What is Wicca?

This is both an easy, and a hard question to answer sometimes. Most people who ask the question want a simple and short answer, not an entire novel. Though it would be easy to fill pages and pages on what Wicca is, the best and shortest answer to give is simply;

"Wicca is a positive, nature-based religion that uses Love, Positive Creativity, and and Spirit to enact positive change in their lives and empower themselves."

Let me set a few things straight. Many wiccans, witches, and pagans can get touchy on termonology, so its best to get these out of the way before we even begin.

Wicca is a religion.
Witchcraft is a Practice.
Pagan is any religion that is not Christian, Jewish, or Islam (or a derivitive thereof).

Not all Wiccans practice Witchcraft. Not all of those who practice Witchcraft are Wiccan.
The term Witch, however, can mean either a practitioner of Witchcraft, or a Wiccan. Though some Wiccans do not like being called a Witch, and some who practice Witchcraft don't like the idea of Wiccans who don't being called Witch. Unfortunatly, there isn't a way around that. So the best thing to do is just ask the person their beliefs, and if they prefer to be called a Witch, or not.

The Wiccan Rede:
You have probably heard of this once or twice, even if you are unsure exactly what it is. The Wiccan Rede is to a Witch, as the Ten Commandments are to the Christian. It is a code of moral and religious behavior. By its nature, Wicca is a very open religion. Unlike Christianity it is not overly strict and rigid, and can be described as a living, breathing entity that constantly grows and changes. Wiccan really allows the individual to practice their religion the way they want. As such, there are Wiccans who do not follow the Rede.

Bid ye the Wiccan Laws ye must,

in perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do as ye will.

And ever mind the rule of three,
what ye sends out comes back to thee.
Follow this with mind and heart,
and merry meet and merry ye part.

That is a small piece of the Wiccan Rede (and the most well known). The key phrases in the above is the actual Rede "and it harm none, do as ye will" and the three fold law "ever mind the rule of three, what you send out comes back to thee"

The Rede - This can be a very strict rule if you think about it. And it harm none, do as ye will. Well, almost any action can be seen as harming. Walk on the grass, and you kill dozens of bugs with each step. Use anti-bacterial soap, and you are killing billions of bacteria on your hands. Sneeze, and you may create a typhoon in Japan. Obviously, it is impossible not to sneeze, and not washing your hands is insanitary, so the Rede could almost be an impossible rule to follow completely. But, so long as you try, and consider your actions before you act, you shouldn't have much trouble. Even then, there may be situations that seem like no matter what you do, someone will get hurt. These are a fact of life, unfortunatly. Just do your best.

Threefold Law - It is a common belief among not just Wiccans, but many religions, that if you do bad things, bad things will happen to you (or if you do good things, that good will be returned). You may have heard of this as Karma. The difference between Karma and the threefold law, is that many wiccans (and other pagans) believe that by the time the energy you send out (be it good or bad) gets back to you - it has increased by three. Why three? Well, three is a very divine number.

Think of the holy trinity, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Now thing of an older trinity - Mother, Maiden and Crone (the trinity of the Goddess). There is more, mother, father and child. Sun, moon and earth. etc. So three just makes sense.

Gods and Goddesses:
Many Wiccans worship more then one God. In fact, they worship many. It is my belief that all religions worship the same great entity - the same Creator. Wiccans call this Spirit. Christians call it God. There are many names for it and many different religions, and paths to worship. I don't believe any are right, and I don't believe any are wrong. Wiccans view Spirit as having two halves, a male, and female.

Wiccans also view these as being split up to even more gods and goddesses. Wiccans often pic a pantheon to work with. For example, the Egyptian Gods, Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Native American, some even choose to work with the Christian God, and use Jesus and Mary to represent the Lord and Lady.


Spells, Rituals and Rites:
This is the part of Wicca that incorperates Witchcraft. Not all Wiccans cast spells, or preform rituals. Some don't even have alters or anything like that. Some just choose to pray, and to believe. Those that are Wiccan and practice Witchcraft, use spells and rituals to bring about change.

Remember the first definition I gave? How Wiccans use Love, Positive Creativity, and Spirit to create possitive change? Well, spells and rituals is a way to do that. (There are other ways, like creating arts and crafts, or volunteering, or singing, or anything else that is positive, to create possitive change in the world). Spells, and rituals are ways to focus the energy of possitive creation, love, and spirit to create and effect change. You should always strive for this change to be a good change. Real Wiccans do not cast curses, or hexes, or jinxes on people. They work to help, to protect, and to make better.


How can I become a Witch?
Well, let me tell you, dressing in black, wearing a pentacle, and calling yourself a witch, does not a witch make. And it is not nice to threaten to hex, or curse your friends or enemies to get attention, or to stand out. You should only go into the practice of Wicca with an open heart, and an open mind.

Some Wiccans will tell you that to be a true Witch you must join a coven and complete 3 or more years of training.

Some wiccans will tell you that all you need to do is live as a witch, and a witch you will be.

I personally believe that when you begin to use Love, Possitive Creativity and Spirit to create possitive change in yourself and your life, then you are a fellow Witch in my eyes. :)

Love Spells

One of the most common questions I get asked as a witch is "Do you know any good love spells?"

I know a few. But the more apt question would be - "Have you ever cast a love spell?" The answer would be irrefutably "No."

Why not? you might wonder. It is my strong opinion that love spells border on evil. Of course, more then likely you do not have evil intentions on your mind at all. But love spells border dangerously on hindering Free Will. Forcing someone to love you, is a form of rape, in my mind. Would you force someone to sleep with you? Force someone to marry you? No - probably not. Nor should you force someone to love you.

Now, not all love spells are intended to force someone to love you. And many believe that no spell can actually make someone feel something that they don't feel. So, if John Doe doesn't love you, no spell you can cast will MAKE him love you.

So, what do they do? They twist feelings and emotions, bend them out of balance. John Doe may not love you, but a love spell can turn affection, or simple friendship or care, into lust. Lust is a four letter word in my book - Lust is love's twisted evil sister.

Love spells more often then not, backfire. Either they make John Doe so infatuated with you that he stalks you, or forces himself on you, or becomes jealous and controlling. Or, if there is no affection or care at all in him for you, it can amplify other feelings, like hate, disgust, or fear. Generally, Love spells have disasterous results. I urge anyone with relationship problems to Never do love spells.

Does that mean magick cannot help you? Of course not. There are alternatives to love spells!

Instead of casting a spell on a specific person, instead try casting a spell asking for love to come into your life, or to draw love to you. Never cast a love spell on a specific person. It is wrong to force them to love you. However, if it is a certain person you love, and you are seeking his love in return, try a spell that will help him understand his own feelings. This may result in him realizing he has no feelings for you, but it could also result in him realizing he does.

But NEVER mess with free will.

And generally spells are a last resort with love. I prefer my love to be pure, and untainted or un-tampered with. I like to know that he loves me for me, and not because of some spell, or magickal prodding. So before even trying spells, try simply to talk with him. To explain how you feel, and ask how he feels in return.

Ouija Boards

I spend a lot of time on Yahoo! answers in the Mythology & Folklore section, and one of the most common questions asked revolve around the Ouija or Spirit Board.

Most questions are about how to use them safely, or about people's experiences with them. I have used the Spirit Board a few times over the years, and wanted to share my knowledge with the people who are curious about how to use them safely.

First a very very important warning. Ouija Boards CAN BE DANGEROUS! I understand that telling you not to use them may only make you more apt to use it anyway, because it seems exciting, or you are a skeptic. Whatever the reason, it is true that someone is more likely to do something if told not to. That said, Please Please PLEASE head my warning - Do NOT use an Ouija board. Period. If you want to contact relatives or friends who have passed on - try going to a genuine psychic or medium. Or try tarot cards, pendulum, or runes. But please, do not use a spirit board! They can be dangerous to anyone, especially those who do not know how to use them safely.

That said, if you still insist on using it - please at least read my safety guidelines here. They will help protect you from the negativity or downright evil that you may draw to yourself. And yes, it can happen. You should not use the Ouija board unless you are skilled enough to handle the situation if you draw out something evil or sinister. But, like I said before, most of you will still use it anyway. So here are some ways to keep yourself safe....

First some history. The first reported case of the use of something resembling a Spirit Board was in China, around 1200 BC! It was used for divination. But it was in the 19th century in America that the boards became very popular. In the early 1900s (1920s, 1930s) American had a boom in "spiritual" and "occult" practices. Palm reading, tarot cards, and Ouija boards became extremely popular, especially among women. Since then the Ouija board has been both famous and infamous. There are terror stories and urban legends surrounding the Ouija board. Stories of girls slumber parties where they used the board and later they all died terrible deaths.

So if they are so scary, why are they still so popular? Well - for the same reason teens will gathered in a dark bathroom in front of the mirror chanting "Bloody Mary" and hoping to see her ghost, or why people go to horror movies. People enjoy being scared when they are sure nothing "Really" bad will happen.

Well let me tell you, the Ouija board IS DANGEROUS. I advise anyone who wants to use the board to first understand the proper ways to protect yourself.

But protect yourself from what? you ask.

Ouija Boards create a doorway between our world, and the lower planes, also called the Spirit worlds, or the Astral planes. Normally, spirits cannot pass between worlds unless there are doors. These doors are not just Ouija boards, but can be objects tied to spirits, like divination tools, or even times of the year or day, like Samhein (Halloween) or dawn and dusk (known as the twilight times. the times between night and day). Using an Ouija board opens one of these doorways, so spirits can effect the board and converse with you. There is no way to stop evil or negative entities from coming through - the only thing you can do is learn to protect yourself should it happen.

First, how to use the board safely. You will need an Ouija board, obviously. You will also need at least one candle, preferably white, and some incense, either incense sticks, cones, or oils. (You can put incense oils on the top of the candle around the wick. The flame heats the oils and produces the smell). Beginners should NOT use the board alone.

Much of the protection comes from your own instinctual defenses. The more people, the stronger the defense of your own spirits.

The people who participate should always be serious and respectful. If you come to the board distrusting it, or with the intent to move the pointer yourself to scare your friends, you will lessen the protection of the group and your strength against the negativity - it is basically an invite for dangerous spirits. Despite the fact that the Ouija board can be purchased in the game isle of a toy store, does not make it a game!

Do not use drugs, or drink, or use any other form of intoxicant while using the board, for the same reasons, it lowers your mental strength, and thus your ability to hold up mental shields/barriers.

Your mind needs to be clean, clear, and focused. Try not to think negative thoughts. Just focus on the question at hand.

NEVER ask questions about death.
NEVER ask when you, or your friends will die.
NEVER ask the spirit its name or how it died, and
NEVER ask the spirit to show itself. EVER.

One of the most IMPORTANT things to do is to protect yourself mentally and visually. If you are of a Christian religion, then pray for protection, and imagine your guardian angel beside you, or god's love protecting you in a white sphere. If you are more pagan/spiritual - envision yourself wrapped in a glowing white sphere of protective energy. We call this a Shield. (It is also good against psychic attacks). No matter what your religion, visiualizing shields of protecting white light around yourself is OK, and does not go against any rules/tennants/laws of your faith.

You may also speak a prayer, or a rite before you begin, or ask the god and goddess to protect you. Ask whatever higher power, or guardians or spirit guides for protection. Always in your mind envision that protection surrounding you and have pure, solid faith in its protection. Faith is a powerful tool - it creates a very powerful barrier against negativity and evil.

Now you may begin.

Set up the board on a table where all involved can reach it easily without stretching or twisting. Keep your arms relaxed, and put only the lightest pressure on the pointer. Use just your fingertips. ( You may notice that under your fingernails it is pinkish, but if you press down with your fingertips you will get a band of white at the tips from the pressure. Keep an eye on the fingertips of those taking part - if you see this band of white, it might mean they are applying too much pressure, and moving the pointer. Your fingers should be very light on the board. )
Set up the board at night, after the sun has set. I do not recommend using the board during storms, or when it is noisy out or around. It should be calm and quiet.

Watch the candle. If it flickers, and grows dull, that is a sign the spirit is trying to manifest. If this happens, close the board and put it away. (See steps on closing the board below)

It is best if someone keeps pen and paper to record the answers. Start with simple yes or no questions. It is best if only one person does the talking. Ask the questions in a clear and steady voice. This is the basic first question to ask - "Are there any spirits that would like to speak to us tonight?" Ask simple questions until a spirit contacts you - then you can begin to delve deaper as your learn more about who your are conversing with. It may take time, even 20 or more minutes, before a spirit will come forth. Be patient, and keep 2-4 fingers on the pointer (also called a Planchette) at all times.

Start with simple questions, ones that require just yes or no, or simple answers. Keep pen and paper to write down the answers.

Closing the Board:
This is vital. If you do not close the board down at the end of every session, then you leave the door open for any spirits that want to get in. Closing down the board is closing the door you have made to the lower planes. IT IS VITAL.

To do this, thank the spirits for speaking with you. Wish them peace, and then say goodbye. Wait for the pointer to move to the word goodbye, or spell it out. You can then put the board away and blow out the candle.

However, if the spirit is stubborn and refuses to say goodbye (try saying goodbye two or three times) then move the pointer to Goodbye yourself. In a strong, firm, and demanding voice say "GOODBYE" and "LEAVE" If you feel this is enough, you may put away the board. Or you can slam the pointer down on a hard surface (don't break it) or pass it through the flame of a candle (be very careful, especially if it is plastic. If it is paper or cardboard, just pass it over the top of the candle, or pass it through very quickly so it doesn't catch fire).

Try not to use the board for longer then an hour. It is difficult to keep up your defenses much longer then that, and is also tiring for both you and the spirits.

It is also good to ground and center yourself afterward, as if completing a ritual. Eat and drink something (cake and juice is good), and meditate for a few moments.

Safety note:
The more often you use a board, the stronger the connection gets (which also means the harder to close the door it gets). Spirit boards can be a great way to ask spirits for guidance, get information, or just have fun. But it can become addictive. Try to limit how often you use it. Try not to use it more then once a week.

Also - it is well known that creating magickal tools makes them stronger. My own spirit board is sanded, smoothed and stained cherry wood, with the letters burned in with my wood-burning tool. You can try creating your own as well, even just using cardboard, so long as the surface is smooth so the pointer can easily glide over it.

And lastly, but very important, watch the candle. If it flickers, and grows dull, that is a sign the spirit is trying to manifest. If this happens, close the board and put it away.

I hope this helps people learn to use the board safely, and answers the questions that many of you have.

Good luck, and Blessed Be!
-Epona Waterlily