The history of Wicca begins with a book published by Margaret Murray in 1921. The Witch-Cult in Western Europe explored the idea of a goddess cult that has existed since pre-Christian times in Europe. Although there is little to no evidence to support her theory, the idea of witch persecution during medieval times remains a…
The wheel of the year refers to the progression of the Sabbats, or major pagan holidays. Viewing this as a wheel reminds us that there is no beginning or end to this cycle, unlike the predominate view in America that time “begins” and “ends” at predetermined points. The wheel follows the solar cycle of the…
The broadest definition of paganism is “any religion not in the Abrahamic tradition” – in other words, anything not Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. This broad definition includes established religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto as well as tribal religions around the world. It also includes a vast array of “new religions” like Voodoo, Santeria (sort…
The threefold law is “that which you send out, you receive back threefold.” This is not a guide to living, merely a fact of life. Most religions have a belief that what you do will be revisited upon you. Whether this is in an afterlife, in this life, or in a future reincarnation, most religions…
The Pagan Rede is one of the major guiding principles of some pagan religions, in particular Wicca. The Rede comes in many forms for its many different religions. In its simplest form, it is “If it harms none, do what you will.” As near as we can tell from published sources, the origin of the…
