|
Isn't Wicca just a new age religion that was made up recently?
There's a lot of discussion among historians, archaeologists, theologians and even witches ourselves about how much of our modern practice has to do with the Old Ways, and how much we've added. It's impossible to say clearly since the Christian church from its inception made a concerted effort to wipe out every vestige of ancients peoples' beliefs, while incorporating the more ingrained images into their own practices. For example, the celebration of Christmas, Easter, saint's days and other holidays are essentially pagan festivals that were altered to make it easier to convert the masses to Christianity. But regardless of where you stand on this issue, there are some clear connections to the past, including our celebration of solar and farming based holidays and our connections to ancient Goddesses and Gods. And there are modern witches that claim to have been raised in hereditary families who kept their religious practices secret as a result of the persecutions in the Middle Ages, most notably, Z. Budapest. That the repeals of laws prohibiting witchcraft in England in the first half of the 20th century resulted in public awareness of Wicca and the publishing of books about its practice does not necessarily mean that Wicca is a "new" religion, only that it was now relatively safe for its practitioners to go public. However, Wicca is a living, growing tradition, and many different branches and groups are evolving and setting new ritual practices, much as other spiritual traditions change to reflect modern sensibilities and concepts of social justice.
Why do you call yourselves witches?
Many of us wish to reclaim the word as a sacred word, reflecting its linguistic origins in meanings that included "wise one" or to "bend/shape." Since people who honor the earth have been vilified and demonized and generally lied about for centuries, many of us believe that by taking this word and reclaiming its original meanings, we can also change the misconceptions about witchcraft.
What's the difference between a pagan and a Wiccan?
The word pagan includes a wide range of nature-based religions, while Wicca is a specific form of paganism. For example, Wicca is to Paganism as Catholicism is to Christianity.
What goddess or god should I invoke for a specific ritual or spell?
We'd be happy to make some suggestions - just drop us a line with your specific question.
How the heck do you pronounce "athame"?
We use a-THA-may, but we've also heard ATH-a-may.
Can anyone be a witch?
Yes, anyone who is willing to learn and ready for self responsibility can be a witch - male or female.
What if I want to learn more?
Please feel free to read through our Wicca 101 section. We've also introduced a new section, called "Getting Started" that will help you get pointed in the right direction. Make sure to check it out before you leave the site, and if you still have a question, drop us an email!
|
|
