Christian Science; to a witch it is all MAGIC, and magic is the art of getting results. To do this certain processes are necessary and the rites are such that these processes may be used. In other words, they condition you. This is the secret of the cult.
This passage highlights the fact that Wicca is an orthopraxy. There are specific ways to achieve specific desired results. It also points to the fact that this orthopraxy is taught only after initiation.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 126:
Gomme, in Folklore as a Historical Science (p. 201 et seq), stresses the importance of the act of initiation as applied to the witch cult. "It emphasizes the existence of a cast apart from the general populace. The existence of this caste long before, where they did practise their powers, carrying back this act of initiation age after age. It is clear that the people who were from time to time introduced into the witch caste carried on the practices and assumed the functions of the caste even though they came into it as novices and strangers. We thus arrive at what might be termed as an artificial means of descent into a peculiar group of superstitions.
This was influenced in the Middle Ages by beliefs of the carrying on of traditional practices by certain families and groups of people who could only acquire such practices by initiation and family teaching."
This is, of course, exactly what happened. It is a family group, if you like; but not all of the family belongs to it, only those who are initiated,
This passage points to the importance of initiation. Without initiation you are not Wiccan, even if you are by blood part of a family who's members happen to be Wiccan. It is not membership of a family or group that it important, but initiation into the particular caste or sect, that caste or sect being Wicca as opposed to any other witchcult.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 69:
The witches tell me: "The law has always been that power must be passed from man to woman or from woman to man,[...]"
Initiation must flow from Man to Woman to Man. This creates a clear initiatory lineage. Cross gender initiation is not simply a feature of the creation of Wiccan lineage, but is also indicatory of the orthopraxy.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 42"
Before an initiation a charge is read beginning:
[...]
I am forbidden to give any more; but if you accept her rule you are promised various benefits and admitted into the circle, introduced to the Mighty Dead and to the cult members. There is also a small "frightening", an "ordeal" and an "oath"; you are shown certain things and receive some instruction. It is all very simple and direct
This is a brief description of some of the elements of an initiation ceremony. The stand out aspect of this passage for my purposes is that of oath. That an oath is taken at initiation which forbids Wiccan's from revealing the content of the rituals. It is then that instruction begins.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 118:
I think the only answer is that the Church practised this kind of magic itself, and it knew that witchcraft practised a different form of magic because it was a separate religion, and that it involved the carrying on of a tradition of practices by certain families and groups of people who could only obtain knowledge of these practices by secret initiations
This highlights that teachings are passed via/following initiation into the religion of Wicca
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 120:
Being forced to write their names, I take simply to mean that they were told, "If you want to come again, you must be one of us, that is, be initiated, initiation is a requirement for membership and then you will be a fairy". Now in France, as in Scotland, a large number of people spoke of 'fairies" when they obviously meant witches. It was a more polite term, and in Scotland any communication with "fairies" was taken as an admission of dealing with witches, that is, with the "heathen", the People of the Heaths, who practiced the Old Religion and worked magical rites.
Highlighting that initiation is necessary.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 24:
If I were permitted to disclose all their rituals, I think it would be easy to prove that witches are not diabolists; but the oaths are solemn and the witches are my friends. I would not hurt their feelings. They have secrets which to them are sacred. They have good reason for this secrecy.
This highlights that Wiccans are oathbound to keep secret their practices.
Bracelin, J. L. Gerald Gardner: Witch - page 199, in quoting Gardner:
"The witches worship the old gods of the land of Britain, whose tradition is rooted deep in British soil. The old gods are not dead, as I know by experience.
This highlights that Wiccan's worship specific God's of the British Isles. They are not any God and Goddess a person chooses.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 260:
That which has influenced the Group-soul of this country once can do so again. I have already told of the belief of the Wica in the Ancient Gods of these islands. This not mere superstition or a figure of speech. Initiates will understand me when I say that the Gods are real
This points again to the fact that the God's of Wicca are specific God's and not pick 'n' mix any-God-you-like and any-Goddess-you-like. It also points to the fact that what God and Goddess they are is only known by initiates.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 260-261:
Nor is the worshippers' belief in vain; for though they may themselves have built the Magical Image, the Power which en souls it is real and objective, if the building has been done in the right way.
This excerpt points to the orthopraxic nature of Wicca. It must be done the right way!
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 260-261:
Of course, the Craft of the Wica is not the only group which seeks to contact the Gods. There are other occult groups which use a similar technique, and their aims are the same, namely to bring through the Divine power to help, guide and uplift mankind at this dangerous and exciting turning-point in human history.
But, so far as I know, these groups generally work with the Egyptian and Greek Gods and Goddesses, and I cannot think that these contacts are as powerful here as they would be upon their native soil; whereas the divinities of the Craft of the Wica are the Ancient Ones of Britain, part of the land itself.
This extract points again to the fact that the Gods of Wicca are specific God's of the British Isles. It also points that there are other groups who practice what might be similar rites with similar aims, but they are not Wiccan.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 165-166:
I must not, however give the impression that the people of Ancient Britain worshipped only one God and only one Goddess, who were exactly the same in all parts of the country. In early early times the country was split up into many different tribes, which, of course, lived in localities differing from each other as to the type of country the were.
For instance, the sea-faring people would conceive their God as a God of the Sea; those who depended upon agriculture would pay most reverence to that aspect of Divinity which manifested as the green and growing things of Nature returning each year, or the fertility of cattle; and the hunters would have a Hunting God. Also, these tribes had different dialects, and even different languages, and so the names of the gods would vary from one part of the country to another. Nor are the Great Ancient Ones mere concepts lingering in the leaves of old books and the minds of old scholars. The people remember, nay the very land itself remembers.[/1]
This excerpt points to the fact that Wicca allows for recognition of many God's and Goddesses. However, while Wiccan practice itself is Ditheistic, it allows for polytheistic understanding of Deity, as either hard or soft Polytheism.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 32:
My witches speak of him [the tribal god] as god of "Death and what lies beyond": by this they not only mean the life in the next world but resurrection (or reincarnation). He rules a sort of happy hunting ground, where ordinary folk go and foregather with like-minded people; it may be pleasant or unpleasant according to your nature.
According to your merits you may be reincarnated in time, and take your chance where and among whom this takes place; but the god has a special paradise for his worshippers, who have conditioned their bodies and natures on earth, who enjoy special advantages and are prepared more swiftly for reincarnation which is done by the power of the goddess in such circumstances as to insure that you will be born into your own tribe again. This is taken nowadays to mean into witch circles. It would seem to involve an unending series of reincarnations; but I am told that in time you may become one of the mighty ones, who are also called the mighty dead. I can learn nothing about them, but they seem to be like demigods -- or one might call them saints.[/1]
This paragraph points to one of the few 'beliefs' of Wicca. That of both an afterlife and reincarnation.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - pages 26-27:
They think that the God and the Goddess assist them in making their magic, as they assist the God and the Goddess in their turn by raising power from them by their dances and by other methods. In fact, they seem to consider the gods as being more like powerful friends than deities to be worshipped. To them the concept of an All-powerful God, one who could simply say, "Let there be peace. Let there be no sickness or misery", and all wars, sickness and misery would cease, and who for his own reasons will not say that word, and keeps men in fear and misery and want, is not fit to receive worship.
They quite realise that there must be some great "Prime Mover", some Supreme Deity; but they think that if It gives them no means of knowing It, it is because It does not want to be known; also possibly, at our present stage of evolution we are incapable of understanding It. So It has appointed what might be called various Under-Gods, who manifest as the tribal gods of different peoples; as the Elohim of the Jews, Isis, Osiris and Horus of the Egyptians, and the Horned God and the Goddess of the witches. They can see no reason why each people should not worship their national gods, or why anyone should strive to prevent them from doing so.
This points to the idea that the God's of Wicca are not all powerful, infallible nor omnipotent. That the God's are imminent and Wiccan's build a deep personal relationship with their God's.
There is also the possibility that there is some greater power than the Gods but because that being doesn't have the same means of making itself known it is beyond worship.
This excerpt also points to another interesting fact, if compatible, a Wiccan may work within other systems of worship.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - pages 139-140:
Our gods are not all-powerful, they need our aid. They desire good to us, fertility for man, beast and crops, but they need our help to bring it about; and by our dances and other means they get that help.
"When we die we go to the god's domain, where having rested a while in their lovely country we are prepared to be born again on this earth; and if we perform the rites correctly, edit: bold text to highlight orthopraxy by the grace of the Great Mother we will be reborn among those we loved, and will remember, know and love them again, while those who do evil will have a stern schooling in the god's domain before they are fit to be reborn again, and then it will be among strangers.[/1]
Again we're back to the orthopraxy. The rites MUST be done correctly.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 140:
"We worship the divine spirit of Creation, which is the Life-Spring of the world and without which the world would perish. To us it is the most sacred and holy mystery, proof that God is within us whose command is: 'Go forth and multiply.' Such rites are done in a holy and reverent way."
Wicca is a fertility religion because the God's are fertility Gods. Being a fertility religion and to the request of the Gods, sexual expression of fertility is part and parcel of Wiccan practice.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 16:
Witch meetings today may take place anywhere that it is convenient, and only people who have been initiated into the cult are allowed to be present.[/1]
INITIATION IS A MUST
There it is, straight from the horses mouth. No beating around the bush. No Initiation, no membership without initiation.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 24:
For one reason or another they keep the names of their god and goddess secret. To them the cult has existed unchanged
Here we are again with the idea that vital aspects of Wicca are oathbound. In this case the names of the God and Goddess. This excerpt also points to the importance of the practice not changing EVER! Remember, the oaths demand that the practice remain unchanged.
Gardner, Gerald. Witchcraft Today - page 116:
They have no regular system of passwords, that I could discover, to recognize each other by. But at initiations there were certain words required to pass you into the circle, and there are certain catchphrases that could be used as such; of course a knowledge of the mysteries would prove that you were initiated. Actually, they all know each other, or are introduced, so they do not need passwords.
There are a number of pertinent things in this passage. First is another reiteration that secret/oathound information is passed at initiation. The other very important thing here is that Wicca is a Mystery Religion. Through experiencing the mysteries, via performance of orthopraxic rites, Wiccan's develop a common language with each other that help to indicate that the person is an initiate of a given rank. The passage also points out that Wiccan's know each other through introduction, in the Global community today, this is called 'Vouching'. In order for a stranger to prove they are Wiccan they may be asked pertinent things, their Lineage, a vouch confirming that and also questions about practice.
It is very important to Wiccans to be able to identify their own. Firstly because of the oaths of secrecy, but also in that the oaths demand that initiates "remain true" and "defend and protect" other initiates and the teachings.
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - pages 21-22:
"Now, while the ancient authors who were initiated into a number of the mysteries agree that they were all the same basically, and there is a certain amount of agreement among modern authors about what their secrets were, I doubt very much if any of them realises the reason behind them, "what made them work," in fact; and what makes things work is the witches' secret. I think that this was probably the practical secret of the ancient Mysteries also.
Again with the orthopraxy!
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 42:
Witches have a firmly-rooted belief in their own powers, and the danger of these being misused if uninitiated people learn their methods.
The uninitiated shall not know!
Gardner, Gerald. The Meaning of Witchcraft - page 228:
The worship of the witch cult is, and always has been, that of the principle of Life itself. It has made of that principle, as manifested in sex, something sacred... There is still, in the collective unconsciousness of men's minds, a realisation of the rightness of the Old Sacred Marriage.
Wicca is a fertility cult that practices sex rites and rites of a sexual nature.
Now... The things that are most stressed by Gardner is that Wicca is initiatory and oathbound, that the methods are specific and 'orthopraxic' and that the Deities are oathbound and unique to Wicca and give mysteries to their Priesthood/initiates.
So, without initiation, a person cannot know the deities, cannot know the practices and cannot know the mysteries. At initiation an oath is sworn that holds initiates, now priesthood, to maintain these specific practices.
So, when you look at what Gardner created, if there is no LINEAGED INITIATION, and all that can be provided after that initiation, teachings etc, then it's not Wicca.
For the last thirty or so years, there have been eclectic neopagan witches convinced they were Wiccan. Why? Because someone at one point or another read a book that told a great big lie. A proven lie. They believed it, fell for it hook line and sinker because it made them feel like a spekhul ikkle snowflake. They in turn promoted this piece of false information to others, went forth and multiplied and today, thirty or so years on, we have people like you who I'm sure are capable of truth but have been staring at a lie for so long, they just can't see it any more because you know what, it's uncomfortable admitting you are wrong and having your comfortable word taken away from you.
But hey, I'd prefer the truth myself. I'd prefer to honour myself and my Gods by calling what I do by it's proper name and not some pretend name in order to validate it to others.
Remember, just because books say that a solitary eclectic neopagan witch is the same thing as a Wiccan doesn't mean it's true. Just because a book says that if you believe in the rede and the rule of three, worship a God AND a Goddess, the seasons, nature and all that other crap, taht you are Wiccan.
It's not so.
Books lie!
Even popular books lie!
Even books that nice, genuine, respectable people write lie!
Even people who have said and done these 'eclectic' and 'soliatery' practices for years lie!
Academically and logically provable FACT states that a Wiccan is a practitioner and initiate of a lineaged tradition related through teaching and initiation to Gerald Gardner. There is no way, outside of fallicious arguments such as argument from popularity and such, that demonstrates that eclectic and solitary paths are Wicca. There is nohing wrong with them spiritually, they are fulfilling ways to work, but they are not the orthopraxic priesthood of the Lord and Lady of the Isles.
A very recently published book by the last surviving direct initiate of Gerald Gardner, Patricia Crowther has the following interesting passages that sum it up better than I ever could.
Patricia Crowther, Covensense page 211:
'DIY' witches may scoff at keeping to the old ways, and perform their initiations from published books, but the thing that they fail to grasp is that genuine initiations are those bestowed by an already initiated witch in a line that goes back into the distant past. There is also the transference of psychic power. This is one of the most important aspects of a true initiation and one which carries solemn responsibilities and dedication to the Goddess and the God.
Today, there is a lot of 'dumbing down', a debilitating attitude to lief and learning on all levels, and it seems to have crept into the Craft. Many of today's pagans appear to be attracted to the Craft for the wrong reasons. To them it seems glamorous and romantic and really rather fun. It is none of these things. The Mysteries are magnificent in their revelations of Selfhood, but they cannot be bought; and the Gods will not reveal Themselves to those who believe otherwise. There is a corrupting influence abroad in today's materialistic society in which people are taught that money will buy anything. Well, it will not! And adherents of the Craft know the truth of this. They also know that initiation into the Mysteries is earned the hard way, by work and discipline, which are an integral part of life's pattern and grant a wolesome inner satisfaction combined with spiritual enlightenment.
Patricia Crowther, Covensense page 113:
I loathe to see the Craft degraded in any way whatsoever, and I'm afraid it has been in some quarters. Today, we have no end of DIY witches, and some of their stupid actions reflect badly uon the genuine traditions of the Craft and bring it into disrepure. I understand that modern trends permit anything and everything but, when I read books in which the authors actually state that you can use your finger instead of the athame to draw the Circle, I can hardly believe what I am reading. Do they transfer the symbols on the athame to their fingers? Do they use a different finger for a wand? It is glaringly obvious that they know nothing about the true meanings and use of the athame. The writers are either pulling the readers' legs - hard - or insulting their intelligence.
As I am, you will be
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 5:29 pm
As you were, I was And finally:
The Rede is not Wiccan. It first appeared in a speech by Doreen Valiente in 1964 - at least a decade after Gardner founded Wicca. It was never a part of Wiccan law, or practice. And "rede" literally means advice - since when is one required to take advice? Both it, and the Three-fold Law, are new-age constructs. It's up to the individual Wiccan whether or not they choose to believe them, as is their right. Belief or disbelief in either is not a defining characteristic of being Wiccan. As I am, you will be
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:56 pm
This pickled vegetable...Ya know what I just realized this thread is missing, Cal? A link to Wiccan FAQ in the M&R forum. ... could kick your a** !!
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:01 am
holy wowza eek thats lots of reading. i read part of it tho! 3nodding that part about real wicca not being in deh internet and books sounds cool surprised how do people know what theys doing tho? they just remember stuff and pass it down? ninja
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:43 pm
Thank you for taking the time to post all of this information; it answers a lot of the questions I've wondered about for a long time.
Let me just say, it's very nice to hear about Wicca from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. I've met so many people who claimed to be Wiccan, but were either lying, or very misinformed, and in many cases a combination of both (all of them under the age of eighteen, naturally!). Since Wicca is so mysterious, people think they can just make up what ever s**t they want about it and call themselves Wiccan, and it has always really bothered me. But before this turns into a rant, let me just say again: thank you for posting this, I really appreciate it.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:51 pm
Little Batwing Thank you for taking the time to post all of this information; it answers a lot of the questions I've wondered about for a long time.
Let me just say, it's very nice to hear about Wicca from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. I've met so many people who claimed to be Wiccan, but were either lying, or very misinformed, and in many cases a combination of both (all of them under the age of eighteen, naturally!). Since Wicca is so mysterious, people think they can just make up what ever s**t they want about it and call themselves Wiccan, and it has always really bothered me. But before this turns into a rant, let me just say again: thank you for posting this, I really appreciate it. If you want to know more, this guild (Seekers' Signpost), was made by an initiated Wiccan priestess for the purpose of educating and guiding those interested in Wicca.
I suggest giving it a look. ... could kick your a** !!
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:54 pm
Renkon Root This pickled vegetable...If you want to know more, this guild (Seekers' Signpost), was made by an initiated Wiccan priestess for the purpose of educating and guiding those interested in Wicca.
I suggest giving it a look. ... could kick your a** !!
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