Wicca is a pagan religion containing traditions of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Paganism has been around and alive since the beginning of time. Documentation of magic and witchcraft exists even in the oldest texts. Numerous cave drawings all over the world depict symbols of the gods and goddesses worshipped throughout history. Paganism is the oldest form of religion.
Wicca is a Nature oriented religion, which puts emphasis on honoring both The God and The Goddess, and living in harmony with all things in the Universe. It can be practiced in a group, called a Coven, or it can be practiced alone. Wicca is recognized in the United States, and in at least some parts of Canada, as a legitimate and legal religion.
What it is, and what it isn’t
Years and years of distortion have created quite a bad rap for today’s Wiccans. So, what is it really all about?
-They DO NOT worship Satan.
The devil is an anti-Pagan propaganda device invented by the Christian church. Wiccans perceive all life as a constant flow of positive and negative energies, which intertwine to create the balance of life. However, Wiccans DO NOT believe in Satan, so they obviously can’t worship Satan.
-They DO NOT believe in Heaven or Hell.
They believe in taking responsibility for their own actions, rules of Karma, and so on. They DO however believe that your soul goes to an eternal resting place, known as Summerland, when your spirit doesn’t need to reincarnate anymore. (See info on reincarnation)
-Witches NO NOT cast evil/harmful spells.
Modern witches have a very strict belief in the Three-fold Rule, or laws of Karma. Whatever is sent out into our world shall return three-times over. Therefore, if a witch sends out negative energy, it will return to them three-times over. Likewise, the good they do is returned to them three-times.
-They DO NOT kill animals.
As stated before, Wicca is a nature-based religion. They believe in the sacredness of all things. They love animals, and even worship them (much like Native Americans).
-They DO NOT call themselves warlocks.
The word warlock means “truth twister.” Most obviously then, it is a huge insult to call them that. Be them male or female they are called witches or Wiccans.
-They DO NOT summon demons.
Simply put, they are not that dumb.
-Wicca is NOT a cult.
Wiccans believe that people should do what they will, therefore they respect all others religions and hope to receive the same consideration in return. They do not choose to look at their path as the “one true right way,” and believe that no matter what religion you are, we will all find our eternal resting place.
-They DO NOT attack people.
Wiccans never use their powers to attack (again the three-fold rule), BUT that doesn’t mean they can’t defend themselves.
-They DO NOT cast love spells.
They have a strong belief in the free will of others, SO casting a love spell on a specific person is a no, no. However, Witches ARE able to cast a general love spell, asking for the spirits to send a true lover (if that person wills it) their way. The same is true in asking for friendship.
-Witches DO believe in a God.
BUT, they also believe in a Goddess (also known as the Lord and Lady). They believe in the male and female aspects in nature. Both are equal, and opposite, creating balance. One can not work without the other. Think of them as kind of Yin and Yang aspects. The God and Goddess also aid Witches in their magickal works.
-Wiccans DO believe we are all one.
They believe in the connection of all living things through Spirit- people, animals, plants, elements, etc.
-Wiccans DO believe there are three parts of a person.
They believe there is a physical, mental, and spiritual aspect to each person. They try to work with all three parts in order to balance themselves to live in harmony as best they can.
-They DO believe in reincarnation.
Whether it be the Eastern version known as the Transmigration of Souls (the spirit incarnating one body after another in an effort to learn all the life lessons that it can), or Ancestral Incarnation (where the spirit and life lessons of the grandfather transmute to the granddaughter, and so on down the genetic line). The latter is a more traditionally Celtic approach, but both are accepted.
-They DO believe in the Laws of Return.
Wiccans have no belief in heaven or hell that souls will go to based on their worldly actions. With the belief in the Law of Return (or Karma) one’s actions will determine one’s future. The individual is therefore responsible for his or her own fate, based on what he or she chooses to do internally and externally in the world. This is an extension of the Three-fold Law, as stated above.
-Wiccans DO have a firm ethical belief.
Wicca has but one law of action and ethics called the Wiccan Rede. “And ye harm none, do what ye will” covers almost everything that the Ten Commandments do: don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t cheat, etc. The only law that the Ten Commandments express that is not covered by the Wiccan Rede is that of marriage and adultery. In Wicca, love itself is sanctified, with or without government authorization. As long as two individuals share a sincere bond of love that does not harm either party, it does not matter if they are legally joined- no matter if they are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or interracial.
-Wiccans DO believe in magick.
Wiccans believe in the power of magick to create change. Witches use herbs, oils, colors, stones, crystals, and other symbolic materials to represent the change they wish to create. Witches believe that the individual is responsible for his or her own reality. If there is something that is not healthy, or conducive to happiness and growth, they have the power to change it. [NOTE: the reason magick is spelled with a “k” is a simple one. It is to help distinguish the hocus pocus "magic”- all the stuff you see in movies, or watch a magician do- and the true magick of the Craft- basically the every day magick in everything around us, the natural workings of life.]
-Wiccans DO have a religious symbol.
Their symbol is called the Pentacle, a star. Each side of the star stands for the four elements (earth, water, fire, and air), plus the essence of Spirit, which binds all living things. [NOTE: not to be confused with a PentaGRAM, which is an upside-down version the Satanists use- and other negative "black magic" users.]
-They DO believe in the balance of the elements.
The elements of earth, water, fire, and air play an important role in the Wiccan religion. They use the elements to aid them in performing rituals and other such things. Each element has their own aspects, strengths, and symbolism. (See the section on Elements for more info.)
PLEASE NOTE: Not all Wiccans are Witches, and not all Witches are Wiccans. Let me explain. Wicca is a type of Paganism, just as Catholicism is a type Christianity. Witches practice in all forms of Paganism, so it is not limited to being Wiccan. Practitioners of magick are Witches, but just because you’re Wiccan doesn’t make you a Witch. Wicca is just the religion, the faith, and the beliefs. Not all of them practice spellwork and it is most certainly not required. Hopefully that helps clear up the difference between Wiccans and Witches.
Holidays
Wiccans follow the Wheel of the Year, having 13 Full Moon celebrations and 8 Sabbats- the four Greater Sabbats (also called the Fire Festivals) and the four Lesser Sabbats. Their holidays are made to celebrate the changing of the seasons, the cycles of the moon, and to bring honor to the God and Goddess.
Samhain- pronounced Sow-een, this is the Wiccan New Year. However, most people know this as Halloween. This holiday falls at the end of summer, marking a time of death. Therefore, this is the day when the dead are honored and remembered.
Yule- this Lesser Sabbat falls on the first day of winter, known to most as the Winter Solstice.
Imbolge- pronounced em-bowl, this holiday normally falls on February 2nd. This is a time of cleansing, a festival of the Maiden in preparation for growth and renewal.
Ostara- pronounced oh-star-ah, this holiday is the Spring Equinox, the first day of spring.
Beltaine- pronounced beel-teen, this holiday normally falls on April 30th or May 1st. This is primarily a fertility festival, celebrated much like May Day.
Litha- pronounced lith-ah, this is the Summer Solstice, celebrating the arrival of summer.
Lammas- pronounced lam-mahs, normally this holiday falls on August 1st. This is the first of the harvest festivals of the year.
Mabon- pronounced may-bon, this is the Fall Equinox, or the start of autumn.
Esbats- these celebrations occur every full moon. Wiccans believe a full moon holds the most energy, and that it is the easiest time to tap into Nature’s magick.
The Elements
Like the Lord and Lady, the four elements aid Wiccans in their work. They help maintain the balance of nature. Each element also has meanings and symbolism behind them…
Earth: is the element of birth, where the original Idea crystallizes and manifests in a material form, building a solid foundation for the next idea. Earth is symbolized by the direction North, the color green, stones or soil, and wolves, horses, deer, or other earth-type animals. The element of Earth brings strength, fortitude, fertility, and patience.
Air: represents the conception or perception of a new idea, the seed of knowledge, and the freedom to choose which direction to move. Air is symbolized by the direction East, the color yellow, feathers or incense, and dragonflies, hawks, ravens, or other air-type animals (basically all types of birds and insects). The element of air brings vision, voice, and free-movement.
Fire: represents the desire or will to manifest the idea, the driving life force, the principle of change and transformation. Fire is symbolized by the direction South, the color red, candles or the sun, and lions, dragons, salamanders, or other fire-type animals (basically all types of large cats and lizards). The element of fire brings passion, lust, will, and desire.
Water: represents the perseverance and courage needed to endure the long gestation, the nurturing and supporting role. Water is symbolized by the direction West, the color blue, seashells or the moon, and dolphins, fish, turtles, or other water-type animals. The element of water brings feeling, reflection, adaptability, and receptivity.
Ritual Basics
For the basic ritual, or spell casting, a Wiccan will go about the following steps…
1) Casting the Circle: this is when a Witch casts a protective circle of energy around their alter space. This allows them to be protected from negative spirits/energy during their ritual work. However, they may skip this step if they’re working outside in a natural setting, as these places are obviously already considered sacred spaces.
2) Calling the Quarters: this is when the four elements are asked to join the Wiccan in their ritual. The altar will have something representing each of the elements (i.e. a candle for fire, a feather or incense for air, etc) in their corresponding directions. This will help to draw the elements’ presence into the sacred circle.
3) Invoking the God and Goddess: if it is a really serious/formal ritual, than most Witches will also ask for the God and Goddess’ help in their magickal work. This is optional, but if they’re invoked it’s normal to also have something on the altar to represent them (i.e. a gold candle for the God, a silver candle for the Goddess, etc).
4) Ritual: this is the actual casting of the spell or the ritual working.
5) Thanking the God and Goddess: obviously if you have asked for their help, it is proper to thank them for their participation and allow them to go about their own way.
6) Closing the Quarters: this is the time a Witch takes to also thank the elements for their aid and participation in the ritual or spell, allowing them to take their leave.
7) Releasing the Circle: the last thing to do is to open up the sacred circle, allowing the energy barrier they put up to be dispelled (no pun intended).
Court Pellin is a Wiccan High Priestess and a teacher to many newcomers of the Craft. Between running the house and managing two crazy Australian Cattle Dog puppies she finds time to write, mainly fiction novels.
{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
Great job hun. I’m really proud of you.
hey courty that was really good! i can get to it on my phone so im shure it will come in handy…… that was awesome!….. congrats!!!!
Court,
It’s really great how someone can put into such simple words a very understanding explanation for wicca and witches. This is a job very well done and hopefully such good information can be deseminated to those people who would critisize due to lack of knowledge. Let’s hope you educate some people.
Thank’s
VP
Great job! I hope many, many people read this with an open mind and will accept us.
That was wonderfully written. Great job
That was a very wonderful read, I learned much from it. I just wish i had friends who were wiccans/witchies, It’s not easy finding those kind of friends.
Thank you for this wonderful over view. I am of a Christian persuasion but I am not intolerant as some are .
I believe the followers of Christ should be known for our capacity to love. I understand what it is like be part of a spiritual belief that is wrongly stereotyped some times by my own kind {as sad as that is}
My God gave all mankind the freedom to choose hence the presence of the trees of life and knowledge in the garden of Eden – God does not force Himself on any who am I to do any differently.
This was very well written and informative.
Peace be with you . . .
Thanks for your very open mind Scott! I was actually baptised Catholic, so I’ve been on that side of the fence. There are the people who are “bible thumpers” that have no respect for other religions. And then there are those like you that believe in the ability to coexist and aren’t ignorant to others faiths… Which really, if you hate someone for being Wiccan cause you claim they are a “Devil Worshiper” well then that’s just blatently ignorant. Because if they bothered to learn ANYTHING about the people they choose to hate, then they would know that there’s nothing to be hateful about. We are a benine, nature-worshiping religion. What is so harmful about us living in peace? But I’m glad you have opened yourself up to learning about others.
I quite enjoy learning of others religions myself. And I think the only way to truly coexist is to learn. Thanks again for your kind words. Blessed be, and peace be with you my friend.
“We are a benine, nature-worshiping religion.”
I think you mean “benign”.
I am very interested in the Wicca religion, I am 31 years old and have been lost for a very long time. I do not believe in Heaven or Hell but I do believe in the spirit. I have done a lot of research but what I’m asking is how do I fully begin to practice the religion. Is there people I can talk to or do you just learn from books. I live in a very small town where everyone is either catholic or baptist. I want to really begin a way of life that I know is right for me and I believe this is the way for me. I need help, right now I feel my spirit is lost.
Well, I’m 18 and I know how you feel. Before I found Wicca, I was lost I studied many religions trying to find where I fit in, when I came across Wicca I knew this was it. I have finally have fulfillment in my life. I began studying by myself, then I met a few people along the road. I’m not alone anymore, there’s many people out there even in your town, I thought I was alone but I wasn’t. All that you really need to do is believe in Magick, do the innitation, and pretty much you’re done. Just get books and from there you will learn, I have learned a lot on my own. I have only been well I guess you could say Wiccan for about a year,l but I couldn’t be happier with my life
I hope I can help.
I am very interested in the Wicca religion, I am 31 years old and have been lost for a very long time. I do not believe in Heaven or Hell but I do believe in the spirit. I have done a lot of research but what I’m asking is how do I fully begin to practice the religion. Is there people I can talk to or do you just learn from books. I live in a very small town where everyone is either catholic or baptist. I want to really begin a way of life that I know is right for me and I believe this is the way for me. I need help, right now I feel my spirit is lost.
Ms. court Pellin,
Good day to you my name is Jusin, Im actually doing a Paper for school on wicca witchcraft, sorry to put it in a way that may be…well ignerant Im however very interested in learing much much more on this an by the comments i have read and the Post you have put up seems like you would be quite an asset to have on my paper and for well a better understanding for myself I to am tryin to educate my friend and other coleegs about this in addition to myself so again i apologize for my words if they offend you, your post was quite informational to me. Im and i like to call my self an elementalest it may seem like an off title but i have strong beliefs in the supernatural and use of the elements along with the forces of nature to help aid in the use of not everday life but for time of need and paying respects to thoese and that which helps you with your problem. If you could please reply and help with some answers to questions that may arive i would be greatly thankful.
need to find my slmuoate.am very lonely and have had my heart roken too many times I need someones help thanks
Thank you for that well-written and clear article. I wish everyone would read it.
WOW! That was the best explaination of the Wiccan Religion I have ever heard. I am a Christian, but I do reside on the Wiccan side of life for I believe God created the Earth with the same natural energy we are made up of. (The circle of life).
I think it truely is wise to learn about others and their religous beliefs to truely get to know ourselves, where we stand on this Earth, and gain a true sense of knowledge about this physical plane that we are on.
I have been in the arts (Wiccan) for some years now. In fact, I have had a few friends see that is makes sense, and they have stopped critisizing us, and calling us Satanists. I believe I am here to try and help people understand, just as you have done here, with this article.
Thank You, for your great lecture, and may the Lord and the Lady, always be there to watch over you. I send many good things your way. Have a long and prosperous life.
Blessed Be,
Anthony
Nice job!!
I enjoyed reading your article. I am a witch who has to live with intolerance daily and it was uplifting to see another who has come out of the broom closet with inksword drawn to right some wrong perceptions about all of us who are pagans and witches and wiccans.
Thank you for writing in such a nice, non-judgemental layman’s conversation style. I hope this piece reaches millions of eyes and opens them.
Blessed be!
This is very well written, I am glad that someone like yourself has been able to write this article so clearly that anyone, if they care to would hopefully come to understand what we as a people are all about, I to have come across many people who are narrow minded about any religion not their own. If I may I would like to print a copy of this article to have, if my religious preference should come under fire in the future… Again well written
May your days be bright, and your night easy… Blessed Be…
They sound really boring….
Sir, may I just say, that even though I am a nice normal person, Wicca is ME. I am WICCA. You say such a thing, and even though I know I will get the rule of three now, so will YOU. And yours will be WORSE.
This is great although I would have to disagree with the pentagram vs pentacle distinction. The only difference from the two is the “circle of live” around it. The pentagram doesn’t always end up upside down like the Satan Pentagram which represents the horns est. The word pentagram comes from the Greek word ???????????? (pentagrammon), a noun form of ???????????? (pentagrammos) or ???????????? (pentegrammos), a word meaning roughly “five-lined” or “five lines”. Neither word is Satanic unless you turn it upside down which to any Pagan would be like a Christian turning a cross over.
I have been a Born Again Christian for over 20 years.
I try to honor the commandments an put the bible teaching into my life daily. I am very open to other faiths an wish to use my brain as a sponge learning all I can an than choose my path in life.
This site was very helpful an I am interested in learning more.
Peace joy an happiness an LOVE will sure to follow : > }
Great article but there are a few things I, as a practicing wiccan and HPS, disagree with. First in regards to the 10 commandments- Commandment 1, Thou shall have no other God before me. We have many Gods and they are not jealous. Commandment 2, Thou shall not make for yourself an adol. We have many idols that we put on our altars depending upon which aspect of the God or Goddess we are working with. Next, in regards to the spelling of the word magic/magick. I have always felt that magick was the hoity toity spelling used by people trying to put on airs. Most of the good old fashion hedge witches I know spell it magic. I suppose this is a personal preference but I just wanted those here that are not wiccan to know. What magicians do is slight of hand. Thirdly, the pentacle and the pentagram are the same thing. The pentacle is usually worn as jewelry and the pentagram is used in ritual. Neither is upside down. Just as with any religious symbol, there are people who corrupt it and use it in ways it was not meant to be used. That is not our fault and there is nothing we can do to stop it. Other than that, I found the article to be very well written and informative for anyone want to learn a little bit about my religion.
The reason that modern Neopagans use the extra ‘k’ in magick is because that’s how we distinguish our magickal religious practices from those of stage magicians who are performing sleight of hand magic.
I certainly don’t want my magick to be confused with that type of magic.
That’s what my Priestess taught me.
I have enjoyed your reading, I have always believed as I grew up a catholic that no matter what many people say it could not be true of your religion. I have been doing some practice, but I do truly believe in my God and as contradicting as this sound I also believe that God placed gods and goddess to keep this universe balanced and beautiful.
now I’ll be in touch..
Wow…this is a wonderful artical! Thank you so much for writing this. I have been looking everywhere to find out how and what wicca really is. Now I understand it more. Thanks!
Very well done and thorough. A more concise and concrete explanation could not be asked for!
semper per via of nox noctis , and then god said to humans, and what do you think you want to do??? try everything once, and keep in mind my children, when you write a summary of something (something such as this)this is your belief mixed into with your summary. moral of the story, you should really re read and then put a disclaimer on the top saying that this has been mixed into some of the authors beliefs. oh and any day your are willing to come over the PAGAN side of things, i mean Real pagan then come and play
thank you! I liked the artical and enjoyed learning there are a few open minded people out there.
Blessed Be!
I really liked this explanation of the Wiccan religion. I looked this up on another site and it didn’t have as great amount of info as this one did, it is really helping me with my religious conflict right now.
Organized religion and uneducated people has paid toll on many.Who has the right to judge anyone ones practice put the higher power:)
Harm none do as ye will.Merry Meet Merry Part:)
I think that for as old of a religion that this is, there is not to many speakers on the topic that can please all of our belief. However with that said I feel that the writer of this must be guided by the Goddess because the content is very close to the truth to many. The main problem we have as humans is we get hung up on the technicalities of what someone is doing. Rather than stepping back and feeling the energy that is given from such work. For this I am thankful. Many Blessings to All.
How can you write an entire article about Wicca as a religion and NOT mention Gardener? I mean, he IS the man who collected the Celtic and Germanic beliefs of old Europe and brought them together under the label of Wicca back in the 1950s. While Paganism has been around since we were living in caves, Wicca is not that old and this difference is not clearly spelled out in the article.
It’s people like you who make the world a better place! Thank you so much for posting this!
Blessed be
wow, great explanation, Im posting this site on myspace, hopefully people will stop calling me devil worshiper, you helped me alot, thanks. Blessed Be
On the whole, this is a very good article. I hate to be “picky” but there are some inaccuracies in my opinion. For example, what you call The Law of Return or Karma is not an offshoot of the Three-fold Law. It is the opposite. The Universal Law of Return or Karma came first. Also, I don’t believe in the Boomerang Triple Whammy Law. I agree with Wiccan Priestess and NYC Laywer Phyllis Curott (Author of Witchcrafting) that the 3-Fold law is a terrible basis for Wiccan ethics, i.e., I won’t hex you because something 3 times worse is going to happen to me. That’s based in fear of punishment which is not a part of my religion whatsoever. The Law of Karma is very clear about the fact that whatever you do is going to come back to you EQUALLY…. not three times worse. That’s pure and utter baloney even if it is in the Wiccan Reed.
The reason that Witches don’t hex or harm is because we BELIEVE that all life is SACRED, that’s why. Not because we are afraid of being triple punished.
I enjoyed your article and it was helpful in understanding Wicca. Thank you!
Whether it’s triple, double or equal return, true life is Sacred and all are connected. Like Karma, basically you get what you give, if you give bad, you will get bad and if you give good, you will get good. Regardless of the level or amount, it’s either good or bad. That’s just basic common sense on any level.
There is” no one right way” to interpret the Wiccan Rede, as it says” Do as ye will,” which would mean read it as you will as well. As long as “ye harm none.” So technicalities are again in man’s dogma no matter how spiritual we try to be…
Hi all my name is David Grizzell and I was moved by this website I never knew much about witches and I am sorry for being closed mined. I am actually quite moved by it. However I wanted to tell you about my expairence with the cat goddess! One day I was curiuos about magic and I found it or it found me. One spring I saw the lacoust tree and its pruty it smeelt wonderfull sweet like anything I have ever smelt. At that time wanted to know what it was and to know magic I can not explain it. I found myself in a spritual fiald with a great cat that was nice to me and was perring she rubed her self to me and kissed me I can not forget it I will never forget it she was real I know she was but I lost contact with her when I became afrad she ment me no herm but I just want to tell her that I am sorry.
This was the best explaination I have heard. I actually sent it on to people who are not Wiccan, but are interested in what it is about because I am wiccan
I am 12 and my family isent really dead set on any religion. I have serched most religions,read the bible ect. But this is the one religion that has ever really called out to me or even made sence. I am extreamly glad that you wrote this artical and i want to look more in to it. Thanks again
I believe we ALL have a right to see things from a different preception but there is so much with the double edge because their is to much fighting between and within everything…:(… the void is where we all came from and will return someday and realize we are all equal at that point again…. nobody can truly take anything from the spirit within us….it’s all a manipulation for the better or worse ( + and -) grounding us…. evolution = evolving with each revolution and I believe co-existing can bring Peaceful coexistence for ALL thru tolerence and exceptence. Someday we ALL have to put on our big girl or boy pants on and grow-up or keep falling down….when we are in the shell ( black kettle or pot)….the senses tell us everything matters….in the shell and it does to a certain point but when you listen to the clarity around you, you realize you become what you consume thru media or the green screen etc…..
Opinions are like ass-holes everyone has one but we need to steady ourselves (our vessel) and listen to the simpliest things around us if ownly for a moment (Makes me think of the song DUST IN THE WIND BY KANSAS) to see and hear the conflict within……(PHYSICS) Black matter surrounds us ALL its not good or bad onless we allow ourselves to be manipulated into believeing it is. We ALL HAVE OUR OWN FREE-WILL it is what it is…. but sometimes we all get alittle confused and allow ourself to be manipulated in some way thru force,fear, guilt…. I know I have… and then want to lash out (enxiety trying to stay away from everyone crawling under the covers like a child) but controling myselves (CHILD,MAIDEN,MOTHER )as much as I can and holding onto much as possible memories mine and others. Then remembering the child in me neededing healing, healing then remembering and trying to send out good vibrations (seeds) so that it returns within because someone once told me what you put out to the center always bounces back so be the change…..and you become the change….. and I BELEIVED as a child in true MAGICK thru this simple message……..THE AQUARIUS AGE WOULD COME IN WITH GOOD VIBRATIONS SENT WITHIN THEN OUT…..TRYING TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING IN HARMONY AND BALANCE IN DUALITY (reflections and facets)
Thanks for putting this up!! I have been wanting to know about this for a long time and have been interested in Wicca for a while… Just don’t know how to tell my parents…. but once again thanks!! maybe showing them this will help…
heyyy thank you i have learnd so much form reading this and i hope ppl will acept us my fam just told me and i looked it upo and learned so much thank you again
I stumbled across your article about” the Truth About Wicca. What a wonderful piece you wrote! When I was a small child I used to pretend I was a witch and use a big pot and put water, leaves from lemon and tangerine trees into it and just pretend. Now I’m 55 and I belong to no organized religion and I have always said “I Believe In A Higher Power. I’, in tune w/ nature and try to do good most of the time. Thanks for sending such a wonderful message to those who are of open mind. Blessed Be!
Even in the lower levels of Wicca, the doctrines of Satan begin to creep in. For our rite (the Alexandrian), the sign of Second Grade is the inverted pentagram drawn on the body. This symbolizes the bottom seven Sephirot (or spheres) of the qabalistic Tree of Life. Unfortunately it is also the symbol of the satanic Goat of Mendez, one of the most celebrated symbols of devil-worship.
We were taught that this Grade was male (horned god) oriented, and that to invoke prosperity and power onto the earth plane, it was necessary to use this inverted pentagram. For us, the inverted star was the symbol of the god, and the upright star the symbol of the goddess. Thus, already in Second Grade, we were skating on the fringes of satanic practice.
The “hoofprints” of Satan were all over Wicca, and they were literally on me! As a High Priest, I did one ceremony invoking my “higher self” or Holy Guardian Angel. The being who man-ifested caused a candle in the temple to erupt violently. A little ball of fire or hot wax (I’ll never know for sure which) shot across the room and hit me in the forearm, leaving a searing brand in the precise shape of a cloven hoof. By that time, I saw it as a great blessing!
The question becomes, “How do you know that what you are doing is safe? How do you know that it isn’t satanic, even in the lower degrees? Even if you’re just a witch and not a magician, are you still in grave danger?”
Sadly, you are. Jesus tells us that anyone who is not with Him is against Him (Matthew 12:30). To be “with” Jesus means to accept Him as your Savior and make Him absolute Lord of your life. If you are a “white” witch, you probably either don’t believe in Jesus at all, or you believe He was a great sage or wise man or adept, perhaps even a witch Himself. That is not the true Jesus!
Who Really Is Jesus?
Jesus is not a sage or adept, He is the Almighty Lord God of the Universe who came in the flesh, died and shed His blood for you. If you aren’t trusting in that Jesus and that blood for your eternal destiny, then heartbreakingly, you are in Satan’s camp.
You are part of a system of ritual which is ultimately controlled by Satan! It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in Satan, he’s still there and he’s still horrifyingly real! Just because you don’t believe in gravity doesn’t mean that if you jump off a cliff you won’t get splattered all over the landscape! The law of gravity cannot be violated with impunity, and neither can the laws of God.
If you think Satan is just a Christian myth, you are whistling in the dark. All you have to do is look over your shoulder and he is there, keeping his eye on his toy — YOU!
You don’t have to be sacrificing virgins or turning crosses upside down to be a satanist! All you have to do is spurn Jesus Christ and you are a satanist! If you remember nothing else from this book, remember this:
ALL pagan religions are controlled by Satan!
It doesn’t matter if you worship Pan or Krishna or Diana or Thor; the face behind the mask of your god is Satan’s. Even if you are a purported atheist, you are still worshiping Satan; for you have undoubtedly made one element your idol (the center of your life): whether it’s power, money, knowledge, freedom or some other ideal.
The true God says:
I am the LORD thy God… Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (idol), or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…
(Exodus 20:2-5)
It’s that simple. There are two religious systems in the world. One is controlled by Satan. The other owes its only allegiance to Jesus Christ. Put simply, if you aren’t a believer in Jesus Christ as Almighty God come in the flesh to save you from your sins, you are a satanist!
You see, both my wife and I worked unbelievably hard to be the best possible priestly couple we could be and lead our covens well. We studied and memorized rituals. We counselled our people and tried to help them with their various problems. We were desperately sincere, and thought Christianity was just a bigoted, monotheistic system of legalistic jive!
The Fantasy Goes Sour
But we were never really at peace. We did all the right things and tried to help our people grow, but they never seemed fulfilled either. They acted happy, but their eyes were dark and hollow. They said they were fulfilled, but their lives denied it. We were the ONLY married couple we knew in all our years of Wicca that didn’t get divorced!
Sadly, a majority of the people we tried to help got worse! Many of them became either so filled with their own egos that they could never relate to anyone else or they sank into the mire of drugs or liquor. Two or three went quite insane!
In Milwaukee, we had psychic wars between groups. Witches were shooting at each other in the streets because of adultery! Curses were filling the air like mosquitoes on a hot Wisconsin night!
Pagans like to make fun of Catholics because of all the wars they started, but the only difference between the Pagans and the Catholics is that the Pagans never ran a government and had the power to raise armies. I used to read THE GREEN EGG, Tim Zell’s Neo-pagan magazine. Almost every issue contained a vicious feud in the letter columns.
Why? Because you are dealing with sinful, fallen human beings, that’s why! God says the human heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Without Jesus Christ, people are going to act like spoiled brats! Look around you! How else can you account for all the evil in the world? Killing, bigotry, rape and war — these are the fruits of Satan-worship, under its many guises.
But love, joy, peace, patience, and long-suffering are the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
You may not call yourself a satanist, but if you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and Master, then Satan is your lord and master. We learned this the hard way! No amount of effort, study or practice on your part will ever bring you the peace or fulfillment you seek. Nor will belonging to any church, Protestant, Catholic or Jewish.
If I’m a Witch, What Can I Do?
Christianity is not a religion! It is anti-religion!! Religion is man’s attempts to do certain things to please his deity. Christianity is a relationship with the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ! Only trusting in Jesus for your salvation can make you a saved person:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(Romans 10:13)
Church affiliation or following a litany of legalistic rules won’t do it. Those concepts are lies foisted on the world by Satan, then gradually adopted by many major denominations. But it is not what the Bible says:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:9-10)
Religionists, of whatever stripe, who make a career out of frightening people and making them work their way to God, are preaching a lie from the pit of hell! You don’t have to live your life in agony, wondering about your fate after death. Nor do you have to worry about “karma” and the wheel of rebirth! John the Apostle wrote:
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.
(1 John 5:13)
Not hope, but “KNOW” that you can have eternal life with God forever! Consider the alternative Wicca offers you, supposedly lifetime after lifetime trying to pick up your mistakes from previous lifetimes. I would not treat a DOG that badly!
Besides, isn’t the prospect of living in resurrected glory with Jesus more appealing than spending a few more hundred lifetimes running around the treadmill of the wheel of karma, chasing a shapeless future?
Jesus makes it so easy for you. All you have to do is lay aside your pride and belief in all those Pagan gods and admit that they cannot save you. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and save you from hell and to be the Lord of your life (Romans 10:9-13). Jesus is real, and will be delighted to meet you right where you are!
Thank God, there is an alternative — a blessed assurance of eternal life! That’s quite a promise! All you need to do to receive it is simply do these five things:
1. Admit to God that you’re not perfect, that you’re a sinner. As the Bible says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Realize that it is only by having faith in Jesus and Him only for your salvation that you can become a child of God and heir to the promise. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. Repent and turn away from those sins, especially the sin of witchcraft. God says, “…rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft;” (1 Samuel 15:23) and “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).
3. Pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart and take away your sins! (Romans 10:9-13). Ask Him to be your Savior! “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
4. Make Jesus the Lord of your life and give Him control over every part of it. See John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” And Romans 12:1-2:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
5. Then know that you are saved (1 John 5:13) and that Satan no longer has any hold over you. You have full assurance of heaven — assurance that no person can give, but Jesus can! He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
It’s that simple! Why put your trust in books and rituals that were written by flawed men and women — especially since much of it is manufactured and made up out of whole cloth? Are people like Alex Sanders or Gerald Gardner worth trusting over Jesus? Who else can redeem you?
If you say, as some “white” witches have to me, that you need no redeemer — that you depend on yourself for spiritual salvation; then you are mouthing the creeds of the satanist! Anton LaVey, the head of the Church of Satan, wrote:
Here and now is our day of joy! Here and now is our opportunity! Choose ye this day, this hour, for no redeemer liveth. Say unto thine own heart, “I am mine own redeemer.”
You see how far into the enemy’s camp you already are? You are telling Jesus Christ that you don’t need Him! You are saying to Him that He shed His blood on Calvary in vain in your case! Why do you ignore the plain testimony of His resurrection and saving power? Why do you ignore the Bible in favor of religions made up by people? Why do you trust Gerald Gardner more than the most trustworthy book in human history?
God has promised that His Word (Who is Jesus, see John 1:1-14) will endure forever! His Word is perfect and eternal and will outlast both the heavens and the earth (Matt.5:18; 1 Peter 1:24-25) Can’t you take Him at His word?
Realize, as I did after over a year of study and research, that not one Biblical prophecy has failed to happen exactly as predicted; and that Jesus Himself was the fulfillment of over 300 Old Testament prophecies! Some prophecies in Daniel foretold events hundreds and even thousands of years in the future, yet all have been fulfilled right down to the very year! What witch or psychic has that kind of track record?
Please remember, we’re talking about eternity here! What if your belief system is wrong — dangerously wrong? God says that without Jesus, you, as a Witch or Pagan, will go into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Are the books and people in whom you are putting your faith for spiritual success that trustworthy? Don’t you owe it to yourself to at least investigate what I’m telling you?
Remember, I’ve been there! Wicca, however noble and idealistic it might seem, is a modern, artificial religion created by cleaning up continental satanism a bit. It’s like putting rouge and mascara on a decomposing corpse! The rotten, putrid heart is the same, it just looks nicer.
There are only two kinds of Wiccans, the “higher ups” who know that Satan is their god; and the innocent ones of lower Grade who think they’re worshipping nature deities.
Which kind are you?
In case you have any thoughts about trying to remain an “innocent” Pagan, just playing in the forest and worshiping the goddess, hear what God’s Word has to say about nature deities:
Professing themselves to be wise (wise ones?), they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(Romans 1:22-25)
Come to Jesus! It will be the best decision you ever made!
For real?? GTFOutta here!! >:P
… this is the reason for war. People who are so dead set against others views to the point that they need to spend so much time and energy explaining and criticizing why they are wrong and going to a hell they don’t believe in. THIS IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE REASON’S I WILL NEVER BE CATHOLIC/ CHRISTIAN ETC!!!! I could go on for days why I think its a bad decision. But your religion could also go on for YEARS repeating that I’m wrong and your right because your God/ Jesus Christ says so and there’s nothing more to it. Its strange to me how any religion can go on and on damning people for being different. I can’t imagine that’s what your Jesus thought he’d be fighting for.
I don’t understand why you have to come in here and Slander our RELIGION. Do you see us going to your websites telling you what’s a lie? No! We are a peaceful RELIGION! We are NOT Satan worshipers, read the page! We DO NOT believe in Satan. So how can we worship something we don’t believe in?
Christinaty has taken a lot from PAGINSIM! I am not being disrespectful to YOUR RELIGION, Nor you. But you believe in a God, but so do we? Are we Really tha different because we also believe in a Godess? I don’t see how, we all have a few beliefs, like let’s say the:
Triquetra, or as you would call it the Holy Trinity. Also known as the Trinity Knot.
The symbol has been used by Christians as a sign of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
The symbol of one of the specific triple Goddesses; the interconnected parts of our existence – Mind, Body, and Soul – or many other concepts that seem to fit into this idea of a unity. (Wiccan)
it is believed to represent the three stages of the goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone)[2]. In contemporary Ireland, It is traditional for a man to give a loved one a trinket such as a necklace or ring signifying his affection towards her. It is believed to represent the three promises of a relationship such as to love, honour, and protect.
Over all the Same.
We’re not so different, so why dont you stop and look at the facts, Don’t let you religion cloud your eyes. Isn’t it in you religion NOT TO JUDGE?
I have not judged you, nor will I. All that I am saying is stop being a jerk, and look at us as people just like you.
-Kara
there are many views on the patganrem, like its the devils, or it’s david’s star, a sign of protection. obviosuly i can rule out the devils thing but what does it really mean to you?[]
I was a witch! I was a sold-out, goddess-worshipping witch! When my “lady” and I chipped the ice out of a stream in the middle of Iowa wilderness to bathe and then celebrate the March equinox naked under the stars, we were totally consumed with zeal for the Wicca. We drove 170 miles one way every weekend to teach classes in Wicca in a car with a bumper sticker which said “In Goddess We Trust!”
We were kicked out of almost every apartment we tried to rent for wild circle dances and burning frankincense; and we had a firebomb thrown into one temple because we dared to publicly proclaim the goddess!
Wicca is one of the more seductive deceptions that Satan has come up with. It is the contemporary name for the cult of so-called “white” witchcraft or Neo-Paganism, which has been enjoying a renaissance in the United States.
It claims to be a “back to nature” religion which worships the sky and earth, and thus has attracted many adherents among those sympathetic to environmental and ecology issues. Yet, for all its charm and nostalgic fantasy, Wicca drew me into the deepest quagmire of satanic evil imaginable.
Almost everything we did back then raised eyebrows. Regrettably, we see people today doing things openly that we had to do in secret. We see books that used to only be available in dark, musty occult bookstores now being sold openly in shopping malls. The meditation practices we taught in secret witchcraft circles are now being taught in “respectable” churches.
Naturally, we believed we were doing good. I was a sincere devotee of the chief deity of Wicca, the Great Mother. At first I believed the rites we did were for the benefit of humanity and the earth itself. I also believed what I was told: that there was a profound difference between the Wicca and those called satanists or devil-worshipers.
I thought that the whole meaning of Wicca was beneficial rituals to nature deities like Pan, Diana or Cernunnos; and of course rites of passage and initiation. I stood, blindfolded, naked and bound at the edge of the Circle “which is placed between the worlds.” I heard the words of the Great Mother and felt the prick of the swordpoint challenging my courage. I was anointed as a “Priest of the Goddess” and learned her secret name. I gave my life to her service.
I truly believed that she was the One “who was with me from the beginning, and who was attained at the end of desire.” I walked the earth and felt her a living, breathing thing; and I worshiped her as “Holy Mother Earth.”
It took me sixteen years of ardent devotion to her and the Craft to find out that I was terribly wrong. I had to learn the hard way that my only hope for true spiritual fulfillment in life was Jesus Christ!
I finally learned in the most graphic fashion imaginable that the difference between witchcraft or Wicca and satanism is actually non-existent. To be sure, an anthropologist or sociologist of religion might find them different, but such distinctions mean little when you are gambling with the eternal fate of your own immortal soul.
The actual spiritual difference between Wicca and satanism might best be illustrated this way: Practicing Wicca is like having a hand-grenade blow up in your face, in terms of the spiritual impact. Practicing satanism is like having a neutron bomb detonate in your face. The difference is there and discernable, but it is still an utter disaster for you, either way.
In eternal perspective, the disaster of Wicca is altogether real and no less dangerous than that neutron bomb.
Why Should YOU Believe This Warning?
Before we discuss this subject, allow me to give my credentials. I was initiated into the Alexandrian Wicca on Imbolc, February 2, 1973 and made a High Priest and Magus in September of the same year. That summer my lady and I were also promoted to the High Priestly rank in the Druidic Craft of the Wise. We also helped establish a Church of All Worlds “nest” in Milwaukee and studied under Gavin and Yvonne Frost and their Church and School of Wicca.
Wicca has many “denominations” or traditions. Some are large and well-known, like the Alexandrian, Gardnerian, Druidic, Welsh Traditionalist, Gerogian, Dianic and Church of Wicca. Others are as small as a single coven or 13, or even a family tradition.
My wife and I established covens all over the Midwest; Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa; Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Chicago. Over the years, we advanced to higher levels of witchcraft. Up to our departure from the city of Milwaukee in 1984, we were presiding over one of the oldest and largest networks of covens in the Midwest.
About a year after becoming a High Priest (1974), I was told by our initiators that Wicca was not what it seemed. Although much of the extant literature written by witches (and Dr. Margaret Murray’s work) would lead one to believe that Wicca is a survival of the ancient pagan fertility cults, especially of Northern Europe and the British Isles; there is not a shred of real historical proof for any connection between Bronze Age cults and modern witchcraft.
I learned from our initiators that it seemed that Wicca is, in fact, a manufactured religion not much older than this century. There did not seem to be evidence for any Book of Shadows (a combined “bible” and ritual book for Wiccans) much older than the 1910′s!
You see, Wicca is one of Satan’s “nicer” creations, tailor-made for the last half of this century. Although it may have existed for perhaps a century at most, it “came out of the broom closet” in 1951, when the British laws against witchcraft were repealed. It is nothing really new, but its packaging is subtly different, tailored to a world strangling on its own technology and dying for romance, idealism and meaning.
A Cult of Deception
You may say: “So you got sucked in too deep. So what? I’ve been a witch for years and never got into that satanic junk. It’s just a Christian myth for real losers. As long as I stay where I am, I’m cool. I’m happy!” That may be so, but do you honestly want to belong to a cult that deals in deception?
Let’s look at the word, “Wicca,” as an example. The OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY reveals that the word does not mean “wise one.” It means twisted, bent, or warped. Even Margot Adler admits that the word has its roots in the Indo-European roots “wic” or “weik” meaning “to bend or to turn.” Of course, she tries to put the best possible face on it by saying that:
“According to this view, a Witch would be a woman ( or man) skilled in the art of shaping, bending and changing reality.”
Elsewhere, she asserts that:
“The lexicographical (dictionary) definitions of witch are rather confusing and bear little relation to the definitions given by Witches themselves.”
But this is playing games, the same sort of word games most cultists play to conceal the truth. By this standard, anyone, including Anton LaVey, could say they were a witch and be right.
Yet you should hear the howls of rage among the Neo-Pagan community when even Gavin and Yvonne Frost first claimed to be witches. They couldn’t be witches, they were monotheists, fakes and gay-bashers! So all of a sudden there WAS an objective standard of what makes one a witch. Yet like many things in occultism, it vanishes like mist when you try and pin it down.
In my own personal development as a witch, and the development of almost all our colleagues, I found that after about five or six yeaars it was necessary to begin pursuing the study of the “Higher Wisdom” of Satan in order to keep growing. Magick is like a drug. You keep needing more in order to stay at a level at which you feel fulfilled. There is no end to it!
If you’ve stayed a Wiccan or “white” witch for a long time, it’s only because you don’t have enough of the Promethean itch to grow. OR it may be that you have many Christian friends or loved ones praying for you. Did you ever think of that?
GO. AWAY.
Dude lokk tht’s not cool. I don’t respect what you said. But I will respect you as a person, and stating my oppinon. You’re a religious pig. Do you see us talking down Christianty? Catholics? Momrens? No! We don’t go to you’re web sites slandering, talking down our RELIGION. Read whaty this site says. We ARE NOT Satan worshipers, We DO NOT believe in Satan. So why don’t you respect what our RELIGION is as We respect yours.
-Kara
you have taught me more about Wicca than many books have. I have been studying the Wicca “religion” and want to know how to start practicing
Hey Sarah, I’m glad you liked it. If you’re a member of Facebook, swing by my Celtic Wicca group. We’d be happy to have you. Blessed Be!
thank you so much now i can show people wat wicca is really all about i have a freind who is wiccan and people say she cast spells on them so now i can show them thank you
That greg guy is a asshole. Wicca is a religion,How can it be the most seductive religion if only 700,00 people practice it world wide.
Our friend Greg here seems to know about everything supposedly evil about wicca. I am not a wiccan I was raised evangelical Christian and I can tell you about the EVILS of evangelical Christianity. Christians believe that God is a racist who chose the Jews over all other people. Christians worship a God who commanded the jews to commit genocide rape, slavery and theft over and over again in the old testament. In the old testament God even sometimes condoned human sacrafice. God commanded the jews to evil kill babies. Sometimes after wiping out a civilization god allowed the jews to keep all the young virgin girls as concubines(sex slaves). The bottom line is that while christians claim to worship Jesus they also worship Satan. The God of the old testament is Satan. So the biggest Satanists of all are Christians. In the old testament god commanded the israelites to kill anyone who broke any commandment. If you worked on the sabath they murdered you with stoning in the name of god by his command. If you fornicated God commanded them to stone you to death. This is not God at all. This is Satan! God put such burdensome laws on his jewish people that it was the most satanic form of bondage possible. Sorry Greg but you are still a Satanist. I’m going to become a wiccan and find out just how bad it is for myself before I judge it. After all anything is better than Jehovah. And I was raised in church all my life and this is my final conclusion about the christian God. He is Satan and christians are unwitting hypocritical bigoted satanists. Good bye Greg. Good bye ignorance. The God of the Bible is a violent jealous egotistical peice of shit. I choose the godess any day.
Some people who practice Wicca are shunned, in my town I have lost a lot of friends because I am Wiccan. I will proudly say that I am. I have the fulfillment in my life that I was looking for. I love who I am. Wicca saved my life. To everyone out there who has been hurt because of you’re religion you’re not alone. Stay Proud Of Who You Are!
BLESSED BE!
-Kara
sounds like a very honest viewpoint even if I’m agnostic I see if it does no harm to others it should be allowed