What exactly are these? Can some followers of these tell me? I have never really fully figured them out.

Well From what I know, there are different forms of wiccans. Just like christianity has different branches ie, catholics, prostants, methodists etc... Each have their own certain customs but the main belief is pretty much the same. Pagans and wiccans believe in deitys. Which deitys they worship will vary on what they believe. A lot of the religion has to do with nature and energy you can draw from it to alter things in life. Hence casting spells. Spell casting I think is much like what people consider psi balls. The drawing up of energy to use it for whatever the person desires. Of course you have to consider the rule of three which basically states "ever mind the rule of three, three times what thou givest returns to thee..."
Therefore it is believed that whatever you send out with return to you threefold. The religion itself isn't about doing harm to others or sacrificing anything and it has nothing to do with satan which many people tend to believe it does.

Thanks. I always knew that it wasnt satanic or anything.

I do hope there are lots of posts in this thread bc I've always been fascinated with Wiccan beliefs and other forms of pagan worship. I think it's a beautiful and interesting way of life.

As do I. hence the starting of this thread

I may be pagan, but I'm not wiccan. Wiccan's just one religon in the cornicopia or paganism.

Are there major differences between the 2, Silvercougar? What seperates your form of Paganism from a Wiccan's?

because I basicaly combined celtic shamanism, druidism, and native american old beliefs. (pinch in a bit of Bast worship)

Wicca is something totaly different to those. (yet still has simulare ways). Remember, not any one religon is pure. Over millenias, people would take and mix and combined and steal and change religons. Even Buddism and Hinduism has had that happen.

The term "Pagan" is defined as "One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion."

There are many variations of Pagans. Some who follow the older Celtic traditions, some that follow a Shamanist path, some that seek the Druid path... so on and so forth.

Wicca is a new age form of Paganism that uses some of the older traditions mixed with new ideas, witchcraft and even a bit of ceremonial Magick theory.

It would be impossible to describe to you all the different types of Pagan paths out there. To get a general idea of what paganism is, however you can look into earth based religions and the path of the Goddess.

A good starting point would be Celtic paganism (at least that is my advice). Also, for a more general reference try www.witchvox.com – they have a lot of great sources.

Finding accurate information and ancient Paganism might prove to be a bit difficult because many of the doctrines were destroyed in the Inquisition and by the Romans.

Information about the older Druids and what they practiced will be nearly impossible to find. The reason being is that it was oral tradition (passed down verbally and not recorded). There are Orders out there that are trying to carry on the traditions through extensive research. However, they'll never truly be able to recreate the traditions. Just try and be mindful about where you find information.

Good luck in your search.

wicca is something i've always had an extreme dislike for, but as to the reasons why, i'm not entirely sure. i do respect it though, even if too many of it's "followers" don't even follow wiccan beliefs. they just use it as a feminist "we rule" type thing. a tool simply for "girl power." this, i have no respect for. anyways, i don't like it, though i admit they're right about a lot of things and some things i've seen some do has kind of disproved my initial belief that it was all bunk.

did this have a point? not really. regardless, i'm not religious. the best way i could define my beliefs would be new age hippie crap, with a little less of the hippie.

Now, I think this Site has the BEST information on Paganism. It gets into what it is, all the different types, and then explains all the different types. It talks about what and why they believe in what they do. And it's not all long and drawn out, simple answers and good detail. I think this site will answer all your questions.

Here's a Site that has a couple paragraphs that details the difference between Pagan, Wicca, and Witchcraft a little more than Heart of Osiris wrote. This is the general idea from the page...but click on the site, it's not long, it'll take you about 2-3 minutes to read through it and it has a few really interesting details as to how they came about.


This Site goes into detail about what the majority of Pagans put their beliefs in, how they practice, etc. Really interesting. And it talks about a few other paths aside from Wicca that Pagans follow.

Ah - yeah I am not Wiccan. Not that I have an opinion about Wicca, it's just not a path for me. Although I do follow some of the earth based traditions and do believe in the Goddess - I do not conform to any particular sect. The Tao is something I live by, and I do work with Ceremonial Magick.

As far as witchcraft being associated with Wicca, I think that is the biggest misconception. I have met a lot of people that get into Wicca because it will teach them how to be a witch. The craft is much older than Wicca - and you do not have to be Wiccan or Pagan to be a witch, or to practice any form of magick. Many folks practice high and low magick without any directional to a dogma.

I think most people are just frustrated with the ones that get involved in Wicca for all the wrong reasons. But I have met plenty of Wiccans that are very serious about their path and have wonderful things to share.

I object to the use of hippie! Being one... I do not use my beliefs for "girl power" or anything like that.


Felie power maybe ;P (joke!)

This is a wonderfully educational thread, but sadly, before long, a post will show up from a die-hard intolerant putting down everything that has been said and slapping the label of SATANIC or SATANIST all over us and anyone that has any interest or respect for anything other than the trend. I respect those that do NOT follow a trend in life, and decide to learn, practice, or simply RESPECT other beliefs.

I myself have no true religion, I guess you could call me a pagan, or, if you really want too, a HEATHEN. I believe in and respect many things, and if I am handed a flyer telling me to convert or suffer in Hell, It's going straight to the FIRE or PAPER SHREDDER.

Education on this is vital for everyone -- and I think I speak for most people here -- that want to be tolerated and not discrimitated or labeled because of something as lame as following or even respecting anything that is not the religious trend.

Lastly, if I do follow anything truely, you'll see me with a gang of neo-vikings raiding Christian churches.

Now, I'm not exactly the greatest speaker in the world when it comes to religion (although if you wanted to talk about music, I could talk the socks off of you), I agree with Mr. Raven that it's good not to be following any sort of TREND, and converting to a differant religion just because those highly annoying group of people who I won't name (Give you a hint, the word Jehovah is in the title) continously and non stop hand out pamphlets.

I guess I'm sort of contradicting what I'm saying when I saw I'm a Christian and practice Christianity as a religion. I'm not exactly what an atheist because I don't believe that there's no one at all that decides if we go to heaven or hell. But, for the people who go around trying to convert you, I say that they can go and throw themselves into a pit riddled with psychotic, rabid bears and poisonous sludge.

So, my point basically is that I think that it's ok if you worship a certain religion, but when you try to FORCE people to change religions just because you might go to HELL, that's just plain ridiculous. Let's see how they feel when I try to convert them to metalism, a religion where all day, you mosh and worship the great metal bands of our time!

Ah. The way I see it - there is a difference between a Christian and a fundie. Christians don't judge (I, being Pagan, have been fortunate enough to meet some true, peaceful Christians).

It's the fundies that tend to freak and scream slander, spew hate and show ignorance. I don't give them the time of day - muchless waste anytime entertaining their babble.

You can't change people, you can only try and educate them. If they choose not to - then you're only option is to control how you react to them. If they decide to lash out at you, I have found ignoring them to be a wonderful reaction.

Wiccan religion is not limited to women, Men may also follow the path. They are called Witches to. If you really want to learn more about wiccans go to www.google.com, type in <wiccan> and read a well done site with a lot of souces connected to it.