What is Wicca?

Wicca is a nature-based religion that has some traditional ties to the pagan traditions of early European cultures. It was first brought to the attention of the general public in the mid-1950's by Gerald B. Gardner. Since that time, Wicca has grown and transformed to become the fastest growing religion in North America, according to a study by Rev. J. Gordon Melton of the Interfaith Studies Council.

What Wiccan people share is a respect for the connection between all things and a desire to honor the joys and recognize the sorrows in life as a natural part of the cycles that are evident in all things.

As Wiccans, we:

• practice rites to attune with the natural rhythm of life's forces as marked by the phases of the moon and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.
• seek to live in harmony with nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness with an evolutionary concept.
• conceive of the creative power in the universe as manifest through polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that same creative power lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other.
• honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and ackowledge those who courageously give of themselves in leadership.
• see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it - a world view and philosophy of life which we identify as "Witchcraft - the Wiccan Way".
• believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the universe we know and personal role within it.

In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, there are a number of organized groups, and hundreds of people not associated with a particular group, who share and celebrate their spirituality as Wiccans.

 

Sabbats

The eight Wiccan Sabbats are seasonal celebrations of the cycle of the year. The spiritual significance of the holiday is reflected in the activities and even the weather during that time of the year. The particular focus of each Sabbat will vary somewhat by tradition, often depending on the latitude and climate of the community. These festivals are listed below with the approximate dates they are celebrated here in East Central Minnesota.

Samhain / Sowen		Bealtaine / Beltain / May Day
October 31st		May 1st
Yule / Winter Solstice		Midsummer / Summer Solstice
December 20nd-22nd		June 20th-22nd
Oimelc / Imbolc / Candlemas		Lughnasadh / Lammas / Lunasa
February 2nd		August 1st
Ostara / Vernal or Spring Equinox		Harvest Home / Mabon / Autumnal Equinox
March 20th-22nd		September 20th-22nd

Most Wiccans celebrate the Sabbats (the eight seasonal holidays) and Esbats (the Full and New Moon holidays) in addition to many other celebrations and ritual observances that are a part of the Wiccan religion, such as:

• Naming - giving a new child his or her name before the community
• Weaning - declaring a child independent from his or her mother
• First Moon Blood - a celebration of the beginning of womanhood
• Coming of Age - when a child leaves the protection of his or her parent(s) to live independently
• Handfasting - creation of a committed relationship, not limited to state-recognized "marriage"
• Handparting - ritual observance of the dissolution of a Handfasted relationship
• Rites of Initiation - communal recognition and celebration of a personal spiritual discovery
• Healing - communally giving energy and support to one who is physically or emotionally ill or injured.
• Passing - communal acknowledgement of death

Some pagans/Wiccans celebrate other holidays from other traditions as well because they are celebrations of life, community, family, and a connection to the earth; for example: Pasokh, Sukhot, Thanksgiving, Chinese New Year, Kwanzaa, and endless others.