It was written by a lady named Lisa Parker, and I don't for the life of me remember where or when I got it (I have a computer full of stuff like that!). But I do know it was written by her, and I like to give credit where it's due.
"Witches are both men and women who practice spirituality though honoring
the Earth. Witches recognize the divine in many aspects including feminine.
A Witch believes the divine exists in her/himself and feels a direct
connection with it.
"Witchcraft's origins are disputed, and I am not going to try to give any
one answer to that question here. There are numerous books that have done
that, so read up. What I can say about the question is that it is a very
old religion, sometimes referred to as The Old Religion. It is an Earth
religion, a Goddess religion, a Pagan religion, etc. Paganism was around
long before Christianity, many practices found in Christianity were taken
from the first Pagans. For example: the Christian observance of Easter, was
taken from the Pagan celebration of Spring. The name Easter is from the
Goddess Eostre or Ostara, the Goddess of Spring, of fertility, of rebirth
and new. Even the commercialism of Easter has Pagan influences found in the
Easter Bunny (the hare is associated with various fertility Gods/Goddess
and the Moon), and the Easter egg is a symbol of birth, fertility and
spring. The timing itself of Easter is influenced by the cycle of the Moon,
that is why the holiday "floats" each year. For more explanations on the
various origins of religious holidays see The Witches Web of Days, a web
site loaded with information on holidays, moon cycles, and deities. (Kat's Note: I have tried to find this page, and it seems to be down, but I'm still looking! -11/25/01)
"Witchcraft is a legally recognized religion (since 1985).
There are different Pagan traditions that are considered Witchcraft, and
you will find many different definitions for each. Each path has it's on
beliefs, traditions, celebrations, rites, rituals, names, definitions etc.
All are Earth based and pretty much have the same basic background.
"There are Solitary Witches (those who practice alone) and Covens(a group of people who gather to practice). There are Eclectic or Kitchen Witches
(those who take various rituals, spells, beliefs, etc. from different
traditions and use them together or simply make there own) and those that
follow structured traditions. No one tradition or background is correct,
whatever suits you and works best for you is correct.
"Witches usually celebrate in ceremonies called Rituals. Rituals are held
for many reason at different times. We follow what is know as The Wheel of
The Year. We cast a circle, and there are even various ways of doing that,
but there are a few things I have found that are pretty much universal when
it comes to casting a circle. The four directions are called (or quarters
or watchtowers or guardians....depending on what you call them); East,
South, West and North, this is done clockwise in a circle. At each
direction an altar is set up with candles, gems, stones, feathers, any
article that you choose to represent that direction. In the center of the
circle an altar is set up to represent Spirit. It is within this sacred
space, this protected space, that rituals, spells and ceremonies are done.
"A very simple description of something not so simple, but it is definitely
nothing scary or weird. The feeling of being in the sacred space of a
Witches circle is natural and relaxing nothing should ever feel scary about
it, if it does you can always leave the circle and come back if you choose."
When I first found this, I loved the way it was put, and made sure to keep it. I hope that helps a little bit.
Materials * Divination * Treehouse Home
* Wicca * Spellwork
E-mail questions and comments here!