Basic Practices and Beliefs in Wicca
Wicca is a nature and magic based religion that is taken from the Pagan practices of ancient times. Wicca mimics other world religions with its own rituals, seasonal “holidays” and belief system. The beliefs of the religion can vary by region, since there is no orthodox method of practice or central organization. There are, however, published teachings and works that most Wiccans adhere to.
The majority of Wiccans worship a God and Goddess who are considered to be equal, complimentary beings, and often are represented by the sun and moon. There is a trinity concept in this religion, with the Triple Goddess having aspects of the “Mother”, “Crone” and “Maiden”. Many members of Wicca concede that the Goddess had to predate her companion since she is the giver of life.
It is believed that both the God and Goddess are able to take form in the body of the Wiccan coven’s Priests or Priestesses during ritual. Though they believe in deities, the concept of an afterlife doesn’t hold strong in the Wicca community. Reincarnation is a favored belief and traditional teaching.
Possibly the most adhered to text in Wicca is the Wiccan Rede, which states “and it harm none, do what ye will”. This is interpreted as meaning that as long as a person’s actions do no harm to anyone else; they can consider themselves free to pursue them. There is also the concept of the Law of Threes (also known as the Law of Threefold Return) that says whatever positive or negative actions a person puts out into the world will return threefold.
The magic rituals of Wicca are performed within a coven or group of practitioners. The rituals are usually begun by casting a circle by invoking “guardians”
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