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Merry Meet!
What is Wicca?
Under the umbrella of contemporary Paganism, Wicca – which is also known as The Craft or The Old Religion – is a diverse religion which stems from basic beliefs such as respecting the Divinity in Nature, Celebrating the Goddess, and holding sacred the changing of the seasons, or what some folks call, the Wheel of the Year.
Wheel of the Year
Wiccan Wheel of the Year: Eight Sacred Sabbats
Samhain
Yule / Winter Solstice
Yule / Winter Solstice
October 31
Transformation of nature, the veil between the worlds is thinnest, connecting with Ancestors, Crone wisdom; third harvest
Yule / Winter Solstice
Yule / Winter Solstice
Yule / Winter Solstice
December 20-23
The shortest day of the year (least hours of sunlight), Holly King born; sacred quiet inward journeys, preparing for the long night, personal insight
Imbolc
OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX
OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX
February 2
Ground (earth) is pure, preparing for fertility, animal divination; planting, awakening senses
OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX
OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX
OSTARA / SPRING EQUINOX
March 20-23
Fertile land, seeds are sown, rituals of balance, new life begins
BELTAINE
LITHA / MIDSUMMER
LITHA / MIDSUMMER
May 1
Flowers and plants in full bloom; the Wild Hunt begins; May Queen is crowned; fairy day, boundaries between worlds are thin
LITHA / MIDSUMMER
LITHA / MIDSUMMER
LITHA / MIDSUMMER
June 20-23
Longest day of the year (most hours of daylight), Oak King born, Sun celebration
LUGHNASADH
MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX
MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX
July 30
Also known as Lammas, the first harvest, gathering, begin reaping what we have sown, Goddess takes on the aspects of the Harvest Mother
MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX
MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX
MABON / AUTUMN EQUINOX
September 20-23
The second harvest, sacrifice vegetation by planting/storing; sacred cooking, hearth and home rituals
Recommended Reading, Study and Research Materials
Books
(Author, Title:)
Adler, Margot: Drawing Down the Moon
Buckland, Raymond: Complete Book of Witchcraft
Cunningham, Scott: Wicca - A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Curott, Phyllis: Witch Crafting
Farrar, Janet & Stewart: The Witches' Bible
Gardner, Gerald: Witchcraft Today
Starhawk: The Spiral Dance
Starhawk: Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions
Stone, Merlin: When God Was a Woman
Valiente, Doreen: Witchcraft for Tomorrow
Valiente, Doreen: Natural Magic
Most books by the above authors on the subject of Wicca and Paganism (whether listed here or not) are excellent. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are thousands of books on the subject, and many excellent ones are not listed here. You will find the ones that speak to you.
Magazines and Periodicals
Circle Magazine (Journal of of Sacred Circle Sanctuary)
Sagewoman Magazine (published by Blessed Bee Media)
Witches and Pagans (published by Blessed Bee Media)
Pomegranate (peer-reviewed journal of Pagan studies)
Websites
Witches & Pagans - Pagan Square (online companion blog to Witches & Pagans Magazine)
Patheos.com (visit their Pagan channel)
Sacred-Texts.com (visit their Book of Shadows)