Introduction

Many refer to Wicca as a religion but it is difficult to pin down any sort of fixed belief amongst the community and there are countless variations. The most well known forms of Wicca in the UK and America are; Gardenian, Alexandrian and Eclectic.

So in all, Wicca isn’t so much a religion but a way of life. By following a specific code of ethics you could quite easily fall under any number of Wiccan traditions.

Origins/History

It is widely accepted that Wicca is something that has evolved over time and could be traced back to a number of sources; paganism, heathenism, druidry, shamanism etc.

Wicca as we know it today has changed a lot in a short amount of time. Most people today know of it because of Gerald Gardner who authored a book called “Witchcraft Today” in 1954. Gardner however claimed that his book was simply a detailing of his experience after being initiated into “The New Forest Coven” whose origins and authenticity are still in question.

From the little information that can be found on the coven it is believed to have been led by Edith Woodford-Grimes (known as Dafo amongst the community). She is a lady surrounded by mystery and the searches into her life that were done at the time suggest she had a strict Christian upbringing.

An interesting note on Dafo is a rumour that she was asked 3 times in her life if she had involvement with Gardner; twice she refused to answer and the 3rd time she swore only in a theoretical way. This situation is very similar to Peter’s denial of Christ and I wouldn’t be surprised if the rumour was spread for its symbolic sense.

Beliefs

As previously stated, there are only a few things definite about being Wiccan. That is the belief in a male and female deity and the Wiccan Rede which is often summarised in the short phrase “If it harm none, do what you will”, this means just as it reads; if you are assured nothing will be hurt by your actions then you may do as you please. The complications come into place when you debate what the definition of hurt is and if they are allowed to make a choice that would hurt them.

This is a very simple code of ethic to follow so long as you don’t take it too literally. Many believe it to mean you should look after the earth and show it equal respect as you would another human. As Wicca evolved from earth based paganism the appreciation of nature is inherent in a lot of the variations.

A common misconception of Wicca is that you do not need to practice Magick and if you do practice Magick then you’re not necessarily Wicca.

Over all, Wicca in general is a way of life that promotes mutual respect for all living things.

Last Updated on Saturday, 23 May 2009 14:19

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