Help me DEFINE THIS...

[Stormcall]

Okay. I just got done reading a thread in which a bunch of people pointed out the definition of Wicca as they see it- even thought that wasn't exactly the topic, that's what it ended up as. So, I thought I'd ask you here- what is your definition of a Wiccan?

Personally, I practice wiccan ritual patterns (creating sacred space, calling the quarters, casting a circle... I have an altar...etc etc.) I worship a mix of Celtic dieties, but Kali is my matron goddess. I meditate (with and without mantras) and I write and perform my own rituals for honoring the Goddess, the God and all Their forms. I respect and honor nature, myself and others. I believe in totem animals and in elementals. WHAT WOULD THIS MAKE ME????????


I'm all confused.... This is driving me crazy... someone help me out please!

StormCall

[Stormcall]

Oh, and also- I believe in all goddesses and gods as facets of the same divine force, and I follow the rede. I'm gonna take a stab- would eclectic wiccan be too far off the mark??

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

That would make you an interesting person, that's what it makes you.

[FaeFollower]

It makes you whatever you want to be. From what I can tell, it wouldn't be 'wrong' to call yourself Wiccan, so if that's the title you want to attach to yourself, then so be it.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of seeking out a particular religious 'title' to give yourself. I think that it often stagnates the evolution of your faith, because once you have decided what you 'are', for a lot of people it can be difficult to come to terms with it if their faith changes and doesn't fit with that particular belief system. Like, if a person says they are Wiccan, and then start to identify more with polytheism as each deity being a separate entity, it kind of comes naturally for that person to repress that so that they can keep calling themself Wiccan without deviating from the mold.

Just my two cents. And I hope it made sense too.

[Faelon_Moon_Hawk]

do you follow the wiccan rede? The rule of three? those are pretty much the defining wiccan things in my book. So unless you believe in them, and follow them, i'd be disinclined to call you wiccan.

But i ask you this: does it matter? does it matter what you are called? if others call you wiccan or not? personally i don't think it does for the most part, unless for example you are looking for a coven/group to join and want to be of the same path, or something like that.

[Valerie]

This is the basic overview of Wicca:

Wicca is a religion. It was created by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's - 50's, has a few core beliefs, and many variations. These beliefs, traditions, rituals, and ceremonies will differ from group to group and from person to person. However, the core beliefs of Wiccans are as follows:

- A belief in the Wiccan Rede -- "An ye harm none, do what ye will"

- A belief in the Threefold Law -- "Any energy you send out will come back to you three-fold"

- A profound connection with nature and their surroundings.

- A belief in Deities (Notice the s at the end of deity). Wiccans are polytheistic (believing in many gods) -- This generally involves both a God and a Goddess, and often these two forms manifest in many pantheons of gods and goddesses.

- A belief in the existence of magick, and the practice of magick. The way it works is, all Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccans.


With that said, these are just the basic outlines. They're not laws or rules to be followed, but merely suggestions. There's no need to limit yourself by a label - do what's comfortable for you, and don't be concerned so much about what to classify yourself as. :)


-Aries-

[Morning Star]

I'm all confused.... This is driving me crazy... someone help me out please!

StormCall

Don't worry. I am under the impression that most Wiccans can't define Wicca to the satisfaction of other Wiccans. :) You do you what is most spiritually fullfilling for you. :)

[Kaylara]

It makes you a pagan.

[Kaylara]

This is the basic overview of Wicca:

Wicca is a religion. It was created by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's - 50's, has a few core beliefs, and many variations. These beliefs, traditions, rituals, and ceremonies will differ from group to group and from person to person. However, the core beliefs of Wiccans are as follows:

- A belief in the Wiccan Rede -- "An ye harm none, do what ye will"

- A belief in the Threefold Law -- "Any energy you send out will come back to you three-fold"

- A profound connection with nature and their surroundings.

- A belief in Deities (Notice the s at the end of deity). Wiccans are polytheistic (believing in many gods) -- This generally involves both a God and a Goddess, and often these two forms manifest in many pantheons of gods and goddesses.

- A belief in the existence of magick, and the practice of magick. The way it works is, all Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccans.


With that said, these are just the basic outlines. They're not laws or rules to be followed, but merely suggestions. There's no need to limit yourself by a label - do what's comfortable for you, and don't be concerned so much about what to classify yourself as. :)


-Aries-Um, several of these points are not accurate. Nor would I call them core beliefs of Wicca.
The Wiccan Rede is not a main tenent of Wicca. It's a moral guideline and is not something that we base our entire path on. And I really wish that people would stop pointing to this as a defining point of Wicca.
Same thing with the Three Fold Law.
The concept of divinity within Wicca is loosely held together, and open to a vast amount of personal interpretation. That being said, most generalizations about a cohesive idea of divinity within Wicca are inaccurate, because of the amount of personal interpretation involved.
Not all Wiccans are Witches.

Stormcall,
Can I suggest that you check in the Paths forum, where there is a quite large discussion on what Wicca is, and isn't.

[Toby Stimpson]

Just by the sound of it, you do sound wiccan. But, i'm with all of the others who say that titles don't matter. What matters is that you feel the knowledge you gain, the practices you practice, the Gods you honour, and the rules and laws you follow are right for you. That is what matters in spirituality, and no name can be placed on any one's religion/spiritual path, Mahatama Gandhi once said there are as many religions as there are people, because everyone has a different viewpoint on everything. Thereofr, I would say you are a Stormcallian dear. :). Namaste

Tobias

p.s. How's Kali been treating you?...I hope the other forums on her helped you decide :)

[Valerie]

Um, several of these points are not accurate. Nor would I call them core beliefs of Wicca.
The Wiccan Rede is not a main tenent of Wicca. It's a moral guideline and is not something that we base our entire path on. And I really wish that people would stop pointing to this as a defining point of Wicca.
Same thing with the Three Fold Law.
The concept of divinity within Wicca is loosely held together, and open to a vast amount of personal interpretation. That being said, most generalizations about a cohesive idea of divinity within Wicca are inaccurate, because of the amount of personal interpretation involved.
Not all Wiccans are Witches.

Stormcall,
Can I suggest that you check in the Paths forum, where there is a quite large discussion on what Wicca is, and isn't.

I did not say that the rede is something Wiccans base their entire path on, I said that it was a part of it. Same thing with the three-fold law - also a part of being Wiccan. Yes, there is a lot of room for interpretation in Wicca, but there are core beliefs, and I have simply pointed them out. If you read even the basic 'Wicca 101' books, these are some of the first things mentioned.

http://www.branwenscauldron.com/advice.html - pay special attention to the "Ethics of Witchcraft" part (and yes, I'm aware that Wicca and Witchcraft aren't the same things. That particular part talks about Wicca specifically).

http://wicca.timerift.net/belief.html - also gives a good, accurate outline of Wiccan beliefs.

I don't wish to be argumentative, and I hope I didn't offend you, I'm simply stating the practices of the majority of Wiccans. Obviously things are open to interpretation, but a religion has to have certain core beliefs, and once you stray from them, you're no longer following that religion. There's nothing wrong with that at all, it's just not that religion anymore.

Again, please don't misconstrue what I'm saying and I hope I didn't offend you. :)


-Aries-

[Wolf O Volos]

YEARS ago, when I was struggling to find my own path, I could not deal with the idea of changing my path and ideals just to fit a label I thought sounded the best. And that is what a lot of this boils down to... a label.

First off, I want to say this. Wicca is but a Branch on the beautiful tree of life that would be called Paganism. And on that branch, there are MANY other branches... Gardenierian, Dianic, Golden Dawn, and hundreds of other traditions, and hundreds of ways to follow the path called Wiccan. If you have explored the entire Wiccan branch, and still do not find a place there that best suits you to perch upon, fly to another branch.
The way I see it, we all walk our own very personal spritual paths, a path that you alone will understand, and feel. Each of us has our own unique ideas and beliefs, and what you call Wiccan, another Wiccan will call druidic. And what another Wiccan does, may not fit the description of what you had all along percieved to be the Core values of Wicca yourself.
So just walk your spiritual path, and know that no matter what label you are given, it is what is right and truest for you in your heart. Nobody but the Gods/Goddesses know what is exactly right for you in your spiritual growth, and as long as you stick to your faith, what difference will it make about who calls you what? And what does a label REALLY mean to *you*? If it makes your spirit soar to be known as a Wiccan, then learn all that you can to become your own Wiccan, but remeber, with applying a label to yourself, there are certain responsibilities that will attatch themselves as well. It would be wrong of you to call yourself Wiccan, and have no desire to follow the Rede, or to call yourself a Wiccan, and decide that there is only one god, and that the goddess is just his more feminine side... catch my drift there? If you want to be Wiccan, you must follow the Wiccan path. If your path differs from all that is Wiccan, time to find a label that better describes your faith, and your path, and the brightly burning spirit within you. Remeber, just because someone mistakenly put a chicken noodle label on the can of vegetable soup, chicken does not suddenly magically appear *within* to make the label correct....

And what I called myself, those tears ago, when I was trying to find the path that best suited me? I called myself Solitary Ecclectic. Now, after learning more and more, and finding the gods and goddesses wisdom from within, and from others, I prefer to throw away labels, per-se, and just call myself a Pagan. Plain and simple, eh? Whether a Wiccan, an Ecclectic, a Shaman, a Druid... all of us share a common title, and that title would be Pagan, yes?

Just keep in mind, whatever you finally decide to call yourself, make sure when you call it upon yourself, you can honestly say in your heart, and feel in your spirit, that you have chosen correctly.

[Kaylara]

Aries, nah, you didn't offend me, it's just that these things are often presented as main tenets in Wicca, when they actually play a much smaller role in the religion. And tenets that have more importance like polarity are almost categorically ignored or left out. And I would rather have a new seeker to Wicca not base their decision to join it on false notions of the importance of the assumed core beliefs of the religion. :)

[Valerie]

I guess it was my presentation then, because in no way do I, myself, believe that the rede and threefold law are the main tenets in Wicca, however they are there nontheless. The highest reverence goes to the Goddess and God, so I'm correcting myself there. But anyway, glad I'm not offending anyone, especially since it's my first day here. ;)

[elfmage]

Um, several of these points are not accurate. Nor would I call them core beliefs of Wicca.
The Wiccan Rede is not a main tenent of Wicca. It's a moral guideline and is not something that we base our entire path on. And I really wish that people would stop pointing to this as a defining point of Wicca.
Same thing with the Three Fold Law.
The concept of divinity within Wicca is loosely held together, and open to a vast amount of personal interpretation. That being said, most generalizations about a cohesive idea of divinity within Wicca are inaccurate, because of the amount of personal interpretation involved.
Not all Wiccans are Witches.

Stormcall,
Can I suggest that you check in the Paths forum, where there is a quite large discussion on what Wicca is, and isn't.

Yep! Plus, some Wiccans are duotheistic, rather than polytheistic, per se. And some eclectic Neo-Pagans follow the Rede, although they would not otherwise be considered Wiccan.

I don't think anyone can, by definition, define religion. :lol:

Religion means something different to everyone, even if they are following the same path, which is rarely EXACTLY the same path when dealing with any "eclectic" religion. So don't worry about defining your religion. Why do you need to? You know what your path is, so why bother trying to put something beyond physical means and realms into a box?

Or if you really wish to define your religion, you could simply define it as your definement!
"You define your religion, and your religion defines you. They are one and the same."
Thus, your religious path is YOU!

(Sorry if this is a little incoherant, I have a terrible headache... :p)

[Lady Avalon]

I am a witch. A spell casting, cauldron brewing witch. I live by the Rede and mind the Law of three. My Goddess is Maid, Mother, and Crone. Her Consort is the God of the Hunt and all things wild and free. I practice a religion.

My religion is Wicca. It is nature based, lives by the Rede and the Law of three, can be Goddess or Goddess/God oriented. It teaches to respect nature, Gia (our Eather Mother), my altar has the Elementals, the Four Directions and that which represents both the Goddess and the God.

I am a Witch. My religion is Wicca. I am happy and most of the time well balanced. My prayers are always answered in some form or another. My life is filled with unconditional love and unconditional trust. My friends are many. They come in all sizes, shapes, colors, religions, ethnic backgrounds.

I am a Witch. My religion is Wicca. Call me what you wish as long as there in joy on your lips and love in your heart.

I am a Witch and my religion is Wicca.

Blessed Be

[Ben Trismegistus]

My definition of Wicca - listen up! ;)

This question has come up countless times in the time I've been on MW, and through a variety of arguments, I've formed what I think is a pretty airtight definition of Wicca. Feel free to tear me apart.

- Belief in balanced polarity, in divinity and in life: God/Goddess, light/dark, above/below, yin/yang, etc.

- Practice in Wiccan manner, including casting circle, calling quarters, altar set-up, etc.

- Recognize a connection, either literal or ideological, with Gerald Gardner's Wicca, even if the form you practice bears little resemblance to his.

And there you go. Everything else is optional. The Rede, the Threefold Law, degree initiations, all of these depend solely on the individual or the tradition. As far as I'm concerned, the closest a Wiccan gets to liturgy is "The Charge of the Goddess", and even that's optional.

[Stormcall]

Thank you, everyone, so much for all your replies!

And to the issue of if labels matter:
I think they do. If someone labeled you evil, or a satan worshipper, you'd be pretty offended, right? (at least, I would be...) The point of this thread was so I could use the correct term for my spirituality and for others, so I could avoid offending anyone!

Thank you again for taking the time to answer!! :smile:

-StormCall