Wicca Vs. Paganism Essay, Research Paper

Wicca versus Paganism

Wicca and Pagan are two faiths, which have many similarities every bit good as many differences within each country. Wicca is a religious order of Pagan in which each has their ain fluctuations on the faith. A good manner to set it ; all Wiccans are Pagan, but non all Heathens are Wiccan. Witch is a term used for any practician of Wicca. The Webster s II Dictionary defines enchantress as 1. A adult female who patterns black magic or is believed to hold traffics with the Satan, 2. An ugly, barbarous old adult female ; beldam. Wicca is described by the American Heritage Dictionary as the cult of witchery. Pagan is the faith under which many different faiths are practiced. Webster s II Dictionary defines pagan as one who does non admit the God of Christianity, Islam, or Judaism ; pagan. Most parts of these definitions are incorrect.

Wicca is a religious order of Paganism, in which different patterns are learned, worshipped, and taught. One signifier of Wicca is Lone Practitioners the other is Coven Practitioners. The signifiers of Wicca that are practiced vary in most utilizations. Lone Practitioners normally pray, read, meditate, and cast magik and spells entirely. Whereas Covenants pattern these familiar things amongst a group of anyplace from two people up to 13 people. In Pagan patterns, these things are practiced usually within a group scene of anyplace from two people to 100s of people. Both patterns use a magik circle which is either drawn complex number or with the usage of a broom or sea salt. This is to maintain out any negative energy from come ining the circle while any type of pattern is being done. This keeps the practician ( s ) from any injury or error. Both of these faiths are nature-based and normally have one of three belief systems in common: polytheism, pantheism, and animism.

Both of these faiths use many objects in their patterns or surveies. Both Wiccans and Pagans will utilize what is called Magikal tools. These are known to include, thurify, tapers, athames ; normally known as a black handled knife, the broom ; used to brush off negative energies, the cup or goblet ; used to keep such things as blest H2O, vino and other fluids, the caldron ; used as an instrument in which to cook and for brew devising, besides used for scrying, and most significantly, the pentagram. The pentagram is normally a level piece of brass, gold, Ag, wood, wax, or clay, inscribed with certain symbols. The most common and the most necessary symbol is the pentacle, the five-pointed star. This is used for protection. Both faiths have vacations, otherwise known as Sabbats. There are eight Sabbats, four major and four minor Sabbats. These are Samhain, October 31, the New Year, Yule, December 21, the Winter Solstice, Imbolg, February 1, the welcoming of Spring, Ostara, March 21, Spring Equinox, Beltane, May 1, Lady Day, Midsummer, June 21, Midsummer Solstice, Lammas, August 1, Honors Mother Earth s nuptials, and Mabon, September 21, Autumn Equinox. The four major Sabbats are practiced at the beginnings of the month, hence, the Sabbats practiced during the mid-months are minor. Although the Sabbats are practiced on the same yearss, the names of the Sabbats may differ for each faith for illustration, the heathen name for Imbolg is Imbolc. Each faith uses a set of elements. These elements are besides used to stand for the points of the star within the pentagram. The elements are east, south, west, north, and centre or spirit besides known as akasha. In both parts of the faiths, there are a basic set four regulations ; these regulations are unrecorded, love, larn, and enjoy. The three Torahs accompanie

vitamin D within these are seek out wisdom, injury none, and the treble jurisprudence of return. Both faiths use the treble jurisprudence of return. This incorporates that whatever you do, for good or for ailment, shall be returned to you threefold, or three times the sum in which it was issued. It is fundamentally the natural jurisprudence of cause and consequence.

Wicca practicians use herbs in their patterns and many use the visible radiation of the Moon. The use of the stages of the Moon in Wicca is of import to them. This is of import to many of them due to the worship of the Moon goddess, Diana. Many Wiccans see Diana as the female parent. Many Wiccans have a power animate being, which is the spirit of the animate being, which helps them through unsmooth times, or merely makes them experience more powerful. Wiccans chiefly worship goddesses, compared to Pagans whose primary worshiped is Gods and goddesses every bit good as the worship of the pantheons of the Gods and goddesses worshipped. The constructions of Wiccan and Pagan patterns vary, as do the constructions of the compact and the lone practician. The lone practician is normally deemed eclectic because they design their ain religion, pulling on many others for thoughts, and do non hold a set Book of Shadows to go through along to the following of family or the following group of believers. This Book of Shadows besides changes with different enchantresss, as this is a really personal book. A Book of Shadows is a book in which each practician would compose down his or her ain experiences with what they have practiced, every bit good as any new enchantments that they have encountered. This book may besides be used to compose down any and all feelings that have accompanied the enchantress while she has been idolizing, or chew overing. Within the compacts, this book is passed down and nil in it is to be changed. Witchs besides tend to utilize many rocks or stones. This would include crystals, treasures, and dirt. They use a broad assortment of talismans, amulets, and symbolic appeals in their day-to-day life every bit good as in worship. Witchs may besides follow a Wiccan Rede. Which is a paragraph saying what the enchantress should and shouldn T make, how the enchantress should and shouldn t unrecorded. Heathens have something similar to this, which is known merely as the regulations or Torahs.

Heathens ; nevertheless, worship non merely Gods and goddesses, but the pantheon of the divinities as good. The pantheon of the divinities can be compared to our places, the land that we live upon, and the narratives that go with it. The construction of the rites is besides different. Many Pagans prefer to idolize within a coven or group. Each individual would take on a different facet within the group. Each individual plays a different portion within the circle. There is a group of instructors, called the High Priestess and High Priest. The High Priestess and Priest would command any and all worship Sessionss, much like the Christian churches. Each individual thenceforth might command a corner, or component, and the less powerful of them all would idolize and watch the ceremonials take topographic point. Pagans do non hold a Book of Shadows, in which to idolize. This faith is an unwritten based faith, passed down from oral cavity to talk. Pagans may trust upon any natural force, such as a organic structure of H2O, or a natural stone formation. They use these to assist them concentrate energy upon their Gods or goddesses.

Both, Pagans and Wiccans, have changing spiritual patterns ; nevertheless, many of them are besides similar. Pagans focus more on the group facet of tradition and the old times, whereas, Wicca is based chiefly upon the demands and wants of the enchantress. This could even include practising Christianity on the side. Both faiths do ; nevertheless, have in common many utilizations of tools, enchantments, and supplications.