To be Wiccan is to worship the Goddess and her
companion the Horned God, and to follow the philosophies,
ethics and practices of the Old Religion. Originally
rooted in Paganism, Wicca existed long before Christianity
and long before the Church was founded.
Wiccans honour the Earth as their spiritual Mother
(the Goddess) and the Sky and the wildness of nature
as their spiritual Father (the Horned God). In practice,
this means that they esteem nature and the planet
on which we live. They venture not to harm anyone
or anything, because to them, everyone in the world
are their brothers and sisters with an equal right
to exist. Wicca is a tradition that works to harm
none in thought, word, or deed. Therefore, anyone
who says they are a witch but works otherwise should
not be considered an authentic Wiccan practitioner.
Witchcraft is still the only spiritual tradition
that raises the female above the male, in contrast
to patriarchal religions such as Christianity and
Judaism. They venerate an almighty male deity, with
little positive mention of the female at all. Because
of its veneration of a Goddess, Wicca follows the
moral values associated with feminine spiritual
powers – such as love, peace, and joy –
rather than the more masculine religious attitudes
of domination, strength, and authority.
Witches work by peaceful means, seeking to unite
rather than to divide, to be of service to our communities,
and to be the healers, counsellors, and the guardians
of all life on Earth. This is because they see themselves
as the children of the Goddess and the Horned God
that they honour. When this is a truth within a
witch, they can only ever love and look after what
has been so lovingly created for us.
Wicca in History
Wiccans have been persecuted throughout the ages,
as well as thousands of innocent people. The Salem
Witch Trials were arguably the most well-known trials
concerning witchcraft. So many innocent people died
due to fear of the unknown. And why the dreadful
fear of witchery? Power. People are afraid of someone
having power over their lives. Yet witchcraft is
not a religion based on power, nor does it try to
seize control over or turn other people.
Witches and accused witches were persecuted for
hundreds of years, until, in 1951, the law in England
was rewritten because of a Wiccan High Priest named
Gerald B. Gardner. While employed as a civil servant,
he decided to declare his religious preference –
Witchcraft. He demonstrated a ritual to the Parliament
and explained the nature of his worship so they
would realise that his religion was not about demons,
destruction and sacrifice. Wicca was portrayed in
its nature: the peaceful worship of the Goddess
and the Horned God, equality in all living things.
The Parliament declared Witchcraft a legal religion.
In 1953, Gerald B. Gardner petitioned his right
to coven, and that right was also declared legal.
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