Wicca 101

[Lisa]

I decided to start this section for everyday there are people who would like to learn about Wicca. I think that if you are going to learn about it then you should be well informed.

I will list things that will give info that you will find useful and helpful in your learning.

I have noticed in the years that I have been studying that alot of new beginners have misconceptions on how magick should be used.


The first entry will be from this book The Craft by Dorothy Morrison. She said it in this statement:

The Craft is nor for everyone. It's not for people with chips on their shoulders or beefs against Christianity. It's not for folks who ride high on power trips or step on others to achieve success. Its not for bigots, or braggarts, or those who are too big for their britches. It simply isnt built that way.

[Lisa]

My next entry is one that you should always remember and that is the Wiccan Rede. You should really memorize it and remember it in all your dealings with the magical world.

Rede of the Wicca:

Ride the Wiccaan Law you must, in perfect love and perfect trust.

Live and let live; fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about, to keep all spirits out.

To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of the eye and light of touch, speak little and listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing Moon, sing and dance the Witches' Rune.

Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, and werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's Moon is new, kiss thy hand to Her times two.

When the Moon rides at Her pek, then your heart's desire speak.

Heed the Northwind's mighty gale, lock the door and drop the sail.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.

When the West wind blows o'er thee, departed spirits restless be.

Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be the Lady's tree-----burn it not, or cursed be!

When the Wheel begins a turn, let the Beltane fires burn.

When the Wheel hath turned to Yule, light the log and let Pan rule.

Heed ye flower, bush,and tree, and by the Lady, Blessed Be!

Where the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and truth you'll know.

Whenever ye have a need, harken not to others' greed.

With the fool, no seasons spend, nor be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Threefold Law ye should, three times bad an' three times good.

When misfortune is enow, wear the Blue Star on your brow.

True in love ever be, unless thy love is false to thee.

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fullfill: "An' it harm none, do what ye will!

[Lisa]

The Witches' Creed:
"To Know,
to Dare,
to Will,
to keep Silent;
these are the four words of the Magus.
In order to Dare, we must first Know
In order to Will, we must Dare.
We must Will to possess empire.
To reign, we must be Silent.

To Know: We must free our minds and clear them of useless clutter, garbage, and worn-out notions. Only then can we open them to accept the gifts of knowledge and truth----the gifts of the Ancients-------that awaits us.

To Dare: We must dare to overcome our own personal ignorance and outdated beliefs. Only then will we gain the personal strength necessary to walk the path of the Craft.

To Will: Without personal will, our magic comes to naught. In order for our efforts to reach success, we must want our goals so badly that we become one with them.

To Keep Silent: Then is a twofold matter. First, we must acquire the trait of inner peace and quiet, and cultivate it well within ourselves. Only then can we hear the messages of the Gods, or hear the truth within. The second matter is a mundane one. Unfortunately, bigot, frightened people still live in our world, and we must understand that those who do not wish to be educated will not be. For that reason, silence is often necessary to protect ourselves and the ways of the Craft.

[Lisa]

Magical Principles

1. Magic is natural.

2. Harm none-----not even yourself-----through its use.

3. Magic requires effort. You will receive what you put into it.

4. Magic is not usually instantaneous. Spells require time to be effective.

5. Magic should not be performed for pay.

6. Magic should never be used in jest or to inflate your ego.

7. Magic can be worked for your own gain, but only if it harms none.

8. Magic is a divine act.

9. Magic can be used for defense but should never be used for attack.

10. Magic is knowledge------not only of its way and laws, but also of its effectiveness. Do not believe that magic works------know it!

11. Magic is love. All magic should be performed out of love. The moment anger or hatred tinges your magic you have crossed the border into a dangerous world, one that will ultimately consume you.




Today the term Wicca refers to a religion that many (but not all) witches practice. Wicca is an Earth-based religion that honors both the God and the Goddess.

The word witch comes from the Old English words "wicce," which means "female witch," and "wicca," meaning "wizard." A witch is someone who uses magick in his or her everyday life.


Is "magick" with a "k" different from magic? You Bet. Both words come from the same root, meaning"to be able, to have power," but magic is what an entertainer does on stage---card tricks,ect.

Magick is the realm of witches and may include spells, healing, the harnessing of psychic forces, and even divination.

By the way, Wiccans don't use the word "warlock" to refer to male witches. Male witches are witches too. A warlock is a person who has broken an oath and because of that has been ostracized from the community. If you have violated an oath you can also be warlock or ostracized and ignored.


Avoid using witchcraft to get back at another person or to manipulate that person. To do so would be unethical and there's that little thing "the law of three" that says what ever you do will come back to you threefold.


Learning about your natural abilities is a process of self=discovery. One useful tool in such a process is a journal. If you don't already keep a journal, you might want to start one. As you learn more about Wicca and witchcraft, record your changing thoughts and feelings about yourself and the world around you. Some people like to write in their journals first thing in the morning so they can record their dreams before the forget them. How you use your journal is up to you. Let it be fun! Include drawings or pictures from magazines, if you like.


When you learn to focus on your natural energy, you'll learn to increase it, channel it, and send it out into the world.


Many types of people are witches. Each and everyone of us has the inherent ability to be nasty. Witches do have the ability to behave in a negative way. But so do people of other faiths. Through spiritual understanding, Wiccan witches learn to curb the inherent human tendencies to get back at or do negative things.

Wiccan witches do not work with the negative or with evil. Wiccans believe they must act for the good of all, including themselves. They don't believe they should benefit from another person's suffering. Sure, sometimes it's hard to deal with negative feelings that come up. But we know we don't have the good without the bad, and so we learn to deal with the negative energies, but not act on them.

Wiccan witches are responsible for their own actions and are willing to pay the penalty for them without placing blame on others. Wiccan witches act for the god of all.

[Lisa]

Four of the five points of the pentagram represent the four Elements-------Earth, Air, Water,and Fire. The fifth point stands for spirit.


Originally athames were not forged from metals, but were wooden and were taken from trees.


The five elements are Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Spirit. In Wicca, each element is associated with a direction in the Ritual Circle. Earth's direction is North, Air is East, Water is West, while Fire is South. Spirit encompasses all directions because it surrounds and is part of everything.


Since the time of ancient Romans and maybe even before that, sacred space in the form of an altar or a temple has been a safe area where slaves and those accused of crimes could find sanctuary. In Roman times, any act of violence against a person taking such sanctuary was considered to be an insult to the gods.

Some witches keep their altars in the center of the circle but make sure that the altar faces north. North, you will remember, is the direction associated with Earth, and many feel that because we live on earth we should align ourselves in this way. North also is considered a direction of power. Other witches face their altars east, the direction of the rising Sun and Moon.


Holey Stones, or holy stones, are rare. It is said that if you look through the hole, you'll be able to see into the Realm of Fairy. A Holey Stone is a stone with a natural hole in it.


Avoid becoming overly casual in your ritual. Yes, as a solitaire, you can do what you want and you can wear what you want, but ritual is still ritual. A little formality and organization show your respect for the God and Goddess. It'll also help you maintain respect for yourself.


If you can't ground yourself and get focused, then you are not ready to work. Avoid working when you are not prepared! If your doing magick, your magick could go in a direction other than the one you intended.


Here is a little info on the Sabbats.

December 21: Winter Solstice, also called Longest Night; this inaugurates the celebration of Yule, which ends at New Year.

The Goddess gives birth to the god, the Child of Promise who is reborn with the returning Sun. Yule is a joyous celebration of family and friends, of peace and love and positive energy. Witches incorporate ancient pagan traditions into our festivities, traditions like yule logs, gift giving, wassail cups, mistletoe charms, and bringing evergreens into the home or decorating a tree.


February 2: Imbolic, also called Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas, Earrach, and Groundhog's Day.

This is the quickening of the year. Winter buds appear on bare trees and green life stirs under the frozen earth. The infant Sun (the god) grows in size and strength. Imbolic is a fire festival, a festival of lights, sacred to the Irish goddess Brighid. Witches light candles to illuminate the winter darkness, and start spring cleaning.


March 21: Spring Equinox, also called Ostara or Eostre.

The year is in perfect balance between light and darkness. The god is now a green youth and the Goddess is in her maiden aspect. Their courtship dance begins. Ostra is a solar festival of fire, light, and fertility sacred to the Saxon goddess of spring, Ostara/Eostre. Witches follow the old pagan custom of dyeing or painting hard-boiled eggs, then balancing the eggs on their ends to symbolize equilibrium. We work magic to balance any imbalances in our lives.


May 1: Beltane, also called May Eve, Samradh, Cetsamain, and Walpurgis Night.

By May, the light has grown longer and everything is flowering. The virile young lord and the fertile maiden celebrate the evident consummation of their relationship. Beltane is sacred to Maia, Greco-Roman goddess of spring. It is a fire and fertility festival the celebrates the transformation from maiden to mother through the mystery of sexuality. Beltane Eve is a perfect time for the Great Rite. Witches gather dew on May morning, put flowers on their altars, leave offerings for fairies, and tend sacred places like groves and wells.


June 22: Litha, also called Summer Solstice, Midsummer, and St. John's Day.

Earth is in full bloom. The Nother is pregnant and the god (the Sun) is King of Summer at the peak of his pwers. Litha is the longest day, marking the division of the year. Witches celebrate abundance, fertility, virility, and the beauty and bounty of nature. Thes is a good time for handfastings and male rituals, for workings of empowerment, consummation, or culmination.



August 1: Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, Lunasa, and Hlafmass, the festival of Loaves.

The days start growing shot\rter and the fields are heavy with crops ready to be harvested. The corn king is sacrificed and mourning begins for the death of the god (the Sun). Lughnasadh is the first of the Wiccan harvest festivals, a festival of fire and light named for the Celtic god Lugh/Llew, Lord of Light. Witches bake bread, put grain on their altars, count their blessings and give thanks to the Goddess.

September 21: Mabon, also called Autumn Equinox.

Crops are harvested; light and darkness are again in balance. The god sleeps in the womb of the Goddes,. waiting to be reborn. Mabon is sacred to the Celtic god Mabon, a Son of Light, son of the mother goddes Modron. This second harvest festival is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and give thanks for abundance. Witches put the fruits of the season on their altars, bake bread and pies, work magic to balance imbalances.

October 31: Samhain (pronounced sow-en), also called Halloween, Allantide, shadowfest, and All Hallows Eve.

The harvest season closes, the days grow darker and winter is initiated, The Goddess enters her time of sleeping and dreaming. The god (the Sun) awaits rebirth. Samhain is witches' New Year, both solemn and joyous, the night when the veil between the worlds is thinnest. It can be celebrated in high revelry, with costme parties and witches' balls, or solemnly, as a night for honoring ancestors and contacting departed loved ones.

The Cardinal Points:

North

North is the most powerful direction, the location of magic, and the source of Otherworld powers.

Element: earth, air
Season: winter
Time: midnight
Tool: pentacle
Color: brown, black, green
Animal: white buffalo
Rules: lungs, the body, rudeness, vision, the unseen, the power to listen and know what not to say

North Wind

The Silver Castle, the Corona Borealis, is at the back of the north wind.


South

Element: fire, water
Season: summer
Time: wand
Color: red, orange
Animal: lion, coyote
Rules: liver, energy, spirit, will, love, gentleness, trust, innocence,warmth, hospitality,rapid growth


East

The World Direction Of The New Day

Element: air, fire,
Season: spring
Tiime:dawn
Tool: athame/sword
Color: white, violet,pastels, green
Animal: eagle, high-flying birds
Rules: Stomach, spirit, mind, illumination, passion, wisdom, beginnings, the power to know


West

Element: water, earth
Season: autumn
Time: twilight
Tool: chalice/cauldron
Color: sea green, blue, gray, purple, white
Animal: fish, dolphin, sea serpents
Rules: intestines, emotion, guts, introspection, indercurrents, vitality, daring, strength, endings, the courage to face deepest feelings


Elementals:

Earth

For: Money Spells, Rock Magic, Fertility

Planet: Earth, Saturn, Venus

Tiime: Midnight

Season: Winter

Quality: emotional, melancholic, feminine

Direction: North

Jewel: salt, rock, crystal, agate, bloodstone, smoky quartz, carnelian, tiger's eye, emerald

Tool: pentacle

Zodiac: Taurus(fixed earth), Virgo (mutable earth), Capricorn (cardnial earth)

Color: black, brown, green, white

Number: 4, even numbers

Incense: benzoin, fumitory (earth smoke), storax

Symbol: grain, globe, orb, stones, acorns, cornucopia, soil, pottery, sand

Plant: adonis, amaranth, barley, comfrey, grain, hops, ivy, maize (corn), licorice, millet, oak, oats, rice, root vegetables, rye, wheat

Animal: cattle, bison, stag, earth-dwelling snakes, mole, dragon (earth energy), sphinx

Rules: life, birth, growth, nature, money, food, prosperity, silence, wisdom, agriculture, creativity, canyons, caverns, chasms, rocks, caves, metals, agriculture, ctystals, matter, stability, strength, trees, bones, mountains, the body, physical reality, standing stones, the sense of touch, the first astral plane, the ablility of life to sustain itself



Air

For: Psychic Work

Planet: Mercury, Jupiter

Time: dawn

Season: spring

Quality: contenplative, sanguine, masculine

Direction: east

Jewel: topaz

Tool: athame, sword, cinser

Zodiac: Gemini (mutable air), Libra (cardinal air), Aquarius (fixed air)

Color: pastels, white, clear, pale blue, bright yellow

Incense: frankincense, fumitory, galivanum, myrrh

Symbol: incense, feathers, balloons, bubbles, kites, windmills, sails, fans

Plant: anemone (windflower), aspen, bodh tree, epiphytic plants (such as bird's nest fern), plants and trees that provide incense, pansy, poplar, primrose, vervain, violet, wall fern (polypody), yarrow

Animal: vird, insect, eagle, hawk, spinx

Rules: thoughts, ideas, flight, knowledge, wind, intellect, breath, learning, intuition, towers, aeries, high and windy places, the mind, the avstract, the mental plane, the sense of smell



Fire

For: Purification, Sex Magic, Healing (to destroy disease), Candle Magic, Hearth Magic

Planet: sun, mars, jupiter

Time: noon

Season: summer

Quality: destructive, choleric, masculine, phallic

Direction: south

Jewel: fire opal, pyrite/ firestone, amethyst, fire garnet

Tool: censer, wand

Zodiac: Aries (cardinal fire), Leo (fixed fire), Sagittarius (mutable fire)

Color: red, gold, crimson, orange, white

Incense: copal, frankincense, olibanum, rose

Symbol: swastika (fire wheel), candle, crucible, matches

Plant: alder, almond tree in bloom, dittany (burning bush), fire thorn, flame tree, garlic, hibiscus, mustard, nettles, onion, hot peppers, red poppy, rose

Animal: salamander, lion, snake, fire-breathing dragon, horse (when their hooves strike sparks), serpent

Rules: energy, activity, motivation, sight, quickening, blood, sap, spirit, purification, heat, flames, bonfires, lust, life, enthusiasm, passion, the hearth, inspiration, transformation, vitality, sexuality, leadership, combustion, healing, volcanos, destruction, authority, metalwork, incandescence, deserts, eruptions, explosions, anger, the masculine, the power of will, inspiration


Water

For: Healing, Love spells, Purification, Psychic Work, Fertility, Weather Magic

Planet: moon, neptune, saturn, venus

Time: twilight

Season: autumn

Quality: emotional, phlefmatic, feminine

Direction: west

Jewel: crystal, coral, sea salt, jade, pearl, mother-of-pearl

Tool: chalice, cauldron

Zodiac: Cancer (cardinal water), Scorpio (fixed water), Pisces (mutable water)

Color: blue, black, green, clear

Incense: lotus, myrrh, aromatic rush roots

Symbol: pitcher, wave, tear, raindrop, snowflake

Plant: aquatic plants, ferns, fungi, lotus, moss, reeds, rushes, seaweed, soma, squill, watercress, waterlily, willow

Animal: sea mammals, marine life, crocodile, salamander, serpent, sea bird, water -dwelling snake

Rules: emotions, fertility, sensuality, intuition, change, sorrow, compassion, receptivity, feelings, tides, love, ecstasy, courage, mystery, daring, oceans, tivers and streams, springs, wells and lakes, waterfalls and pools, marine life, psychic ability, the feminine, the sense of taste, the unconscious, the subconscious, the womb

The Zodiac Signs and Their Qualities:

Cardinal: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

Fixed: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Mutable: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces



Zodiac and Their Elements:

Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces



Planets and Energies:

Sun: Self, creativity, life spirit, willpower

Moon: Emotions, subconscious, instinct, memories

Mercury: Communication, mental activity, intelligence

Venus: Love, beauty, art, sociability, harmony, money, resources

Mars: Action, desire, courage, physical energy, ego

Jupiter: Abudance, luck, wisdoom, learning, philosophy, exploration, growth

Saturn: Responsibilities, limitations, perseverance, discipline, structure

Uranus: Change, originality, radicalism, liberation, the unexpected, intuition

Neptune: Idealism, spirituality, intuition, clairvoyance, subconscious

Pluto: Regeneration, destruction, rebirth, transformation, power

[Lisa]

Full Moon Names:

The tradition of naming the year's full Moons began during the era of Roman occupation in England. A few reflect Roman influences, but most relate to farming activities. These correspond to the zodiacal months, rather than our modern civil calendar and begin at Spring Equinox.


Seed (Aries): Sowing season and symbol of the new year.

Hare (Taurus): In Roman lore, rabbits were associateed with spring time and fertility.

Dyad (Gemini): The Latin word for "pair" refers to the twin stars of Gemini: Castor and Pollux.

Mead (Cancer): During late June and most of July, the meadows (meads) were mowed for hay.

Wort (Leo): Now the words (from Anglo-Saxon wyrt, "plant") were gathered to be dried and stored.

Barley(Virgo): Persephone, maiden goddess of rebirth, carries a sheaf of barley as a symbol of the harvest.

Blood (Libra): At this season, domestic animals were sacrificed for winter meat. (Libra's full mooon became the Wine Moon if a good grape harvest was expected to produce a superior vintage).

Snow (Scorpio): Scorpio heralds the dark season whrn the first snow falls.

Oak (Sagittarius): The sacred tree of the Druids and the Roman god Jupiter is most noble as it eithstands Winter's blasts.

Wolf (Capricorn): The fearsome wolf represents the dark half of the year.

Storm (Aquarius): A storm is said to rage most fiercely just before it ends and so does the year.

Chaste (Pisces): This archaic word for pure reflects the custom of greeting the new year with a clean slate.