Welcome all ye who would join the Circle

This page is under construction - please bear with me :)

Witch

According to Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the word witch comes from the Middle English wicche, the Old English wicca and the Middle High German wicken (to bewitch). the actual definition reads as follows: 1: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; esp: a woman praticing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar. 2: an ugly old woman: Hag: 3: a charming or alluring girl or woman.

Note

One must remember that the practice of witchcraft, as a woman's religion is one that predates the word usage presented in Webster's by over 2000 years. Although our most recent memories are of the European wiccans, we must also be conscious of our much older ties to the original goddess worship.

Definition of Dianic Wicca

Sometimes called Feminist Dianic Witchcraft, focus exclusively on the Goddess and consists of women-only covens and groups. These tend to be loosely structured and non-hierarchical, using consensus- decision- making and simple, creative, experimental ritual. They are politically feminist groups, usually very supportive, personal and emotionally intimate. There is a strong lesbian presence in the movement, though most covens are open to women of all orientations.
(according to one web author)Wicca itself is a new religion, drawing strongly on the practices of Ceremonial Magic. While there are claims that Wicca goes back into the mists of pre-history, honest examination of the practices and history of the Wicca will make it clear that Wicca is new. (Actually, the word "Wicca" itself is recently coined, at least in its present usage. The OE "wicca" was pronounced "witch-ah" and meant male magician. The new word "Wicca" is pronounced "wick-uh", capitalized as a religion, and means a religion, not a person.) However, Wicca has developed in many directions and should not be seen as a unified whole, even though it is fairly new. Rituals and beliefs vary widely among Witches.

Unlike most of the neopagan religions, Wicca is an initiatory religion, that is, people who choose to practice Wicca believe that the commitment to this path set changes in motion in their lives.
Like everything else in neopaganism and the Craft, the term Dianic is one that has several meanings. A majority of those who call themselves Dianic are women that choose not to work with male energy in their ritual, magic, or universe. They feel that they need spiritual and psychic space filled with only women's energy. Some Dianics are feminist Witches, both lesbian and heterosexual, who often come to the Craft through feminism. Although these women may be involved with men in one way or another, they agree that religion has over-emphasized the male for the last several thousand years, and therefore want to share their women's energy in women's circles. They may or may not also be involved with the mainstream pagan community, and they may or may not participate in magic and ritual with men.

The most visible groups of Dianics are those who are lesbian Dianics. They are generally not interested in revering any sort of male deity or in working with men in circle. They choose to limit their dependence on and acceptance of the male-defined world as much as possible, and they do so not to exclude men but rather to celebrate women and the feminine. For that reason many of them do not interact much with the "mainstream" pagan community.

The Information presented here can be found in more detail at the following links.

Links to other sites on the Web

Frequently Asked Questions
Wiccan Definitions

Go To Index

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page