This topic has 6 voices, contains 9 replies, and was last updated by 
| Author | Posts |
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| Author | Posts |
| January 29, 2012 at 8:32 pm #45287 | |
 Jamie Boden | SInce it’s nearly Candlemas/Imbolc I figured I’d make this thread. Anyone else a practicing Witch? |
| January 29, 2012 at 8:55 pm #45317 | |
 Jerky Malloy | I’m not, but I’m pretty curious about Paganism and Wicca. All I really know about them is that they’re pantheistic (or non-theistic? I don’t even know that), and their adherents are usually hippies. Do you think you could explain some of your religion/culture to someone completely uninitiated? |
| January 29, 2012 at 9:18 pm #45344 | |
| Jamie Boden | Well, in a nutshell it’s a very free religion, and no two people who practice do it the same way. Like with Christianity, there are different demonimations of Paganism. Theres Green Witch, Hedgewitch, Gardnerian Wicca, etc. Hedgewitch and Green Witches tend to not follow any specific deities and focus their energies on making things grow. They tend to be more focused on nature, the circle of life, and are usually very eco-friendly int heir mindset. I am what is referred to as a Gardnerian Witch, but I call myself Pagan because I don’t want to fasten myself to any particular label. Some pagans name their goddesses and gods by way of Celtic, Norse, Greek or Egyptian gods, but some don’t. I do not name my deities, but call them merely the Goddess and the God. There is no “bible” in Paganism, like no ten commandments and there is no list of things you’re not allowed to do in the specific sense like with Christianity or Islam. There is however the Wiccan Rede, a poem that you could call our bible. The only “rules” with Paganism is, “Mind the Three-Fold Law you should, three times bad and three times good.” and “An harm ye none, do what ye will!” So basically, if you do something bad it will come back to you times three, and the same if you do something good, and do whatever you want, as long as it doens’t hurt anyone, including yourself. Most pagans observe the eight main sabbats of the year, Samhain (Halloween), Yule (Winter Solstice), Imbolc/Candlemas (The first or second of February), Oestara (Spring Equinox), Beltane (May Day), Litha (Summer Solstice), Lammas (Last Day of Harvest) and Mabon (Fall Equinox) but some also observe the esbats of the year, which is the moon cycles. Some Pagans practice forms of divination, I am learning Runes and Tarot, but some may not, though I do enjoy it. I also practice Crystal Healing, and I have many different crystals on my altar. Most Wiccans will have some form of an altar in their home, a small shrine dedicated to their craft. This can vary from something as simple as a few stones, salt, water and a feather, to something more elaborate. (My altar has a special altar cloth, a stone pentacle, 10 candles, a statue representing the god and goddess, Incense, salt, water, two dried apples carved ro represent the god and goddess, a pinecone, 16 different stones, an athamae, a pentacle necklace, and a small chalice for wine) I’m sorry if this was confusing, but as you can see, it’s a very “free religion” and there’s many ways you can practice. I hope this helped! |
| January 30, 2012 at 2:39 am #45634 | |
 Sen | I’m Celtic Wiccan, Hello. |
| January 30, 2012 at 4:30 am #45776 | |
 Helena | Personally, I’ve never been able to identify with any one religion, but the more I hear about Paganism/Wicca the more fascinated I am. Just wondering, when you say ‘witch’, is that synonymous with being Wiccan? I hope that’s not a stupid question :/ |
| January 31, 2012 at 1:14 am #46313 | |
| Jamie Boden | Its not a stupid questionat all. Traditionally, Witches were what we know today as Pagans. But during the burning times, Catholics heading the cause turned it into this evil thing (witches eat babies, witches curse you, witches appreciate giraffe mating, you get the idea.) and so it was no longer viewed as a positive thing. When Witchcraft had its big comeback in the mid 1950′s, around when Witchcraft was finally decriminalized in Britian. Since then, some Wiccans choose to call themselves Witches (Like Christopher Penczak, author of multiple neo-pagan books) but others may call themselves Wiccan or Neo-Pagan or whatever. But generally it’s the same thing. ps. some of the facts might be slightly off, i didnt double check everything before I typed this out. |
| February 6, 2012 at 4:10 am #49692 | |
| Helena | Ah, well, what’s not to love about giraffe mating? |
| February 8, 2012 at 5:43 am #50854 | |
 Devina | Hey all! Las Vegas pagan checking in. Been a pagan for five years as of Imbolc! I actually started my journey on Imbolc. I’ll never forget reading through my first book and getting to that section. “Huh, it’s a holiday…” Best way to remember what day you started though! LOL. I’d never have remembered otherwise. |
| February 9, 2012 at 4:02 am #51267 | |
| Jamie Boden | Yaaay! I started practising on Mabon. So I totes feel ya. |
| February 9, 2012 at 4:17 am #51278 | |
 Jefferson LaRouche | I’m very interested in paganism. |
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