Wicca, a Misunderstood Religion

Wicca is a recognized religion, one of the fastest growing religions today and is widely misunderstood. In fact, it is listed as one of the top ten religions practiced in the United States. Contrary to popular beliefs, those who practice Wicca do not worship Satan, perform sacrifices human or otherwise or use the forces of nature to perform hexes or spells to harm others. One of the main tenets of Wicca is the Witches Reade; 'And it harms none, do what you will.' Another tenet is the three-fold law; any spell worked will act like a boomerang; and come back to you three-fold.

Wiccans do not believe in a heaven or hell as they are Christian concepts and Wicca is a Pagan tradition based in the worship and respect of nature. The idea of performing good works on earth for life only to be awarded with heaven after death makes no sense to them. Satan is also a Christian concept. Wiccans believe in taking responsibility for ones own actions and feel no need to blame everything on some evil entity that stalks the innocent to temp them to the dark side.

There are several Wiccan traditions; the most common is the Gardnerian tradition developed by a British civil servant, Gerald Gardner. Gardner was born into a middle class family June 13, 1884 at Great Crosby in Lancashire, England and died in 1964. He traveled frequently throughout England and Asia and had occupations ranging from tea and rubber planter, to customs official, where he retired in 1939. He also held a great interest in the occult.

Gardner is said to have been initiated into a coven at New Forest, England by a High Priestess named Dorothy Clutterbuck. Legend has it that the witches of New Forest prevented Hitler from invading England by sending out a cone of power and chanting, 'You shall not come'. Whether this had anything to do with it or not, England was never invaded by Germany, they were bombed, but not invaded and all that separated Germany from England was the English Channel.

Gardner eventually went his own way and developed his concept of Wicca by blending aspects of Celtic, free masonry and ceremonial magic.