Not
every Wiccan will subscribe to all of these points, but generally they are
representative.
The
divine Spirit is present in all creatures and things: people, animals, plants, stones...
The
ultimate creative force manifests in both feminine and masculine modes;
therefore it is often symbolised as the Goddess and The God.
In
some covens, both are celebrated equally.
In others, The Goddess is given precedence or even celebrated without
reference to the God.
All
Goddesses and Gods are aspects of The Goddess and The God.
The aspects most popular in Wicca are the Triple Goddess of the
Moon (Maiden, Mother and Crone) and the Horned God of death and rebirth.
Reincarnation
and karma are valid concepts. Upon
death one goes to a state of rest and reflection, and eventually chooses
where and when s/he will be reborn.
Magick
is practised for positive (helping) purposes: spiritual development, healing,
guidance, safety, etc.
Rituals
are generally performed outdoors when possible, at the New and Full Moons,
and at eight Sabbat festivals which mark the progression of the seasons.
Magick
and celebration are performed in small groups, usually 3 to 13, called
covens. These are basically
autonomous - there is no central church authority or hierarchy.
There
is no holy book, or prophet, no equivalent of the Bible or Jesus or Mohammed.
Individuals have access to the divine, and do not require an intermediary.
Every initiate is regarded as a priest/ess.
The
central ethic is "And ye harm none, do as ye will."
Whatever energy you send out returns threefold, so it is wise to
be kind to others.
We
should live in harmony with the Earth and Nature, and not exploit them.
Though
Wicca is a valid spiritual path, it is not the only one.
There is no recruiting, and people should be free to choose the
path that best fits their needs.
The
concepts of original sin, sacrifice, redemption,
Confession,
the divinity of Jesus, sinfulness of sex, Judgement, Heaven and Hell,
denigration of women, bodily resurrection, and the Bible as divine revelation
are not part of Wicca. Neither
are Satanism, the Black Mass, desecration of cemeteries, the sacrifice
of animals, etc.
EARTH-RITE
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