Wicca

Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It draws from the Old Traditions of Witchcraft, however, Witchcraft and Wicca, while similar in many respects, are not the same. Wicca is a recognized religion and is a very peaceful, harmonious and balanced way of life which promotes oneness with the divine and all which exists. Wicca is a deep appreciation of Mother Earths nature and being humbled in reverence. Wiccans see the Goddess and God as aspects of the One. Our ability to comprehend the universe and the world around us is limited, and viewing the Divine as masculine and feminine aspects of the One Universal power helps us understand this energy a little better. We accept that different aspects of the Divine combine to make the whole or One. This allows individuals or groups to attune with nature and the creative force in a way they are most comfortable with. Some call upon the Divine by different names, but this does not mean we see a total separation of deities. The Goddess and God are a manifestation of the feminine and masculine forces of nature. Each having unique characteristics that when combined result in the harmonious creation of life. We see examples of this in everything around us as nothing can exist without the interaction of feminine and masculine energy. This creative energy is omnipresent. They are concepts that allow the human mind to comprehend the creative force of the world around us. It really matters little whether we associate with the divine as the "Father, Son and Holy Ghost" or "The One, Goddess and God." Ultimately, the concept is the same.

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anFom2H6sxc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M56-6XA3h2M

NATURE & ELEMENTALS

Elements & Magic

The Ancients divided the world into four basic principles or *elements*: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. That viewpoint has mostly changed with advances of science, but the four elements are still accepted in magic, for they are more closely linked with emotions, the human psyche, and with nature than are modern explanations of the world. These *magical elements* are also of some importance in astrology. Many occultists think of the magical elements as forces, or as *qualities* of energy; especially within the astral world. Each element has a symbol and color.

Common symbols are:

Colors of the elements are -- earth: brown and green; water: blue; fire: red; air: yellow.

ELEMENTALS

The magical elements are said to be peopled by spirits and mythological entities called elementals or nature spirits. These are grouped into four main categories:

EARTH: Gnome, Dwarfs, Elves, Brownies, Hobgoblins, Leprechauns.
WATER: Undine, Nymphs, Tritons, Mermaids, Mermen, Sirens, Harpies, Salamander.
FIRE: Jin, Genies.
AIR: Sylph, Fairies, Angles.

Although elementals exist naturally, it is also possible to create one which will exist for a limited time -- no elemental has immortality. A created elemental is called an 'artificial elemental'. To the Ancients, elementals were the physical explanation of the universe.

YIN YANG

Chinese philosophy and acupuncture talk of Yin Yang. This is the idea of polarity, or opposite pairs, as shown:

YIN: Water, Contraction, Cold, Feminine, Moon, Negative, Passive, Ebb, Wane
YANG: Fire, Expansion, Hot, Masculine, Sun, Positive, Active, Flow, Wax

SIMPLE MAGIC

Here is a simple magical technique you may wish to try. It is a variation of affirmation, which was discussed in an earlier lesson...To help you to achieve your goal (magical or otherwise), find a word or short phase which sums up what it is that you want to accomplish. Write the word (or phrase) down 10 times each day until you achieve success.