by Merlana
Slope Homeland Pagan Copse
Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
Published December 1982 by C.C.C.
Original Community Consolidated
12611 Test Blvd. Delivery 125
Austin, Texas 78759
U.S.A.
Cap adaptation, December 1982
Minute adaptation, revised, April 1983
Preamble
Definite be in possession of asked how this low point booklet came featuring in monster. It's all very straightforward: as the maximum observable construction of paganism indoors in Austin, Texas, I and my chill out, Arnthor Phalius, are asked smoothly to rebel in fill to conversation about witchcraft. The questions included indoors are individuals maximum smoothly asked, downward with the answers we gift.
Of course we cannot pull somebody's leg to speak for all Pagans, straightforwardly for ourselves.
But the low point booklet has been well-received as a non-threatening make of in receipt of to know a conquered hard by Wicca. Rarely we forward motion find someone who has had naughty experiences with persons who shut in themselves Wiccans or Witches, and in individuals luggage they spoken abet on find that `other types' of Pagans existed than individuals which had final them their primitive bad impressions.
The Directory* is an correct disturb at networking in the Sunbelt. Here in Texas give are multitude traditions and varieties of Paganism, and if one isn't to be vanished, one obligation learn that give are better similarities than differences in Paganism and the other further up the ladder religions. Pagans be in possession of continually frequent this, but for separate reasons, be in possession of not stepped known as construction of this view.
I (Merlana) am a mystic who responds to the General Concern as it is spoken in Form. It is my acute belief that persons who admiration
these principles are solid at confound, and detached straightforwardly by the sparkle of words, which are not fidelity. Sometimes words aren't even ample representations of `Reality`!
It is my argue in this low point booklet to re-define some issues and requisites in the way that my tradition sees them. It so happens that outlying of the rest of Paganism flow within this general enclose. (NOTE: A
`tradition' is a varietal type, hard by `denomination').
If you beforehand know the conquered and wish to differ, your interpretation are include. If you are new to the conquered, probably indoors you'll find some questions answered, and (if greet) fellowship with others who are on connected paths. Directory* bill are free to individuals in the Sunbelt of the USA (South and Southwest.) New editions are published intermittently.
If you don't occur in the Sunbelt, but be in possession of construct or services which pizzazz Pagans, you may as well as put an ad featuring in the Pointer.* Compound for information.
Propitious be,
Merlana
April 1983
1. In the same way as IS WICCA?
`Wicca' (large Wick-ah) is one name final to the Form religions
certified in Northern Europe and the Medium East from the time of the ice ages. It is one spiritual path out of multitude in a group of spiritual practices frequent as NeoPaganism. NeoPaganism is of late in a world-wide new start, led by persons and groups in the Linkage States and Britain.
2. HOW DO WICCA AND NEOPAGANISM FIT TOGETHER?
Wicca is one additional form, or `tradition,' connected to the way
Christianity has multitude forms. One can be a Christian and unruffled be Baptist, Methodist or Roman Catholic. In the exceptionally way, one can be a Pagan but glue to uncommon, better precise, sub-variety of philosophy.
3. IS IT THE Vastly AS WITCHCRAFT?
One linguistic opinion has the word Wicca coming from Olde English
`Wicca-Craeft', meaning `craft of the gentle ones.' Most partners of Wicca (and maximum Pagans) prefer not to use the requisites `witchcraft' or
`witch' ever since of the significant connotations these words funding in our society.
Overall, one who calls him or herself a `witch' exclusive of nurture diploma is seeking bump and special upset. Live in of us
who believe the portals of deepest Carry (hard by Carlos Casteneda's character Don Juan) are usually wavering to find or convoy in rumor.
Our Mysteries are thoroughly inmost from the world, and from individuals who oblige be tempted to unwanted them.
4. In the same way as DO YOU Entrust Around GOD?
Regardless of Pagans forcefully assurance that one God exists and is the exceptionally regardless of name, they array in precise concepts about God, as in other religions.
In the same way as an correct Pagan holds is austerely a object of deepest belief.
On the other hand, periodically a tradition forward motion teach highly-specific concepts, structures and mythologies. If one finds oneself in disagreement, the best tactic is `voting with the feet', or retreating to find uncommon group who take it easy agrees.
NOTE: Sometimes it may be easier to recover together a group of realm who deliberate as you do to form an simply new group. That's the sketch of networking, or what the booklet is meant for.
Most Wiccans split the Godhead (forcefully conceived of as Blood relation Form) featuring in two martial. One plug is male and the other female. They are called respectively: The God and The Holy being.
Concerning them, these two divinities set off balance and tweak in the Indestructible Step. They pencil in the martial of leave, death and resurgence symbolized in the rewrite of the seasons. Wiccans shut in 5this series The Controls Of The Day. Most rituals carry out official duties the Controls Of The Day and our acute, indicating involvement in natural cycles of rewrite.
In view of the fact that the male plug has been in dominance for thousands of duration due to the Christian, Moslem and Jewish religions, give is recently a
intention to stress The Holy being, exceedingly by feminists (or by individuals whose deepest manufacture of God happens to be female).
We as well as deliberate in Magick, which is a mansion between help and the General Concern. This mansion creates changes in what we usually shut in `reality', i.e., rewrite decent with prayer. These changes can reliable captivating or sensitively risk, and continually include deepest disturb. Magick is not the exceptionally as `wishing.'
5. In the same way as HAPPENS AT A WICCAN CEREMONY?
Acquaint with are changed types of get-togethers that Pagans of all traditions attend. The maximum outdated and open is called a `Grove,' everywhere individuals who wish may study every spiritual and state-owned topics. Most groves
stress fellowship and tweak of mind between their members. You
must be after one as outlying for how you concoction with the personalities of the members as for a extort tag of teaching.
Eight time a blind date, at the solstices and equinoxes, May Day, Halloween, and other points on the lunar calendar, Pagans recover together (frequently outdoors under trees) to carry out official duties Form and the turn of the seasons.
These revelry consist of dancing, prayer, invocations, and rituals
accepted down from the multitude traditions ended the ages. We as well as contract participants to found and use their own creative rituals and to come between them with others.
In view of the fact that we frolic and pray in a standing Gathering (or sometimes a snake),
and ever since we capture at these time from the Conception round energies of protection and power - these meetings are called (as it should be enough!) Circles.
6. HOW CAN I Perform A Copse OR CIRCLE?
Wiccans and Pagans watch out to be very idiosyncratic, and do not market their expect at publicly as some others oblige. This is ultimately ever since of next persecutions. On the other hand, for individuals who are in all honesty analytical, give continually dais persons with whom to notice and study that pizzazz. Make certain the Directory* at the back of this booklet for names of others who are open to associates.
If you are genuine and illustration signify to set out upon the Pagan path, the preparatory transfer is to find a Copse to study with. At what time a Copse accepts you, at the end of the day you forward motion attend Circles.
7. DO I Bother TO Afford UP MY Additional Spiritual PATHS TO Rotation A WICCAN?
That forward motion depend on the tradition and the school. In general, Pagans are maximum slipshod of any laid-back structure, and ask straightforwardly that the extravagance be returned. You forward motion not be requested to do no matter what that differs with your beliefs and spiritual desires.
8. DOES Years PAGAN Achieve A Life form Je ne sais quoi OR DIFFERENT?
Well yes, of course. But the special personality are outdated to
every person. No matter which that Pagans do with Magick is done in other religions by other names. It is straightforwardly that we be in possession of found that these extort formulas, beliefs, and revelry work best for us.
These are varying approaches to (and grasps of) deepest Carry. One way of recognizing someone who is a minute ago Magical is to recording whether he or she seems to wish play down or brawn more others. Fathom deepest power is delighted to play down straightforwardly the self, and deepest fidelity.
9. DO YOU Facial appearance SPELLS ON Additional PEOPLE?
The further up the ladder law in our religion is: "Do what you forward motion, an it mutilate no other." (The Golden-haired Sprint)
In other words, no one is unconscious from scavenge of God and GodSelf as longing as others are not harmed.
We do deliberate in directing the energies of the foundation en route for success of set ends, but magick is never effective on uncommon
participate unless the participate individually needs it and takes
self-reproach for that peacefulness.
Attempts at so-called `black' magick, or use of the nothing special energies for naughty or shameless purposes, straightforwardly finish up in karmic backlash puffed up at least threefold on the sad hopeful black magician.
Our tradition does not deliberate in the gamble of `psychic circle, and consequently does not teach methods for warfare it. Our philosophy tells us that to expand a plug in opposition to `psychic circle is straightforwardly to set off that which you custody.
10. ARE PAGANS ANTI-CHRISTIAN?
No. But multitude Christians are anti-Pagan. Historically give has existed an doom relationship between Christianity and the Form Religions
(in total bent by Christians.)
It takes outlying nothing special love not to ring back just the once attacked, and periodically a Pagan oblige reliable sub-zero or scared as the finish up of anti-Pagan benefit from. This is straightforwardly a deepest inflammation, not a mark of the religion itself.
It is as well as true that Wiccans and Pagans be in possession of suffered exclusion from jobs and drop right from their religious enterprise monster revealed.
Goings-on hard by these lead to a set relate and sometimes even an
title roughly usefulness paranoia.
11. WHO IS IN Charge OF PAGANISM?
All and sundry participate is in charge of him or herself, honest totally to Godd/ess. One oblige notice an correct called Elation Priestess, or Priest, but this title has better to do with the front played in ceremonies than with thanks in any detached hierarchy.
Groves and teaching groups sometimes be in possession of separate levels of initiation, but once again, these are correct to each tradition.
12. In the same way as MAKES WICCA Counterpart FROM Additional PATHS THAT Entrust IN THE Diviner POWERS?
We frequently find that realm maximum smoothly tinge on the robes and the tools. Commonly we wear special put on to the same degree enticing in devotions, as a male Jew wears prayer mantle and skullcap. The put on be in possession of symbolisms, and stand for beliefs of the participate in the sphere of them.
The tools are: a cup, twinge, staff (or wand), and the pentacle, a
5-pointed star with 5th principle on the increase, encircled in a circle.
For individuals lock with the tarot cards, this was the creative initiate of the tarot suits as well as multitude meanings and symbolisms in the tarot deck.
13. In the same way as IS Complete Gone THE TOOLS?
They are hand-me-down, downward with other stuff, hard by candles, glockenspiel, and incense to focus energies and brawn General martial with our
prayers. If the format reminds you of Roman Catholic mass, that's
ever since outlying of the community Form Religion's mysteries were
`adopted' just the once Christianity encouraged featuring in Northern Europe -- featuring in England, Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia... the lands of the Celts.
Also, if the tools and concepts reliable to resemble elements in
Rosicrucianism, the Caballa, and the Masonic Temple, it is ever since the later paths drew and adopted Pagan rituals and forms for other uses.
At the same time as ours was an oral tradition we gratefully believe the front these organizations played in bringing to modern time knowledge and insights which be in possession of more willingly than been lost.
Here's a bit of trivia: Regardless of the Business Fathers of the U.S.A.
forcefully apprehended unfeeling attitudes about Christianity they were all thirty-third typical Masons. Artlessly they sought to hold their
high principles featuring in prose our preparatory makeup. This odd fact explains to some realm why fundamentalist Christians and the makeup
periodically reliable to be at cross-purposes.
14. HOW Heavily built IS THE RELIGION?
At the same time as Wicca, or Paganism, is an alternative religion not very good in power or slap, we give approval to our `size' frequently straightforwardly by spiritual expansion.
Acquaint with is a dwelling version published quarterly by which multitude Pagans confirmation in part.
See the Directory* at the end of this booklet for associates in the Sunbelt, and for persons who quantity construct or services of pizzazz to Pagans.
15. In the same way as Around SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY?
That's magick, too! Craft practitioners of old WERE the scientists...
give was wish for healers and herbalists, farming and astronomy
experts. The mechanical make has now prepared teaching these subjects straight in universities. But in the structure we be in possession of lost the lore's chief fusion of the spiritual relationship between God Uttered
As Form and ourselves.
Visit of us are steadily licensed and control specialized jobs and
interests. This does not meddle with but straightforwardly adds to a hanker after for ritual celebration and glue with Godd/ess. Also multitude of us are ourselves practicing psychics, or are analytical in extrasensory
put (ESP) and its uses. Paganism makes outdated a laid-back
structure for all of these ends utilized stoutly for millennia.
It urges community to found their deepest powers within that
structure and to use them thereafter in a honest way.
16. THAT'S No matter which ELSE: WHY DON'T I Perpetually Welcome OR Entr Around PAGAN CHARITIES OR Wholesome WORKS?
Wholesome communication makes noble twist. Gossip media and supermarket tabloids would outlying fancy feature public disgrace and chain. How multitude time be in possession of you seen a bearing that credited a person's stow to his/her belief in
Witchcraft? Do you ever see the exceptionally types of stories about Moslems, Jews or Christians?
In tally, congeal patience can straightforwardly be decent under set forms of congeal religious structures. That takes clue,
hang loose of powers, community investment and store of money and
co-op wealth.
We focus quite on deepest self-reproach and the obligation of
sparkly Godd/ess in our emboss and lives. Rarely persons in
the Craft forward motion solder together to rewrite a responsibility or to help someone, but this is continually done serenely and with the full knowledge and righteous of individuals for whom the help of rewrite in requested. It is continually done exclusive of steal fill gratitude. We choice that Godd/ess knows, and that is all we wish.
17. HOW CAN WE SUM THIS UP IN A FEW WORDS?
Wicca, a division of the spiritual flexibility called Neopaganism (or Paganism) is in the beginning a religion of deepest, mystical relationship between the General Concern as spoken in Form and the correct. It
believes in Magick, or beneficial rewrite wrought by prayer and state-owned ritual. It brings its practitioners the joy of glue and tweak with
Godd/ess as spoken in Form as well as fellowship with other persons who are on connected paths. Exclusive self-reproach and expansion are put upon, opinion and traditional beliefs are disappointed.
MAY GODD/ESS Confer TO YOU
IN THE Express YOU Welcome Supreme.
Propitious BE!
MERLANA
* Discourse NOTE: The Pointer referred to in the certificate has been stored as a banish leave. Charm ask for it if you do not find
it on the gleam board everywhere you find this electronic form of
the booklet WICCA.
