Devil-free Craft - Is devil worship part of the Wicca religion?

One of the most common misconceptions about the Wicca religion is that it involves devil worship. On the contrary, there is no satanic form in Wicca, no evil to blame for life´s low points. Wiccans believe in balance, not dichotomy, meaning that everything has its place and purpose; nothing is "good" or "bad", per se, except perhaps on a situational basis: for a mundane example, food is neither good nor bad, but it is "good" when you are hungry and "bad" when you are full (or perhaps on a diet). Practicing Wicca involves putting one´s life (including the environment) in good order, and the concept of evil or a devil figure does not enter into this way of life at all.

A Time for You

Try to find your "quiet center" every day. In the morning upon rising, (if you have to get up earlier to avoid the morning rush, do it) find a spot (outside if possible) where you can sit quietly and commune with Nature; listen to the morning sounds with a cup of your favorite relaxing beverage. It doesn´t have to take hours. Fifteen minutes of quiet realization will do wonders for the rest of your day and put you in tune with the path your life should be taking.

Looking for Love?

Here´s a quick love spell to create "good vibrations" for you!

Ingredients:

Pink Candle
Rose Petals(fresh or dried)
Rose Incense
Small piece of Rose Quartz

Light your incense and candle. Place the rose petals in a container or vase next to the rose quartz. Meditating on the candle flame, picture yourself happy and ready to receive love into your life. Breathe the scent of the incense and flowers - remember the aroma. Then, take the rose quartz in your "power hand" (the one you write with, your dominant hand) and "push" these good feelings and sensations into the stone. Carry the quartz with you to maintain the spell - the love surrounding you should attract love to you!

Finding Your Own God/Goddess

Wiccan belief is that there is one deity in the Universe, with the God aspect representing physical manifestation and Goddess aspect representing the spiritual. Deity is like a diamond -- we cannot comprehend all of its facets, so there are as many ways of viewing Deity as there are people seeking Deity. You are free to view Deity in any form that works for you -- or no particular form at all.

You may choose a personal form of Deity based on traits that you find desirable (e.g., Aphrodite for beauty, Ganesha for success), local custom (e.g., Pele in Hawaii), heritage, or even just because you feel drawn to a particular form of Deity. You can have one or many personal forms of Deity. What matters is finding a form of Deity that you are comfortable with. Finding your own Deity is a highly personal journey. They form of Deity that you choose doesn´t have to be the same form of Deity that works for your husband, mother, your Catholic neighbor, Jewish co-worker, or anyone else. All that matters is that YOU feel comfortable and happy with your choice.

Wiccan or Witch? - Are modern witchcraft and wiccan religion the same?

A lot of people harbor the question, "Is being Wiccan the same as being a Witch?" The answer to this is both yes and no.

The wicca religion is generally thought of as a form of modern witchcraft. However, there are some people who consider themselves Witches that don´t consider themselves Wiccan. Likewise, some Wiccans don´t like the term "Witch" because they feel it connects them with a negative stereotype. Still others use the term interchangeably.

Really, it is a matter of preference how you use them for yourself. Just be sure not to interchange these titles when speaking to someone else who practices unless they do it first ... otherwise, you could unknowingly offend a Wiccan by calling him or her a Witch, or vice versa.

Beginning Wicca

No matter what you may have heard, there are two steps that are important to get started with Wicca, and these do not involve spells, tools, rituals, or initiation by a coven or coven member.

1) Read! This is incredibly important. In Wicca, knowledge is power. Whether you are a member of a Wicca coven or a solitary practitioner, there is always more to learn about Wicca. The more you know, the more powerful you are, so the more you know about Wicca traditions and Wicca practices, the more success you´ll have with it.

2) Spend time with nature. Get to know it and respect it. Watch it, breathe it, learn from it. This is a hands-on type of study, the results of which you won´t get from books.

If you follow both of these guidelines, you´re well on your way!