What is Wicca?

Wicca doctrine is an earth- based belief system which is based on the Pantheist pagan beliefs. In the beginning of the twentieth century, it’s been formed by Gerald Brosseau Gardner as practices which are re-combined in an Eclectic structure. Although a lot of people accept the right date as the publishing of “Witchcraft Today” by Gardner in 1954, it needs to be more carefully analyzed. Before the abolishment of “Witchcraft Act” officially in 1951 that was made against witches in England that dates back to 15th century (the spiritual and esoteric societies that were established during the second half of the 19th century and afterwards have contributed greatly to this development), Gardner was accepted to the much disputed New Forest Coven in 1939, and formed his own coven after leaving in 1948.

There are a lot of things written about Wicca. Because of the existence of Solitary Practice as well as initiation system, it’s open to subjective interpretations; however that pluralistic, pluralistic and eclectic approach has also some limits. Wicca has some basic principles as a religious system;

* Belief in Gods and Goddesses. As well as being explained as blessing and accepting the masculine and feminine wholeness of creation from the perspective of one God and Goddess concept, that might also be explained in a polytheist way. As it is understood from the Pantheist or Panantheist structure, an Atheist practitioner is apart from Wicca system, but can be named as a “Witch”.

* Accepting “Wiccan Rede.” (See: What is “Wiccan Rede?”?) 

* Believing in “Threefold Law” or “Law of Return.” (See: What is “Threefold Law?”?)

* Accepting the Nature centred understanding and the concept of forming a relationship with the Natural Laws.

* Accepting the existence of the concept of Magick (Maji). However, practicing magick is not required. There are Wiccans who accept magick but do not practice. In its core, Wicca is made of esoteric practices which don’t require magickal practices, but deep understanding and devotion.  Deep work on Rede, grasping the doctrine’s different perspective and aspects in the awareness of ritual practices and depth psychology can be examples of that.
 

“Self awareness” and “self discipline” plays a big role in Wicca. Thus, it’s a belief system which is far away from dogmatism and it’s directly based on experience. Its philosophy’s essence is experiencing and practicing the creative energy intimately, instead of using some prepared guiding instructions.
 

* The form of the ritual and the equipments used, vary according to tradition and the individual practitioner. Thus, sources used to gain information (books, internet, etc.) should be examined carefully and it shouldn’t be forgotten that the responsibility belongs to the practitioner her/himself. Some Eclectic and Solitary wiccans do not accept “Rede” and “Threefold Law”, and it’s a matter of discussion. The difference is between the actual practitioners of initiation tradition and the subjective interpretations of the solitary practitioners. Because of the interest increasing in West, there are lots of books published about Wicca, overshadowing the real discipline. On the other hand, realizing what is wrong or right both requires personal attention and the ability of perceiving and searching what is really behind the seen. No matter how much it is spoken about, the turning of “Knowledge” into something very easy to reach, leads us back to question of what knowledge itself is. The most valuable parts of mystic doctrines are made of the statements which are left behind or haven’t been expressed yet.
 

* Wicca has a three-level initiation process. As a mystic tradition, Wicca includes self transformation, inner and internal practices that esoteric manner requires. Gardner didn’t abstain from including eastern esotericism, western tradition, folkloric practices, shamanic notions and exercises, kabalistic and ceremonial magick practices into the system he first formed. Then, his first high priestess he worked with, Doreen Valiente, re-arranged those ceremonial and cabbalistic elements while removing some aspects, and developed a more Pagan-based system. That approach still preserves its existence today. It should also be considered that, although Wicca’s core might seem to have a combined philosophy, it has a deep and serious tendency to collect the pagan beliefs and practices of the past as a revisionist persperctive, and support it with other –ex: some ceremonial exercises- sources.

Etymology:

The origin of the word is Indo-European “wic” or “weil” which means to direct and give shape in Old English. Wicca is the masculine form of “wise man”. The feminine form of the word which means “wise woman” is “wicce”. Thus, the practitioners of the Dianic tradition name themselves as “Dianic Wicce”. Interestingly, Gardner has never used that word, but for the sake of etymology he had made use of the word “wica” (for the first time in 1959 in “The Meaning of Witchcraft”). That word is related to the “wych” word in Saxon language. The etymologic explanation of “witch” are the roots “wit-“(which means “to know”), and “wych”. Moreover, Wicca is originally pronounced as “witchae” or “witcha”, which is phonetically close to the word “witch”. 

For example, in the 11th century old English translation of the Halitgar Penitentiary which belongs to the early latin period we come acoss the expression  “swa wiccan tæcaş” that has been added by the translator. This has to be a delibarate addition because it shows us beyond doubt that in the 11th century there were still “’wiccan’ teachers” who were continuing the pagan tradition and that the christian clergy were aware of them; had this not been the case they wouldn’t need to make this addition to the text and renew the ban.   

So, it’s possible to observe pagan religion practitioners who were named “wiccan” much before Gardner. Leland has also used that word in his works before Gardner.

What is Witchcraft? 

Up to this day, Wicca and witchcraft were concepts that seemed to have the same meaning; however now there are big differences between them and it’s not correct to use them to imply the same definition...

Witchcraft is not a belief system, but a combination of practices. It has been practiced in every culture, community and geography. Thus, theologically, it’s not a religion but a method of practice, way of life. A witch can be Christian, Muslim (Those religions have forbidden such practices) or an Atheist. Witches do not accept the ethic rules in Wicca, Wiccan Rede and Threefold Law. (A Wiccan might consider her/himself as a Witch; however the opposite is not possible.) 

The base of the practice in witchcraft is directing and focusing the energy by will power. Thus, it may not belong to a belief. Although the word “witch” may seem to represent only females, it’s a word used to describe both sexes. (See; what is a “warlock”? for the name incorrectly used for male witches.)

The “hereditary” part of witchcraft refers to the practices of the witch who has taken over them from her/his family tradition that continued through generations. Especially in 60’s and after the abolishment of “Witchcraft Act” in England, there were many practitioners who claimed to practice hereditary witchcraft, however it’s trustworthiness is suspicious. Today, witchcraft is not a hereditary quality, but a concept that the individual improves depending on his/her ability.

“Burning times”; is the name that today’s witches and wiccans gave to the period of persecution by the Inquisition in order to commemorate all the victims who were burned, hanged or been killed by torture. Although the exact number is debated the official death toll is  about 250.000 people. It isn’t known how many of the victims were witches as they were claimed to be. The confessions of witchcraft are not trustworthy, as the declarations were made under torture. Although the majority of the victims were women, the victims could be men, children, and even animals. The reasons of the accusations were generally diseases such as plague, the battle of the church against the practices it named as “Heretic”, and usually something as simple as a villager’s denouncement of his neighbor whom he disputed with. Because of that reason, there was no alive person left in some villages. Midwives and women who could practice herbal healing methods were also accused. However, earlier, the church had accepted that witches could heal and control the nature events. It is very difficult to reach sound judgments about this period without evaluating it political, economic and socio-cultural aspects; there were many dynamics and many of the factors were the result of interactions of these dynamics. Today we still witness the murder of persons who are ‘accused’ of witchcraft in certain areas of India and Africa. In fact this persecution, which has been identified with a certain period in history can be said to be continuing in our day with societal changes and inhibitions.

In Anatolia witchcraft has followed a totally dissimilar path. The dictionary translation of the word witch is “cadı” which in local legend identifies entities which, like ghouls, pursue the living and harm them. A corresponding word in Anatolian society can be “ebe-midwife” which denotes healers whop were respected and sought for their help. 

What is a “Warlock?” 
 

It’s been mistakenly used to define a male witch. Although it’s been used to define a male magician or witch by the inquisition, (From this perspective it can be said that as the word “witch”, the word “warlock” has also undergone a negative meaning shift)  in modern Wicca, it means “Oath breaker”, covering both male and female sexes.

There are two opinions about the origin of the word. One claims that the word is Anglo-Saxon based, and comes from the Old English word “waerloga” (betrayer: waer, loga: liar).

The second one claims that the word is Scandinavia based and comes from “var’lokkur” (var: spirit, lokkur: song or the one who communicates with spirits). It has been described in this way in the “Saga of Eric the Red” which has been dated to the 14th century.

Although it’s a controversial word, because of the negative meaning it evokes, usually the first point of view is accepted.

What is Paganism?

It’s a humiliating term used to define the religions which are apart from the official Rome religion. It comes from the Latin word “paganus” and means “rude, villager”. Today, people who believe in Polytheism, use that term to define themselves, and posses it proudly. In Christianity, it is used to define every people who do not accept the church’s dogmas, and also Muslims and Jews. Today, the word “pagan” means the earth-based polytheist religions, and it’s divided to multiple sections (Asatru, Huna, Shamanic practices, Santeria and practices other than monotheist religions etc.).  For example, Wicca is a pagan religion, however not every pagan is a wiccan. Similarly, witchcraft is not counted as a pagan practice if the practitioner hasn’t got a pantheist or polytheist belief.

What is “Cowan”? (Plural: Cowen) 
 

Traditionally, “cowan” is used to define the people who are out of the doctrine and not initiated and it does not have negative connotations it is simply used to denote persons who are outside the initiatic bond. It is accepted that this word is of Scottish origin and means “person who does not have competence in any subject”. Because this word can also be used to denote a  person who builds a structure without the benefit of a formal education it has been used by masons as a metaphor. 

What is “Coven”?
 

The name of the group that people come together and practice in Wicca and Witchcraft.  Today, there are independent groups who are not related to any absolute authority.

Coven is a community that the members are together with respect and faithfulness. Being a part of a coven is a serious thing as both psychic and karmic bonds are established, and the decisions are made in harmony with the member’s common opinion. When the number of the members increases members who are initiatically at a higher level can start a new coven. The new coven may continue the tradition of the ‘mother’ coven or it may follow a new path independent of the mother coven. In certain traditions, when the high priestess of the mother coven lays the ground for three or more new covens she is called as “witch queen”.

Finally an excerpt from an article I had written on this subject

…

The word “coven” has been transformed from the latin word “convenire” and is used to denote the meaning of “coming together”. However different traditions may use different words for groups; for instance the Scottish tradition and Asatru do not use the word coven etc.

Interestingly coven has been translated into Turkish as “kovan” (i.e. beehive) and honestly I did like it quite a lot. In the land where the Mother goddess cult, along with the cult of Artemis has survived for the longest period of time, the latest symbol for Artemis and Magna Mater had been the “bee queen”. The figure of the bee as illustrated in the symbol of the city of Izmir (Smyrna) can be observed frequently on pieces of sculpture depicting Artemis. The word “kovan” meets its meaning exactly.
 

What is the Book of Shadows? (BOS)

Traditionally, Book of Shadows is the name given to the magick and ritual journal that belongs to a tradition or coven.  It’s been protected by the high-priestess or priest and can be copied by handwriting by initiate/dedicant.  Belonging to a specific tradition, its rules, practices, ethics, informative materials, ritual forms are written on the Book of Shadows. Today, practitioners give that name to their journal and name the book they write their experiences, notes, practices and rituals, as the Book of Shadows. In Wicca, initiate is allowed to add her/his personal writings only after the copying process of the main book in handwriting. Sometimes, that part is named as “Grimoire”, and separate from the BOS.

Even though its name has interesting associations related to popular culture, these books are nothing but journals belonging to a group or a person. Their main value lies in the fact that, enriched by experience, they are unique texts documenting a person’s maturation and transformation through the teaching. In this respect they aren’t of much value to an outsider-and it is almost impossible for them to see a true copy.  There’s a belief that it should be burned with the owner when she/he is dead. (However there are exceptions. For instance Gardner’s BOS had passed on to Doreen Valiente. It has been restructured between 1954-1957 by Gardner and Valiente and has been used by Alexander Sanders who had initiated the Alexandrian tradition. In our day many traditions are based on this type of interaction. )

What is “Drawing down the moon”?

It’s the name given to special ritual performed at the esbats (see: “What is esbat” and “What is “sabbat”) by the high priestess when it’s full moon, and it’s especially used to embody  the Goddess’ energy or to make use of the energy of the moon in lunar practices. In certain practices a version of this performed by the high priest under the name of “drawing down the sun”. It’s a practice completely different from a standard esbat or practice; reaching to the required visualization and state of consciousness requires focusing of pure will by special gestures and methods.

“What is High priestess/priest?”

In Wicca and some witchcraft traditions, High priestess is the title given to the person who is initiated at third degree. This title can also be found in the priestess status of pagan religions. Initiation ritual is sometimes called as “the great rite”. She represents the highest authority in the Wiccan tradition which mostly has a matriarchal structure. She is the representation of the goddess in rituals and she is responsible for calling the energy of the goddess in some special rituals such as “Drawing of the Moon”. 

Counter to the cult establishments, she has a duty of counselor who is responsible for the education of the other initiates in the tradition. We can compare this to the managerial position in any organization that requires division of labor. In essence she has taken on the responsibility for organization in a group that is based on interpersonal cooperation and intra-group communication and when the esoteric aspect of this responsibility is considered this is a duty that requires long years of practice and can be fulfilled only by persons who are capable of meeting the demands of it in accordance with an ethical framework. She is the spokeswoman of the decisions that the coven’s elders make.

High priest is the title given to the male initiate who is in the same position. His duty is to help the High priestess and support her in the coven’s studies. He is in an equal position with the other male initiates in the coven. He’s the representation of the God form in rituals, and he’s usually responsible of providing order and peace in the coven.

In certain traditions, this titles are given to couples/persons who have been practicing together for years and who are initiated at the third degree.

What is “Three fold law”?

It’s peculiar to the Wicca doctrine, and other than being a metaphysical and physical principle, it’s an ethical concept which informs that an act’s results returns to that person in a three-folded way.

Although it seems alike to “karma”, it’s a quite different concept. Karma accepts that every act has an inescapable result, but three fold law is the return of that result in a three-time powerful way. This is the point where it separates from karma. Furthermore, karma lasts in the individual’s all incarnations, but three fold law is a rule that should be considered only in the life we are living at the moment.

Karma is a universal and evolutionary doctrine which revolves along all of a person’s incarnations - of course if the person in question believes in that-, three fold law concerns only the current life time - of course if the person in question believes in that-. (The elder laws, by their nature, are supposed to function irrespective of a person’s beliefs; nevertheless I shall follow the eclectic approach:-)

What is “Wiccan rede”?

It’s the basic Wiccan teaching which is; “An it Harm None, Do as Ye Will”.

Rede doesn’t “order” a wiccan to not to harm anyone or anything, but says that an act is acceptable when it doesn’t harm anything or anyone. It’s not a pacifist saying, but charges ethical responsibility to the practitioner.

Other than being a rule, Rede is an advice. Often, it’s been confused with Aleister Crowley’s law of Thelma (“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."), or said to be an alternative version of that, they do not have any relation in reality. They’re the ethical codes of two completely different systems.

What are “Esbat” and “Sabbath”?

Esbats are the celebration meetings that are repeated in every full moon; they are not to be confused with the eight great cyclical festivities. Some traditions repeat those meetings in new moon, waxing and waning moon.  

Sabbath as a concept has a different meaning from the time of worship and rest of the Israelites that lasts from Friday sunset to the Saturday sunset. Because in the middle ages the Inquisition accused everyone who didn’t accept the dogma of the Catholic church with heresy –which included the members of the other monotheistic religions- the term sabbath has been misdefined as a result of this false association. 

According to Doreen Valiente, (An ABC on witchcraft,1973), Sabbath  is a word coming from the chanting  “sabai” or “evoi sabai” that was made in Dionysian rituals (From Dionysus’ title Sabadius), and it is the name given to the celebrations of pagan beliefs which place the seasonal circles on their center.

(Here I need to add as a personal note:  

Apart from Dionysos, Sabazios has been accepted as a Phrygian god and has entered the Greek pantheon later through being identified/associated with Dionysos. The greeks have many explanations depicting the festivities that take place in relation of this god’s connection to the Phrygian mother Goddess Matar (Kybele) cult. And even though the cult’s nature and properties are disputed it is beyond doubt of Anatolian origin. If Valiente’s theory is correct the Anatolian connection and the effect of Anatolia on paganism is once more encountered. Indeed when investigated thoroughly it is seen that Anatolia has been the primal source of many teachings. The subjects we are discussing are not alien to the country we are living in, on the contrary, they are familiar to us as our current culture has the same roots and shares many of their aspects. For a more detailed article (t.n. in Turkish)on this subject visit  http://www.anatoliancraft.org/contents/view/1521/31/  )     

Those celebrations are made eight times. The following information includes their names and dates;

* Samhain/Halloween – October 31

* Yule/winter solstice – December 21

* Imbolc/Candlemas – February 2

* Ostara/spring equinox – March 21

* Beltane/Mayday (sometimes 30th of April night, with walpurgisnacht) – May 1

* Litha/summer solstice – June 21

* Lughnasadh/Lammas – July 1

* Mabon/autmn equinox – September 21

Among these dates, when calculated astronomically, there may be a few lapses about days. Because the celebrations are also rituals, they must be in harmony with the astrological calendar.

Sabbaths are usually divided into two as the greater and the lesser. Lesser sabbats; Ostara, Mabon, Litha and Yule (all of them involving the solstice and equinox). Greater Sabbats; Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh and Samhain (which are four main Celtic festivals). According to Margaret Murray –if we may take her as a reference-, Celts were never able to develop a system that is completely focused on the sun. That's why lesser Sabbaths which are astronomically focused on the sun came into their traditions later. Murray connects this to the Saxons, whom she calls "solstitial invaders". When they ran away from Rome’s pressure, they got to interact with Celts and the other clans. Still, she argues that since equinoxes cannot be seen from Britain, they just accepted the solstices but all those arguments are subject to great controversy. Most of the other pagan traditions do not discriminate between "lesser" or "grater”. Plus, for the traditions in the Mediterranean zone, this discrimination is completely unnecessary and ridiculous.

Despite this, as a third kind; the applications of birth and death, step to adolescence and rites of passages, and "hand fasting" - joining lives/pagan marriage concept- play an important role as the Sabbaths.

To give a little bit of information about each of the 8 festivals- they possess detailed and rich symbolism-:

Mabon, the name given to the autumn equinox, starts with god going to the underground by the last harvest, and starts the period of time the god’s spents in the land of eternity –some may call it as “summerland”- until god is resurrected again in spring.

Samhain, celebrated on 31st September, is the festival where the mysteries of eternal death-rebirth and life are experienced. Goddess leads for the rebirth of god and the dead by going underground.

Yule is the celebration for the rebirth and return of god.

Imbolc, known as a light festival, is the messenger of the end of winter, and goddess' power to restart the life.

Ostara, celebrated on the spring equinox, announces the beginning of spring and the blossom of nature. Goddess, here, is in the aspect of a life giving mother/creatrix.

Beltane, is an fertility festival. Its most important ritual is "hieros gamos" / “homus dei” / “great rite” . Beltane is the celebration of the holy unity of god and goddess and the cosmic harmony born from it.

Litha, celebrated in summer solstice, is the great festival of the masculine form of the creation. Its power reaches the climax in this very day and stars to weaken in the season cycle.

Lammas, the first harvest and festival. Ancient laws, karma, three fold law and such concepts are the main points of it.

What is Pentagram?

Pentagram is the name given to the 5 -pointed star symbol in a circle. The reason it’s used as a magical symbol is because of its representation of four elements, earth, air, fire and water; and the power that unites those elements (ether/aether) Drawing it upright, refers to that complementary property of the fifth element. The shape of star in the circle (cosmic egg)is the metaphor of the wholeness of man and universe, the microcosm and the macrocosm...

In another pagan description associated with the apple, it is one of the secrets inside the apple tree –tree of wisdom- that is considered as sacred  for the goddess. Other than its importance in ceremonial practices, its most important feature is, contrary to the popular knowledge, its symbolization of The Mother Goddess with the five-pointed star. This is related to the representation of the Mother Goddess by the sun and the moon, in connection with Ishtar – which has passed to the Western language as ‘star’- and Venus. 4 elements +quinta essentia are complementary and together they point to the primal life-giving force of the goddess, the symbolism in alchemical practices is in this direction as well.  In Anatolia, goddess Kybele’s (Matar Kubileya) ideogram is a cube; her seal is a five pointed star.

In the folkloric tradition, Pentagram has a protective power against evil, such as the specific version of the evil eye in Anatolian tradition. In Hebrew tradition it represents the first five books of the Old Testament –The Torah- and is known as the “Star of Solomon” by ceremonial practitioners. Incorrectly, it’s thought to be same with the 6-pointed star- the hexagram. Pentagram has been accepted to be the holy symbol of the Goddess by Druids. In Christianity, it was continued to be used as a protective symbol, and has been used as a motif at churches until the time of Inquisition. With the Inquisition, the meaning of the symbol has undergone a great change, but it’s been used in Hermetic tradition, Renaissance and Tarot symbolism, Alchemy studies, Masonry, and by many Esoteric order. It’s an important symbol which needs to be deeply and widely studied.

The usage of pentagram reversed shows a high level of initiation, and has a positive meaning in some traditions. Pentagram can be used apart from the Monist approach ; and can represent a dualist point of view in a neo-platonistic sense.

Pentacle is a disk on which a pentagram symbol is drawn, and it’s a tool used to symbolize the earth element or god and goddess form, and macro and microcosms harmony.

Traditionally, in four elements and elemental practices, the form of the ritual and tools to be used are deeply considered. Pentacle and pentagram are might be considered as important features of the circle casting period. When considering tools used in esoteric practice, it should be kept in mind that tools cannot be evaluated independent of the particular initiatory or practical purpose of the individual or the tradition that is going to make use of them.

What does “One Year and a Day” represent?
 

An excerpt from another article I had written on this subject:

...........

Traditionally giving the initiate /dedicant a time interval of one year and a day or 13 lunar months and 28 days. This is used in many different places and generally used as a symbol for representing the time that is constitutes the preparation period.  

At present some Wiccan traditions take this period of time as a basis for providing the initiate intense preparatory education and at the end of the period realise the initiation ceremony.

However, perhaps the term “one year and a day” should be qualified with “at least”; because the necessary preparation period varies according to the individual and it might take years as well as a much shorter period of time. I need to stress it again that this expression is symbolic rather than descriptive. 

.....

Finally it should be said that making research, gthering information and learning is a process, it takes time and this time period is not limited or rule-bound. Those who have experienced the Initiation process will have a deeper understanding of what I intend to mean. When the subject is “paganism” there is no period of waiting unless it is due to personal choice but there is such a period when the subject is a tradition or an order. There is a beatiful saying about this by the Hpss of the eclectic establishment:  “…The Lord and Lady make you Priest or Priestess, but I make you an Initiated One”

Meaningless and trivia questions we are fed up with being asked but are (can) not with answering.
 

* Do you believe in Satan?
 

Satan is the production of monotheist religion’s absolute good-evil dualism. It’s a concept which has no place in Pagan and Wiccan belief system. So normally, we cannot accept a concept which even does not exist in our belief system.

In Wicca, the individual is responsible of his/her own actions, and evil-good are concepts unique to human, not to gods or goddesses. Moreover, no one can force the individual to act in a way out of his/her own will.

Some mysteries about darkness and death are wrongly discussed in that dualist point of view. Darkness symbolizes unconscious, -with the description of analytic psychology: shadow, collective and personal unconscious-, nothingness and emptiness, universe’s primordial origin. In Esoteric tradition, the individual has to face with that, know it and reconcile with it, and the advanced degrees of the doctrine contain practices that focus on that.

* Are Wicca and Witchcraft cults?

Cult means a community which is made of persons who blindly follow a leader. There isn’t this kind of a leadership institution in neither Paganism and nor Wicca, and as a philosophy pluralistic attendance is always stressed.

* Can witches fly? 

When they get in an airplane or use a paraglider, etc., yes! Usually that belief’s origin is the fact that some herbal mixtures include high amounts of hallucinogens; and Middle Age’s exaggerated folktales play a big role in completing the picture of flying witches. 

At present such descriptions are used to denote symbolically the practices on the astral plane.

* What are white and black magick?

 As repeated often, “Magick is the art and science of causing change according to will” (A.C.) Thus, the energy which is focused in the direction of will has no color. It can only be said to be good or evil according to the practitioner and his/her purpose. Apart from these we can consider all of the colors available in the spectrum, but there isn’t such a description.