|
Wicca
Jan 16, 2006 12:18:40 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 16, 2006 12:18:40 GMT -5
I know that this isn't a thing on Christianity, so sorry for posting this thread in the wrong board but I figured that it would go here since it was a matter of faith.
When I say this, I have no means of offending anyone, so please don't be.
I don't understand all of what Wicca is and I'd like to understand it more than what I do. I mean, I don't want to be ignorant to another person's faith and so I'd really like to know more of what it is all about... so can someone help me?
Thanks!
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 16, 2006 12:50:32 GMT -5
Post by lhw on Jan 16, 2006 12:50:32 GMT -5
Short answer: it's a form of witchcraft. Long answer: look HERE.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 16, 2006 12:54:33 GMT -5
Post by lostsoul on Jan 16, 2006 12:54:33 GMT -5
I dont want anything to do with Witchcraft no matter how curious i am so im not going to find out any more myself then the short answer
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 16, 2006 13:20:20 GMT -5
Post by hischild on Jan 16, 2006 13:20:20 GMT -5
Michael there is no short answer for your question. Wiccan traditions date back long before Christ was born. It is commonly known as a pagan religion. Many people call the people who still today practice Wicca "witches". But what is not so commonly known is that they are not witches. . . at least not of the type that we now days associate with that word. In fact, some of the ways that we celebrate Christian holidays have there roots in paganism or Wicca. Take Easter as an example. What in the name of Sam Hill and all that we consider to be holy does the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs have to do with the Resurrection of Christ? NOTHING! But those symbols are carried over from pagan religions including Wicca. I personally believe that many Wiccan practices line up quite nicely with the Word of Gos and believe that a person can be both Christian and Wiccan. What Wiccans. . . true Wiccans believe (I have to qualify the statement because the Wiccan belief system just like most religions has been skewed to now be known as something it was never meant to be in the first place) What real and true Wiccans believe is very much like the Native Americans believed about reverensing the Earth and the cycles of the seasons. They believe that the Earth itself has magic that can be used for the good of mankind. The use of herbs and stones and other natural objects plays heavily into the beliefs and ceremonies. I know several practising Wiccans here in my town and have consulted some of them at times when my medical condition was not responding to my doctor's treatments. LHW (Rich) with his use of Essential Oils might be considered by some to be Wiccan. Normally I would have told you to google it for yourself but when I did I found so much wrong info that I figured that you are better off not doing that. I did find one definition that seems accurate to me Definition"]http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm]DefinitionMerely labeling someone as a witch is irresponsible and ignorant in my book. Michael I think that you ought to ask Gwen to explain what she means when she calls herself Wiccan because as I stated before the whole religion has gotten so polluted with prejudice and lies from outsiders that very very little of what you will find published is the truth of what a true follower believes and practices.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 16, 2006 17:23:17 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 16, 2006 17:23:17 GMT -5
Thank you both Rich and GC for the replys. I really appreciate it and I do think that I learned from both posts. Thanks for the advice GC.
Gwen, if and when you read this, would you mind stating what you believe a Wiccan is and should be or whatever. Because I do think that Wicca has been skewed and all...
And I don't understand why some would consider Rich to be a Wiccan because of the oils....
*so lost*
But thanks once again to all those who replied. I'm looking forward to other posts. ^_^
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 17, 2006 14:53:23 GMT -5
Post by Lhiata on Jan 17, 2006 14:53:23 GMT -5
Erm... well... I was baptized, made first communion, and was confirmed in the roman catholic church, but my friends tend to label me wiccan... I suppose I'm more agnostic than anything... The use of essential oils wouldn't make one wiccan, for starters, if it's for herbal or medicinal use. I suppose I'm just part-wiccan, because I do tend to beleive in spirits and such... I've had far too many odd experiences in my time not to...
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 17, 2006 15:50:21 GMT -5
Post by Gwen on Jan 17, 2006 15:50:21 GMT -5
Well, i can't really add to what God's Child & LHW have said. There are quite a few stems of wiccanism so i would feel comfortable telling what it is or should be for everyone, but i'll try & quickly explain what it is to me Wiccanism is a faith of nature, henceforth, that there is no good or evil. Nothing is ever that black & white, nature itself is both good and evil, cruel and forgiving. My faith's no.1 rule is that you get back what you put out, if you cast against people, wishing people ill etc, it'll come back on you threefold, everything has consequences. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" if you will. I've just read over what i've just written & i think it'll be quite confusing 2 you. Okay, here's my story, *hehe* maybe it'll make it clearer. I was raised a Roman Catholic, I was Baptised, took Holy Communion and was Confirmed, but, think back, it was all just routine for me, i never had a time i could truly say i was 'touched' by god, or truly moved in any way, i would recite the contrition of faith (i'm not sure if thats what its called...*whoops* i hope you know what i mean anyway) at mass & they would just be words to me. This upset me a great deal, i thought there was something wrong with me. My grandmother died when i was 15 & it shattered me, my mother and father both had faith for comfort, they knew she had gone to heaven, sadly i couldn't find comfort in that thought, it didn't seem real. My Aunt had me over to her house for a week & i basically poured my heart out to her. She introduced me into Wiccanism, slowly but surely, spells & affirmations for comfort & healing, petty medetation etc, I warmed to the Goddess as i never had to God (i'm sorry if this shocks you, i mean no offence at all) I basked in the fact that i felt her touch through the rays of the sun, the feel of the breeze. There is indeed one set Goddess, but which guise she takes is something each Witch must find for herself, whichever suits her, as you probably know there have been thousands in all races and cultures, Mary (mother of god) being one of them (naturally). The guise that came to me is that of Arianrhod (the Welsh Goddess of the Stars) she protects me as a kind of guardian angel, she is the face of the goddess to me. But that is a very personal thing, openly, i'll worship & give thanks to the 'Triple Goddess'. Every wiccan will probably revere the 'Triple Goddess' which is the guise of the Goddess in the three stages of womanhood: Maiden, Mother & Crone. Wiccanism/Paganism is a pre-christian religion based on the cycle of the year. We have 7 festivals a year (yay!!) *Imbolc (Feb 2nd) basically the celebration of Spring & the end of winter & the reawakaning of the Goddess's virginity ....we usually simply clense, detox etc etc * Beltane (May 1st) the celebration of fertility & beauty...this is probably the most famous festival & my personal favorite. We have big feasts, bonfires, maypoles etc etc * Spring Equinox (March 21st-23rd) Another emphasis on fertility (but not in the sexual nature of Beltane) power & personal growth...i usually just plant some flowers ready for summer casting blessings to the goddess as the maiden * Litha/Midsummer Solstice (June 21st-23rd) the celebration of the longest day of the year...we usually simply have a good time until the sun sets simply giving thanks & reverence to the Goddess in her guise as a Mother. * Lammas (August 1st) Celebration of the harvest (to be perfectly honest, we don't exactly go all out 4 this festival...whoops) * Samhain (31st Ocober) better known as halloween but originated in our faith. Samhain is the time of the year where the veils between the land of the living & the land of the dead are at their thinnest...i usually pray for friends & family who've died, I tend to feel quite powerful on Samhain & often do alot of blessings & casting around this time * Yule (Dec 21st-23rd) Funnily enough, this is the time of the year when Wiccians make our New Year resolutions (weird eh?) hehe ...we gift gifts & blessings to each other BUT i still get to have Xmas pressies & dinner as my parents are both Christian(Yay!) ~Gwen~ xxx
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 17, 2006 17:39:29 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 17, 2006 17:39:29 GMT -5
lol... LUCKY! ^_^ That is neat! I've always seen 'yule' here and there... like in the mall on a marker board at a coffee place but I always thought it was just like year or something. Hmm... This is sweet! Thank you, Gwen! Your info really helps as I think I understand it more than what I use to. And I know what you mean. Sometimes it seems as if I'm simply repeating phrases I've always heard. But I am always able to feel His touch.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 17, 2006 18:46:10 GMT -5
Post by hischild on Jan 17, 2006 18:46:10 GMT -5
I blame the "goth" movement for lots of the bad press that wicca and paganisn recieves.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 18, 2006 23:29:33 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 18, 2006 23:29:33 GMT -5
Yes, that and how people sterotype. Or think, "They were black so they're obviously a Satanist", ect. It's sad really. Really sad. =/ Because it's not true.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 19, 2006 8:22:48 GMT -5
Post by Ifrit on Jan 19, 2006 8:22:48 GMT -5
but wicca isn't really that bad... with the "goths" (sorry but i can't stand them my school is full of them) they are all like look a pentagram or such.. and call it part of their "click"
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 20, 2006 22:20:10 GMT -5
Post by Lhiata on Jan 20, 2006 22:20:10 GMT -5
gah. I can take "goths" or leave them, I try not to label too much... but gwen really did sum it up, it's about nature, and what's around you... I practice in my own way, I guess, I'm told I'm rather intuitive, I can read Tarot cards, (but do NOT live my life by them by any means) and beleive in karma, that what goes around will indeed come around. Love that which is around you, and you will receive it back... people, on the other hand, are a different story...
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 22, 2006 20:50:36 GMT -5
Post by Gwen on Jan 22, 2006 20:50:36 GMT -5
my experience of 'goths' are a mixed bag; you have the ones who are very sad individuals & are unfortunately out for any reaction they can get from 'normal' folk (usually the shock factor) who take great pleasure in wearing inverted pentacles or crosses & like to think they're satanists or witches but are sadly misguided as their point of reference tends to be american movies or death metal bands *sigh* then you have the 'arty' goths who are goth merely for the love of excessive eyeliner & fancy corsets, velvet & interesting tattoos (these people are generally fun) & the majority of these i've met are either agnostic or christian Ifrit; where do you go to school? is it america? i've always imagined american schools to be as 'clik'-y as they are in films
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 22, 2006 22:30:20 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 22, 2006 22:30:20 GMT -5
Sadly, American schools are clicky. The preps, jocks, nerds, wanna-bes, skaters, punks, goths, (now) emos, normal folks, extremely smart and gifted, and lastly, the I-Dunno-What-I-Ams. lol... And I'm sure there are more groups that I haven't named.
Gwen, I have noticed that a lot of the 'arty' goths are agnostic and christian. As a matter of fact, I have a ton of these arties.
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 16:21:59 GMT -5
Post by Ifrit on Jan 23, 2006 16:21:59 GMT -5
I BELONG TO ONE OF THOES I-dunno-what-I-ams lol
Gwen, yes i do go to a american school lol i am a new yorkie...(trust me very very scary place to be....)
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 18:13:17 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 23, 2006 18:13:17 GMT -5
lol... Don't worry, Ash. I am as well! LONG LIVE THE I DUNNOS!!!! ^_^
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 18:24:27 GMT -5
Post by hischild on Jan 23, 2006 18:24:27 GMT -5
What are emo's? I am old remember!
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 20:13:37 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 23, 2006 20:13:37 GMT -5
Emo is a new catagory that just recently got started. Supposedly, they are into their emotions, hence their name, emo. Their clothing stlye, hair style, and everything else is a mixture of everything from red striped Mickey Mouse shirts to ballet shoes and a tutu over jeans. <<< For girls.... For guys, they are into Straight Edge (XXX) which is a hardcore abstinence group against drugs and sex. They are a mixture of skater, punk, and goth. And their hairstyles are... original. Let's keep it at that. lol... Emos are also like... hardcore music. lol... Here is a website which give better discriptions of emo kids: Insta Emo KidHere are some pics: Click (too big)Better in linkToo big againAnother big picAlas, too big...www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/Emo_Kid.jpg <---LOVE IT!!!
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 20:31:52 GMT -5
Post by Gwen on Jan 23, 2006 20:31:52 GMT -5
i've always wanted to go to an american school i have no clue what 'clik' i'd belong to...any of you american students wanna swap lives with me for a few weeks?
|
|
|
Wicca
Jan 23, 2006 20:33:01 GMT -5
Post by Michael on Jan 23, 2006 20:33:01 GMT -5
^_^ I'D LOVE TO!!!! *pick me pick me*
|
|