WICCA

Wicca, witchcraft or the craft is a very simple, completely natural religion. Witches believe that all living, organic things have a spirit. Our spirits are all inter-connected and divine.

Witches are not devil worshippers. They are not satanists, practitioners of black magic or otherwise “evil”. witches do no harm. Like many religions including buddhism, wicca believes that there are spiritual implications to our behaviors. Using herbs, magic and ritual, witches are able to tune in and transform the energies of themselves and others for the benefit of the greater good. They worship the cycles of nature and the earth.

Wiccans have eight festivals throughout the year, beginning with Samhain or Halloween - the time when the living and dead cross over and share the night. Yule falls on December 21 (the winter solstice) and symbolizes when the dark half of the year gives over to the light half.

February 2 is Imbolc, a time of blessing and the beginning of spring. Ostara, the vernal equinox, is celebrated on March 21 as day and night are equal - it is considered a time rich in growth. Beltane on April 30th is sometimes called May Day. Traditionally, it’s a time of sexual romping and playing as couples spend the night in the woods and dance around the May-Pole the next morning in a celebration of life and fertility.

The summer solstice, Litha, happens on June 21. It’s the opposite Yule and the darkness begins to take over from the light. Lammas, the time of letting go and accepting changes, happens on July 31. Mabon is the name for the Autumnal Equinox on September 21. It’s the end of the year and time to pay thanks for the abundant harvest and prepare for winter.

Frightening Fact:
Ouija Board is the top-selling board game in America, outselling Monopoly, Yahtzee and Scrabble.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 12th, 2005 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Bump in the night. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.