Many religions follow such things as the Ten commandments in Christianity for instance, as a basis for the life they live. Wicca is no different in this respect. Wiccan practitioners, whether coven based or solitary, also have a defining code of conduct that is followed as a guideline to live their lives by. This is called "The Wiccan Rede.
The Wiccan Rede is a very poetic, and really, a very memorable set of moral codes, because its so simplistic in nature. The basic Idea is presented at the end of the rede with the verse "an
ye harm none, do what ye will." In other words, as a Wiccan you are free to live your life as you see fit so long as how you are living is indeed not harming anyone in the process. A very wise way to live indeed.
Contained in the rede are also simple instructions on how to live the Wiccan life style. Though the ending is simple, its really important to understand the meaning of the words directly proceeding it. In this and the next several entries we will attempt to explore these words and try to bring a richer and, hopefully a simple and fully understandable meaning to them, especially for people who may be new and having trouble understanding.
As Julie Andrews said in The Sound Of Music, lets start from the very beginning. The rede starts out by saying "Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust". What does this mean? well first of all its talking about laws. Ive always thought of this as the laws of karma, showing love for the Goddess and God and trusting that that things will turn out as they are supposed to, and letting karma do its job. In fact the very next line qualifies this thought by stating "live and let live, fairly take and fairly give", admonishing us to let things be that we really have no control over...or have no business trying to take control of. Live and let live and be even handed in give and take situations, which most things in our life are. Things are going to happen. They may not be so great things.
The next line says "Cast the Circle Thrice about to keep all the evil spirits out". this can mean one of two things in my experience. First, a literal circle that is cast when one preforming ritual or spellwork, whether for themselves or in a coven setting. This is to protect you and those you're with from harm from spirits that love to intrude on you...and it can happen. You can also shield yourself from spirit influence without casting a physical circle. Later on in the Wiccan Learning series, suggestions on how one can do this will be explored. But for now, we will just leave it at its really important that one does so.
The next line stay "to bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme". This is actually as strait forward as it reads. It is indeed directly referring to spell work and the proper way to conduct it. Ive given some thought as to why its important to speak a spell or ritual in rhyme. It has to do with intent. The intend of your spell or ritual session is very important. Now you have the intent in mind mentally, but by searching for the proper words to craft a spell or ritual you want to preform, so that you're able to put it in rhyme, you have taken that intent and put it into verbal action. This makes a spell much more powerful and potent. In effect by speaking it in rhyme you have effectively increased the power of the spell by several fold and essentially "bound" it.
The last line we will look at in this entry is that which states "Soft of eye and light of touch speak ye little, and listen much." This is just common sense. The purpose of Wicca in many respects is self improvement and to help others do the same. So by being "soft of eye and light of touch" we are making ourselves much more approachable to talk to. This is actually very simple communication skill that many lack today unfortunately. Even worse is the ability to listen to what one is saying. If you dont listen then you really dont know whats going on and if someone is coming to you for help, you really wont know how to gently direct them to that end! Thus the Rede admonishes us to "speak ye little and listen much" In other words...shut up and listen instead of talking over someone. Then you get all the information and can accurately meditate on it and craft how you help accordingly.
I hope you enjoyed this explanation of the first five lines of The Wiccan Rede. Next time we will continue to break it down and try and make it easier to understand.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What Wicca Is
So last time I talked a little bit about what Wicca is not, and rightly so because the media and other entertainment sources, as well as religious (which I did not cover last blog...its a whole different post) have really given Wicca a muddied picture. Now lets talk about what Wicca in general really is.
Now firstly I had mentioned that it is not an easy out of life problems. What Wicca is however is a belief system that puts you in harmony with the world around you. The Wiccan Reed, our chief set of guidelines for living, for instance, tells us to do no harm in our day to day activities. Later on I will be doing a point by point overview of the Wiccan Reed. The basic is idea is tough, that its principles contained in the Reed are all geared toward peaceful co-habitation with the world and people around you.
The main focus is Wicca is self improvement by harmonious use of what the world around us provides, while at the same time honoring the ones that provide such things to us. Its true, we do have many Gods and Goddesses that we pay honor too because we, and we do use ritual spell work to do that. But its all in the name of improving who we are and our value to the world and universe around us.
So how does Wicca improve us? It encourages us firstly to recognize that there are beings that are greater than us. Unlike the many Christian based religions out there that almost force their beliefs on others and are stringent in enforcing their many many over bearing ideals on to its members, Wicca is a free flowing belief system that is open to many different ideas and views, lifestyles and so on. If another person practices Wicca has maybe some slightly different ideas and thought processes, or even ways they do things while engaged in their craft.
This is entirely OK to us because in our view when we ourselves do something in a certain way while practicing the craft, something moved us to do or view it that way. We never really know why until the end result manifests itself for what it is. That's not for us to question, we instead respect the differences of other people, even if it doesn't necessarily resonate with us personally. Unfortunately the Christian religion and many other religions for that matter, are largely strict about their specific form of worship.
I don't think there will ever be a full and official definition of what Wicca is because its so eclectic compared to the more structured religions. As such, its much more open to interpretation. Yeah you will find endless books at your local Barns and Noble Bookstore...or better yet at most Metaphysical stores but remember, where many of them are going to echo similar basic beliefs, I would say a fair many of them are going to differ on many of the finer points, and often those differences will be based on the authors experiences.
The best advice here is constantly be learning, fill yourself with as much knowledge as you can from as many different sources as you can. Then think about what your learning. As you do, the universe will tell you whats going to fit you best. Its not one of those things where people can tell you when you know its right. That's a feeling and conclusion that only you can come to. So be open to so you wont miss it.
Next time: The Basics: The Wiccan Reed Part 1
Now firstly I had mentioned that it is not an easy out of life problems. What Wicca is however is a belief system that puts you in harmony with the world around you. The Wiccan Reed, our chief set of guidelines for living, for instance, tells us to do no harm in our day to day activities. Later on I will be doing a point by point overview of the Wiccan Reed. The basic is idea is tough, that its principles contained in the Reed are all geared toward peaceful co-habitation with the world and people around you.
The main focus is Wicca is self improvement by harmonious use of what the world around us provides, while at the same time honoring the ones that provide such things to us. Its true, we do have many Gods and Goddesses that we pay honor too because we, and we do use ritual spell work to do that. But its all in the name of improving who we are and our value to the world and universe around us.
So how does Wicca improve us? It encourages us firstly to recognize that there are beings that are greater than us. Unlike the many Christian based religions out there that almost force their beliefs on others and are stringent in enforcing their many many over bearing ideals on to its members, Wicca is a free flowing belief system that is open to many different ideas and views, lifestyles and so on. If another person practices Wicca has maybe some slightly different ideas and thought processes, or even ways they do things while engaged in their craft.
This is entirely OK to us because in our view when we ourselves do something in a certain way while practicing the craft, something moved us to do or view it that way. We never really know why until the end result manifests itself for what it is. That's not for us to question, we instead respect the differences of other people, even if it doesn't necessarily resonate with us personally. Unfortunately the Christian religion and many other religions for that matter, are largely strict about their specific form of worship.
I don't think there will ever be a full and official definition of what Wicca is because its so eclectic compared to the more structured religions. As such, its much more open to interpretation. Yeah you will find endless books at your local Barns and Noble Bookstore...or better yet at most Metaphysical stores but remember, where many of them are going to echo similar basic beliefs, I would say a fair many of them are going to differ on many of the finer points, and often those differences will be based on the authors experiences.
The best advice here is constantly be learning, fill yourself with as much knowledge as you can from as many different sources as you can. Then think about what your learning. As you do, the universe will tell you whats going to fit you best. Its not one of those things where people can tell you when you know its right. That's a feeling and conclusion that only you can come to. So be open to so you wont miss it.
Next time: The Basics: The Wiccan Reed Part 1
Sunday, January 20, 2013
What Wicca Is Not
Its interesting. Back when I first started to study Wicca, I was filled with a lot of notions of what Wicca actually is. Now that's important because one needs to understand what something they are pursuing is so they do it right. But often with the young crowd, they have some crazy notions of what Wicca, witchcraft and neo-paganism is. So in that vain I think its appropriate to talk about a few things that Wicca is not.
First and foremost: Wicca Is Not An Easy Out of Life's Problems.
I think that statement is important to focus on here, because I sense that many people believe that those of us who practice different forms of Wicca and Paganism, believe we are looking for an easy way out of life's problems and issues. That reasoning couldn't be further from the truth! As a matter of fact, sometimes practicing any form of paganism brings a little more hardship than anything else. For instance I actually had someone once call me pathetic because I had stopped believing in biblical religion and was practicing Wicca. Now that's certainly not the harshest treatment that's ever been received by a Witch, but it gives you an idea of the continued rhetoric that people still grasp on to, even though our religion is federally accepted.
Now anyone who actually does believe that Wicca and other forms of paganism is an easy way out of their problems I would say firmly, stop it! Sit back and really put some effort into learning what Wicca actually is. You think that practicing Wicca and casting spells is fun and that easy out I keep repeating? Actually Its not. Learning and working toward a practicing witch, whether affiliated with a coven or what we call a Solitary Practitioner, actually adds to the responsibility on top of what we were already responsible for. In fact, I think it adds even more responsibility than even following the Christian Bible does in many respects, which I will go into why that is in a later post.
Next: Wicca is neither Charmed nor is it "The Craft"
Remember that wonderful show that ran from 1998 to 2006? It was an awesome series that I recently thoroughly enjoyed, it was a lot of fun, exciting, hip, emotional and sadly, nearly 100% inaccurate compared to the reality of Wicca. But that's the media view of it. As is the 1996 movie the craft (which interestingly the main antagonist is actually Wiccan in real life and at one time owned a metaphysical store). In fact most of the entertainment media out there is just that, nothing more than glamorized entertainment. So if you think your making progress by following Hollywood's version of Wicca or any form of Paganism for that matter, you might find yourself spinning your wheels.
This is why I get irritated when I start hearing people try to feed me lines of reasoning that are clearly formed from the entertainment world. That's their version and I think for a lot of newer people its really bastardized their first brush with the world of Wicca, and kept in a place where the lines of reality are blurred. Wicca is a beautiful belief system, very rich in history from modern day versions (non Hollywood versions mind you) to the ancient Celtic beliefs where modern day Wicca largely evolved from.
Next time: What Wicca Is!
First and foremost: Wicca Is Not An Easy Out of Life's Problems.
I think that statement is important to focus on here, because I sense that many people believe that those of us who practice different forms of Wicca and Paganism, believe we are looking for an easy way out of life's problems and issues. That reasoning couldn't be further from the truth! As a matter of fact, sometimes practicing any form of paganism brings a little more hardship than anything else. For instance I actually had someone once call me pathetic because I had stopped believing in biblical religion and was practicing Wicca. Now that's certainly not the harshest treatment that's ever been received by a Witch, but it gives you an idea of the continued rhetoric that people still grasp on to, even though our religion is federally accepted.
Now anyone who actually does believe that Wicca and other forms of paganism is an easy way out of their problems I would say firmly, stop it! Sit back and really put some effort into learning what Wicca actually is. You think that practicing Wicca and casting spells is fun and that easy out I keep repeating? Actually Its not. Learning and working toward a practicing witch, whether affiliated with a coven or what we call a Solitary Practitioner, actually adds to the responsibility on top of what we were already responsible for. In fact, I think it adds even more responsibility than even following the Christian Bible does in many respects, which I will go into why that is in a later post.
Next: Wicca is neither Charmed nor is it "The Craft"
Remember that wonderful show that ran from 1998 to 2006? It was an awesome series that I recently thoroughly enjoyed, it was a lot of fun, exciting, hip, emotional and sadly, nearly 100% inaccurate compared to the reality of Wicca. But that's the media view of it. As is the 1996 movie the craft (which interestingly the main antagonist is actually Wiccan in real life and at one time owned a metaphysical store). In fact most of the entertainment media out there is just that, nothing more than glamorized entertainment. So if you think your making progress by following Hollywood's version of Wicca or any form of Paganism for that matter, you might find yourself spinning your wheels.
This is why I get irritated when I start hearing people try to feed me lines of reasoning that are clearly formed from the entertainment world. That's their version and I think for a lot of newer people its really bastardized their first brush with the world of Wicca, and kept in a place where the lines of reality are blurred. Wicca is a beautiful belief system, very rich in history from modern day versions (non Hollywood versions mind you) to the ancient Celtic beliefs where modern day Wicca largely evolved from.
Next time: What Wicca Is!
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