Wicca, the religion of the witches, has long been shrouded in mystery.
Everyone who was interested to learn the "craft" had to settle for small clues from books and articles. Wicca adepts would not say much either, unless they were looking for new members.
The number of people today who are dissatisfied with traditional religious structures is growing. Many people are looking for a religion than involves them personally, that celebrates both physical and spiritual reality, in which the deity is connected with the practice of magic.
Wicca is such a religion, centered on the worship of nature represented by the Goddess and the God. Its ancient spiritual roots, the acceptance of magic and its mysterious nature have made Wicca extremely appealing. Until some time ago, the lack of public information regarding Wicca and its apparent exclusivity have caused much frustration among those interested.
Wicca is more a belief than a religion. It is based on the love of nature, on the knowledge of the fact that we are an integral part of nature and the Universe, that we are part of a whole. Hence the wiccan's constant care not to destroy nature, our home, not to ruin the natural balance and therefore not to intervene, as much as possible, in the natural way in which things evolve. Therefore, we can understand the rede system adopted by Wicca which states: "An ye harm none, do what ye will" and "Everything you do, shall come back to you threefold”.
Wiccans believe in magic.
It is true, and a simple definition for this term is that magic is "the art of changing the environment according to your wishes." Another definition of magic is that it is "the art of manipulating the energies" and that it is part of nature and Universe we all live in and to which we belong. Everything is energy and all things are connected. You can not do anything to break the "pattern", meaning to somehow alter the normal course of nature without causing great consequences. Therefore magic is not supernatural.
Wicca is not looking for new members. This has represented an obstacle for those who might have wanted to learn magic rituals and practices. Wicca does not seek to proselytize, because, unlike most Western religions, does not claim to be the only path to divinity.
Wicca is constantly changing. It is necessary to do so, in order not to remain only a curiosity of early ages. If we want to have something to offer to the generations to come, the heirs of Wicca must target their religion to the future.
Wicca is a joyful religion, springing from our kinship with nature It is a fusion with gods and goddesses, the universal energies which created all that exists. It is a celebration of life, positive and personal.
Wicca is not a unified religion
Currently, worldwide, there are over 50 distinct forms of this movement. Also, even in a country where there are several groups that belong to the same branch, there is no hierarchical structure or an ascendency of some sort. Wicca has spread dramatically in the recent years. There are no accurate data for a global record, but it is estimated that about one million Wicca practitioners live now around the world.
After our estimates, in Romania there are approximately 200 Wiccan who "interacted" with the movement and probably once again that is the number of those who never got out of the "broom closet."
Warning:
Wicca DOES NOT PROSELYTIZE – being a wiccan is an honor and not a right, it is something you should want, it is something for which to prepare, it is something you have to deserve.
Wicca has only one rule: "An ye harm none, do what ye will”, there are numerous corollaries, laws or guidelines used by various groups, but the one and only major law is that of free will.
Wiccans DO NOT ask for money for their services – NEVER - Magic for financial purposes is another story, but it is not part of Wicca's doctrine.
EVERYONE is welcome, regardless of sex, age or occupation. Warning: persons younger than 18 years are not considered members of the group because it is considered they do not have the life experience needed to be able to choose their own way.
How do I become a Wiccan?
Easy... if you are asking yourself this, than you are halfway to your initiation
Most important thing (as in the choosing of any religion) is to be sure this is the way you want to follow: read (wiccans read A LOT), learn, ask, meet the others and find out all the details of this path, try, separate the wheat from the chaff and when you're sure you want to dedicate yourself to this path, you have learned enough to know what are the next steps. A first step for information could be this page as well, read, comment and come meet us, and see if our path is the one that suits you too.
