"A
triple homicide in Florida is suspected to be a Wiccan ritual killing related
to the full blue moon, police said Tuesday."
To the members of the media and the Pensacola
Police Department,
I don't know how else to say this. Wiccans don't practice ritual murders. Wiccans don't practice ritual murders. Wiccans don't practice ritual murders, okay? Even if someone is Asatru worshipping Thor, no
claw hammer is involved. How are we in
2015 and still trying to make this clear? I'm scratching my head over here. Okay, I lied. I'm banging it against my desk. Or at least, I was until I stopped to type this.
With evil witches and flying wizards
dominating entertainment media, it's no wonder there is such confusion about Paganism
and Wicca. These real, live Religions
are practiced by people like anyone else. And their community-focused, eco-centric faith
is worth knowing a thing or two about.
These
are a few of the many practices that could be classified as Pagan, traditions that
spans many centuries and countries around the world. The term “Pagan” comes originally from the
Latin “paganus,” which appears to have originally had such meanings as
“villager” or “country dweller.” The
Roman army used it to refer to civilians.
The early Roman Christians used Pagan in a belittling manner to refer to
everyone who preferred to worship pre-Christian divinities. Over the centuries, it became a term for a
person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main World Religions
(Christianity, Islam, Judaism). Today,
Paganism is a general term for Polytheistic Religions old and new,
with Pagan used as the adjective as well as the membership term.
Pagan is an umbrella term which
refers to a variety of different practices ranging from Rodnovery, Wiccans, Pagan
Reconstructionist, Witchcraft, Hellenes, Devotional Polytheists, African
Diasporas, Heathens,
Native Tribes, Occultists, Ancient Egyptians and Hinduism, among many others. This piece focuses on
western Neo-Pagan traditions, including Wicca and Neo-Druidism.
Symbols
Like many religions, Pagans employs certain
symbols both as representations of their faith and as images and objects that
contain power in and of themselves. The
pentacle is probably the most common in Paganism, often depicted in art and
jewelry. Some say its five points
represent the four directions plus the sacred spirit. The directions also connect to the
elements. Connected to the North, Earth
is considered the ultimate feminine element. Air, east, is one of the four
classical elements in ancient philosophy and science. Towards the south is fire, in many ancient
cultures and myths has been known to purify the land with the flames of
destruction, however, it is also capable of the renewal of life through the
warmth and comfort of those very same flames. Used for healing, cleansing, and purification,
water is related to the West, the color blue, and associated with passion and
emotion.
People
As Harvard's Pluralism Project notes, it is
difficult to determine the number of Pagan adherents around the world as
estimates vary widely. The number may be
anywhere between 200,000 and 1 million, or possibly more. Most Pagans don't exhibit their religious
identity outside of the ritual space (unless they wear clothing or jewelry
depicting Pagan symbols such as the pentacle.) According to The Pagan Census, modern Pagans
are distributed fairly even throughout the U.S., with a slight majority on
either coast. Men and women of all ages,
races and backgrounds practice Paganism, though the census said the community
tends to skew toward white, middle class women.
Sects
Contemporary Paganism is widespread and
somewhat scattered, hence the difficulty counting adherents. Modern Paganism does not descend from a
singular ancient religion but rather many ancient indigenous and folkloric
traditions, and there is no central text to refer to that can shed light on
doctrine. There are, however, subtle
distinctions that delineate Celtic and Northern European sects, Baltic and
Slavic sects, Greek and Southern European sects, American Neopaganism, and
other groupings around the world. Some covens
(organized groups of Pagans) worship specific deities, such as Diana or Odin. Others practice ancient Druidism, such John
Rothwell ("Arthur Pendragon") pictured, while some focus on activism,
such as the Reclaiming tradition.
Sites
In general, Pagan worship centers around Earth
and Spirit, as opposed to specific structures imbued with sacredness (ie. a
church, Mecca, the Vatican, etc.) Forests,
hilltops, urban warehouses and individual's homes can operate as ritual sites,
especially because many Pagans take measures to "create sacred space"
for rituals regardless of where they are. That said, some natural or ancient sites, such
as Stonehenge or Machu Picchu, may hold particular importance for some Pagans.
Triple Goddess
The Triple Goddess in Modern Paganism embodies
the maiden, the mother and the crone. These
three aspects are meant to encompass the full power of the Goddess, reflected
in the moon's cycles. The waxing moon
represents the maiden; the full moon represents the mother; and the waning moon
represents the crone. Pagans will often
hold gatherings or do personal meditation to observe these moon phases. In addition to the Goddess, some Pagans
worship a masculine divinity, occasionally in the form of the Horned God or the
Green Man. He can also be seen as a
Triple God - Warrior, Father and Sage. Many
also revere the natural world as Divine and hold Ancestor altars, as well.
Sabbats - Quarter Days
There are eight Sabbats that make up the Pagan
"wheel of the year," though not all Pagans observe all eight. Each Sabbat corresponds with different
seasonal events of the year. Pagans
celebrate the winter solstice, spring equinox, summer solstice and
autumn equinox (or "quarter days") to mark the deepest part of the
season and the lengthening or shortening of daylight. These four are the most sacred days of the
year. Midwinter (winter solstice or yule)
has been recognized as a significant turning point in the yearly cycle since
the late Stone Age. The spring equinox, days
become longer than the nights. Midsummer
(summer solstice) is considered the turning point at which summer reaches its
height and the Sun shines longest. The
holiday of the autumnal equinox is a Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the
fruits of the Earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the
blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months.
Sabbats - Cross Quarter Days
The other four Sabbats, or "cross quarter
days," are Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain. Imbolc falls in early February and celebrates
the onset of springtime, encouraging the sprouting of seeds and new life. Beltane is an early summer celebration in May,
often seen as a fertility festival. Lughnasadh
or Lammas falls in August and is the first of several harvest festivals. Samhain coincides with the western Halloween
and is a holiday for paying tribute to the deceased.
Altars
Alters hold a central place in history of many
cultures. When it is used, it is
regarded as a place of contact with the deity, set apart as sacred. Some are small and simple, a shelf with a
bowl and a stone. Some are large and
elaborate, a whole room decorated in sacred images and a clay table etched with
symbols and bronze or copper. Pagans
often construct altars for rituals and to keep in their homes, and these may
act as offerings to specific deities. Each
object holds certain meaning, such as rocks to symbolize Earth, seeds to
symbolize intentions and new life, bread to symbolize bounty, and so on.
Tools
Pagans occasionally employ tools in rituals and
personal practice that may either function in ritual procedures (such as an athame,
pictured), aid in divination (such as a pendulum), assist in cleansing (such as
water or incense) or pay respects to a specific deity (such as a statuette). The athame has many uses for drawing a
boundary, invoking the elemental guardians or as a symbol of universal creativity
- but is not used for actual
physical cutting. Other tools may include drums, candles, ribbons, cauldrons and more,
depending on the specific ritual or practice for which they will be used.
Fire
It is fire that our Ancestors used to warm our
homes, used it to cook food, sit around it to ward of the darkness of night and
it fuels our passions. Fire plays a prominent role in many Pagan
rituals and in personal practice (through candles and incense.) During some rituals Pagans circle around a
large fire, which is seen to hold transformative power. Fire may also be used in cleansing,
divination, trance and ecstatic dancing.
Rituals
The anatomy of any Pagan ritual will vary from group
to group, but Reclaiming - one of the best-known American Pagan groups -
identifies several key components. Typically
rituals begin with grounding and cleansing, then move to the casting of a
circle. Leaders and/or participants will
often invoke deities, then guide one another into trance or magic work. At the end, participants often share food and
drink before closing the ritual.
Magic
Magic in Paganism and witchcraft is primarily
about change and transformation. By some
accounts, magic allows practitioners to remove the barriers of what they think
is possible so that they can manipulate the physical or spiritual world. Most groups shun what is sometimes referred to
as "black magic" and instead employ magic crafts that encourages
practitioners to draw health and fortune into their lives and the lives of
others. Some magical activities include
chanting, trance, craft work and more elaborate manipulations of objects.
Invoking Deities
One of the key elements of Pagan rituals and
personal practice is the invocation of specific deities. The chosen deity may correspond to a certain Sabbats
(such as Goddess Brigid for Sabbat Imbolc). The invocation is intended to invite the God
or Goddess to assist the ritual or so the participant may come to know the Divine
through embodiment.
Personal Practice
The Pagan Census found in 2003 that just over
50% of respondents said they were solitary practitioners. This means they do not belong to a coven and
may not have been trained by a larger spiritual organization. Solitary practitioners observe rituals and
practice magic on their own, or perhaps occasionally in small groups. Even for those involved in covens, personal
practice is seen as key for developing magic skills and deepening spiritual
connection.
Pagan Leaders
Modern Pagan leaders are often hard to identify
due to the dispersed nature of the faith. Individuals may be trained and ordained by
specific seminaries or by independent groups. In general, Pagan sects are non- or
semi-hierarchical, but certain individuals may hold sway in the community due
to their large followings (such as Starhawk pictured) or their influence
through authorship.
Marriage
You’ve probably heard someone refer to marriage
as “tying the knot” or “giving one’s hand.”
Originally the word handfast came into English from Old Norse languages
and meant the act of sealing any bargain by taking hands. Along with legal marriage and domestic
partnership, some Pagans practice handfasting. According to BBC, handfasting rituals are
believed to predate Christianity and was certainly present by medieval times. During the ceremony, the couple will tie their
wrists together with ribbons or twine to represent their union.
Community
Paganism is by no means an adults-only
tradition. The 1999 Pagan Census found
that just over 40% of participants reported that they had children. The growing number of children in the Pagan
community has lead some groups to open their rituals to families and youth,
adjusting some practices that may not have been appropriate or accessible for
young people. In some traditions, Pagans
pass on traditions and lore to children through trainings and camps, a form of
spiritual education common in many religions.
Activism
Though not a rule for Pagan communities, some
groups make activism and community work
central to their practice. Some of the
causes promoted by Pagan groups include environmental protection, gender and
racial equality, LGBT rights and the preservation of sacred indigenous sites.
-
Many
Americans generally believe that their Constitution guarantees their freedom to
worship as they please. It is sadly not
always the case. Ancient Americans came
to this country seeking many things including religious freedom. It is a battle that continues today for
Wicca, Islam, Amish, Native Americanism and more. Neopagans are a religious minority in every
country where they exist and have been subject to religious discrimination. The largest Neopagan communities are in North
America and the United Kingdom, along with other countries.
Wiccan is a nature based religion and it has
been recognized as such in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., Wicca has full recognition as a
religion and is granted all rights as such under the Constitution. It is a dedication made to nature, the deities
and yourself. It is a way of life and as
such we are mindful of the balance between ourselves and all things within the
universe at all times. America
has become a mixing pot. There are uses
for the word 'Lord', a common dating method.
There are statues of Moses, Confucius and Solon on the Supreme Court. While most modern currency holds images of
presidents.
To those
who are reading this and who may wonder how much of these "Wiccan Ritual
Killing" articles are true: They are not. Pick up a book on Wicca - they're in every
bookstore. Google our practices. You'll find lots of information. Read our blogs. Ask us questions. Go wild and attend one of our events - they're
not hard to find. Just stop believing
the hype. I don't want to flip on the
computer one day to find out yet another person has lost a job or suffered
injury to a business...or worse...because of this hype.
With as
much information as we Wiccans willingly share about our faith and practices,
it baffles me to see the need to continue to say this. But just in case anyone needs to hear it
again, Wiccans do NOT practice ritual murder. By spreading this lie due to your self-imposed
lack of education and research, you've left us all in a vulnerable, and
possibly dangerous, situation.
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