Wicca

Wicca draws its strength from the diversity of Nature itself and rejoices in diversity. Witches are positive thinkers and believe in happiness prevailing over evil. Overall Wicca is a philosophy as much as it is a nature-based religion (Encarta 7). Witches do not worship Satan, or even believe in Satan. They also do not believe in Jesus, or the Lord. What they do believe in is an unknowable Ultimate Deity. Their God does not have a beard, is not necessarily a man, and does not persecute women. Followers of Wicca seek guidance from an endless number of deities. Pagans also do not subscribe to the black and white notions of good and evil. Rather, there are only appropriate and inappropriate actions (Donovan 2). Unlike my Catholic upbringing, Wicca finds a spirit in every object, and that spirit is connected to every other living creature. Both animate and inanimate objects possess a spirit, which forms part of the Whole, or in layman's terms THE BIG PICTURE. Let's not confuse the idea of Wicca's word "spirit- with the Judeo-Christian sense of ghost (Pagan Web 1). The basis of Wicca rests on a deep respect for sexuality, feminity, nature and the knowledge that a person does not have the right to exploit another for personal gain. Spirituality is the foremost goals of the church and school of Wicca. That is what a witch will strive to reach in his/her lifetime. Many witches choose to change the present through magical workings, or spells. That is frowned upon and considered derogatory to spiritual success. The appropriate workings are learning to accept your spiritual path and obstacles throughout meditation (Ethics of Wicca 2). Popular culture has greatly affected the spread of Wicca. Television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch dramatize witches into being cutie girls, but these shows also depict these young girls as being open and proud that they are witches.