WICCAN BELIEFS

Their beliefs include:

Wiccan Deities: Beliefs differ:

Most Wiccans believe that a creative force exists in the universe, which is sometimes called "The One" or " The All". Little can be known of this force.

Most regard the Goddess and the God as representing the female and male aspects of the All. These deities are not "out there somewhere;" they are immanent in the world.

Many regard various pagan Gods and Goddesses (Pan, Athena, Diana, Brigit, Zeus, Odin, etc.) as representing various aspects of the God and Goddess. The term "Wicca" normally implies that the person's religion is based upon Celtic spiritual concepts, deities, and seasonal days of celebration. Some Wiccans include beliefs, practices and symbols from ancient Pagan religions (e.g. Egyptian, Greek, various mystery religions, Roman, Sumerian) or upon Aboriginal religions (Native American Spirituality, Shamanism).

Some Wiccans are actually agnostics, who take no position on the existence of a supreme being or beings. They look upon the Goddess and the God as archetypes, based on myth.

It cannot be stressed enough that Wiccans have no supernatural being in their pantheon of deities who resembles the Christian-Muslim Satan.

Respect for Nature: Wicca is a natural religion, grounded in the earth. All living things (including stars, planets, humans, animals, plants, rocks) are regarded as having a spirit. Many Wiccan rituals deal with bringing harmony and healing to nature. Wiccans tend to share a great concern for the environment.

Gender equality: Wiccans celebrate the sexual polarity of nature. For example, the fertilizing rain is one manifestation of the male principle; the nurturing earth symbolizes the female. Females are respected as equal (and sometimes at a slightly higher rank) to males. A priestess is often the most senior person among coven -- a local group of Wiccans. They aim for a female-male balance in most of their covens (local groups), although men are typically in the minority.

Human sexuality: Sexuality is valued, and regarded as a gift of the Goddess and God, to be engaged in with joy and responsibility, and without manipulation. Wiccans generally accept the findings of human sexuality researchers that there are three normal, natural, and unchosen sexual orientations: heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality. Some Wiccans celebrate "the Great Rite" which involves ritual sexual intercourse. However, it is consensually performed by a committed couple in private.

Afterlife: Wiccans have a wide range of beliefs.

Some believe in ancient legends of a Summerland where souls go after death. Here, they meet with others who have gone before, review and integrate their previous lives on earth, and are eventually reincarnated into the body of a new born. Some believe that after many such cycles -- perhaps some as female and others as male; some lives with a high standard of living and others in poverty; some in positions of power and others suffering oppression -- that the individual accumulates sufficient experience to go on to another level of existence about which we know nothing.

Some see an individual's personality, memory, abilities, talents, etc. as functions of the human brain, which degrades and disintegrates at death. They no not anticipate any form of continuity after death.

Other Wiccans anticipate continuity after death in some very narrow senses:

That the molecules that go to make up our bodies may in turn be incorporated in other living entities;

That our influences on children, friends, and society in general will continue to have influences on the next generations.

Three-fold Law (a.k.a. the Law of Return) The law states that:
"All good that a person does to another returns three fold in this life; harm is also returned three fold."
This belief strongly motivates each Wiccan to avoid attempting to dominate, manipulate, control, or harm another person.

Some More Herbs

A
Adam & Eve Roots - Love, Happiness. Adders Tongue - Healing African Violet - Spirituality, Protection Agaric - Fertility Agrimony - Protection, Sleep Ague Root - Protection Alfalfa - Prosperity, Anti-hunger, Money Alkanet - Purification, Prosperity Allspice - Money, Luck, Healing Almond - Money, Prosperity, Wisdom Aloe - Protection, Luck Aloes, Wood - Love, Spirituality Althea - Protection, Psychic Powers Alyssum - Protection, Moderating Anger Amaranth - Healing, Protection, Invisibility Anemone - Health, Protection, Healing Angelica - Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions Apple - Love,Healing, Garden Magic, Immortality Apricot - Love Arabic Gum - Purify negativity and evil Arbutus - Exorcism, Protection Asafoetida - Exorcism, Purification, Protection Ash - Protection, Prosperity, Sea Rituals, Health Aspen - Eloquence, Anti-Theft Aster - Love Avens - Exorcism, Purification,Love Avocado - Love,Lust,Beauty

B
Bachelor's Buttons - Love Balm, Lemon - Love,Success, Healing Balm of Gilead - Love,Manifestations,Protection,Healing Bamboo - Protection, Luck, Hex-Breaking, Wishes Banana - Fertility, Potency, Prosperity Banyan - Luck Barley - Love, Healing, Protection Basil - Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection Bay - Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing, Purification, Strength Bean - Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliation, Potency, Love Bedstraw/Fragrant - Love Beech - Wishes Beet - love Belladonna - astral projection *DEADLY POISON!!* Benzoin - Purification, Prosperity Bergamot, Orange - Money Be-Still - Luck Betony/wood - Protection,Purification,Love Birch - Protection, Exorcism, Purification Bistort - Psychic Powers, Fertility Bittersweet - Protection, Healing Blackberry - Healing, Money, Protection Bladderwrack - Protection, Sea Spells, Wind Spells, Money, Psychic Powers Bleeding Heart - Love Bloodroot - Love, Protection, Purification Bluebell - Luck, Truth Blueberry - Protection Blue Flag - Money Bodhi - Fertility, Protection, WIsdom, Meditation Boneset - Protection, Exorcism Borage - Courage, Psychic Powers Bracken - Healing, Rune Magic, Prophetic Dreams Brazil Nut - Love Money, Protection Briony - Image Magic,Acicia - Protection, Psychic Powers Bromeliad - Protection, Money Broom - Purification, Protection, Wind Spells, Divination Buchu - Psychic Powers, Prophetic Dreams Buckthorn - Protection, Exorcism, Wishes, Legal Matters Buckwheat - Money, Protection Burdock - Protection, Healing
C
Cabbage - Luck Cactus - Protection, Chastity Calamus - Luck, Healing, Money, Protection Camellia -Riches Camphor - Chastity, Health, Divination Caper - Potency, Lust, Luck Carawy - Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-theft, Mental Powers Cardamon - Lust, Love Carnation - Protection, Strength, Healing Carob - Protection, Health Carrot - Fertility, Lust Cascara Sagrada - Legal Matters, Money, Protection, Cashew - Money Castor - Protection Catnip - Cat Magic, Love, Beauty, Happiness Cattail - Lust Cedar - Healing, Purification, Money, Protection Celandine - Protection, Escape, Happiness, Legal Matters Celery - Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers Centaury - Snake Removing Chamomile - Money, Sleep, Love, Purification Cherry - Love, divination Chestnut - Love Chickweed - Fertility, Love Chicory - Removing Obstacles, Invisibility, favors, Frigidity Chili pepper - Fidelity, hex Breaking, Love China Berry - Luck Chrysanthemum - Protection Cinchona - Luck, Protection Cinnamon - Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust Protection, Love Cinquefoil - Money, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Sleep Citron - Psychic Powers, Healing Cloth of Gold - Understand animal languages Clove - Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money Clover - Protection, Money, Love, fidelity, Exorcism, Success Club Moss - Protection, Power Coconut - Purification, Protection, Chastity Cohosh,Black - love, courage,protection,potency Coltsfoot - Love,Visions Columbine - Courage,Love Comfrey - Safety during travel, Money Copal - Love, Purification Coriander - Love,Health, Healing Corn - protection,luck, divination Cotton - Luck,Healing,Protection,Rain,Fishing Magic Cowslip - Healing,Youth,Treasure Finding Crocus - Love, Visions Cubeb - Love Cuckoo-flower - Fertility,Lover Cucumber - Chastity,Healing,Fertility Cumin - Protection,Fidelity, Exorcism Curry - Protection Cyclamen - fertility,Protection,Happiness, Lust Cypress - Longevity, Healing, Comfort,Protection

D
Daffodil - Love,Fertility, Luck Daisy - Lust,Luck Damiana - Lust, Love, Visions Dandelion - Divination,Wishes,Calling Spirits Datura - Hex Breaking,Sleep,Protection Deerstongue - Lust, Psychic Powers Devils Bit - Exorcism, Love, Protection, Lust Devils Shoestring - Protection, Gambling, Luck, Power, Employment Dill - Protection, Money, Lust,Luck Dittany of Crete - Manifestations, Astral Projection Dock - Healing,Fertility, Money Dodder - Love,Divination,Knot Magic Dogbane - Love Dogwood - Wishes, Protection Dragons Blood - Love,Protection,Exorcism,Potency Dulse - Lust, Harmony Dutchmans Breeches - Love

E
Ebony - Protection, Power Echinacea - Strengthening Spells Edelweiss - Invisibility, Bullet-Proofing Elder - Exorcism,Protection,Healing,Prosperity,Sleep Elecampane - Love,Protection,Psychic Powers Elm - Love Endive - Lust,Love Eryngo - Travelers Luck, Peace, Lust, Love Eucalyptus - Healing,Protection Euphorbia - Purification, Protection Eyebright - Mental Powers, Psychic Power

F
Fennel - Protection, Healing, Purification Fenugreek - Money Fern - Rain Making, Protection,Luck,Riches,Eternal Youth, Health, Exorcism Feverfew - Protection Fig - Divination,Fertility, Love Figwort - Health,Protection Flax - Money, Protection,Beauty,Psychic Powers, Healing Fleabane - Exorcism, Protection, Chastity Foxglove - Protection Frankincense - Protection, Exorcism, Spirituality Fumitory - Money, Exorcism Fuzzy Weed - Love,Hunting

G
Galangal - Protection, Lust, Health, Money, Psychic Powers, Hex breaking Gardenia - Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality Garlic - Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Anti-Theft Gentian - Love, Power Geranium - Fertility, Health, Love, Protection Ginger - Love, Money, Success, Power Ginseng - Love, Wishes, Healing, Beauty, Protection, Lust Goats Rue - Healing, Health Goldenrod - Money, Divination Golden Seal - Healing, Money Gorse - Protection, Money Gotu Kola - Meditation Gourd - Protection Grain - Protection Grains of Paradise - Lust, Luck, Love, Money, Wishes Grape - Fertility, Garden Magic, Mental Powers,Money Grass - Psychic Powers, Protection Ground Ivy - Divination Groundsel - Health, Healing

H
Hawthorn - Fertility, Chastity, Fishing Magic, Happiness Hazel - Luck, Fertility, Anti-Lightning, Protection, Wishes Heather - Protection, Rain Making, Luck Heliotrope - Exorcism, Prophetic dreams, Healing, Wealth, Invisbility Hellebore,Black - Protection *POISON* Hemlock - Destroy sexual drives *POISON* Hemp - Healing, Love, Vision, Meditation Henbane - POISON Not used Henna - Healing Hibiscus - Lust,Love, Divination Hickory - Legal Matters High John the Conqueror - Money, Love, Success, Happiness Holly - Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magic Honesty - Money, Repelling Monsters Honeysuckle - Money, Psychic Powers, Protection Hops - Healing, Sleep Horehound - Protection, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Healing Horse Chestnut - Money, Healing Horseradish - Purification, Exorcism Horsetail - Snake Charming, Fertility Houndstongue - Tying dogs tongues Houseleek - Luck,Protection, Love Huckleberry - Luck, Protection, Dream Magic, Hex Breaking Hyacinth - Love, Protection, Happiness Hydrangea - Hex Breaking Hyssop - Purification, Protection

I
Indian Paint Brush - Love Iris - Purification, Wisdom Irish Moss - Money, Luck, Protection Ivy - Protection, Healing

J
Jasmine - Love, Money, Prophetic Dreams Jobs Tears - Healing, Wishes, Luck Joe-pye weed - Love, Respect Juniper - Protection, Anti-theft, Love, Exorcism, Health

K
Kava-Kave - Visions, Protection, luck Knotweed - Binding, Health

L
Ladys mantle - Love Ladys slipper - Protection Larch - Protection, Anti theft Larkspur - Health, Protection Lavendar - Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Leek - Love, Protection, Exorcism Lemon - Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship Lemongrass - Repel snakes, Lust, Psychic powers Lemon Verbena - Purification, Love Lettuce - Chastity, Protection, Love, Divination, Sleep Licorice - Love,Lust, Fidelity Life Everlasting - longevity, Health, Healing Lilac - Exorcism, Protection Lily - Protection, Breaking Love spells Lily of the Valley - Mental Powers, Happiness Lime - Healing,Love,Protection Linden - Protection, Immortality, Luck, Love, Sleep Liquidamber - Protection Liverwort - Protection Liverwort - Love Looestrife - Peace,Protection Lotus - Protection, Lock-Opening Lovage - Love Love Seed - Love,Friendship Lucky Hand - Employment, Luck, Protection, Money, Travel

M
Mace - Psychic Powers, Mental Powers Maguey - Lust Magnolia - Fidelity Mahogany,mountain - Anti-Lightning Maidenhair - Beauty, Love Male Fern - Luck, Love Mallow - Love, Protection, Exorcism Mandrake - Protection,Love, Money, Fertility, Health Maple - Love, Longevity, Money Marigold - Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers Marjoram - Protection, love, Happiness, Health, Money Master Wort - Strength, Courage, Protection Mastic - Psychic Powers, Manifestations, Lust May Apple - Money Meadow Rue - DIvination Meadowsweet - Love, Divination, Peace, Happiness Mesquite - Healing Mimosa - Protection, Love, Prophetic Dreams, Purification Mint - Money,Love,Lust,Healing, Exorcism,Travel, Protection Mistletoe - Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism Molukka - Protection Moonwort - Money, Love Moss - Luck,Money Mugwort - Strength, Psychic Powers, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Astral Projection Mulberry - Protection, Strength Mullein - Courage, Protection, Health, Love,Divination, Exorcism Mustard - Fertility, Protection, Mental Powers Myrrh - Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Spirituality Myrtle - Love, Fertility, Youth, Peace, Money

N
Nettle - Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Lust Norfolk Island Pine - Protection, anti hunger Nuts - Fertility,prosperity, love, luck

O
Oak - Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck Oats - Money Olive - Healing, Peace, Fertility, Potency, Protection, Lust Onion - Protection,Exorcism, Healing, Money, Prophetic Dreams, Lust Orange - Love, Divination, Luck, Money Orchid - Love Oregon Grape - Money, Prosperity Orris - Love, Protection, Divination

P
Palm,Date - Fertility, Potency Pansy - Love,Rain Magic, Love, Divination Papaya - Love, Protection Papyrus - protection Parosela - hunting Parsley - Love, Protection, Purification Passion Flower - Peace,Sleep, Friendship Patchouly - Money, Fertility, Lust Pea - Money,Love Peach - Love, Exorcism, Longevity,. Fertility, Wishes Pear - Lust, Love Pecan - Money, Employment Pennyroyal - Strength, Protection, Peace Peony - Protection, Exorcism Pepper - Protection,Exorcism Peppermint - Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers Pepper Tree - Purification, Healing, Protection Periwinkle - Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Money, Protection Persimmon - Changing Sex, healing, luck Plot Weed - Protection Pimento - Love Pimpernel - Protection,Health Pine - Healing, Fertility, Protection, Exorcism, Money Pineapple - Luck, Money, Chastity Pipsissewa - Money, Spirit Calling Pistachio - Breaking Love Spells Plantain - Healing, Protection, Strength,Snake Repelling Plum - Healing Plumeria - Love Poke - Courage, Hex Breaking Pomegranate - Divination, Luck, Wishes, Wealth, Fertility Poplar - Money, Flying Poppy - Fertility,Love, Sleep, Money,Luck, Invisibility Potato - Image Magic, Healing Prickly Ash - Love Primrose - Protection, Love Purslane - Sleep, Love, Luck, Protection, Happiness

Q
Quassia - Love Quince - Protection,Love,Happiness

R
Radish - Protection, Lust Ragweed - Courage Ragwort - Protection Raspberry - Protection, Love Rattlesnake Root - Protection,Money Rhubarb - Protection, Fidelity Rice - Protection, Rain, Fertility, Money Roots - Protection, Power, Divination Rose - Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Divination, Luck, Protection Rosemary - Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing,Sleep, Youth Rowan - Psychic Powers,Healing, Protection,Power, Success Rue - Healing,Health, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Love Rye - Love, Fidelity

S
Saffron - Love, Healing,Happiness, Wind Raising, Lust, Strength, Psychic Powers. Sage - Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes Sagebrush - Purification, Exorcism St.Johns Wort - Health, Power,Protection,Strength, Love, Divination, Happiness Sandalwood - Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Spirituality Sarsaparilla - Love, Money Sassafras - Health, Money Savory/Summer - Mental Powers Scullcap - Love, Fidelity, Peace Senna - Love Sesame - Money. Lust Shallot - Purification Skunk Cabbage - Legal Matters Slippery Elm - Halts Gossip Sloe - Exorcism, Protection Snakeroot - Luck Money Snakeroot/black - Love,Lust,Money Snapdragon - Protection Solomons Seal - Protection,Exorcism Sorrel Wood - Healing,Health Southern Wood - Love,Lust,Protection Spanish Moss - Protection Spearmint - Healing,Love,Mental Powers SpiderWort - Love Spikenard - Love Squill - Money,Protection,Hex Breaking Star/anise - Psychic Powers, Luck Stillengia - Psychic Powers Straw - Luck,Image Magic Strawberry - Love,Luck Sugar Cane - Love,Lust Sumbul - Love,Luck,Health,Psychic Powers Sunflower - Fertility,Wishes,Health,Wisdom Sweetgrass - Calling Spirits Sweetpea - Friendship,Chastity,Courage,Strength

T
Tamarind - Love Tamarisk - Exorcism,Protection Tansy - Health,Longevity Tea - Riches,Courage,Strength Thistle - Strength,Protection,Hex Breaking,Healing Thistle/holy - Purification,Hex Breaking Thistle/milk - Snake enraging Thyme - health,Healing,Sleep,Psychic Powers,Love,Purification,Courage Ti - Protection,Healing Toadflax - Protection,Hex Breaking Toadstool - Rain Making Tobacco - Healing,Purification Turmeric - Purification Turnip - Protection,Ending Relationships

U
Uva Ursa - Psychic Workings

V
Valerian - Love,Sleep,Purification,Protection Vanilla - Love,Lust,Mental Powers Venus Flytrap - Protection,Love Vervain - Love, Protection, Purification, Peace, Money, Youth, Chastity, Sleep,Healing Vetch/Giant - Fidelity Vetivert - Love, Hex Breaking, Luck, Money, Anti-Theft Violet - Protection, Luck, Love, Lust, Wishes, Peace, Healing

W
Wahoo - Hex-breaking, Courage, Success Walnut - Health, Mental Powers, Infertility, Wishes Wax Plant - Protection Wheat - Fertility, Money Willow - Love, divination, Protection, Healing Wintergreen - Protection, Healing, Hex Breaking Winters Bark - Success WItch Grass - Happiness, Lust,love, Exorcism Witch Hazel - Protection, Chastity Wolfs Bane - Protection, Invisibility Wood Rose - Luck Woodruff - Victory, Protection, Money Wormwood - Psychic Powers, Protection, Love, Calling Spirits

Y
Yarrow - Courage, Love, Psychic Powers, Exorcism Yellow Evening Primrose - Hunting Yerba Mate - Fidelity, Love, Lust Yerba Santa - Beauty, Healing, Psychic Powers, Protection Yew - Raising the Dead Yohimbe - Love,Lust Yucca - Transmutation, Protection, Purification

Some Herbs

Cassia: More commonly known in the United States as cinnamon, the scent of this herbal spice improves concentration. It can be used as an anointing oil or incense. Medicinally, it warms the body and strengthens the circulation. It can serve as an anti-viral or anti-bacterial.

Chamomile: Often used in day to day life as a calming tea, this herb can be used for dream work including the avoidance of nightmares. It can be used in love spells and in amulets or talismans meant to draw money. Midsummer celebrations often include chamomile.

Cinquefoil: This herb is used in love and protection spells, dream work and divination. It is often used in Midsummer celebrations. It can be used in bath water to encourage dream work or put into a dream pillow. For the other uses, it can be burned as an incense.

Coriander: Commonly found in the kitchen's spice rack, coriander can also be used as an incense promoting concentration. In spell work, it can be used in love or prosperity spells. It is also believed to have some healing properties.

Costus root: If you come across a spell requiring musk and are a vegan, the cotus root can serve as a replacement. It can be used in love and elemental spells since it is good for clarity and acts as an aphrodisiac. There are rumors that it can act as a narcotic when smoked but it isn't recommended.

Damiana: This plant is usually used in love spells since it is an aphrodisiac for both sexes. It can also be used as a love talisman or amulet.

Dogbane: This herb is thought to be a creativity enhancer and can be used in love spells or divination work. In medicine, it is used in a tea for treating high blood pressure and depression. It can also act as a diuretic or sedative.

Fennel: A common cooking herb and tea ingredient, fennel can be used as a stimulant or in spells for courage, fertility or protection. It is thought to increase concentration and memory.

Fireweed: As its name would suggest, fireweed does well in spells involving fire. It can also be used in rituals that seek to heal the spirit after some sort of transformation.

Galangal: Similar to ginger in taste, galangal is an aphrodisiac ripe for sexual spells. It can also be used in a satchel or amulet for protection. The smell is pleasant and it won't draw negative attention to you if carried around.

Goat's Rue: This herb can be used in binding spells or put in a tea to ward off fatigue. It can be used as a diuretic or to clear up a bladder infection.

Grains of Paradise: Place bags containing this herb near the doors to your home for protection or carry it in an amulet for personal safety. It can also be used in charms that are used for sexual attraction.

Hops: Best known for being an ingredient of beer, hops can be used under the pillow to ward off insomnia. It cures restless feelings to allow the mind and spirit to become more open.

Other Stuff

Pagan religions, defined

Pagan religions are religions centered around nature-based worship. They emphasize spirituality, and feeling in place with the world. Many pagan teachings center around balance, the dual nature of the universe, nature's cycles, fertility in all aspects of life, and personal growth.

The origins of pagan religions

Most pagan religions that exist today are really neo-pagan. This means that they're derived from ancient beliefs, but are blended with modern morals, philosophies and culture. Wicca, the most widespread pagan religion, is a neo-pagan religion. Reconstructionists are a small subset of pagan religions which try to recreate ancient religions as accurately as possible.

How pagan religions relate to other religions

Today's pagan religions are distant cousins of the Judeo-Christian religions. This means that they share cultural and theological ancestry, but do not have any direct ties to one another. Pagans, generally speaking, do not believe in Judeo-Christian theological constructs such as God, Satan, Angels, Devils, etc. Many forms of paganism are not exclusive. This means it is possible to blend paganism with many other religions, so long as they too are not exclusive.

Paganism and witchcraft

Witchcraft, or the use of magick, is much like prayer for Christians. It is a way in which the individual can connect with the divine, and feel empowered. Not every pagan practices witchcraft, and not everyone who practices the craft is pagan.

How It All Started - A Fascinating History Of Witchcraft

The religion of Wicca officially started around 1954, and was "founded" by Gardner. But the foundation of Wicca started much earliner...

Over 20,000 years ago, a small group of people discovered hidden powers in the universe. Through focus, belief, meditation, and ritual – they found out how to use hidden energies to actually change events, bring good fortune, and repel evil.Shamanism was born.The knowledge spread quickly throughout the world. To every culture, and every race of man.Just like any other study on earth (like science, or math, etc.), practice makes perfect. And with dozens of different cultures practicing Magick for the next 17,000 years, the power of Magick grew by leaps and bounds.Each culture discovered unique secrets of performing “miracle work” with Magick energy. Like an ancient oak tree, different branches of Witchcraft practice grew up in the hundreds. The control of Magick energy developed into an art form capable of affecting every part of a persons life. Capable of changing even the most hopeless human situations into wonders of good fortune.

The Magick City

2,205 years ago the city of Alexandria, Egypt was the world’s “grand central station” of Magick.

The most experienced “master” Magick practitioners from every corner of the globe would make the long journey to Alexandria. Shamans, Witches, Druids, Psychics, and other. They came to study other forms of Magick, to find the secrets other cultures had uncovered. But they couldn’t learn anything new without a price.

They had to share their own secrets with the world to gain access to the Magick Papyri.So, what the heck is Magick Papyri, and what secrets of "Wicca" did it hold? It is very simply “paper made from the leaves of a plant”. You see, back then there were no paper mills. So they used the leaves of the papyrus plant to write on. And on them, they recorded every Magick secret from around the world. Every spell and technique for connecting with Magick energy.

Alexandria, Egypt was truly the Magick city – the center of Magick knowledge.

THE WITCHES' VOICE

www.witchvox.com/
This is the home page of The Witches' Voice with articles and information about Wicca and hundreds of links to other sites.

Whats a Book Of Shadows?

Book of Shadows: A personal diary of a Wiccan or other Neopagan in which she/he records their ritual activities.

The Wiccan Rede (short version)

The Wiccan Rede
Bid ye the wiccan law ye must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the wiccan rede fulfill:
and ye harm none, do as ye will.
And ever mind the rule of three,
what ye sends out comes back to the.
Follow this with mind and heart,
and merry meet and merry ye part.

Herbs Of The Witch

Throughout history, people who could unlock nature's botanical secrets, who knew which plants could kill, cure, or distort reality, were regarded with awe and fear. Monks and physicians were among those privy to the hidden powers of berries, blossoms, leaves, and roots. Witches, however, were believed to surpass all others in the scope of their herbal magic.

Many who were rumored to be witches, or were persecuted as such, were probably skilled herbalists. And much of the lore regarding their powers was a blend of fiction and fact. By combining the right mix of herbs, it was thought, witches could fly through the air, strike down enemies, blight cattle and crops, or enamor a hapless suitor. But when the mood struck them, they could use theur powers constructively. They could heal, for instance, by administering foxglove to someone with an ailing heart.

Herbal magic was said to function in various ways. Some worked through vapors. A crop-killing storm, say, might be summoned by the fumes of certain noxious plants boiled up with venomous snakes and black roosters. Love elixirs, on the other hand, required ingection, and "flying ointment," which contained herbs that modern scientists have found produce hallucinatory sensations of flight, were applied to the skin.

Casting a Circle

In Wicca and Paganism, one of the facets common to nearly all traditions is the use of a circle as a sacred space. While other religions rely on the use of a building such as a church or temple to hold worship, Wiccans and Pagans can cast a circle pretty much any place they choose. This is particularly handy on those pleasant summer evenings when you decide to hold ritual out in the back yard under a tree instead of in your living room!





1. Start by determining how big your space needs to be. A ceremonial circle is a place in which positive energy and power are kept in, and negative energy kept out. The size of your circle will depend on how many people need to be inside it, and what the circle’s purpose is. If you’re hosting a small coven meeting for a few people, a nine-foot-diameter circle is sufficient. On the other hand, if it’s Beltane and you’ve got four dozen Pagans preparing to do a Spiral Dance, you’ll need a space significantly larger. A solitary practitioner can work easily in a three- to five-foot circle.

2. Figure out where your Circle should be cast. In some traditions, a Circle is physically marked on the ground, while in others it is merely visualized by each member of the group. If you have an indoor ritual space, you can mark the Circle on the carpet. Do whichever your tradition calls for. Once the Circle is designated, it is usually navigated by the High Priest or High Priestess, holding an athame, a candle, or a censer.

3. Which direction will your circle face? The circle is almost always oriented to the four cardinal points, with a candle or other marker placed at the north, east, south and west and the altar in the center with all the necessary tools for the ritual. Before entering the circle, participants are purified as well.

4. How do you actually cast the circle? Methods of casting the circle vary from one tradition to another. In some forms of Wicca, the God and Goddess are called upon to share the ritual. In others, the Hight Priest (HP) or High Priestess (HPs) will begin at the north and call upon the deities of the tradition from each direction. Usually this invocation includes a mention of the aspects associated with that direction – emotion, intellect, strength, etc. A sample ritual for casting a circle might take place like this:

5. Mark the circle upon the floor or the ground. Place a candle in each of the four quarters – green to the North to represent Earth, yellow in the East to represent Air, red or orange symbolizing Fire in the South, and blue to the West in association with Water. All necessary magical tools should already be in place upon the altar in the center. Let’s assume that the group, called Three Circles Coven, is led by a High Priestess.

6. The HPs enters the circle from the east and announces, “Let it be known that the circle is about to be cast. All who enter the Circle may do so in perfect love and perfect trust.” Other members of the group may wait outside the circle until the casting is complete. The HPs moves clockwise around the circle, carrying a lit candle (if it’s more practical, use a lighter instead). At each of the four cardinal points, she calls upon the Deities of her tradition (some may refer to these as Watchtowers, or Guardians).

7.As she lights the candle in the East from the one she carries, the HPs says:Guardians of the East, I call upon you to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven.Powers of knowledge and wisdom, guided by Air, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidancedo so in perfect love and perfect trust.

8. The HPs moves to the South, and lights the red or orange candle, saying:Guardians of the South, I call upon you to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven. Powers of energy and will, guided by Fire, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

9. Next, she circles around to the West, where she lights the blue candle and says:Guardians of the West, I call upon you to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven. Powers of passion and emotion, guided by Water, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

10. Finally, the HPs goes to the last candle in the North. When lighting it, she says:Guardians of the North, I call upon you to watch over the rites of Three Circles Coven. Powers of endurance and strength, guided by Earth, we ask that you keep watch over us tonight within this circle. Let all who enter the circle under your guidance do so in perfect love and perfect trust.

11. At this point, the HPs will announce that the circle is cast, and other members of the group can ritually enter the circle. Each person approaches the HPs, who will ask:How do you enter the circle?Each individual will respond:In perfect love and perfect trust or In the light and love of the Goddess or whatever response is appropriate to your tradition.

12. Once all members are present within the circle, the circle is closed. At no time during ritual should anyone exit the circle without performing a ceremonial “cutting.” To do this, hold your athame in your hand and make a cutting motion across the line of the circle, first to your right and then to your left. You are essentially creating a “door” in the circle, which you may now walk through. When you return to the circle, enter it in the same place you exited, and “close” the doorway by reconnecting the line of the circle with the athame.

13. When the ceremony or rite has ended, the circle is usually cleared in the same manner in which it was cast, only in this case the HPs will dismiss the deities or Guardians and thank them for watching over the coven. In some traditions, the temple is cleared simply by having all members raise their athames in salute, thanking the God or Goddess, and kissing the blades of the athame.

14. If the above method of casting a circle seems boring or dull to you, that’s okay. It’s a basic framework for ritual, and you can make yours as elaborate as you like. If you’re a very poetic person who likes lots of ceremony, feel free to use creative license – call upon “the weavers of the wind, the breezes that blow from the East, blessing us with wisdom and knowledge, so mote it be,” etc, etc. If your tradition associates various deities with the directions, call upon those Gods or Goddesses in the ways that they expect you to do so.

15. Just make sure that you don’t spend so much time casting the Circle that you don’t have any time left for the rest of your ceremony!

Wiccan Timeline

Wiccan Timeline

2000 BC
Babylon's Code of Hammurabi instructs, "If a man has laid a charge of witchcraft and has not justified it, he upon whom the witchcraft is laid shall go to the holy river; he shall plunge into the holy river and if the holy river overcome him, he who accused him shall take to himself his house."
3rd cent. AD
Under the pre-Christian Roman Empire, punishment of burning alive was enacted by the State against witches who brought about another person's death through their enchantments.
306 AD
The Christian Council of Elvira (Canon 6) refuses last rites to those who had killed a man by a magical spell because such a crime could not be effected "without idolatry" (i.e. the help of the devil).
313
Conversion of Emperor Constantine; Christianity is granted official toleration by the Roman Empire.
314
Canon 24 of the Council of Ancyra imposes five years of penance upon those who consult magicians. Here, the offence lies in participation in paganism.
785
The Council of Paderborn rules that sorcerers are to be reduced to serfdom and made over to the service of the Church.
906
The document De ecclesiasticis disciplinis ascribed to Regino of Prüm describes popular notions of witchcraft and states it is the duty of priests to "instruct the people that these things are absolutely untrue and that such imaginings are planted in the minds of misbelieving folk, not by a Divine spirit, but by the spirit of evil."
1080
Pope Gregory VII writes a letter to King Harold of Denmark forbidding witches to be put to death upon presumption of their having caused storms, failure of crops or pestilence.
1225
In Germany, the secular law code "Sachsenspiegel" designated death by fire as the proper punishment for witchcraft.
1258
Pope Alexander IV instructs, "The Inquisitors, deputed to investigate heresy, must not intrude into investigations of divination or sorcery without knowledge of manifest heresy involved." "Manifest heresy" is defined as: "praying at the altars of idols, to offer sacrifices, to consult demons, to elicit responses from them... or associate themselves publicly with heretics."
1275
The first "witch" is burned to death after judicial sentence of an inquisitor, in Toulouse, France. Her name was Hugues de Baniol and she "confessed" to having given birth to a monster after intercourse with an evil spirit and to having nourished it with babies' flesh which she procured in her nocturnal expeditions.
1300-30
Beginning of the witch trials in Europe.
1334
Large-scale witch trial in Toulouse, France, in which 63 persons were accused. Of these, eight were handed over to the state to be burned and the rest were imprisoned.
1374
Pope Gregory XI declares that all magic is done with the aid of demons and thus is open to prosecution for heresy.
1400
Peter de Gruyères, a secular judge, carries out large-scale witch trials in Bern, Switzerland.
1435-50
Number of witch trails rises sharply.
1484
Pope Innocent VIII publishes the bull Summis desiderantes affectibus ("Desiring with the Greatest Ardor") condemning witchcraft as Satanism, the worst of all possible heresies. The bull also officially grants Heinrich Krämer and James Sprenger, Dominican inquisitors, the right to prosecute persons of any class or any form of crime.
1486
Heinrich Krämer and Jacob Sprenger publish Malleus maleficarum ("The Hammer of Witches"), a learned but misogynistic book blaming witchcraft chiefly on women. It was reprinted many times thanks to the newly-invented printing press and was a major influence on the witch-hunt hysteria of the next two centuries. It was regarded as the standard handbook on witchcraft until well into the 18th century.
1530s
Prosecutions for witchcraft begin in Mexico.
1532
The penal code Carolina decrees that sorcery throughout the German empire should be treated as a criminal offence, and if it injured any person, the witch was to be burned at the stake.
1572
The Protestant ruler of Saxony imposes the penalty of burning for witchcraft of every kind, including fortune-telling.
1580-1630
Period in which witch-hunts are most severe.
1583
121 persons are burned as witches over three months in Osnabruck, Germany.
1590
Witch trials in North Berwick, Scotland.
1609
In response to a witch panic in the Basque region, La Suprema (the ruling body of the Spanish Inquisition) issues an "Edict of Silence" forbidding all discussion of witchcraft. For, as one inquisitor noted, "There were neither witches nor bewitched until they were talked and written about."
1631
The Jesuit Friedrich von Spee publishes Cautio criminalis against the witch craze.
1647
First hanging for witchcraft in New England.
1668-76
Outbreak of witch-hunts in Sweden.
1692
Between May and October, 19 people are tried and hanged as witches in Salem, Massachusetts.
1749
The last trial for witchcraft in Germany is carried out at Würzburg.
1754
Torture is abolished in Prussia.
1782
Last known execution for witchcraft takes place in Switzerland, in the Protestant canton of Glarus.
1807
Torture is abolished in Bavaria.
1822
Torture is abolished in Hanover.
1875
Birth of Aleister Crowley, occultist who influenced Gerald Gardner.
1885
Birth of Gerald Gardner, founder of Wicca.
1890s
Aleister Crowley joins the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, of which William Butler Yeats was also a member.
1899
Charles Godfrey Leland publishes Aradia or the Goddess of the Witches.
1910
Crowley meets a leader of German Masonic order called the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), a combination of Masonic rites and the traditions of the Rosicrucians, the Templars, the Illuminists, and Bengali Tantrism. Crowley was soon initiated into the order and progressing through the degrees of the order.
1912
Crowley is named Grand Master of the O.T.O. for Great Britain and Ireland.
1921
Margaret Murray published The Witch-Cult in Western Europe.
1926
Birth of Alexander Sanders, founder of Alexandrian Wicca.
1929
Margaret Murray published her article “Witchcraft” in the 14th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.
1939
The O.T.O. in Germany is effectively dissolved by the Nazis.
1939
Gardner joins the Folklore Society and presents a paper on witchcraft.
1939
The year Gerald Gardner claims he was initiated into a witch cult called the New Forest Coven, led by Dorothy Clutterbuck.
1940
Zsuzsanna Budapest, feminist writer and leader of Dianic Wicca, is born on January 30.
1940s
Gardner joins the nudist group The Fiveacres Country Club.
1946
Gardner begins work on High Magic's Aid, a fictional novel partially based on those of his Southern Coven. The witches of his coven opposed making their rituals public, which is why it was presented as fiction and filled out with rituals from other sources.
1947
Gardner and Edith Woodford-Grimes start a company called Ancient Crafts Ltd.
1947
Gardner meets Crowley at Crowley's home in Hastings for the first time on May 1, and visits him again several times during May.
1947
Gardner becomes a member of the O.T.O. in May and is authorized by Crowley to found an O.T.O. encampment and initiate new members.
1947
Crowley dies on December 1.
1947
On December 27, Gardner writes a letter claiming to have been designated as successor to Crowley as leader of the O.T.O. Karl Germer assumed leadership instead, and held it until his death in 1962.
1949
Gerald Gardner publishes High Magic's Aid under the pseudonym Scire.
1950
Gardner begins distancing himself from Crowley and the O.T.O. in favor of Wicca.
1950
Gardner states in a letter that Crowley had participated in the witch cult but left in disgust due to the leadership of the High Priestess and the nudity.
1951
Gardner founds the "Northern Coven" in London and holds a small rite at his home near the British Museum on May Eve.
1953
Doreen Valiente is initated by Gardner, and soon became High Priestess.
1954
Gardner publishes Witchcraft Today, an event which many regard as the founding of Wicca.
1957
Wicca splits into two factions, one that supports Gardner's growing publicity of the religion (led by Gardner) and one that opposes it (led by Doreen Valiente).
1959
Gardner publishes The Meaning of Witchcraft, in which he first uses the term "Wica."
1963-64
Gardner winters in Lebanon to help his failing health.
1964
Gardner dies of heart failure on the SS Scottish Prince in the Mediterranean. His body is buried at the next port of call, Tunis.
1989
Valiente publishes The Rebirth of Witchcraft, a first-hand account of the history and development of Wicca.
1991
Aiden A. Kelly publishes Crafting the Art of Magic, Book I, which aims to show that Gardner's Book of Shadows could be entirely traced to earlier sources.

Sources
"witchcraft." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=214883>. (April 2005).
Herbert Thurston, "Witchcraft." Catholic Encyclopedia. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15674a.htm> (April 2005).
Morgan Davis, "From Man to Witch: Gerald Gardner 1946-1949." <http://www.geraldgardner.com/index/Gardner46-49.PDF> (April 2005).
"History of Neopaganism and Wicca." The Book of Lost Tales. <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/1614/Celtwicc/Wicca/Wicca02.htm> (April 2005).

The Wiccan Rede (Full Version)

The Wiccan Rede

(Full Version)

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.

Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane. When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.

When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.

Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God'sinsight.

Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.

Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.

When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.

As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.

When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"