lip magazine: for girls who think feel create speak out live

from issue four: by Kate Walton

Wicca is one of the oldest and wisest religions practiced by today’s society. When used correctly, Wicca can bring happiness, peace, love, prosperity and knowledge to those who seek it. Kate Walton uncovers the truth about Witches and the way of the Goddess.

“As it was in the beginning, all is now and ever shall be.” - ‘Great Big Lie’, The Tea Party

Pointy hats. Grey-haired old hags. Broomsticks. Satan. Salem Witch Trials. Black. Evil. Hexes. Curses. Magick. Misunderstood.

When asked what they first thought of upon hearing the word ‘Witchcraft’, my friends came up with a surprisingly varied list. Although the bulk of the list, as demonstrated above, consists mainly of misconceptions, one friend felt that Witchcraft is misunderstood. So I thought, can I help people to understand this religion by expressing my own feelings? I can certainly try.

I first became interested in Witchcraft, or Wicca as it is now often called, nearly four years ago. Admittedly, 12 is a rather young age to start choosing religious paths, but looking back on it now, I’m glad I discovered Wicca when I did. Numerous other young adults just like myself are now discovering the so-called ‘new-age’ pagan religions, and the number of teen witches is certainly on the rise.

So exactly how are all these people learning about the path of the Goddess? Personally, I found out about Witchcraft through the 1996 Neve Campbell movie The Craft. Initially I was attracted to the darker, more mysterious and almost Gothic side of Witchcraft, but after investigating the subject further, I realised that it wasn’t all about hexes, curses and black clothing. It was about helping me discover my inner strength and values, and ‘who I really am’. Witchcraft, I learned, could empower me and help me to better understand why life works the way it does.

But there were still a few questions that needed answering. Although I have had a long-term fascination with the Gods and Goddesses of ancient cultures, I have been brought up without an overly religious background. My father likes to call himself a member of the Church of England, and he’s the only family member I’ve really ever come to blows with over my spirituality. My mother, on the other hand, is relatively supportive. That is, she tolerates my faith, but I think she likes to pretend that it’s not really happening and is ‘just a phase’ and I’ll grow out of it.

However, despite all this, I soon found the answer to the question that most plagued me: How do I know the God and Goddess actually exist? How can I be sure?

Witch Liam Cyfrin answered this question by saying: “Find a nice patch of ground and a cloudless night sky, well away from a polluted city. Lie down. Look up. Have a think. (If any UFOs show up, just try to ignore them. They only do it to distract you from more productive lines of contemplation.)” Not a particularly in-depth response, I must admit, but his advice actually worked for me. The more I thought about it, the more I came to realise that the God and Goddess are present in almost every object around us—every tree, flower, animal, raindrop and cloud. They are with us every step we take. They guide us in times of need, and teach us about the mysteries of life. Together, They are One, and have been and will be for all of eternity.

So if the God and Goddess have always been present on Earth, when and where did their worship first begin, and what are the origins of Wicca? The word ‘witchcraft’ is derived from the old Celtic word ‘wicce’ meaning ‘wise one’. The word ‘wiccecraeft’ eventually evolved into ‘Witchcraft’ and can be used almost interchangeably with ‘Wicca’. Though no formal records exist, Witchcraft is believed to date back thousands of years to a time when Goddess magick was used to bless the fertility of the earth and Her crops, and to wish a healthy pregnancy on woman.

Unfortunately, the Goddess worship of Europe literally died out during the rise of the Christian Church. In 1486, the publication of a paper known as the Malleus Maleficarum laid down strict regulations for the interrogation of suspected Witches. Malleus Maleficarum has been translated to mean ‘The Hammer of Witches’, and the work itself, originally published in Latin, contains allegations including the belief that Witches can change men into beasts, transport themselves from one place to another instantaneously, and believe in an anti-Christian horned God.

The people who practiced Witchcraft were considered agents of the Devil who wanted to destroy the Church and work evil upon God’s people. A Witch was, as defined by the Church, a person who of his or her own free will rejected God and was in league with the Devil. When a number of Witches met to ‘worship the Devil’ and practice ‘diabolical magic’, a Witches’ Sabbath took place. Those accused of Witchcraft were considered guilty until proved innocent, and many tests were devised to detect the guilty. The water test was one of the most common tests implemented, in which the accused would be thrown into a body of water such as a lake or stream. If the person floated—as most did—it was taken as a sign of guilt and the person would be executed. If the person sank, he or she was considered innocent, but most were never rescued before they drowned. Either way, it was a lose-lose situation for the accused. Thumb screws and boiling water were also used to obtain confessions of guilt, and few could withstand such torture. Many confessed to Witchcraft in order to end the torture and be executed quickly. These confessions were considered as proof of the existence of Witchcraft. Convicted Witches were often burned at the stake or, in England, hanged. In rare cases, the convicted might be spared death and, instead, a priest would perform an exorcism to drive out the demon that had supposedly taken over the accused’s body and mind.

These accusations, like the many others outlined in the publication, are inaccurate and untrue. But, sadly, hundreds upon thousands of women were tried, tortured and murdered during witch-hunts that lasted for over three centuries. It is now estimated that around one million women were viciously killed throughout Europe—most of these were simply misunderstood women put to death for no reason other than a strange birthmark, mental illness or a great knowledge of herbs, medicine or birthing.

Whilst Witches are no longer burnt at the stake, the practice of Witchcraft is still considered illegal in many places throughout the world. In Australia, seven out of eight states and territories have revoked Acts pertaining to the illegality of Witchcraft. As the only state yet to repeal its law against Witchcraft, Victoria has recommended to the Attorney-General in 2002 that this law (Section 13 of the Vagrancy Act 1958) be removed or changed. The status of the repeal is not known at this time. When this law is gone, there will be no standing Witchcraft laws in Australia.

The Church-led witch-hunt began around 1520 CE in Italy, and Witchcraft laws were established shortly after. The idea that Wiccans are linked with Satanism still persists today. Spend less than ten minutes browsing the Internet and you’ll find dozens of websites, particularly Christian ones, telling people that Witchcraft is the work of the Devil and should be avoided at all costs. For example, the website of the Church of God in Victoria, Canada (http://www.cggcanada.org) believes that Halloween is not just fun:

“Satan would have the general public believe that…‘serious’ Witchcraft is only practiced in scary books and movies, that it is not really an everyday practice. Yet it is. It really is! We know that those people who are involved in such things are very active in their works of darkness on the night of Halloween. Historically and traditionally this is the night of their most important ‘Witches’ Sabbaths’…. We are commanded to avoid even the mention of the terrible things these people get up to on Halloween. But suffice to say that it is definitely not ‘just a bit of fun’…. Satan’s holidays are very cheap and inferior counterfeits of God’s true holy days.”

That just makes me so angry. I can’t even begin to say how much that hurts me. How can people be so unaccepting, so cruel, so harsh? I want to set the record straight once and for all: Satan is a part of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and since Pagans, Wiccans and Witches belong to none of these religions, Satan is not a part of our deity structure. Common perceptions of Wiccans that come hand-in-hand with the accusations of Satanism are easily found. Examples of the misunderstandings of Wicca include the idea that Witches perform blood sacrifice, believe that Wicca is the one true path, and will cast a hex or curse upon anyone who dare look upon them. Needless to say, these allegations are simply not true.

However, as with all religions, there is the occasional bad apple to be found in Wicca. I’m sure you know the sort of person I mean—the one who walks around draped in black clothing from head to toe, muttering hexes under their breath at any person who dares come near them. Sadly, these misguided souls often provide the only glimpse of Wicca that many people will ever see. Unfortunately, this stereotypical image of a Witch is yet to disappear and gives the exact opposite message of how most Witches wish to be perceived by others.

Unlike most mainstream religions, Wicca does not have a list of laws pertaining to behaviour and beliefs. The majority of Wiccans follow two guidelines—the Three-Fold Law (also called the Three-Fold Rule) and the Wiccan Rede. These two principles contain the basics of what Witches define as ethical and moral behaviour within the Craft and today’s society. The three-fold law encompasses the phrase ‘that which you send out returns three-fold’ and is similar in design to the idea of karma—‘what goes around, comes around’. The Wiccan Rede guides Wiccans to only use the Craft’s magick ‘for the good of all’. The Rede itself is generally agreed to comprise of the phrase “An’ ye harm none, do as ye will”, but there are a few slight variations on the words of the Rede.

The Wiccan Rede and the Three-Fold Law are both used in spell-casting. Yes, it’s true. Witches really do cast spells and take part in elaborate rituals and celebrations. Not all Witches, mind you, but a fair few. Enough to make basic spell-casting common knowledge among Witches, that is. However, I won’t be branching into how to cast a circle or a spell in this article. (For more information, please see my recommended reading list at the end of this article.)

As a closing piece, I’d like to leave you with what is known as The Lady’s Prayer. It is a Wiccan prayer patterned after the Shepherd Psalm. The latter is found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) in Psalms 23:1.

The Earth is my Mother.
I shall not want.
Her hand brings forth the green pastures.
She tarries within the still waters.
She leads me in fields of fruitfulness for my Glory.
Yea, as I walk through the summer of life unto death,
I will not be afraid, for You are with me.
Your womb in the earth will enfold me.
You prepare a harvest before me and bless my home with children.
You fill me with milk and honey.
My cup overflows.
Surely, goodness and beauty will nurture me all the days of my life,
and I will become part of the earth forever.

Recommended Reading:

Drawing Down The Moon, Margot Adler, Penguin, 1997.

Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner, Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn Publications, 1988.

A Witches’ Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook, Janet and Stewart Farrar, Phoenix Publishing,1996.

Life’s A Witch: A Handbook For Teen Witches, Fiona Horne, Random House, 2000.

Teen Witch: Wicca For A New Generation, Silver RavenWolf, Llewellyn Publications, 1998.

The Spiral Dance, Starhawk, Harper SanFrancisco, 1999.

Witchcraft magazine

Recommended Viewing:

Malleus Maleficarum – http://www.sacred-text.com/pag/mm

Pagan Awareness Network (PAN) Australia – http://www.paganawareness.net.au

Religious Tolerance: Wicca – http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm

Silver RavenWolf – http://www.silverravenwolf.com

The Witches Secret – http://www.witches.com.au

The Witches Voice – http://www.witchvox.com

wiccan calendar

Traditionally, there are eight Sabbats, or festivals, celebrated by Wiccans and Pagans throughout the Wheel of the Year. Add to this the 13 full moon festivals known as Esbats and you have a total of 21 festivals to look forward to each year! Here’s a quick rundown on the eight Sabbats. (Please note, dates given here follow the seasons of the Southern Hemisphere. For the traditional Northern Hemisphere dates, add another six months to the dates below.)

Lammas – February 1/2 – One of the four Greater Sabbats, Lammas is the traditional harvest festival of the Pagans. It is a time to perform fertility rituals and give thanks to the Goddess for all harvest past and future. Lammas is also known by the Celtic name of Lughnasadh.

Mabon – March 20-23 – A Lesser Sabbat, Mabon is an astronomical festival celebrating the Autumn Equinox, at which night and day are equal. Mabon is a time to meditate and reflect on what it is to be a Witch, and to renew magickal vows.

Samhain – April 30 / May 1 – Traditionally held on October 31 (Halloween) in the Northern Hemisphere. Samhain is a Greater Sabbat and an agricultural festival celebrating the harvests. Samhain is also the beginning of the Witches’ Year, and is a time for divination and to honour the dead. Samhain is one of the three major festivals celebrated by Christians under a different guise. Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are some of the names given to this apparently ‘Christian’ celebration.

Yule – June 20-23 – One of the four Lesser Sabbats, Yule celebrates the astronomical event known as the Winter Solstice. As with all the Lesser Sabbats, the exact date of Yule varies from year to year, and represents the longest night of the year. Yule is a time for gift giving, and is the second festival ‘stolen’ from the pagans by the Church. Most non-pagans now celebrate Yule under the form of Christmas (in accordance with the traditional date for Yule in the Northern Hemisphere).

Imbolc – July 31 / August 1 – Also known as Candlemas, Imbolc is an agricultural festival and one of the four Greater Sabbats. It is a day sacred to the Celtic Goddess of Fire and Fertility, Brigid, and is seen as the awakening of the land after winter and a celebration of the female mysteries.

Ostara – September 20-23 – One of the Lesser Sabbats and an astronomical festival, Ostara celebrates the Spring Equinox where night and day stand equal. It is a time of initiation into the male mysteries and a celebration that Spring is under way. Ostara is named after the Teutonic Goddess of Spring and the Dawn. She and the festival are also known as Esotre, Oestre or Eastre. Ostara is the third pagan festival now celebrated as a Christian one.

Beltane – October 31 – One of the most festive of the Greater Sabbats, Beltane is an agricultural festival. It is a time to celebrate the union of the Goddess and the God, and of life and procreation.

Litha – December 21-23 – Also known as Midsummer, Litha honours the astronomical festival of the Summer Solstice. Litha is the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate the bounties and beauty of the Goddess and the Earth.

Goddesses and Gods

The God and Goddess have appeared over time in a variety of forms and manifestations. Different cultures has their own take on the Mother and Father. These are some of the more influential Gods and Goddesses in my life. However, it is up to you to decide which ones you are particularly drawn to and inspired by, so take your time learning about them.

Goddesses:

The Great Goddess – The Great Goddess is the traditional Goddess symbolising the cycle of Maiden/Mother/Crone. (This is somewhat similar to the Christian male equivalent of Father/Son/Holy Ghost.) She symbolises the cycle of life and the movements of the moon from waxing to full to waning.

Morgan Le Fay (Celtic) – The Great Witch and the strongest female force in the Arthurian legends.

Epona (Celtic) – The Celtic Goddess of Abundance who watches over all horses. Epona is the daughter of a mare and a man and can assume both human and equine form.

Diana/Artemis (Roman/Greek) – Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon. She represents the image of the Maiden and is a patron Goddess of many feminist Witches.

Hecate (Greek) – The Goddess of Magick and Witchcraft and the ultimate symbol of the Crone.

Kali (Hindu) – Also known as Shakti, Devi, Sati, Parvati and Durga. The Triple Goddess of Creation, Preservation and Destruction, she is often known as the Destroyer. She is the keeper of Life and Death, the birth-giver and the killer all at once.

Isis (Egyptian) – The Great Mother. One of the most well-known and favoured Goddesses, she is the mother of Horus from her union with the God Osiris.

Amaterasu (Japanese) – The Great Spirit Goddess, Amaterasu rules over the Sun, Fire, Weaving and Agriculture. All the Emperors of Japan are said to be descendants of her.

Kuan Yin (Chinese) – The Goddess of Fertility, Mercy and Compassion, Kuan Yin helps anyone who asks for her wisdom.

Gods:

The Great God – The Son/Consort/Lover of the Goddess. Most Pagans relate to Him as the Horned God, ruler of the Forests and Animals. He provides the link between every living thing in the physical world, and balances the life/death interaction of all life.

Hades (Greek) – Lord of the Underworld, Hades rules alongside Hecate.

Pan (Greek) – The hoofed and horned God of the Forest, Pan honours fertility.

Ra (Egyptian) – The God of the Sun. Ra brings peace, harmony and joy to the world and removes all obstacles.

Osiris (Egyptian) – The Great God and partner of Isis. In the Tale of Osiris, he sacrifices himself so that life can regenerate.

Set (Egyptian) – The God of the Night and the Seeker of Knowledge. He represents the male forces and has the ability to destroy what needs to be reborn. This is reflected by the role he plays in the tale of his brother Osiris, in which he kills Osiris and watches as Isis travels up and down the Nile to collect the nine pieces of her lover.

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