What is Wicca

What is Wicca?

Wicca is a modern religion that is inspired by ancient pagan spirituality.

Religion can be defined as shared spiritual systems and practices.

Pagan spirituality refers to religious and spiritual practices and beliefs that were originally a part of every human civilization such as Vedic spirituality of Asia, Druidism of Europe, Voudon of Africa, Shamanism in Native cultures, all these being arguably magickal practices or witchcraft from different regions of the world.

What is Witchcraft?

In ancient times men and women recognized as wise-ones of any community were visited for consultation, advise and healing. They usually incorporated natural crystals, herbs, meditation and other natural systems for healing and therapy. In the modern world people who do the same are called witches or wizards - another term for 'wise'. Witches sometimes practice in groups called covens or circles.

Wicca, a nature based spiritual system, is a magickal religion - in other words, a religion of witchcraft. Not all witches or wizards will be Wiccans. Wiccan is a term only those who choose to adhere to a Wiccan spiritual tradition or religion. Wiccan groups are usually organized as traditions, each tradition having one or more temple.

Wiccan Philosophy

Wicca considers each and every aspect of the nature as divine and sacred primarily the five major elements of nature - Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Spirit as symbolized by the five pointed star enclosed by a circle, named the pentacle - a symbol of Wiccan faith.

Wicca recognizes Magick as a basic truth of life. Wiccans know that we are all creators of our destiny and have the powers to manifest a more beautiful and balanced life through our intentions, will power and our spiritual, mental, emotional and physical actions or karma.

Deity or deities worshipped in Wicca are referred to as both god and goddess emphasizing the principles of equality and balance in this religion.

God Symbol Goddess Symbol

Wiccan Spells

Wicca being a magickal religion allows the performance of spells that are nothing but a way of projecting our intent and positive energy into the manifestation of a desired goal. In other words it is like a prayer made with a lot of focus and belief in your-self. Some people imagine spells to be instant wish-fulfillment formula which is not always the case. In Wicca spells are to be treated as a religious prayer made in the Wiccan way and always as per the Will of the higher self or deity and therefore not to be mistaken as a guaranteed formula and of course never to be used for any manipulation, harm or negative reason.

Wiccan Rede

The core code of conduct in Wicca is a simple and rational one: "Do as You Will as Long as You Harm None" - referred to as The Wiccan Rede

Wicca recognizes our freedom to believe, think, act, manifest and live the way we choose as long as it does not intentionally harm any other being. Those who do not follow the natural principle or law of harming none are bound to learn their lessons through their own karma coming back multiple times to them (also called the three-fold law) until they return to the path of goodness, love and light.

Wiccan Festivals

Being a religion of nature, Wicca incorporates festivals called Sabbats based on the Wheel of the Year that marks the earth's journey into time across various seasons.

The main festivals or Sabbats in Wicca are Samhain (1 Nov - last harvest and beginning on a new year), Yule (21 Dec - Winter solistice when night is longest), Imbolc (1 Feb - earth's quickening), Ostara (21 March - earth's ovulation and spring equinox when day and night are equal), Beltane (1 May - earth's fertility and start of summer), Litha (21 June - midsummer solstice when day is longest), Lammas (1 August - First harvest blessing), Mabon (21 September - Second harvest blessing and equinox when day and night are equal)

Moon phases are also honored and celebrated as Esbats, primarily Full Moons and often New Moons as well.

Wiccan Traditions

Wicca is flexible about the way people structure their beliefs and there are various traditions and groups that may differ from each other in their exact teachings, practices and beliefs. This system is referred to as Traditional Wicca and includes initiations into various degrees of Wicca (usually three) after a prescribed course of learning that may differ from tradition to tradition.

There are also many people today who are unable to be part of any Wiccan tradition and therefore choose to follow Wiccan beliefs and practices on their own as solitary Witches and sometimes call themselves Solitary Wiccans as well who are self-initiated and often join as members or initiates of a local tradition whenever they can to add more focus to their practice. Global Wicca is one such tradition that offers people a chance to follow the Wiccan faith and access Wiccan religious services with expert guidance available through the tradition's leadership headed by Rev. Swati Prakash.

Wiccan Temples and Rituals

In Wicca there are temples that offer spiritual and religious services to the community. A tradition may have one or more temple. A temple does not necessarily mean an architectural structure. It is a gathering of Wiccan priestesses and priests who perform rituals and services such as blessings, prayers and spells, festive rites, Wiccan wedding or hand-fasting and so on. Global Wicca Tradition currently offers services through the Earth Healing Temple based in Mumbai, India.