WELCOME TO OUR SITE |
||||
Merry meet and welcome to Coven of the Wise Owl!Bright Blessings to
All!! Our Coven is situated in the virtual world of
Second Life. However, although in a virtual world, the Coven of the Wise Owl is
extremely serious about its magick. Membership is open to all Wiccans
and those interested in the old religion of Wicca.  Ten things to know about Wicca! There's a lot of information out there on
Wicca and Paganism, in books, on the Internet, and through local groups.
But how much of it is accurate? How do you learn to separate the wheat
from the chaff? The fact is, there are several basic things you should
understand about Wicca and Paganism before you make the decision to join
a new spiritual path. Let's eliminate some of the misconceptions and
talk about actual facts... it will make your spiritual journey all the
more valuable if you understand these issues from the beginning. 1. Yes, Even Wicca Has Rules-Sure, a lot of people think that just because there's no Grand High Wiccan and Pagan Council that there must be all kinds of magical carnage going on. Truth is, there are some fairly standard guidelines followed by a number of different Pagan traditions. While they vary from one group to the next, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the concepts. Learn more about the rules of magic before you continue your studies.2. All Wiccans are Pagans, not all Pagans are WiccansThere are dozens of Pagan traditions, and as many different versions of Wicca. Not all are the same, and just because someone is a witch or Pagan doesn't necessarily mean they practice Wicca. Learn about the differences in paths found among the umbrella term "Paganism."3. Wicca is a Religion, Not a Fashion Statement-Contrary to what many popular movies might have you believe, you don't have to be a teenage goth princess to be Wiccan. In fact, you don't "have to be" anything at all. Wiccans come from all walks of life -- they are parents and teens, lawyers, nurses, firefighters, waitresses, teachers and writers. Pagans come from all different walks of life, allsocioeconomic groups, and all sorts of racial backgrounds. There's no Pagan Dress Code that says you have to toss away your polo shirt or khakis in favor of capes and an all-black wardrobe. On the other hand, if you prefer the goth look, go for it... just remember that goth and Wiccan are not synonymous. 4. Religious Freedom Applies to Wiccans and Pagans Too-Believe it or not, as a Wiccan or Pagan you have the same rights as people of any other religion. Despite the fact that some members of other faiths might disapprove of the existence of Wicca and Paganism, the fact is that if you live in the United States, you're entitled to protection just like anyone else. It's against the law for anyone to discriminate against you because you practice an earth-based faith. Learn about your rights as a Pagan or Wiccan parent, as an employee, and even as a member of the United States military.5. It's Okay to Be Out of the Broom Closet... or Not-Countless numbers of Pagans and Wiccans have made the choice to "come out of the broom closet"... in other words, they've stopped hiding their spiritual path from others. For many people, this is a huge decision. You may feel that it's not in your best interest to make your religious beliefs known, and that's okay too. If you feel you could be in danger if you reveal that you are Wiccan, or that it might put a strain on family relations, going public might be something you should postpone. Get all the pros and cons on coming out of the broom closet.6. Wiccans and Pagans Are Not Satanists-Ask any Pagan or Wiccan about the cornerstone of their faith, and they'll probably tell you it's a reverence for their ancestors, a belief in the sacredness of nature, a willingness to embrace the Divine within ourselves, or an acceptance of polarity between the male and female. It may be a combination of those principles. It will not have anything to do with the Satan, Old Scratch, Beelzebub, or any of the other names attributed to the Christian devil. Pagans and Wiccans aren't devil worshipers, Satanists, or Diabolists. Learn more about how Pagans and Wiccans feel about such an entity.7. Join a Coven, or Practice Solitary?Many Wiccans and Pagans choose to join a coven or study group because it allows them the chance to learn from like-minded people. It's an opportunity to share ideas and get new perspectives on any number of things. However, for some folks it's just more practical or desirable to remain as a solitary practitioner. If you're considering joining a coven, you'll want to read these tips.8. Parents and Teens-Nothing will set a teenager at odds with a parent quite like coming into the house wearing a giant pentacle, toting a candle, and yelling, "I'm a witch now, leave me alone!" Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. Parents, you may have some concerns about Wicca and Paganism... and teens, you probably aren't sure how to talk to mom and dad about your new found interest. Rest easy, though. With a little bit of good communication, both parents and teenagers should be able to find a happy medium.9. You Don't Need a Lot of Fancy Tools-Many people think they need to stock up on hundreds of dollars worth of incense, herbs, wands and candles before they can even begin to practice Wicca or Paganism. That's simply not the case. While a few basic magical tools are nice to have, the key element of most traditions are the beliefs, not the tangible, physical items. If you'd like to gather a very basic "starter kit" of tools, there are several which are common to nearly every tradition.10. You Can Write Your Own Spells and Rituals-Despite a commonly held (and generally Internet-based) belief, anyone can write a spell. The trick is to recognize what the key elements are to successful spell crafting -- intent or goal, components, and putting it into practice are all key. Don't let anyone tell you that beginners can't write a spell. Just like any other skill set, it will take some practice, but with a little work you can become a perfectly effective spell worker.Basic Beliefs of Wicca While not exclusive to every single tradition, the following are some of the core tenets found in most Wiccan systems:
WICCA IN THE UK by High Priest Ieuan Karillion According to the 2001 April UK Census, 3% of people stated they were pagans, although no one religion accounted for more than 1%. These included a variety of paths and traditions such as Neo-Druidism, Germanic Neopaganism, and Wicca, accounting for roughly a quarter of Neo-pagans worldwide. Wicca's place in UK religions Religion and spiritual beliefs have become hot topics in modern society. Unfortunately not everyone knows much about religions other than their own and this lack of knowledge, or fear of the unknown, often confuses, frustrates or downright frightens people. Religion and Law in the UK There is no one law that encompasses protections given to protecting the religious rights of all individuals in the United Kingdom. Time off for religious observance Employees may require time off to observe a religious festival not covered by current statutory holidays, or for prayers. Defining a religion or belief The regulations define religion or belief as “any religion, religious belief, or similar philosophical belief”. Translate This Page |
Email us at: High Priestess: angel.property_of_Ian@yahoo.co.uk High Priest: ieuankarillion@yahoo.co.uk To view calendar of Coven meetings/events, go to: Is Wicca some weird cult?No, it's not, no more so than any other religion. Sure, there are some "weird" Wiccans, but there are also people in other religions who are "weird." Wicca is actually a religion, albeit a fairly new one, which is based on ancient practices. Although it was founded by a guy named Gerald Gardner back in the 1950s, it is still a legally recognized religion in the USA. Wiccans have the same religious rights as people of any other spiritual path. Some people do tend to get confused, though, because the word "occult," which means secret or mysterious, is often associated with the Wiccan religion. Do witches worship the Devil?NO, absolutely not!!! Satan is a Christian construct, and Wiccans don't worship him. Even the Satanists don't actually worship Satan, but that's a whole 'nother conversation. How come you use that Satanic symbol with the star on it? You mean the pentacle? That's not satanic, that's a symbol, for many Wiccans and Pagans, of the four classical elements: earth, air, fire and water, as well as a fifth element of Spirit or Self. Do Wiccans cast spells?Yes. In Wicca, and many other Pagan paths, the use of magic is considered perfectly natural. It's not the same as the magic seen in Harry Potter, but for Wiccans, magic is part of the natural world. Some spells take the form of prayers to the gods, and others are based on direction of will and intent. Most Wiccans will tell you they use spell work for a variety of things -- healing, personal empowerment, prosperity, etc. Magic is a tool that is typically used in tandem with the mundane, or non-magkical, world. What's the difference between a Wiccan and a Pagan?All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccans. As if that wasn't puzzling enough, there are some people who are witches, but not Wiccan or Pagan. Confused yet? You're not alone. Basically, "Pagan" is an umbrella term for a group of different spiritual paths. For more on how this works, read What's the Difference?. Why do people become Wiccans?The reasons are as varied as the people. Some find themselves drawn to Wicca because of a dissatisfaction with other religions. Others study a variety of religions and then realize that Wicca is the most compatible with what they already believe. A few people who are practicing Wiccans and Pagans today were raised in Pagan families. Regardless, nearly every Wiccan will tell you that they came to Wicca because they knew it was the right path for them. How do you recruit new Wiccans into your religion?We don't. Although we'll happily share information and answer questions, we're not interesting in collecting new recruits. Here's why: Do Wiccans Recruit? Aren't you worried that you're going to go to hell?Well, no. Much like
Satan, the concept of Hell is a Christian one. It's not really even on
our radar. However, there are a few people -- typically those who have
come to Wicca from a Christian background -- who do
worry about this very issue. For the rest of us, we know that the
future of our soul does not depend on salvation or acceptance of deity
as a savior. Instead, we focus on doing good things, because we know
that what we do in this lifetime will echo upon us in the next. Do you believe in God? Wiccans and Pagans are typically polytheistic, which means we believe in more than one deity. If you look at "god" as a job title rather than a proper name, we believe in a variety of gods and goddesses, rather than One Single God. Most Pagans and Wiccans acknowledge the existence of thousands of deities, but generally worship or honor only the gods of their own tradition. What is Wicca? Wicca is a contemporary spiritual religion, based on
and reviving the ancient pre-Christian pagan religions of Europe.
Wiccans believe in a divine force or power as the source of all. It is
both immanent and transcendent while encompassing the whole universe.
Therefore the world and all aspects within the world, "nature" and "life
itself" in particular, are considered sacred. The Three-Fold Law This states that whatever they
do - be it for good or for evil - it will be returned to them, but
magnified three times over. Therefore witches accept responsibility for
all their own actions and are especially careful about how they use
their magick, for to hurt someone or to cause distress, a spell is
returned to sender three times better or worse. There's an old saying that if you ask any ten Wiccans about their religion, you'll get at least fifteen different answers. That's not far from the truth, because with nearly half a million Americans practicing Wicca today, there are dozens -- perhaps even hundreds -- of different Wiccan groups out there. There is no one governing body over Wicca, nor is there a "Bible" that lays down a universal set of guidelines. While specifics vary from one tradition to the next, there are actually a few ideals and beliefs common to nearly all modern Wiccan groups. Origins of Wicca Wicca as a religion was introduced by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. Gardner's tradition was oath bound, initiatory, and secret. However, after a few years splinter groups began forming, and new traditions were formed. Today, many Wiccan groups owe their basic foundation to the principles laid out by Gardner. Wicca is not an ancient religion, but Gardner did incorporate some old esoteric knowledge into his original tradition, including Eastern mysticism, Kabbalah, and British legend. Who Is a Wiccan, and How Do
You Find Them?: Wiccans come from all walks of life. They are doctors and nurses, teachers and soccer moms, writers and firefighters, waitresses and computer programmers. In other words, anyone can be Wiccan, and people become Wiccan for many reasons. In fact, there are nearly half a million Wiccans in the United States today. As to where to find them, that might take a bit of digging -- as a mystery religion that doesn't proselytize or actively recruit, it can sometimes be difficult to find a group in your area. Never fear, though -- the Wiccans are out there, and if you ask around enough, you'll bump into one eventually. Calling Upon the Divine: Wicca acknowledges the polarity of the Divine, which means that both the male and female deities are often honored. A Wiccan may honor simply a non-specific god and goddess, or they may choose to worship specific deities of their tradition, whether it be Isis and Osiris, Ceriddwen and Herne, or Apollo and Athena. In Gardnerian Wicca, the true names of the gods are revealed only to initiated members, and are kept secret from anyone outside the tradition. Initiation
and Degree Systems: In most Wiccan covens, there is some form of initiation and a degree system. Initiation is a symbolic rebirth, in which the initiate dedicates themselves to the gods of their tradition. Typically, only an individual who has attained the rank of Third Degree dedicant may act as a High Priest or High Priestess. Study is required before an individual may advance to the next degree level, and often this is the traditional "year and a day" period. Someone who is not a member of a coven or formal group may choose to perform a self-dedication ritual to pledge themselves to the gods of their path. Magic
Happens: The belief in and use of magick and spell work is nearly universal within Wicca. This is because for most Wiccans, there's nothing supernatural about magic at all -- it's the harnessing and redirection of natural energy to effect change in the world around us. In Wicca, magic is simply another skill set or tool. Most Wiccans do use specific tools in spell crafting, such as an athame, wand, herbs, crystals, and candles. Magical workings are often performed within a sacred circle. The use of magic is not limited only to the priesthood -- anyone can craft and perform a spell with a little bit of practice. The
Spirit World is Out There: Because the concept of an afterlife of some sort is typical in most branches of Wicca, there is a general willingness to accept interaction with the spirit world. Seances and contact with the unknown are not uncommon among Wiccans, although not all Wiccans actively seek communication with the dead. Divination such as tarot, runes, and astrology are often used as well. What Wicca Isn't Wicca does not embrace the concepts of sin, heaven or hell,
the evils of sex or nudity, confession, Satanism,
animal sacrifice, or the inferiority of women. Wicca is not a
fashion statement, and you do not have to dress a certain way to be a
"real Wiccan." Thirteen Goals of a Wiccan Coven of the
Wise Owl - Calendar 2010 New
Moons are celebrated with a Coven family gathering. All others are
celebrated with rituals written by Coven family members.
THE FOUR LAWS OF THE MAGUS (THE WICCAN PYRAMID) TO KNOW--gain the information and knowledge to do ritual magick TO DARE--to practice what you learn TO WILL--the willpower to manifest the desire into reality TO KEEP SILENT--talking to others about rituals or spell workings can bombard you, and it, with their negative thoughts and feelings and defuse the power you put into the working ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE LAW OF THE POWER The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure, or to control others. However, if the need arises, the Power shall be used to protect your life and/or the lives of others. |
|||
