Wicca - Revision history

Occultwiki at 16:53, 15 November 2024

2024-11-15T16:53:43Z

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	==Wicca vs. Witchcraft==		==Wicca vs. Witchcraft==
	When the religion first came to public attention, it was commonly called "[[Witchcraft]]". For instance, Gerald Gardner—the man regarded as the "Father of Wicca"—referred to it as the "Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the witch-cult" during the 1950s. There is no evidence that he ever called it "Wicca", although he did refer to the collective community of Pagan Witches as "the Wica" (with one c). As a name for the religion, "Wicca" developed in Britain during the 1960s. It is not known who precisely invented the term "Wicca" in reference to the religion, although one possibility is that it might have been Gardner's rival Charles Cardell, who was referring to it as the "Craft of the Wiccens" by 1958.		When the religion first came to public attention, it was commonly called "[[Witchcraft]]". For instance, Gerald Gardner—the man regarded as the "Father of Wicca"—referred to it as the "Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the witch-[[cult]]" during the 1950s. There is no evidence that he ever called it "Wicca", although he did refer to the collective community of Pagan Witches as "the Wica" (with one c). As a name for the religion, "Wicca" developed in Britain during the 1960s. It is not known who precisely invented the term "Wicca" in reference to the religion, although one possibility is that it might have been Gardner's rival Charles Cardell, who was referring to it as the "Craft of the Wiccens" by 1958.

	Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft." Using the word "Witchcraft" in this context can result in confusion both with other, non-religious forms of [[witchcraft]] as well as other religions—such as [[Satanic Temple\|Satanism]] and Luciferianism—whose practitioners also sometimes describe themselves as "[[Witch]]es".		Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft." Using the word "Witchcraft" in this context can result in confusion both with other, non-religious forms of [[witchcraft]] as well as other religions—such as [[Satanic Temple\|Satanism]] and Luciferianism—whose practitioners also sometimes describe themselves as "[[Witch]]es".

Occultwiki: /* Sex magic */

2024-01-16T15:19:17Z

Sex magic

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:19, 16 January 2024
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	==Sex magic==		==Sex magic==
	In certain traditions, ritualised sex magic is performed in the form of the Great Rite, whereby a High Priest and High Priestess invoke the God and Goddess to possess them before performing sexual intercourse to raise magical energy for use in spellwork. In nearly all cases it is instead performed "in token," thereby merely symbolically, using the athame to symbolise the penis and the chalice to symbolise the womb.		In certain traditions, ritualised [[sex magic]] is performed in the form of the Great Rite, whereby a High Priest and High Priestess invoke the God and Goddess to possess them before performing sexual intercourse to raise magical energy for use in spellwork. In nearly all cases it is instead performed "in token," thereby merely symbolically, using the athame to symbolise the penis and the chalice to symbolise the womb.

	[[Gerald Gardner]], the man many consider the father of Wicca, believed strongly in sex magic. Much of Gardner's witch practice centered around the power of sex and its liberation, and that one of the most important aspects of the [[Paganism\|neo-Pagan]] revival has been its ties, not just to sexual liberation, but also to feminism and women's liberation.		[[Gerald Gardner]], the man many consider the father of Wicca, believed strongly in sex magic. Much of Gardner's witch practice centered around the power of sex and its liberation, and that one of the most important aspects of the [[Paganism\|neo-Pagan]] revival has been its ties, not just to sexual liberation, but also to feminism and women's liberation.

Occultwiki at 02:40, 26 September 2023

2023-09-26T02:40:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:40, 26 September 2023
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	==Sex magic==		==Sex magic==
	In certain traditions, ritualised sex magic is performed in the form of the Great Rite, whereby a High Priest and High Priestess invoke the God and Goddess to possess them before performing sexual intercourse to raise magical energy for use in ~~[[spells\|~~spellwork]]. In nearly all cases it is instead performed "in token," thereby merely symbolically, using the athame to symbolise the penis and the chalice to symbolise the womb.		In certain traditions, ritualised sex magic is performed in the form of the Great Rite, whereby a High Priest and High Priestess invoke the God and Goddess to possess them before performing sexual intercourse to raise magical energy for use in spellwork. In nearly all cases it is instead performed "in token," thereby merely symbolically, using the athame to symbolise the penis and the chalice to symbolise the womb.

	[[Gerald Gardner]], the man many consider the father of Wicca, believed strongly in sex magic. Much of Gardner's witch practice centered around the power of sex and its liberation, and that one of the most important aspects of the [[Paganism\|neo-Pagan]] revival has been its ties, not just to sexual liberation, but also to feminism and women's liberation.		[[Gerald Gardner]], the man many consider the father of Wicca, believed strongly in sex magic. Much of Gardner's witch practice centered around the power of sex and its liberation, and that one of the most important aspects of the [[Paganism\|neo-Pagan]] revival has been its ties, not just to sexual liberation, but also to feminism and women's liberation.

Occultwiki at 03:12, 6 March 2023

2023-03-06T03:12:44Z

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	==Beliefs==		==Beliefs==
	Wicca is typically duotheistic, worshipping and/or working with a Goddess and a God. These are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God, respectively. These deities may be regarded in a henotheistic way, as having many different divine aspects which can in turn be identified with many diverse pagan deities from different historical pantheons. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as the "Great Goddess" and the "Great Horned God", with the adjective "great" connoting a deity that contains many other deities within their own nature. Some Wiccans refer to the goddess deity as the "Lady" and the god deity as the "Lord"; in this context, when "lord" and "lady" are used as adjectives, it is another way of referring to them as a divine figure. These two deities are sometimes viewed as facets of a greater pantheistic divinity, which is regarded as an impersonal force or process rather than a personal deity. While duotheism or bitheism is traditional in Wicca, broader Wiccan beliefs range from polytheism to pantheism or monism, even to Goddess monotheism.		Wicca is typically duotheistic, worshipping and/or working with a Goddess and a God. These are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God, respectively. These deities may be regarded in a henotheistic way, as having many different divine aspects which can in turn be identified with many diverse pagan deities from different historical pantheons. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as the "Great Goddess" and the "Great Horned God", with the adjective "great" connoting a deity that contains many other deities within their own nature.

			Some Wiccans refer to the goddess deity as the "Lady" and the god deity as the "Lord"; in this context, when "lord" and "lady" are used as adjectives, it is another way of referring to them as a divine figure. These two deities are sometimes viewed as facets of a greater pantheistic divinity, which is regarded as an impersonal force or process rather than a personal deity. While duotheism or bitheism is traditional in Wicca, broader Wiccan beliefs range from polytheism to pantheism or monism, even to Goddess monotheism.

			Wiccan celebrations encompass both the cycles of the [[Moon]], known as Esbats and commonly associated with the Goddess (female deity), and the cycles of the [[Sun]], seasonally based festivals known as [[Sabbat]]s and commonly associated with the Horned God (male deity). An unattributed statement known as the Wiccan Rede is a popular expression of Wiccan morality, although it is not universally accepted by Wiccans. Wicca often involves the ritual practice of [[ritual magic\|magic]], though it is not always necessary.

			==Lineages==
			In the 1950s through to the 1970s, when the Wiccan movement was largely confined to lineaged groups such as [[Gardnerian Wicca]] and Alexandrian Wicca, a "tradition" usually implied the transfer of a lineage by initiation. However, with the rise of more and more such groups, often being founded by those with no previous initiatory lineage, the term came to be a synonym for a religious denomination within Wicca.

			==Sex magic==
			In certain traditions, ritualised sex magic is performed in the form of the Great Rite, whereby a High Priest and High Priestess invoke the God and Goddess to possess them before performing sexual intercourse to raise magical energy for use in [[spells\|spellwork]]. In nearly all cases it is instead performed "in token," thereby merely symbolically, using the athame to symbolise the penis and the chalice to symbolise the womb.

			[[Gerald Gardner]], the man many consider the father of Wicca, believed strongly in sex magic. Much of Gardner's witch practice centered around the power of sex and its liberation, and that one of the most important aspects of the [[Paganism\|neo-Pagan]] revival has been its ties, not just to sexual liberation, but also to feminism and women's liberation.


	Wiccan celebrations encompass both the cycles of the Moon, known as Esbats and commonly associated with the Goddess (female deity), and the cycles of the Sun, seasonally based festivals known as [[Sabbat]]s and commonly associated with the Horned God (male deity). An unattributed statement known as the Wiccan Rede is a popular expression of Wiccan morality, although it is not universally accepted by Wiccans. Wicca often involves the ritual practice of [[ritual magic\|magic]], though it is not always necessary.

	[[Category:Religions]]		[[Category:Religions]]
	[[Category:Witchcraft]]		[[Category:Witchcraft]]

Occultwiki at 03:03, 6 March 2023

2023-03-06T03:03:27Z

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	[[Category:Religions]]		[[Category:Religions]]
			[[Category:Witchcraft]]

Occultwiki at 01:10, 25 October 2022

2022-10-25T01:10:39Z

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	[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Temple Altar of the [[Coven of the Catta]] in the High Priest's bookhouse]]		[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Temple Altar of the [[Coven of the Catta]] in the High Priest's bookhouse]]
	'''Wicca''' is a modern [[paganism\|Pagan]] religion. Scholars of religion categorise it as both a new religious movement and as part of the [[occult]] stream of Western esotericism. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by [[Gerald Gardner]], a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century [[~~hermeticism~~\|hermetic]] motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.		'''Wicca''' is a modern [[paganism\|Pagan]] religion. Scholars of religion categorise it as both a new religious movement and as part of the [[occult]] stream of Western esotericism. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by [[Gerald Gardner]], a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century [[Hermes Trismegistus\|hermetic]] motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.

	The first recorded use of the word "Wicca" appears in 1962.		The first recorded use of the word "Wicca" appears in 1962.

Occultwiki at 23:07, 25 February 2022

2022-02-25T23:07:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 25 February 2022
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	When the religion first came to public attention, it was commonly called "[[Witchcraft]]". For instance, Gerald Gardner—the man regarded as the "Father of Wicca"—referred to it as the "Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the witch-cult" during the 1950s. There is no evidence that he ever called it "Wicca", although he did refer to the collective community of Pagan Witches as "the Wica" (with one c). As a name for the religion, "Wicca" developed in Britain during the 1960s. It is not known who precisely invented the term "Wicca" in reference to the religion, although one possibility is that it might have been Gardner's rival Charles Cardell, who was referring to it as the "Craft of the Wiccens" by 1958.		When the religion first came to public attention, it was commonly called "[[Witchcraft]]". For instance, Gerald Gardner—the man regarded as the "Father of Wicca"—referred to it as the "Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the witch-cult" during the 1950s. There is no evidence that he ever called it "Wicca", although he did refer to the collective community of Pagan Witches as "the Wica" (with one c). As a name for the religion, "Wicca" developed in Britain during the 1960s. It is not known who precisely invented the term "Wicca" in reference to the religion, although one possibility is that it might have been Gardner's rival Charles Cardell, who was referring to it as the "Craft of the Wiccens" by 1958.

	Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft." Using the word "Witchcraft" in this context can result in confusion both with other, non-religious forms of [[witchcraft]] as well as other religions—such as [[Satanic Temple\|Satanism]] and Luciferianism—whose practitioners also sometimes describe themselves as "~~Witches~~".		Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft." Using the word "Witchcraft" in this context can result in confusion both with other, non-religious forms of [[witchcraft]] as well as other religions—such as [[Satanic Temple\|Satanism]] and Luciferianism—whose practitioners also sometimes describe themselves as "[[Witch]]es".

	==Organization==		==Organization==

Occultwiki at 23:05, 25 February 2022

2022-02-25T23:05:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 25 February 2022
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	[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Temple Altar of the Coven of the Catta in the High Priest's bookhouse]]		[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg\|400px\|thumb\|Temple Altar of the [[Coven of the Catta]] in the High Priest's bookhouse]]
	'''Wicca''' is a modern [[paganism\|Pagan]] religion. Scholars of religion categorise it as both a new religious movement and as part of the [[occult]] stream of Western esotericism. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by [[Gerald Gardner]], a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century [[hermeticism\|hermetic]] motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.		'''Wicca''' is a modern [[paganism\|Pagan]] religion. Scholars of religion categorise it as both a new religious movement and as part of the [[occult]] stream of Western esotericism. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by [[Gerald Gardner]], a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century [[hermeticism\|hermetic]] motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.

Occultwiki: Created page with "Temple Altar of the Coven of the Catta in the High Priest's bookhouse '''Wicca''' is a modern Pagan religion. Scho..."

2022-02-25T23:04:59Z

Created page with "400px|thumb|Temple Altar of the Coven of the Catta in the High Priest's bookhouse '''Wicca''' is a modern Pagan religion. Scho..."

New page

[[File:Bookhouse Temple Altar.jpg|400px|thumb|Temple Altar of the Coven of the Catta in the High Priest's bookhouse]]
'''Wicca''' is a modern [[paganism|Pagan]] religion. Scholars of religion categorise it as both a new religious movement and as part of the [[occult]] stream of Western esotericism. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by [[Gerald Gardner]], a retired British civil servant. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century [[hermeticism|hermetic]] motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.

The first recorded use of the word "Wicca" appears in 1962.

==Wicca vs. Witchcraft==
When the religion first came to public attention, it was commonly called "[[Witchcraft]]". For instance, Gerald Gardner—the man regarded as the "Father of Wicca"—referred to it as the "Craft of the Wise", "witchcraft", and "the witch-cult" during the 1950s. There is no evidence that he ever called it "Wicca", although he did refer to the collective community of Pagan Witches as "the Wica" (with one c). As a name for the religion, "Wicca" developed in Britain during the 1960s. It is not known who precisely invented the term "Wicca" in reference to the religion, although one possibility is that it might have been Gardner's rival Charles Cardell, who was referring to it as the "Craft of the Wiccens" by 1958.

Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft." Using the word "Witchcraft" in this context can result in confusion both with other, non-religious forms of [[witchcraft]] as well as other religions—such as [[Satanic Temple|Satanism]] and Luciferianism—whose practitioners also sometimes describe themselves as "Witches".

==Organization==
Wicca has no central authority figure. Its traditional core beliefs, principles, and practices were originally outlined in the 1940s and 1950s by Gardner and an early High Priestess, Doreen Valiente. The early practices were disseminated through published books and in secret written and oral teachings passed along to their initiates. There are many variations on the core structure, and the religion grows and evolves over time. It is divided into a number of diverse lineages, sects and denominations, referred to as traditions, each with its own organisational structure and level of centralisation.

Due to its decentralized nature, there is some disagreement over what actually constitutes Wicca. Some traditions, collectively referred to as British Traditional Wicca, strictly follow the initiatory lineage of Gardner and consider the term Wicca to apply only to similar traditions, but not to newer, eclectic traditions.

==Beliefs==
Wicca is typically duotheistic, worshipping and/or working with a Goddess and a God. These are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God, respectively. These deities may be regarded in a henotheistic way, as having many different divine aspects which can in turn be identified with many diverse pagan deities from different historical pantheons. For this reason, they are sometimes referred to as the "Great Goddess" and the "Great Horned God", with the adjective "great" connoting a deity that contains many other deities within their own nature. Some Wiccans refer to the goddess deity as the "Lady" and the god deity as the "Lord"; in this context, when "lord" and "lady" are used as adjectives, it is another way of referring to them as a divine figure. These two deities are sometimes viewed as facets of a greater pantheistic divinity, which is regarded as an impersonal force or process rather than a personal deity. While duotheism or bitheism is traditional in Wicca, broader Wiccan beliefs range from polytheism to pantheism or monism, even to Goddess monotheism.

Wiccan celebrations encompass both the cycles of the Moon, known as Esbats and commonly associated with the Goddess (female deity), and the cycles of the Sun, seasonally based festivals known as [[Sabbat]]s and commonly associated with the Horned God (male deity). An unattributed statement known as the Wiccan Rede is a popular expression of Wiccan morality, although it is not universally accepted by Wiccans. Wicca often involves the ritual practice of [[ritual magic|magic]], though it is not always necessary.

[[Category:Religions]]