| Wicca is a nature and magic based religion that is | | | | begun by casting a circle by invoking "guardians" of |
| taken from the Pagan practices of ancient times. | | | | the elements and associated cardinal points: North |
| Wicca mimics other world religions with its own | | | | (earth), West (water), South (fire) and East (air). The |
| rituals, seasonal "holidays" and belief system. The | | | | four elements are thought to represent every action |
| beliefs of the religion can vary by region, since there | | | | and being on earth. The five points of the pentagram |
| is no orthodox method of practice or central | | | | worn by those practicing Wicca stand for the |
| organization. There are, however, published teachings | | | | elements and the presiding spirit. |
| and works that most Wiccans adhere to. | | | | After the circle is cast, prayers are made to the God |
| The majority of Wiccans worship a God and | | | | and Goddess and spells may be cast. If it is at the |
| Goddess who are considered to be equal, | | | | time of a seasonal holiday, a special ritual may be |
| complimentary beings, and often are represented by | | | | performed. Tools a coven may have on hand for the |
| the sun and moon. There is a trinity concept in this | | | | ceremony include a book of spells (Book of |
| religion, with the Triple Goddess having aspects of | | | | Shadows), an altar cloth, cauldron, chalice, wand, |
| the "Mother", "Crone" and "Maiden". Many members | | | | broom, candles, crystals, athame (ritual knife) and |
| of Wicca concede that the Goddess had to predate | | | | incense. When the ceremony is finished, the God and |
| her companion since she is the giver of life. | | | | Goddess are thanked for their participation and |
| It is believed that both the God and Goddess are | | | | blessings and the coven closes the circle. |
| able to take form in the body of the Wiccan coven's | | | | The Book of Shadows mentioned above is sort of a |
| Priests or Priestesses during ritual. Though they | | | | personalized religious text for either a single |
| believe in deities, the concept of an afterlife doesn't | | | | practitioner or- more commonly- a coven. The |
| hold strong in the Wicca community. Reincarnation is | | | | contents are kept secret but often contain such |
| a favored belief and traditional teaching. | | | | public domain works as the Wiccan Rede. What type |
| Possibly the most adhered to text in Wicca is the | | | | of book is actually used varies between Wicca |
| Wiccan Rede, which states "and it harm none, do | | | | practitioners. |
| what ye will". This is interpreted as meaning that as | | | | There are many "holidays" or seasonal observances in |
| long as a person's actions do no harm to anyone | | | | Wicca. Full moons (and sometimes new moons) bring |
| else; they can consider themselves free to pursue | | | | about the ritual Esbat. There are also eight Sabbats- |
| them. There is also the concept of the Law of | | | | four of which, the cross-quarter days, are larger than |
| Threes (also known as the Law of Threefold Return) | | | | the others and relate back to ancient fire festivals. |
| that says whatever positive or negative actions a | | | | These are named Samhain, Beltane, Lammas and |
| person puts out into the world will return threefold. | | | | Imbolc. The other, lesser celebrated festivals are the |
| The magic rituals of Wicca are performed within a | | | | Summer and Winter solstices and Spring and Autumn |
| coven or group of practitioners. The rituals are usually | | | | Equinoxes. |