#wiccan beliefs

[iridescentalchemyst]

The 13 Principles of Wiccan Beliefs

The thirteen principles were published by the Council of American Witches in 1974. The principles provide a brief summary of the cosmological, spiritual, and philosophical beliefs of Wicca. It describes how its members relate to the world around them, including our position towards practitioners of other religions. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces…

[thatsmybook]

Some of my thoughts since the last episode of Agatha All Along:

The most earnest show of religion in an MCU property is being done through a queer kid. I like that the wider world is learning about the intersectionality of identity. I believe that Billy is as Jewish as William because a) the only family he knows has 'raised' him Jewish and b) his love of witchcraft and ritual and finding ways to explain his world intersect with the rituals and traditions of his faith. Even William was deeply fascinated with magic and witchcraft and journeys of discovery.

Marvel fans are aware that Wiccan is a strong character. The fact that this symbol of masculine strength can be found in a witch boy who is raised to be strong in his sense of self by women in his coven, is awesome. He is drawn to feminine strength as inspiring instead of looking for male heroes. He is attracting feminine forms of protection (Alice), feminine disruptors of the status quo and stereotypes (Lilia), strength in the feminine aesthetic and belief in your innate power (Jen), feminine quest for knowledge and ambition (Agatha). He is being shadowed by death (Rio), but even death gives life in its reincarnation (as we return to earth and feed the earth with our life-force to continue on in new forms).

I believe that Wiccan is/can be as important to the MCU as Spiderman is. Spiderman is a teenager who could be any and everyone. Spiderman looks up to Iron Man, especially but also seeks male role models and approval. (A big part of Iron Man's humanity and softness came from mentoring Peter Parker - I see parallels between Agatha Harkness and Iron Man in this way too).

I believe Wiccan is a version of masculinity to teens that can see that women hold the depth of knowledge and power that he is more interested in unlocking and that their experiences with adversity will be better guides for him as he grows to be the most powerful magic user in the MCU. He is also chosen as a witch and not a sorcerer/wizard/warlock.

Will we be getting little boys and girls and theys aspiring to be wiccans and spidermen equally?

[walkingwiththegods1]

Standing with The Gods and Goddesses

The past month of November, I fulfilled 20 years of being (officially) a Pagan:

...My family, (and the few people outside my family, which I told about it) thought than I will stop to being one; but, they never took in account than; despite the lack of support I have experience in all this time, and than I couldn't never joined the only Pagan Group in my country (Which disappeared after the last Pagan Pride's Day, was "mysteriously postponed at weeks to starts..." And never back to being made, again; preventing me to meet to people to make a solid friendship and to live in a strong Pagan Community, in peace); thanks to the outside pressure on me, of a old family member, which uses the excuse of "I'm thinking in your safety!..."; than my decisión of staying in Paganism, don't was for fashion: I stay 'cause my love and devotion; were real. But, despite being a Solitary Pagan; I stand with The Gods and Goddesses, 'cause their love is more bigger; than fear and hate. Besides that, it was too in the past month of November; than I commemorated 24 years of being saved by The Gods and Goddesses, when my depression for being treated badly by The Christian Private School's Director (...And, her minions); put me in a very bad state. What I'm telling to all of you, is than even with all the misunderstanding; the bullying, and about all; people being mean to you, is than the Gods and Goddesses; have been with me in all these years, and than if I stay with them; is because I love them, and I'm sure, that they love and care for each one of you, too!

That's all in this post, and remember: You are important to The Deities, you are loved and protected by them; and any problem you have, they're only a sincere prayer, away... Stay strong and never give up, Beautiful Soul! ...So Be It!

[shadow-book-wren]

Yule Superstitions

Animals

Legend says animals can speak on Christmas Eve but not to listen for them because it is unlucky to hear them

Some cattle ranchers believe that if the first person to cross the threshold on Christmas eve is female, only heifers will be born on the ranch for the next year. however, if it is a male, many male calves will be born

Feeding a sprig of mistletoe to the first calf-bearing cow of the new year ensures future fertility for both

Some British believe that ivy leaves fed to each cow after milking and before noon on Christmas morning will force the devil away from the herd and keeper for the next 12 months

If the stars are bright on Christmas Eve, hens will lay well the next year

Monsters

In Sweden, its believed that trolls travel freely through countryside from dusk on Christmas eve to dawn on Christmas morning. its common practice to stay indoor during those hours, in Sweden.

Greece and Poland considers it unlucky to be born on Christmas eve and Christmas day because the roaming monsters - kallikantzaroi (Greece) and werewolves (Poland) can capture the newborn's spirit for their own devices

It is customary, in Greece, to burn all old shoes to ward off misfortune in the new year

Ghost refuse to come out of hiding on Christmas day, babies born then are said to be forever free of ghostly troubles

Food

Refusing mincemeat pie on Christmas brings bad luck in the next year

You will lose a friend before next Christmas, if you don't eat plum pudding during the holiday season

Eat an apple at midnight on Christmas Eve for ensuring good health

Leave a loaf of bread on the table, after Christmas Eve, to guarantee plenty of bread for the household in the coming year

Christmas cakes must remain uncut until December 24, and one piece left uneaten until after Christmas day to ensure good fortune

In Germany, it's customary to eat greasy pancakes on the winter solstice and leave some on the table to feed the winter hag so that she doesn't "hunt you down, slice open your belly, and take the cakes right out"

Gift Giving

When giving clothing for a gift, don't wash or iron or it will press in bad luck and wash away good

House

Make sure all fires in your home burn throughout Yuletide season in order to be free of evil spirits

Some Scandinavian families place all their shoes side by side on Christmas Eve to bring harmony in the home

If you have holes in your stocking, hanging them upside down on the hearth before bed on Christmas Eve is said to have them repaired by St. Nick

Place a cherry tree branch in water two weeks before Christmas. if the branch blossoms by Christmas Day you'll have good luck in the new year.

If you fix a hole in your roof between Christmas and New Year's Day it will reappear

You'll have bad luck if you bring holly into your home before Christmas Eve, and triple bad luck if it's removed before January 6th

Mistletoe has to stay hung in place for one year to ensure good luck and when replaced, the old one should be burned

Burn evergreen and decorations of evergreens to ensure good luck

There is an ancient German custom that states that things with wheels, especially spinning ones- may not be used from 5 days before the solstice until six days after it or else the sun causes all fleece and fiber to tangle beyond repair

Marriage Omens

In Germany, girls play a holiday game, seemingly similar to duck-duck-goose, where the first player to be touched by the blindfolded goose will be first to marry of the participants.

In England on Christmas Eve, its customary for unmarried girls to knock on the hen house door... if a rooster crows in response, she'll be married within 12 months

In Northern Europe, some girls arrange three buckets of water in their bedroom, pin three sprigs of holly to their nightgowns before sleeping and are awakened by three shouts and three chuckles. an apparition of their future husbands will appear and if the buckets are rearranged - the marriage proposal wont have any issues ; If they aren't - they may not be a willing partner

In Poland, it is believed that grinding poppy seed on Christmas Eve will ensure a quick marriage for unmarried women

Tossing twelve sage leaves on Christmas Eve winds will make the image of your future lover materialize

Weather

If the night sky on Christmas Eve is clear and starry, summer harvest will be abundant

The 12 days of Christmas tells the weather for each following months. ex: first day of Christmas = snowy ; January = snowy

Easter will be cold if it doesn't snow on Christmas

if Christmas Day is breezy there will be good luck for the new year

[christowitch]

Happy Easter!

May your day be filled with positive interactions and lovely food!

And remember.. if things get tough… having a lie down for three days then getting up and handling your shit worked for Jesus so it can work for you too.

[question-12]

comment what religion you believe in

It would be very helpful :)

Because I can’t seem to be able to focus on one religion at a time and I’m starting to feel guilty.

So you can comment your religion and I will write it down for later.

but there are so many options I can’t just pick one at random, so after some time I will put as many religions as I can to a vote

[necrogfie]

how do i explain to lady aphrodite that she will have to share her altar with archangel gabriel /silly

[unluckyxse7en]

Something I still haven't adjusted to is that my whole entire family just. Abruptly turned Christian on me overnight. Like it's been a couple years since it happened but it's like. My brain doesn't even know what to DO with this info. It's so surreal.

[troutfur]

My goal is to make StarClan into a metaphor for every religion ever and simultaneously none at all.

[greenpanda-basicfakewitch]

Lore | Horned God

[This one is a little longer]

Horned God may in fact be the horned GODDESS [hypothetically]

[Deer Goddess]

 The Horned gods origins are a little tricky. There are sources that claim that the Horned god was originally the horned goddess. Cernunnos, originally derived from old pagan myths of a horned ‘Goddess’ , a story about how a deer would turn into a woman. In folklore society in 1930, a researcher put his theories on a matriarchal Hunter gatherer society ruling highlands of scotland as a pre-celtic deer cult. J.G. Mckay.

Modern Scottish Gaelic and modern Irish Gaelic dictionaries both give the word Fiadh having two meanings: “Deer,” “God.” The deer was some sort of god, as well as divine messenger, some type to the Goddess Artemis. How you had to ask permission to hunt.

In Faerie lore, deer are their cattle and a common form of Faire women, Witches can transform into mice, hares, cats or black sheep but never the sacred deer.

In many pagan animal-cults, the priest or priestess would often wear an ornamental headdress of the sacred animal. There are Scottish folktales of a deer woman that Mckay theories could be explained by this real practice. In these folktales, a hunter, who has been stalking deer, observes, when putting up his gun to take aim, that the animal changed into a woman. He falls in love with her. Adventures ensue and they are separated until he finds her again on a distant island and they finally marry and live happily ever after.

The Deer Cult and the deer-goddess cult date back from a remote matriarchal time. Diana as well as Artemis and her nymphs, would appear to be classical examples of a hint at this older heritage. No one in patripotestal times, it would seem, would dream of inventing a feminine hunting divinity.

Celtic Society developed and created a masculine Horned God from the deer goddess and keep the feminine character next to him as a reminder as his shadow. By the stage the Deer Goddess matriarchy would have been in decay and her worshippers have grown fewer. While worshippers of the male Cernunnos became ever more numerous.

 Today, there are whispers of this old Deer Goddess Cult in traditional German and English stag dances that are performed by men who dress themselves in women’s clothes, thereby preserving a memory of a former time when stag-dances were perfect by women, and of a later time, when the religious functions of women were usurped by men. 

Shakspearen roots.

Swiftly moving on a couple thousand years, we come to the iconic bard, Shakespeare. Elizabethan english comedy abounds with images of the cuckold- a man with horns on his head, symbolising his shame that his wife has taken up with another man-

Herne the Hunter- from Shakespeare to popular culture. So at least thats where the name came from.

Robin Hood Myth [Horned God] 

[Authors note: This website is not secured so take care also- these types of websites were the ones I’ve seen and how I came to know about Wicca]

The Horned God is the father of Robin Hood? And it’s Pagan?

The Horned god is a central theme/character in many european pagan faiths. Generally seen as a deity of woods, wild animals, hunting and virility he is an elemental force of nature and commonly identified as a male deity often the consort of the female force or earth mother. 

This is the case in the Wicca religion where the horned god is worshipped as both the child and the consort of the great Mother, Triple Goddess.

 There are some evidence that the idea of the ‘Lord’ and ‘Lady’ in Wicca is part of ancient tribal rites but such evidence is limited.

 For many modern Wiccans the ‘Horned God’ sometimes known as the Great God or Great Father is his own father.

Mating with the Goddess at Beltaine then dying at Summer Solstice only to be reborn as her child  at the new year, or Winter Solstice, he is a key symbol in the birth/death/Rebirth cycle.

The Horned God is known as the ‘Hunter’ has strong links in Britain with the idea of ‘Wild Hunt’ he is the taker of life, a vengeful spirit, hunting evil with a pack of demonic hounds. 

He is often portrayed as carrying a bow. 

The british Herne the HUnter is rumoured to survive still as a powerful spirit.

Herne is linked to Robin Hood just as Robin provided for the needy, Herne provided food for the tribe.

 In some legends he is listed as Robin Hoods father, although this adds greater status to Robin Hoods legends.

 He is portrayed has either having horns or Antlers, as well as his image is full of Phallic symbols.

Locations: There have been representations of Fertility icons for thousands of years as in the Altars of Stag Horns which have been found in Temples of Apollo and Diana in ancient Greece. 

He is sometimes depicted with hooves or Goat hindquarters, a link to the Greek God Pan. Which of course had christians mistaken this horned fello for Satan.

Stag God image can be found in a cave painting at Trosi-Freres in France. This painting is thought to date around 13,000 BC known as the “Sorcerer” and depicts a half human, half stag spirit. This image is often seen as a representation of a shaman dressed as a stag performing a rite to ensure good hunting.

The Horned God is not an exclusively Wiccan concept as one would expect as many Pagan faiths have similar roots, the Horned god concept can be seen in the Greek God Pan, the Celtic god of the underworld and animals cernunnos, the Roman Janys, Tammuz and Damuzi the consorts of Ishtar and Inanna, Osiris and Dionysus as well as the Green Man mythological figure in the Uk.

The link with Osiris and Cernunnos which were both gods which guarded the underworld or judged souls and Osiris was both brother and consort of Isis seen by many as the Egyptian mother goddess. Cernunnos was a fertility god of the pagan celts and Gauls and is thought by many to have been the basis for the christian concept of the horned devil being a half man half goat guardian of the underworld and certainly a rival faith for early christianity.

The link between the Horned God and the Green man in English folk lore is very strong and even today many pubs in UK villages bare the name  “The Green Man” often with a very pagan image on the pub sign. The Green man also known as ‘Green Jack’ or ‘Jack in the Green’ is an English spirit of trees and plants with the power to make it rain and crops grow well. The Green man is thought to share his home in the forest with forest fairies sometimes called “Greencoates” or Greenies depending on the region of the UK. In popular imagery the Green man is shown as face peering out of foliage, his wood spirit companions and fertility imagery clearly links him to Pan and also as a sort of sanitised Hern the Hunter and Wild hunter.

For many modern Druids and Wicca the Horned god is a key part of the birth, death, rebirth cycle and mentioned in many rites and celebrations, his imagery is powerful and has a strong attraction to many as a symbol of almost suppressed power / violence and male sexuality. Some modern pagans reenact the ancient rite where the hunter who brought the most/ best meat to the table was dressed in stag horns and furs and was rewarded with the right to couple with the priestess representing the goddess sometimes in front of the whole tribe. The few pagan groups that reenact this mostly do so symbolically or with the hunter and goddess being intimate partners already with only a small part of this “Great Rite” being performed before the rest of the coven.

[centi-pedve]

religious rambling feel free to ignore if u dont care about our weird Christian stuff etc etc

anyways we've always felt strange about the idea that Christianity is anti-redemption because of the idea that demons are not redeemed and the fact that hell exists and honestly it makes us think a little bit. since God is the epitome of goodness, Satan is the epitome of evil. You can accept God's guidance (goodness) or Satan's guidance (evil) but you cannot be good or evil because you are not God or Satan, you can only be influenced by good or evil (this is all our perspective btw not everything we say is a widespread belief).

the existence of Satan as an irredeemable figure doesnt oppose the concept of redemption people Satan is not a human being... God doesn't follow the ideas of good and evil like humans do either so why should Satan. Satan cannot be good because he is evil. God cannot be evil because He is good. and this cannot be applied to people.

and honestly we dunno if we believe in Hell at least not in the way most people do. God loves everyone and He WANTS to love everyone. He is the epitome of good and so he can never do moral wrong. so either when someone goes to Hell it is a completely justified action AND/OR Hell does not exist as this place where people are cast into torment forever because they followed too much of Satan's guidance... God and Satan are constantly fighting this war and no matter how far astray someone has gone God will always want to bring them to Heaven because you are His creation and He loves unconditionally. Some are weaker than others and are more susceptible to the draw of Satan especially because of things like trauma or mental illness and we know God understands this and He wouldn't let His children suffer over things Satan created and so He will be your ultimate defender however He can. God is kind and we really do believe He would never let you feel pain if He could prevent it completely.

does this align with the Bible? No... but we think a lot of the Bible is flawed and misinformed. and the people who follow it blindly are misinformed. you should use the Bible to get a general sense of what God is and how His world functions but you should never take every aspect literally and you should never assume every aspect is true. It was written by man and so it is flawed. Shrug

it makes us sad when people portray God as cruel and unloving especially over traits that He gave us.

[walkingwiththegods1]

Even if is upsetting, Never revenge for what our Ancestors suffered: Why we doesn't need to do it, in the end.

I have read comments online, about Christians denying and/or minimizing the deaths and horrors they inflicted to other people by centuries and almost two millennials; saying things, like "They weren't real Christians"; "That was a long time ago... Why to bring that now?!", "The Pagans did human sacrifices, so they weren't good people", AND... My favorite: "Pagans aren't persecuted, anymore!"

...Well... This is only a little sample, of all the excuses they made up for all the bad their ancestors (and The Church); had causes to defend their beliefs, at the point to trying to hide the true history of how they became (And, STILL is) the no. 1 World's biggest Religion (Which... I advise you than doesn't research on that history, until you are 18 years old; and even... Read it at daylight, so you can be able to sleep: Thank you for taking your time to read, and practice this advice). I have to point that four points, to end this post:

"They weren't real Christians": (Sigh...) Your same ancestors, wrote about "The true believers" than even got out of the churches; to persecuted to "Non-Believers"... So, not: Stop lying about it, and... Deny it, doesn't going to make that real history (and the crimes); to washed away...

"That was a long time ago... Why to bring that now?!": So... Christians brings the histories of their martyrs and virgins, BUT... "For some weird reason..." The lifes of millions of Pagans and other Non-Christians than were killed, is not seen as lifes than were dign to be lamented and/or commemorated. In conclusion: Killings of the past, are not important for Today's Christians; except... If it was a Christian, than died for his beliefs. (...That feels, so COLD!...)

"The Pagans did human sacrifices, so they weren't good people": SO... Christians claims human sacrifices (which were made in scarce occasions, in a few cultures; and very rarely of more than a 1,000 persons, in a sole event) made by Pagans, as the ruler to measures people's goodness, in the past... But, they're silents about; for example, The Witch Hunts in Europe and America; The Crusades, and, less not forget; The Brutal Campaigns against Natives for centuries in Southern Asia, Africa and in The Americas... Sorry, but... Those looks like "The Biggest and Cruelest Humans Sacrifices with the biggest toll of millions of deaths in All Human History!" (If we uses Christian's logic in this... Sorry: They still looks pretty bad for me!... Besides, Human Sacrifice was almost extinct in The Old World; in the time Christians started to kills to Non-Christians) And, at last...

"Pagans, aren't persecuted anymore!": ...I don't know, if they say it for naivety; or, for trying to defend "To the undefensible"; but... We. Are. STILL. Persecuted... TODAY!

Very Rarely, Pagans are killed in the streets; in their places of work/study, or even; in their own houses, but; sadly... Is still happening in our modern, and supposedly; pacific nations. But, persecutions; has other faces than are, as sad and indignants; than a murder by hate crime: Stealing and/or breaking of altars and/or images of The Deities, attempts of killing; threats of harm, psychological/emotional damages, pressure of family members and/or friends to quit to your beliefs, forced moving away from home/neighborhood/country to avoid harm; expelled from the house/community, religious discrimination from non pagans, and even... All kinds of physical violence, and harassment in the streets, for the ends to forces an conversion. (Christians, complains for not being well liked; when ironically... They do these things, than makes me and to others Pagans; "To keeps them at arm's length... Fearing than they disrespect you in any moment, or even... They try something against you!")

Even if I felt (and, sometimes feel sad for my ancestors, which lifes were taken in many cases so soon; and which their only guilt, were than they decide to never quit to their Gods and Goddesses), I never going to takes revenge for them, and is for this reason...

...I know in my heart, than they wouldn't never want us that we do that; even for them: They want us to live in peace, and defend ourselves by the laws, and; if we have to, to use our fists and legs; when our lives and/or the lifes of our loved ones, is in danger. If Religious Tolerance by The Law in your country, is only for Christians and foreigners (like I sadly have found in my own, where nationals than choose to be Non-Christian; is treated badly, even in their own family) then... You should start saving money, to live in other nation, where you can practice and lives your faith; openly... And, in peace.

That's all for today, and remember: Paganism, despite of all the hatred toward us... Has come back, to stay! (...And... This time, people?!... Is, FOREVER!)

...Than The Gods and Goddesses, help us to never fall in mindless violence and revenge; for the memories of those than died unfairly, and want us to being better than the ones than hates and persecute us... So Be It

[bloomingdead]

im trying to write a short story abt a young lesbian in an evangelical family but i wasn’t raised christian so i’m having to do so much research that is just like, breaking my brain. bc as an outsider i can understand the appeal of jesus and prayer and worship but looking inside of things it just seems so unreal. the power structures and the patriarchal ���morals” and colonizer mentality is soooo weird for someone who didn’t grow up like that. it seems that so much of holding people’s belief in that faith comes from fear mongering and guilt tripping. like do you actually believe god loves you or are you in an abusive relationship where you constantly feel the impending doom of that love turning to rigid hatred?

[nomaishuttle]

its hard being a girl who just likes things that smell nice and shiny things bc its like omg i loveee good smell i heart candles and incense and then i look up incense and see whatever this is

and then im like uhmm.... ok anyways..... Well what if i got shiny rocks i will look at pictures of shiny rocks now and theyre all tagged some shit like vaginal purification women energy witchy vibes aura blah balh blah and its like ok lets all kill ourselves