Wicca FAQ

Wicca FAQ

1. What do Wiccans believe about the after-life? A "Final Judgment?"

Most Wiccans believe in reincarnation. Life, to us, is a learning experience. We come back to learn lessons we need to evolve into a more perfect soul. After death, many say our soul rests in the Summerland, and when it's ready, life begins anew. When we have achieved perfection, most believe we are allowed to stay in the Summerland (the Wiccan version of heaven), or come back and help other people on their journey. This is how most Wiccans view Buddha and Jesus.

Ultimately we don't believe in a final judgement. Throughout our incarnations, however, we do believe karma is at work! This means that though we get what we deserve, even though there is no real concept of sin or judgement.

2. What do you believe about the Bible?

3. Do you have a "Holy Book"? An "inspired founder"?

Yes and no. Wicca does have a "holy text" of sorts in the Wiccan Rede, but even that is generally considered to be open to interpretation. The only founder Wicca can positively identify is Gerald Gardner, a witch in the 1940s, who reworked his coven's tradition and added rituals of his own (with help from Aliester Crowley) to create the tradition we call Wicca today. Gardner was also the first to publicize Wicca.

4. Who do you worship?

That depends who you ask! Most Wiccans believe in a God and a Goddess, who are generically known as the Lord and Lady, though belief in and names for these deities vary greatly!

5. Can you be a member of ANOTHER faith & still be a Wiccan?

No. Being Wiccan and another faith at the same time, would be tantamount to claiming to be Christian and Jewish at the same time. It simply wouldn't work.

6. What about Exodus 22:18 -- "Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live"?

As was pointed out as early as 1584 by Reginald Scot in his Discoverie of Witchcraft, the original word in Hebrew, chasaph, means "poisoner", not "Witch". As the time of the Bible's writing, a poisoner could ruin a well and kill many people and livestock. This is what the Bible originally referred to. Besides which, Wiccans do not follow the Bible, and killing people for their religion is quite illegal in the United States.

7. What is "Pantheism"?

Pantheists (many Wiccans are also pantheists) believe that Deity exists in every single atom in the Universe : rocks, buildings, the sky, yourself, and even the mouse you're holding! This concept is called Pantheism. We don't believe that the Creator is "removed" far away from us in any way.

8. What do Wiccans believe about magick? Prayer?

We define "magick" as the "art of manipulating coincidence" so that events might possibly occur as we want them to. We use it to help & heal others; never to manipulate or harm someone. We believe that if we can visualize something strongly enough, concentrate & project it, the event can possibly happen. All the "tools" associated with it -- candles, incense, etc. -- are merely "props" to get one in the "mindset" so that the "magick" can happen. In the words of Diana Rajchel, "Magick is NOT a crutch; it does not SOLVE my problems".

If you are starting out in Wicca, do NOT ask Wiccans (especially ME!) how to do "spells", etc -- I guarantee that you will turn them off, and will come across as someone who is only interested in what they can "GET" out of Wicca. Learn about the religion FIRST! After you have learned about the religion through books and websites, if not a real live teacher, it's the right time to learn about spellwork.

Wiccans pray to their gods just like (or at least similarly to!) people of other religions pray to theirs.

9. How did the "broom-flying" stereotype originate?

After planting their crops, the people of long ago would take brooms (or poles, & pitchforks) into the fields. They would put them between their legs, & gallop around the fields, leaping into the air, in an effort to "show the crops how high to grow". (This is known as "sympathetic magick", the belief that "like attracts like").

10. What is the difference between a "Wiccan" & a "witch"?

"Wiccan" refers only to practitioners of Wicca, whereas "witch" refers to a practitioner of magick, and can be either a religious practice, or a secular one. Wiccans often refer to themselves as Witches as well. A good rule of thumb is that most Wiccans are Witches, but not all witches are Wiccan.

11. What are the Wiccan " Holy-Days"?

Since Wicca is an "Earth Religion", we celebrate the Solstices and Equinoxes (the first day of Spring, Summer, Fall, & Winter). Most Wiccans call these "Ostara", "Litha", "Mabon", & "Yule", respectively.

We also celebrate 4 days mid-way between the above dates. These are known as "Imbolc" - 2/2, "Beltane" - 5/1, "Lughnasadh" - 8/1, and "Samhain" - 10/31.

On these days, we observe & celebrate the changing of the Seasons, & seek to attain balance within ourselves and to become attuned to the rhythms of Life.

12. Because of the negative associations of the word, why do you still call yourselves "Witches"?

The word "Witch" originally meant "Wise One" -- what's wrong with calling yourself a "Wise One"? ("Witchcraft", therefore, means "Craft of the Wise Ones"). Witches were the doctors, midwives, psychiatrists, and lawyers of a town -- a noble profession. It was only due to Christian distortions that the word became associated with "evil" and "devil-worship". We are trying to reclaim the word & restore it back to it's original meaning.

13. How can I learn more about Witchcraft / Wicca?

Scott Cunningham is also a good author to start out with. His book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner is very good.

14. How do Wiccans view other religions?

We believe that no religion or tradition has a monopoly on Deity. We also believe that there are many paths that lead to Deity, as there are many people with many personalities. It would be silly to try to get everyone to wear the same brand of clothes (though the advertisers do try to get us to!), why should we all want to worship the same brand of God (though the advertisers do try to get us to!)? Wicca has a tradition of non-evangelism, we don't try to convert people. We ask that other religions extend the same courtesy to us, and do not try to convert us.