Wicca-Paganism

**Wicca-Spaces, a Druid Journey**

__Core Beliefs__

-The earth is to be reveared -The "God" and the "Goddess" live in everything -The Goddess is supreme -They believe in "Life Energy" -The energy that resides within all living things -It can be used to form bonds with the Goddess



Deep History -Modern Wicca began in the 1950's -A break off sect of Peaganism traced back to celtic belief in a fertility goddess and her mate -Although it is a modern religion, it predates Christianity by many centuries at its roots. Recent History -Wicca has become on of the largest minority religions in the united states containing roughly 750,000 members. -That would make Wicca the 5th largest organized religion in the United States. -Wicca first became a movement recently in England with the publishing of books by Gerald Gardner -People accuse Wiccans of being satanists and of commiting satanistic practices nowadays more than ever.

__Religious Practices and Rituals__ -Celebration of the full moon, or new moon, is part of the Wiccan cermonies including healing and divination -Sabbat, the seasonal day of celebration -The Healing ceremony is as follows: -They gather in a circle which is often nine feet in diameter. Candles on the circumphrance are usually oriented to the four Cardinal Directions (some Wiccans align the candles along the walls of the room). An alter is at the center of the circle, or the northern candle. Rites begin wit the casting of the circle. The Circle is outlined and purified and the candles are lit. A space is thus created within the circle (this space is visualized as a sphere or a cone). The purpose of this space is to confine healing energy until it is released.

Tools of the Trade -A Thame, often double sided with a black handle -An alter, which may be of any shape or material, containing: -A bowl of salt -Two candles -A challace or goblet -Incence, representing air -A Pentagram -A wand or sword for casting a circle -A cauldren

You thought this was Wicca? Nope. It's just Chuck Testa media type="youtube" key="mbUVtfUWwF8" height="315" width="560"