FAQ

This is a basic FAQ for people who are not familiar with the Wiccan religion.  Below you will find a link to a more complete FAQ.

What is a Circle / Coven?
A coven is a Wiccan "Congregation." Usually a circle or coven is presided over by a High Priestess and a High Priest, although some eclectic groups prefer the democratic approach.

In the days before the Burning Times, a whole village would join the celebration or ritual. However,  as the wide spread fear of "Anything not Christian" over took these villages, Witches (from wita meaning wise one) and Pagans (literally translated to mean country dweller) were forced to go into hiding for fear of their lives.

The coven was born. Witches would meet in small groups and hold their regular rituals and celebrations in secrecy.  And the secrecy was vital.  If it became known that any one member was a witch, they would be tortured until the rest of the coven was given up, all would be tortured and killed in the name of "God"

Today, Witches and Pagans meet in a variety of groups. Often times these are called Groves, Circles, Groups and occasionally Covens.   These typically number 13, but in some larger areas can number as many as 200.

Even though current estimates with-in the United States  place the number of practicing Witches / Pagans at over 200,000  many people still equate Wicca and Pagans with Satanists.  For this reason many covens still follow a secrecy rule and require an initiation in order to gain full admittance into the group.

Typical initiation requires a "Year and a day" of study with the coven and insures that the person will, in fact, maintain the required amount if secrecy required so that the coven members may live in peace.

What is an Altar?
An altar is similar to that of any Christian religion that you may find in any church.  Many covens - groups and solitary Wiccans prefer to work outside as weather permits in order to be closer to nature.

In these cases an altar maybe  a small   table,  a cleared area on the ground, a rock or something as permanent as a tree stump.  Basically it can be any area in which an altar cloth may be spread over, altar tools (see below) can be placed upon, is private and is unlikely to cause disturbance to others in the surrounding area.

Inside, a coffee table or area of the floor often provide a suitable area for an altar.

Do witches worship Satan?
NO NO and NO.  Satan is a creation of the Christian Church.  The Wiccan Religion does not recognize any one all evil Sprit / Deity / God. Therefore we do not worship Satan.  It is impossible to worship something that one does not believe exists.

 We believe that with-in nature you will find both good and bad.  For example: a flood would, by most people, be viewed as a bad thing. However, after the flood waters clear, it becomes apparent that nutrient enriched soil has been carried down stream and is deposited in areas that can be used for farming.

Another example is a forest fire. Devastating? Yes, but also life giving.  After an area of forest is burned, new growth is abundant.   Seeds in the soil often need the heat of a forest fire ( the Venus fly trap can not grow unless it is subjected to the heat of a forest fire ) to germinate.

 Many of us refer to our religion as the "Old Religion."  Before the advent of Christianity (for thousands of years before Christ)  people worshiped nature and the Gods and Goddesses associated with nature.  The prime God in the Wiccan religion is often represented with horns on his head.  The Christian Church immediately grasped this image of the "Horned God" and used the same description to identify the devil.

Other stuff?
Many modern activities have roots deep in pagan history.  Decorating a Christmas tree, burning a Yule log,  and decorating easter eggs for example are all traditional pagan activities. The list goes on and on.   In fact many Christian holidays fall very close to pagan holidays.  This was done to re-direct attention of the "country dwellers" making them more conscious of the new Christian movement.

By doing this they were able to, overtime, claim each of these days (or with in a short few days of each pagan event) as a Holy Day. For example: the winter solstice or Yule, in which the Goddess gives birth to her son, became Christmas.

The only pagan holiday that hasn't been touched in some form by Christianity is Samhain or Halloween.  Even this has been changed from a day to say farewell to the God to a day for small monsters in Halloween costumes to trick or treat.

The favorite  Hollywood   image of a Haggard old woman who eats children is far from reality.  In fact many Wiccans are vegetarians so children just wouldn't fit into their diet.  All joking aside, Wiccans and Pagan come from all walks of life, Attorneys, Surgeons, Soldiers, Factory Workers, Police, Fire Fighters, Parents,  Etc.  Witchcraft is the fastest growing religious movement in the United States today.  Chances are you may even work with a pagan and you might not even know it!
 
 

This link to the Covenant of the Goddess is one of the best FAQs we have found to date on the internet. If you have a question that is not covered either here or at the link below, please contact me and I will get the answer for you.