Contemporary Witchcraft (also known as Wicca) is a Pagan mystery religion rooted in European shamanic practices and traditional healing arts. It is a nature-centered religion which honors a Goddess and usually a God, and uses magic as a tool of personal and global transformation. It is characterized by a deep respect for all living things, acceptance of personal and social responsibility, attunement to natural rhythms, healing, achieving balance between all aspects of the self and society, a sense of play and wonder, and the celebration of sensuality. It is a positive, life afirming spirituality.Modern Wicca emerged in the 1950s, after the lastBritish laws against Witchcraft were repealed, when Gerald Gardner published several books describing the Craft traditions into which he’d been initiated.
Gardner,
with the help of Doreen Valiente, developed the tradition which bears
his name, combining elements from his own coven’s work with
Rosicrucianism, mythology, Masonry, folklore, and many other sources.
Variations on Gardnerian Wicca developed almost immediately, especially
in the U.S., as practitioners created systems which met their
particular needs.
There are now roughly ten “major” traditions in the
U.S., with thousands of variations.
It is believed that the
word “witch” comes from the Germanic root “wic,” meaning “to turn” or
“to bend.” The use of the terms “Witch” and “Witchcraft”are
controversial among Wiccans, as some practitioners feel these words
carry so many negative historical connotations that they cause more
trouble than they’re worth. These Wiccans prefer the term “priest” or
“priestess.” Other practitioners feel tehse words should be reclaimed
as terms for people (particularly women) with spiritual power. Many
Witches consider the healers, midwives, and village wisewomen or
cunning men of the past to be their predecessors. These people’s
practices and beliefs were labeled “Satanic” by Inquisitors eager to
end the practice of nature religions. This false stereotype persists to
this day.
Practices and Beliefs
Most Witches perform
rituals to mark natural transitions, such the lunar phases, equinoxes,
solstices, and traditional agrarianfestivals. Witch......
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Anthony North: The French court of the Sun King, Louis XIV, was a flamboyant, extravagant place. But underneath the facade was a cauldron of hatred, deceit and social climbing. And underpinning the more unsavoury factors of the court was a conspiracy of murder and supposed witchcraft. After the suspicious deaths of several of the French nobility, Louis ordered the Commissioner of Police, Nicholas de la Reynie, to investigate. Opening the Chambre Ardente, or Burning Court (a black draped room wit...US town escapes 666 phone prefix
A town in the US state of Louisiana is to be allowed to change its telephone prefix so that residents can avoid a number many associate with the Devil. Christians in Reeves have been unhappy since the early 1960s about being given the prefix, 666 - traditionally known as the Biblical "number of the beast". For the next three months, households will be able to change the first three digits of their phone numbers to 749. Mayor Scott Walker said CenturyTel"s decision was "divine intervention". Howe...'Witches' face fine in Tajikistan
The lower house of parliament in Tajikistan has endorsed a bill to try to tackle what it describes as fortune-telling and witchcraft. Those found engaging in superstitious activities could be fined $200 (£98). Belief in the occult is widespread in many former Soviet societies. The Tajik authorities say those claiming occult powersare charlatans. The bill still needs the upper house of parliament and the president to approve it, but this is considered a formality. Earlier this year President Emom...At witch school, spelling has new meaning
When witch school came to town, Mayor Terry Prillaman stopped in to welcome the owners, as he does whenever a new business opens. "If you don"t like them, don"t patronize them," he says. "It"s like a tattoo parlor: You don"t have to go in." Youth pastor Andy Thomas, though, believes the arrival of witches in this town of 1,200 created a "spiritual battle" pitting "the forces of darkness against the forces of light." Rosella Ray, who runs the Village Art & Culture Center, a shop near the school, ...Campaigners bid to clear the 'witch'
When the battleship Barham was torpedoed by the Germans in November 1941, with the loss of over 800 lives, the Admiralty delayed announcing the news to maintain morale. But the secrecy was ended within a few days when medium Helen Duncan told a couple during a seance that their son, a sailor on the ship, had appeared from the spirit world to tell them it had sunk. In one of the most bizarre acts of the Second World War, Mrs Duncan was accused of leaking military secrets - and became the last wom...Judge rules in favour of Harry Potter
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Romanian witches may soon see earnings from their profession taxed, for better or worse.Witches from across Romania are assembling to either protest or praise potential legislation that will tax their trade. While many are angry at the prospect of paying into social security and having their net income cut by 16 percent, others are glad to finally have their occupation officiallysanctioned - "our magic skills, which are recognized and accepted worldwide, are now authorized in Romania too," say...Warlock allowed to break curfew on full moon
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Anthony North: The Occult. The term sends a chill down the spine -for some. This is the world of evil and mystery, where sinister magicians prowl the borders between the physical and ethereal. Where the subject causes real fear, it is sanitised for western feeling, and images of Harry Potter fill our heads. Yet in reality the Occult has been essential to the life we live today. Its birth: The Occult was actually born following the life of Christ. Up until this time, most religions had been pagan...
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Defining witchcraft
US town escapes 666 phone prefix
'Witches' face fine in Tajikistan
Campaigners bid to clear the 'witch'
Judge rules in favour of Harry Potter
Warlock allowed to break curfew on full moon
