Everything Under the Moon

Hi.
I've practiced witchcraft for a while now. I worship and speak to the Goddess. I'm very in tune with the elements. I describe myself as spiritual and then pagan. However, I'm not entirely sure if there is one type of paganism I fit into. I was wondering if someone could tell me more about wicca. I've looked it up in various places, and I seem to have many wiccan beliefs, but I have not dedicated myself to wicca, magic, or the Goddess just yet. I guess I'm just wondering if there is anything in the wicca belief system that would automatically say that one's not qualified to be a wiccan.
I'm sorry if this is confusing; I'm kind of mixed up on this topic.
Also, is wicca kind of strict, or is it more open-minded? To me, it seems as though it's open-minded, but I don't know if it actually is, or if paganism in general is more open-minded than wicca..

The only thing that would unqualify you as a Wiccan would be if you harm (this means animals, plants, the Earth, humans, etc.) Wicca is an open-minded religion, there is no judging in the religion as a whole. Let me know if there are more questions

This depends greatly on the path within Wicca you follow. If you are a solitary witch then even the rede is subject to interpretation. There are the offical paths within Wicca such as Gardnerian who have their own rules and practices and adhere to the rede. Not all Wiccans follow the three fold law or the rede, but generally they will follow something similar or have a strict moral code of their own. Its all about living with nature and feeling the awe of it. Not all Wiccans work magik either.
Despite the misconception that Wicca and Witchcraft are New Age, its journey begins back to the Paleolithic Era. People lived off the land, by gathering and hunting. The life source of food came through the efforts of successful hunts. The hunt provided more than just the food they ate, it provided clothing, shelter, as well as providing materials to create tools and weapons. These people believed that a God or Goddess was behind each element of life and nature and therefore gave each a name. These forces became known as deities. The most important god to these people was the God of the Hunt. The animals hunted at this time were generally horned creatures such as Deer, Elk and wild boar etc and it was a standard belief that like attracted like, therefore these early people believed the God of the Hunt would be horned too. People made offerings and prayed to the Horned God to give them a successful hunt, thus creating Religio-magick.

Later they realised that The God of the Hunt was all very well but there needed to be fertility amongst the herds too. The Goddess was the mother of all life. There have been many different carved figures of the Fertility Goddess found throughout history. They are often referred to as "Venus Figurines".

This way of thinking evolved and survived over thousands of years and instilled a respect for life, nature and farming with the land. All nature was respected and held in awe. The leaders became known as the Wicca and the female leaders became known as the Wicce (Both mean wise ones). Anglo-Saxon Kings of England wouldn't make any decisions without consulting the Witan; which was a council of the wise ones. They became religious leaders, healers, lawyers and the voice of the Gods/Goddesses.

Wicca has a neo-pagan tag because it was outlawed and went underground until the 1950's when the Witchcraft Act was repealed.

Is there anything inparticular you're concered you wouldn't be accepted for?

thank you That's kind of what I was thinking, but I wanted to make sure. I don't think I would ever intentionally harm another being, unless it was in self-defense. I find your answer to be reassuring. I've looked so long for a form of spirituality that I fit with.

Not really. I wasn't concerned too much about it; rather I was just making sure. I guess I can consider myself a solitary witch. For some reason, I hadn't really thought too much about calling myself that..but it fits.
I knew most of the history you mentioned, but it's always nice to be refreshed.
Where was it outlawed? I imagine in a lot of places, but is there any specific place/event I should know about?

It was outlawed in many parts so the world. I know mainly about the UK and Europe though. Christianity demonised the horned god and created him as the devil in the New Testament (there was no Devil until the New Testament!) They built churches over old pagan sites but it wasn't until the end of the 15th century that Pope Innocent VIII issued a bill against charmers and magicians. From here act after act was written and re written. It was only abolished in the UK in 1951! wow

The Witchcraft Act 1735 still in existence today, in Israel. It had been introduced into the legal system in the region during the British Mandate over Palestine. However Israel gained independence before the act was repealed and remains in force today.

Cora, you did a much better job than me lol. I applaud you

I find all responses were helpful.

Raynelae you said it simply and beautifully. I'm just more wordy lol xx

Briefly Wicca -
1. Gerald B. Gardner and Doreen Valiente were main contributors to British Witchcraft in modern Wicca's beginning 1951. Wicca is a reconstruction meant to give common structure to autonomous regional coven practices. A coven's High Priestess and High Priest are their clergy. There is a three degree advancement system in coven structure. Lady Sheba published coven rituals in 1971. Scott Cunningham published a guide for solitary practice in 1989.
2. There is no ultimate authority in Wicca. Mythology & lore are studied. Some most-shared texts worth noting: The Wiccan Rede, Witch's Creed, Witch's Rune, Charge of the Goddess, and Legend of the Descent of the Goddess.
3. Wicca generally provides the experience of Deity-in-Nature through ritual observance of seasonal cycles at holidays - Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane & Lammas, Equinoxes & Solstices (Sabbats) & at full moons (Esbats).
. A basic ritual creates a circle of sacred space in which to worship & to work. There are various ways to do this.
. The ritual circle, use of the altar & ritual tools are part of Wiccan-structure yet are flexible.
. An altar usually has symbols of the 2 Deities & 4 Elements; How is flexible.
4. Nature is generally perceived as divine with two forces: The Goddess and The God that go by many names which have evolved from several Indo-European cultures. Deities can be viewed as being Nature itself and as aspects of the Goddess & God, and as manifest Beings all at the same time.
. Some Goddess titles: Primordial Star Goddess, Triple Moon Maid-Mother-Crone, Earth Maiden, Mother Earth, Queen of Elphame, Lady of the Sea, Night Huntress, Queen of the Night, Mother Goose.
. Some God titles: Horned Lord of Death & Rebirth, lord of the Wild Hunt, Lord of the Forest-the Elder, Lord of the Corn-the Younger, Green Man, Lord of the Underworld, Consort & Sacrifice, Oak & Holly Kings, Santa Claus.

God without Goddess: wrath
Goddess without God: envy

Magical selves have survived this paradox: wrath x envy = grace... to make nothing of something negative.

Wicca is based more on right practices then right beliefs. We do not have a bible that tells us what to believe. It allows for a lot of leeway in Wicca for whatever you wish to believe and it's why Wiccans have diverse opinions about gods and theology. (I.e. one Wiccan might be a hard polytheist and another a soft monotheist.)

Wiccans can also vary in eclecticism. Some are more eclectic than others. Some are more traditional than others.

The thing with religion is instead of right practice or belief, what makes you feel at peace? What makes you happy? Is it Wicca? That's what you should be asking.

Also be careful, there's a lot of misinformation on Wicca because people claimed to be Wiccan without actually knowing what it was, which is not anything goes.

It is also possible to be undecided for as long as you need to decide your path.