What is Wicca/Paganism?

Paganism is an ancient pre-Christian, polytheistic religion which also includes the neo-Pagan offshoots of modern Witchcraft and Wicca. Wiccan is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word, Wicce which is pronounced Witche which means practitioner of the Old Religion or the Craft.

Pagans and Wiccans are most notable for their tolerance of other paths; their emphasis on the importance of also honoring the goddess, the feminine aspect of divinity; and their focus on the personal connection to immanent divinity through natural magic.

Both Paganism and Wiccan incorporate non-dogmatic, dynamic religious practices based on comprehensive systems of discernable beliefs and accessible practices that facilitate the personal experience of the sacred mysteries of life.

Today's tapestry of Pagan and Wiccan practices is woven from some common threads of past beliefs: life is a journey to gain knowledge and wisdom; the Earth and all the animals, nature spirits, trees, plants, rocks, and the land are sacred and worthy of respect; the individual is responsible for personal thoughts and actions; the body is a precious gift worthy of wholeness and wellness; and the practice of Magic can alter reality and your life for the better.

Magical incantations or ritual activities; prayers or a set of actions; thoughts or projections that are intended to produce certain results such as healing or banishing; or, are directed to achieve goals like granting wishes or changing conditions.

For many practitioners of the Craft the neo-Pagan Wiccan Rede and Three Fold Law act as ethical deterrents to spellcraft that controls or manipulates others. There are many different types of spells, from a few simple phrases to complex rituals.

Most practitioners believe that it is more important to individualize spells, adapting them to personal circumstances and desired outcomes, than it is to follow a precise pattern.

Many of the Heathens who followed the Nine Noble Virtues preferred to be called Heathen rather than Pagan because they did not wish to be associated in any way with people who called themselves Pagans yet did not espouse the Three Principles of the Pagan Federation listed below or adhere to the Wiccan Rede, An It Harm None, Do As Thou Wilt.

There are some magical practitioners who do not heed the karmic "Threefold Law", who use their knowledge of magical principles to control, manipulate, or harm others through dark practices like hexes, jinxes, curses, and vexes. Such magical practitioners do not follow Paganism or Wicca as a Sacred Pathway.