Wicca

society. Many depictions of Paganism and Wicca often include the two symbols without really differentiating between them. The difference can be found in the names – the word pentagram can be broken down into its Greek roots “penta” and gram” - with “penta” meaning five and “gramma” in this context to mean character. Therefore the pentagram is a five pointed star. The pentacle then is an encircled pentagram. The pentagram is generally accepted within Wicca to symbolism the five elements of…

happen to be inclined to live. Eventually they learned not to think of it as betraying them since I felt strongly that my choice of religion is what makes me who I am. I could not become anything except for Wiccan. I live each day under the rules of Wicca and I could not be happier. I am thankful for each morning I have to see the world, I hope to explore the world, experience different cultures, and gain knowledge from it all. I am Wiccan, and it is what makes me myself. It’s not that I happen…

space or sky/atmosphere. The history of this word can be traced back to Vedantic Hinduism in India, and from there it has carried similar meaning across many east Asian religions such as Jainism and Buddhism. However, in the context of paganism and Wicca, the meaning of the word is quite different. Formally adopted into practice in the late nineteenth century, this term is the name for the fifth element, also known as Spirit or Eather. It can be said that the element of Spirit is a combination…

Seeing how much the Wiccan practice has grown over the last few decades really puts into perspective the individual seeking spiritual wholeness. Every person craves spiritual equilibrium through their chosen religion and beliefs. The practice of Wicca is astounding and gives precedence to the connection between Nature and the Divine. The use of herbs, candles and elements in the Wiccan practice unify different components that carry out the practitioner’s devotion to Nature and the Divine. The…

Blessed Be: Sacred Phrase or Casual Expression? The term “Blessed Be” is controversial in Wiccan circles. Some say that it’s a sacred phrase, part of the Drawing Down the Moon ritual, and should NEVER be used for any other reason. Others say the phrase is just what it expresses: a way of saying “I wish blessing to you”, or “Goodbye, and may you be blessed”. It gets rather confusing. My assignment is to figure out for myself what the phrase Blessed Be is all about. Let’s gather the facts…

The episode “Hush” is one of the most critically acclaimed episodes in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. This episode from the fourth season of the series lacked an in-depth dialogue but rather used imagery and other literary elements for support. This lack of dialogue conveys a symbolic meaning throughout the episode through the interactions between the main characters. The interactions between Tara and Willow, Riley and Buffy, and Xander and Anya all have a symbolic meaning which supports…

The Renaissance also led to a change in life for women. During the Middle Ages females had little rights. The church taught that they were beneath men and while they could inherit land form their husbands and fight to protect their lands when the men were away, their average day life was spent in a convent or doing homely activities. Peasant women were laborers and family caretakers. Now the upper class women gained a better education and were expected to know the classics as well as have charm,…

Paganism is what’s called “an umbrella” term that includes all religions that are not the three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, or Islam). Pagan was a term given to those that didn’t subscribe to Christianity by the church in ancient times. Basically, anyone that follows a spiritual path other than Christianity, Judaism, or Islam is a pagan. This includes ancient polytheistic religions (which held beliefs in many multiple deities) such as the ancient Greeks with their elaborate…

Back in day, witches would cast a spell and go on with their lives, knowing full well that the universe NEVER forgets – and the spell will come back, sooner or later. That is why casting spells is such a sacred thing, that REAL WICCA witches don’t do it as often as you might think. We are an earth-based religion, and we spend 90% of our time learning, growing, communing with spirit and nature, doing good in our community, working and doing the rest of the things normal human beings…

A guided meditation script is basically a simple concept. Sometimes people find that during meditation they have trouble staying awake or focusing their mind on relaxation. They can't seem to stop their minds from wandering. When people listen to someone reading a guided meditation script, they are more likely to remain focused when they meditate. In ancient times, people would chant when meditating. Today, people use a guided meditation script. These two are different but they are based on the…