BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS OF WICCA

 Not every Wiccan will subscribe to all of these points, but
 generally they are representative.


 1.  The divine Spirit is present in all creatures and things:
 people, animals, plants, stones...


 2.  The ultimate creative force manifests in both feminine and
 masculine modes;  therefore it is often symbolized as the Goddess
 and The God.


 3.  In some covens, both are celebrated equally.  In others, The
 Goddess is given precedence or even celebrated without reference
 to the God.


 4.  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.


 5.  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.


 6.  Magick is practiced for positive (helping) purposes:
 spiritual development, healing, guidance, safety, etc.


 7.  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.


 8.  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.


 9.  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.


 10. 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.


 10. 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.


 11. We should live in harmony with the Earth and Nature, and not
 exploit them.


 12. 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.


 13. The concepts of original sin, sacrifice, redemption,  confession,
 the divinity of Jesus, sinfulness of sex, Judgment, 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.


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