Wiccan Culture:
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Wicca: a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existence of supernatural power (as magic) and of both male and female deities who inhere in nature and that emphasizes ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles.
The origins of Wiccan cultures date back as far as 15,000 B.C. This site will help you better understand the ideas and values of wicca and how it became a branch of religion. Keep an open mind as you read and learn for yourself.
Material
Nonmaterial Culture
Folkways: Must have respect and perform equality
Mores: Cannot think that calling them a witch will make them a witch
Sanctions
Postive : To be able to be part of Wicca, a religion about love , responsblity and balance.
Negative: People may think that wiccans are evil dark witches
The origins of Wiccan cultures date back as far as 15,000 B.C. This site will help you better understand the ideas and values of wicca and how it became a branch of religion. Keep an open mind as you read and learn for yourself.
Material
- The Wand: a witch’s wand is the tool used to project his or her will or energy in a specific direction or cause. It is often made of wood, though I have seen copper, iron, silver and tin, depending on the purpose the wand has been made for.
- The Athame: this is the male counterpart of the chalice. It is usually a blade, either knife-like or a sword. However, you do not cut anything in the mundane world with these tools but rather they are for cutting in the astral plane.
- The Pentacle: like its three dimensional version, the pyramid, is a power lens. Use it to draw energies to you or prevent energies from getting to you.
- Candles: In addition to these essentials, you will also want to have candles.
They are usually specified in a particular rite or spell but it’s convenient to have a selection around - Clothing: The wiccan people only dress up during ceremonies.
Nonmaterial Culture
- Respect for Nature: Wicca is a natural religion, grounded in concern for the earth. Some Wiccans believe that all living things (including stars, planets, humans, animals, plants, rocks) have a spirit of some type. Many Wiccan rituals deal with bringing harmony and healing to nature. The vast majority of Wiccans share a great concern for the environment.
- Gender equality: Wiccans celebrate the sexual polarity of nature. For example, the fertilizing rain is one manifestation of the male principle; the nurturing earth symbolizes the female. Females are respected as equal (and sometimes at a slightly higher rank) to males. In a coven -- a local group of Wiccans -- a priestess is often the most senior person. They aim for a female-male balance in most of their covens (local groups), although men are typically in the minority.
- Afterlife: Wiccans have a wide range of beliefs about life after death
Folkways: Must have respect and perform equality
Mores: Cannot think that calling them a witch will make them a witch
Sanctions
Postive : To be able to be part of Wicca, a religion about love , responsblity and balance.
Negative: People may think that wiccans are evil dark witches