Frequently Asked Questions

As a witch, these are some of the most common questions (or accusations) I get; if you are not satisfied with an answer, or have a question that is not listed here, just click on the "any other questions" category.

 What is Wicca? | Do you worship the devil? | Can you really cast spells? | What are your beliefs? | Is Witchcraft really a religion? | What are male witches called? | How do I become a witch? | Can I be a witch and just do Magick? | What is the difference between a pentacle and pentagram? | Any other questions?

Witchcraft, or Wicca, is a pagan earth religion honoring primarily the God and the Goddess figures. They are believed to be the embodiment or sum of all other gods worshiped historically with all male gods being subdivisions of the God and all female goddesses being subdivisions of the Goddess. In Wicca, the God represents the sun and earth, while the goddess represents the moon and heavens. Wicca is non-discriminatory and non-prejudice against other people or religions, and as a general rule, we just wish to co-exist peacefully with everyone else.

This is the most asked and most annoying question I get. The answer is totally, 100%, no. A major tenant of Wicca is the fact that we recognize "the devil" as a creation of the Christian faith. We, as witches, do not even believe in the devil, let alone worship him! This can be seen through a simple examination of nature: can you think of one creature that is all good or all evil? Of course not, because one does not exist. So instead of one, all good God and one all evil Anti-God figure, we view our gods as having both good and evil sides, just as we all do. You may now be asking, "so why do you refer to your God in rituals as being horned?" I know that was one of my biggest concerns when I was debating switching over from Christianity. However, the answer is really quite simple. One aspect of the God is that he his the God of the hunt, and of the animals of the forest. He has antlers actually, not real horns, like a bull. These horns are the way that he has traditionally been portrayed (even before the time of Christ), probably because it makes him seem more one with the animals of the forest. In actuality, the Christian devil was never portrayed with horns until after the crusades, when the Knights of the Templar came across a pagan village when the people where worshiping a Satyr like god with horns. The Gave these horns to Satan's image because they thought it would make Pagans who worship horned gods look evil. This lie persists even today. Of course the option of who you portray the God is always yours. If you do not feel comfortable with him having horns, then simply don't visualize him as such.

Yes, as a matter of fact we can, and do. All creatures have a destiny which can be forged and made into what they want it to be. One method of doing this is through Magick (the extra k is to differentiate between real Magick and the tricks that stage magicians do). However, do to the beliefs and rules of the Wiccan community, the are some things that we won't do. No true witch would ever intentionally harm another via magic or try to control them. This should eliminate the fear of a witch putting a curse on you right now. As a whole, we practice Magick as a way of bettering the lives of ourselves and those of others.

As with any other religion, the Wiccan system of beliefs is a complex web of thoughts and ideals for how life a Wiccan life should be lived. Many books have been written on this topic alone, and to write down every aspect of this would simply take up to much space. However, I will try to outline the very basics here, and you still have any questions, check out the suggested reading list, or email me.

• The principle belief of Wicca lies in the Wiccan Rede

  The most important aspect of this religion is the Wiccan Rede, which reads a follows - "An' in it harm none, do what ye will." This is the one rule that absolutely every must abide by. It is an oath not abuse your power or knowledge by harming anyone or anything (yourself included). Therefore anyone who claims to be a Witch and then threaten to put a curse on you if you cross her/him, is just a rebellious, aggressive person seeking an identity.

  Now that (I believe) that is understood, here are the Wiccan principles of belief, according to the American Council of Witches. Please note, I did not write these, if you have any complaints, please do not mail them to me. Thank-you.

  1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by he phases of the moon and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.
  2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature, in ecological balance, offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.
  3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.
  4. We conceive of the creative power in the universe as manifesting through polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that this same creative power lives in all people, and functions through the interaction of masculine and feminine. We value sexual pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources used in magical practice and religious worship.
  5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds - sometimes know as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, the Inner Planes, etc. - and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
  6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
  7. We see religion, Magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it - a world view and philosophy of life, which we identify as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way.
  8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch - but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch is seeks to control the forces that live within him/herself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with nature.
  9. We acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the universe we know, and to our personal role within it.
  10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the one true right and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices and belief.
  11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present, and our future.
  12. We do not accept the concept of "absolute evil," nor do we worship any entity know as "Satan" or "the Devil" as defined by Christian tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.

  13. We work within nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being. We are not bound by traditions from other times or other cultures, and we owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the divinity manifest through our own being. As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming teachings and traditions, and seek to learn from all and to share our learning. We do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of Wicca by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies and practices contrary to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins, or sexual preference.
      

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      Is Witchcraft really a religion?

      Yep. Made legal in England in 1967 through the work of Gerald Gardner, and soon after (in the late 1970's) it was officially recognized as a legal religion in the U.S.A.
      

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      What are male Witches called?

      Male witches, contrary to popular belief, are simply called Witches. A Witch is a Witch is a Witch, that's it. Just as a note for those who are dead convinced that male Witches are called Warlocks, it is important to know that the term "Warlock" is actually a Scottish term which means "breaker of oaths", therefore it is an insult to call a Witch a Warlock.
      

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      How do I become a Witch?

      Methods of becoming a Witch very from tradition to tradition, but most of the time it involves being initiated into the Craft by another Witch (if you plan to be a coven Witch) or by the Gods' and yourself (if you plan to be a solitary). Most of the time there is a waiting period of study before a student of Wicca can become an initiated Witch, this period is usually a year and a day, although this may be longer in certain covens.
      

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      Can I be a Witch and just do Magick?

      No. If you are interested in Wicca, then you must realize that it is a religion, and not just a collection of spells. To take on the beliefs of a Witch is to take on all the beliefs. If you are interested solely in the magickal aspect and not the religious, then perhaps you would be better off looking into the path of a Magician.
      

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      What is the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram?

      This is a question that I had to add here because I have found that a lot of people (many Witches included) don't know the answer; and I've yet to find it written in black and white anywhere. So allow me to clarify things. A pentagram is simply a five pointed. I.E. there are fifty pentagrams on the American flag. A pentacle on the other hand, is a five pointed star, turned upwards and surrounded by a circle. A pentacle is generally accepted as the Wiccan symbol, much like the Christians wear crosses to represent their religion. The symbolism behind the pentacle is as follows: The five points represent the five elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit (i.e. the gods). The circle binding them represents protection, and infinity, or the wheel of the year and the spiral of life.
      

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      Any Other Questions?

      If you have any other questions than the ones listed here, or you would just like more information on one of the topics already discussed, just email me at moonhaze@thegodsgrove.com and I will be more than happy to get back to you A.S.A.P.
      

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