|
|
|
Back To Blog Entries
|
Wicca
by geniuecoyote at 9/11/2010 10:22:30 AM
A friend asked me to explain to her why I chose wicca over all the other religions. This is how I explained it to her......
THE WITCH NEXT DOOR
by Seamus Drew
Nitewrter@[blocked]
Printed with Permission
Do you live next door to a witch? Could be. They’re everywhere. If you met one you wouldn’t know it. They look like you. They act like you. Their kids go to school with yours. They’re just like you except--they’re witches. Don’t be afraid. They mean you no harm. They’re neither concubines of Satan nor practitioners of the black arts. They’re followers of a religion called Wicca.
Wicca is a form of paganism that embraces ancient beliefs and is often referred to as "the Old Religion" or "The Craft." Centuries ago, when Christianity swept Europe, those who clung to the old beliefs were typified as evil. From this came the image of the wicked witch. Those who practice the craft today say that their intention is to "harm none." Wiccans, or witches, worship the earth. They celebrate the changing seasons and revere nature. They believe that man should live in harmony with the earth rather than exploiting it for personal gain.
Wicca, along with other forms of neo-paganism, is on the rise. People around the globe are returning to the old beliefs. What makes this religion so popular? The answers are as varied as the people you ask. Let’s take a look at Wicca.
An Interview with a Witch
Seated atop a small desk behind the counter of the occult shop in Houston, Connie answered my questions between phone calls. Wearing blue jeans and long hair past her shoulders, she was hardly the cackling crone one might expect a witch to be. She spoke in a quiet, easy, manner, pausing while I wrote down her answers.
"Wicca changed my life for the better," she told me. "I’ve learned to love myself. I’ve learned to love the world and other people also. People learn to respect themselves through Wicca. It helps them overcome things like drugs and alcoholism. It’s also used for healing. The purpose of Wicca is to help people."
Connie was introduced to the craft thirteen years ago by her mother-in-law. "Once I started, that was it, I loved it," she said.
She and her fellow witches belong to a "balanced tradition" having both male and female members. "That’s the way it is in nature," she explains.
Wicca doesn’t have denominations like Christian religions. It has traditions. A tradition is a set of beliefs and practices that witches follow. Often these traditions are handed down from generations before, but new traditions crop up frequently. "Our tradition was started by a Houston couple who have since passed on ," Connie says. "It’s similar to the ‘Gardnerian tradition.’ " The Gardnerian tradition has been the model for many neo-wiccan groups.
She pointed out the sign which said, "Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Identification required." She doesn’t want to cause a disturbance in the neighborhood by upsetting parents who may not want their children learning about witchcraft.
"There’s lots of weird people out there. You have to be careful." she warned. " Some times a person will come in here and want to know how to ‘Zap’ somebody. I tell them this isn’t what my religion is about."
"Herbs really do work," she told me. "They’re associated with science now. They didn’t used to be but you’re seeing more and more on TV about herbs. People are learning to benefit from them." Moon Circles, the shop she helps run, carries a large selection of herbs for treating various maladies and maintaining good health.
Connie believes that in the future people will better understand Wiccans and will no longer believe that they are mad or evil. She says that Wiccans and other Pagans are more accepted than they used to be. She told me about a tarot card reader who lay dying in the hospital. A Christian clergyman came by and asked if he could be of assistance. Connie told him that the man was a Pagan. The pastor found a Pagan priest and sent him to the man’s bedside. She said that the U.S. Army, hospitals, and prisons now recognize Wicca as a religion. However, acceptance is far from universal. "Many of us still remain underground," she said. "That’s because of problems with jobs and other things. People have lost their jobs when their religion became known."
She reports that there have been no problems with harassment even though the shop is known as an occult establishment. Other businesses have been plagued with spray painted graffiti but not Moon Circles.
|
|
|
|
 |