Magical systems: Wicca
Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:01 am
Since there appear to be quite a few misconceptions about what magic is here, I thought I would try and explain some of the different systems. I'll start with Wicca, as I'm quite well acquainted with it. I used to be in a Wiccan group, but gradually came to realise that it was not for me.
Wicca is a magical system in the Western magical tradition, devised in England in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. It takes as its symbolism European witchcraft of the early modern period, but it is organised more like a Greek mystery cult. These two influences are derived from the anthropologists Margaret Murray and Robert Graves respectively. More immediately, its structure is derived from Freemasonry, as Gardner was himself a mason. Like Freemasonry, Wicca is divided into three craft degrees, and the Wiccan meeting place is similar to a masonic lodge, aligned to the points of the compass.
Like all systems in the Western magical tradition, Wiccan magic is based on correspondences. In the case of Wicca, these are based on the astrological planets, of which there are seven. So, take Mars, for example. Mars relates to war, violence, but other more positive attributes such as strength. Venus, of course, relates to love. And Mercury relates to communication, to name just three. Each planet has its associated correspondences, such as a type of incense, and, very importantly in Wicca, a colour (in the preceding examples, red, green and purple). Colour magic and visualisation play central roles in Wicca, which was a bit of a hassle for me, though I devised workarounds.
For a typical spell, a Wiccan will take three candles in the colour of three of the planets, and light them, visualising what they want to happen. They'll also most likely devise a short chant to the same effect, and may use incense, too. They might also burn something, such as a lock of hair. An important rule is that the spell must not bring harm to others, as this is said to rebound three times over on the person doing it. Other, more elaborate workings are possible, but these are the essentials.
There's a lot more, of course, and I haven't touched on Wiccan meetings yet, nor the more religious aspects of Wicca. But I think that's enough for the time being.
Wicca is a magical system in the Western magical tradition, devised in England in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. It takes as its symbolism European witchcraft of the early modern period, but it is organised more like a Greek mystery cult. These two influences are derived from the anthropologists Margaret Murray and Robert Graves respectively. More immediately, its structure is derived from Freemasonry, as Gardner was himself a mason. Like Freemasonry, Wicca is divided into three craft degrees, and the Wiccan meeting place is similar to a masonic lodge, aligned to the points of the compass.
Like all systems in the Western magical tradition, Wiccan magic is based on correspondences. In the case of Wicca, these are based on the astrological planets, of which there are seven. So, take Mars, for example. Mars relates to war, violence, but other more positive attributes such as strength. Venus, of course, relates to love. And Mercury relates to communication, to name just three. Each planet has its associated correspondences, such as a type of incense, and, very importantly in Wicca, a colour (in the preceding examples, red, green and purple). Colour magic and visualisation play central roles in Wicca, which was a bit of a hassle for me, though I devised workarounds.
For a typical spell, a Wiccan will take three candles in the colour of three of the planets, and light them, visualising what they want to happen. They'll also most likely devise a short chant to the same effect, and may use incense, too. They might also burn something, such as a lock of hair. An important rule is that the spell must not bring harm to others, as this is said to rebound three times over on the person doing it. Other, more elaborate workings are possible, but these are the essentials.
There's a lot more, of course, and I haven't touched on Wiccan meetings yet, nor the more religious aspects of Wicca. But I think that's enough for the time being.
