Читать реферат по английскому: "Wicca Essay Research Paper What is Witchcraft" Страница 1

(Назад) (Cкачать работу)

Wicca Essay, Research Paper

What is Witchcraft? Well, that depends on whose definition you want to use. The terms “Witch” and “Witchcraft” have been used to describe that accused of Christian heresies, not-so-neighborly behavior or practicing medicine without a license. In some cultures, Witches are tribal shamans or healers to be sought out and honored. In others, they are sorcerers and magicians to be avoided or shunned. (Funk and Wagnals) “Witch” and “Witchcraft” are also terms which many Neo-Pagans use today to describe themselves and their spiritual Path. Some also use the same terms in reference to folk magic without a religious connotation. Despite popular stereotypes witches are not Satanists. Everyone has the preconceived notion that witches are ugly, old, animal sacrificers. That is not the case. Witches may cast spells and use cauldrons, (if they can afford them) but they don t do Black Magic . The reason for this is the Wiccan Rede which states that any harm wished upon others will come back upon you. (Witch Alone) Any self-respecting witch would not even think of harming another living person or thing. It is against their religion. The Wiccan RedeHear now the word of the Witches, the secrets we hid in the night,When dark was our destiny s pathway, That now we bring forth in the light. Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide-ranging Air,By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will keep silent and dare. The birth and rebirth of all Nature, the passing of Winter and Spring,We share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring Four times in the year the Great Sabbat, returns, and the Witches are seen,At Lammas and Candelas dancing, on May Eve and old Halloween When daytime and nighttime are equal, when sun is at greatest and least,The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again Witches gather in feast. Thirteen silver moons in a year are, thirteen is the Covens array,Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day. The power has passed down the ages, each time between woman and manEach century unto the other, ere times and the ages began. When drawn is the Magickal circle, by sword or athame of power,Its compass between two world s lies, in the land of shades of that hour. Our world has no right to know it, and the world beyond will tell naught,The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magic is wrought. For two are the mystical pillars, that stand at the gate of the shrine,And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces divine. And do what thou wilt be the challenge, so be it in love that harms none,For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done. Eight words the Witches Rede fulfills:If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will! (The Wiccan Grove) In the Wiccan religion they have two deities, the God and the Goddess. The God is the male side and the Goddess is the female side of the religion. While some will argue that the God and the Goddess are two separate entities there are also those that argue that they are one and the same. (The Wiccan Advisor) The different roles are as follows. The God is in charge of all things male in nature. He is also very closely associated with the sun. He will be invoked in any spells involved in anything that will require physical strength. During the day he will also be invoked to add His power to the spell. He will have the most power to aid in spells during the summer solstice and at high noon. The Goddess on the other hand will be in charge of all things feminine and also she will be closely related with the Moon and her time of power will be at midnight and the winter solstice. While the major roles of them are to help not to try and rule. In Christianity their god tells them what to do and what not to do, in Wicca our two gods say, If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will! My thoughts are this, I think that it s better to have two gods rather than just one. Also they are very lenient in that they don t have a set of laws to tell you specifically what to do. If you like that sort of thing however you can either become a Christian or go enlist in the military. While this freedom can be a good thing it also has the bad side to it. For instance, if you were looking for spiritual guidance you will have few to turn to as they Wiccan community is few, far between, and seriously very shy due to past persecutions. While this may surprise you I myself have found a practicing Wiccan in the very small town of Hermiston, Oregon. While I cannot tell you their name I will be able to tell you that they are very nice and not noticeably Wiccan. They still celebrate Christian holidays mainly because of their kids but they still celebrate the occasional Wiccan holiday. Magick (no I didn t spell it wrong this is actually the way that it s supposed to be spelt to mean real magic not just the illusion stuff that you see on TV). Just say the word to yourself; what kind of images does it bring to mind? For me it s fireballs and lightning crackling from my fingers and blowing things up. How is it for you? The real magick is simply used to generate a kind of spectral energy that will influence whatever it is that you want to happen and try to make it happen. In Roland Wordstone s essay on Spell Theory he says, for example: you get the message to your subconscious that you are in need of more money. The subconscious says “No problemo!” Because, you see, the subconscious mind has control over parts of your body that your conscious mind does not. So, perhaps the subconscious mind will send your pituitary gland into fourth gear when you’re at work the next day, causing you to work more quickly, more proficiently, and with more energy than usual. Your boss notices this, and says “What a great employee! I bet she’d be a great choice for that promotion I’m giving next week!” So, you get the promotion, and your spell has worked. The process is: You’ve told a story to

Похожие работы