So i am a 'newbie' lol and my boyfriend just told his mom (who is strictly catholic) that i am wiccan, and she knows what it is but i feel like next time i see her i am going to have to explain it more :/ and i am not exactly sure how to explain it :/ help?
The above post doesn't so much as explain wicca as it explains the nature of its magical practice.
Wicca itself is somewhat of a nature based faith that reveres the God and the Goddess, with often a primary focus on the Goddess. It originated within the 1930s, and has heavy influence from both Celtic traditions and various occult traditions that you can trace back to the Golden Dawn and so forth that were most popular just prior to the creation of Wicca.
Tell her that you are in a religion that likes nature and you do magic that helps nature and other people that need it. Also tell her if she is worried that Wiccans have rules against hurting people, and casting spells on them, and hurting them for no reason. If she asks about the rule of three you can describe it as a what goes around comes around kind of thing. Also, you can tell her that not just bad things come around but good things too. Explain to her if she asks about spells, only if she asks though because she might not know that WIcaa involves spell casting sometimes and that might be a good thing. Tell her if she asks that Wiccans never do spells to harm, they don't curse, and they never perform hateful magic. Oh, and did your boyfriend explain the whole thing or give her just the short and sweet definition of it? You might want to know if she wants you to explain more.
Wicca is a modern Pagan religion which is based on the beliefs and practices of Pre-Christian Europe. It honors the Divine in both male and female aspects, God and Goddess. Wiccans believe that the Divine is not merely somewhere "out there" but is also right here in this physical creation, therefore we treat nature and each other with respect.
You might want to find a copy of the book "When Someone You Love is Wiccan" by Carl McColman. This is an excellent book to use in explaining Wiccan beliefs and practices to someone who is not Wiccan.
Re: Explaining Wicca By: Brysing Moderator / Adept
Post # 8 Dec 31, 2011
AwakeTooLong is correct in that Wicca was first formed in the 1930s. But it was not widely known at that time. Known only to the few who were initiated by Gardner. Wicca is based on old witchcraft beliefs, and was illegal until 1951. I first heard of Wicca around 1958-9. I bought Gardner's book "Witchcraft Today". In the 1960s I did get to meet some "Wiccans" (By the way, at that time it was Wica. Only one C).
So, although witchcraft, as I was trained, is very old, Wicca is less than a hundred years old. But it rapidly became popular once it became legal.
But there are now so many "paths", so many neo-Pagans, that the original Wicca is not the same as it was. I was taught by a witch, in the old ways. I get lost now in all the modern "sects".
I would explain Wicca as just another religion. When I have been asked (usually by Christians) to explain witchcraft, I ask them if they can explain Christianity. Most of them cannot!
