There is some difficulty in describing beliefs and practices because of the fact that there is a great deal of diversity within the religion: between individuals and between traditions. It is commonly understood that most Wiccans worship two deities: the Goddess and the God (sometimes known as the Horned God). Some traditions, such as the Dianic Wiccans, mainly worship the Goddess. In those traditions, the God plays either no role, or a diminished role. Many Gardnerian Wiccans do not claim to be dualist. They may practice some form of polyth ...

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes, Wicca - Bibliographical and Encyclopedic Sources, Wicca - Academic Studies

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Beliefs and practices

See also:

Wicca, Wicca - Definition, Wicca - History of Wicca, Wicca - Origins, Wicca - Later developments, Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Wicca - Morality, Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans, Wicca - United States, Wicca - Wiccan traditions, Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Wicca - Beliefs and practices

Dianic Wicca, Dianic Witchcraft, and Feminist Dianic Witchcraft are all common titles for the Neopagan Feminist Dianic tradition. While some Dianics self-identify as Wiccans, some prefer the term Witch or priestess of the Goddess. Dianic Wicca can be very similar to traditional Wicca in practice (see section below for a discussion of their differences), but differs significantly from it in beliefs. Most Dianic Wiccans worship the Goddess only, acknowledging that She is the source of all living and contains all within Her. There are Dianic wi ...

See also:

Dianic Wicca, Dianic Wicca - Beliefs and practices, Dianic Wicca - History, Dianic Wicca - Important figures, Dianic Wicca - Differences between Dianic Feminist Wicca and Mainstream Wicca

Read more here: » Dianic Wicca: Encyclopedia II - Dianic Wicca - Beliefs and practices

Wicca is a Neopagan religious movement found in many different countries, though most commonly in English-speaking cultures. Wicca was first publicised in 1954 by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed. He claimed that the religion, of which he was an initiate, was a modern survival of an old witch cult, which had existed in secret for hundreds of years, originating in the pre-Christian Paganism of Europe. Wicca is thus sometimes referred to as the Old Religion. The veracity o ...

Including:

• Wicca - Definition
• Wicca - History of Wicca
• Wicca - Origins
• Wicca - Later developments
• Wicca - Beliefs and practices
• Wicca - Morality
• Wicca - Discrimination and persecution of Wiccans
• Wicca - United States
• Wicca - Wiccan traditions
• Wicca - Notes

Read more here: » Wicca: Encyclopedia - Wicca

Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca (Witchcraft)

The roots of the religion called Wicca, or Witchcraft, are very old, coming down to us through a variety of channels worldwide. Although any general statement about our practices will have exceptions, the following will attempt to present a basic foundation for understanding.

Some of the old practices were lost when indigenous religions encountered militant Christianity and were forced to go underground for survival. The ancient mystery religions were lost when the practice of the rites were stopped and the old verbal traditions were no longer available.

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: General Practices in Wicca

Why Wicca is Not Celtic Paganism

There are many out there who believe that Wicca and its related forms of NeoPagism are a type of Celtic Paganism (and vice versa),  but this is simply not true. The following article is meant to be a comparison of Wicca and Celtic Paganism in order to demonstrate this, and to educate the public about Celtic Paganism. While Wicca certainly contains elements of Celtic mythology, folk magic and religious belief, its basic tenets and beliefs are radically different from those of Celtic Pagans.

Read more here: » Wicca and Celtic Paganism: Why Wicca is Not Celtic Paganism

Wicca and Witchcraft: Basic Philosophy of Wicca or Witchcraft

Wicca, or Witchcraft, is an earth religion -- a re-linking with the life force of nature, both on this planet and in the stars and space beyond. In city apartments, in suburban backyards, and in country glades, groups of women and men meet on the new and full moons and at festival times to raise energy and put themselves in tune with these natural forces. They honor the old goddesses and gods, including the Triple Goddess of the waxing, full, and waning moon, and the Horned God of the sun and animal life, as visualizations of immanent nature.

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: Basic Philosophy of Wicca or Witchcraft

Wicca or Witchcraft: Definitions of terms in Witchcraft

Including: Occult, Earth, Pagan, Neo-Paganism, Witchcraft, The Craft, Coven, Witch, Magic, Sabbat, Esbat

Read more here: » Wicca or Witchcraft: Definitions of terms in Witchcraft

Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Includes:

October 31 - November Eve - Samhain

December 21 - Winter Solstice - Yule

January 31 - February Eve - Imbolc

March 21 - Vernal Equinox - Lady Day

April 30 - May Eve - Beltaine

June 21 - Summer Solstice - Litha

July 31 - August Eve - Lughnassad

September 21 - Autumnal Equinox - Harvest Home

Read more here: » Wicca and Witchcraft: Holidays in Wicca and Witchcraft

Dianic Wicca, also known as Women's Spirituality, Feminist Spirituality, Feminist Witchcraft, and Feminist Wicca. Dianic Wicca - Beliefs and practices. Dianic Wicca, Dianic Witchcraft, and Feminist Dianic Witchcraft are all common titles for the Neopagan Feminist Dianic tradition. While some Dianics self-identify as Wiccans, some prefer the term Witch or priestess of the Goddess. Dianic Wicca can be very similar to traditional Wicca in practice (see section below for a discussion ...

Including:

• Dianic Wicca - Beliefs and practices
• Dianic Wicca - History
• Dianic Wicca - Important figures
• Dianic Wicca - Differences between Dianic Feminist Wicca and Mainstream Wicca

Read more here: » Dianic Wicca: Encyclopedia - Dianic Wicca

The beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation, founded by the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba (major article) can be characterized as a rather traditional but syncretistic form of Hinduism. Additionally, believers have faith in the guru as an purna avatar (full divine incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti, who is predicted in the Bhagavad Gita. In non-Hindu terms, this means that his followers see him as God. Followers are engaged in singing bhajans and charity. Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisati ...

Including:

• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Important teachings
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Ashrams in India and the person of Sathya Sai Baba
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Youth stories
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Practices in the ashrams and the person of Sathya Sai Baba
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Activities in local Sathya Sai Baba groups
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Celebrations and commemorations
• Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation - Bibliography

Read more here: » Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation: Encyclopedia - Beliefs and practices in the Sathya Sai Organisation

CUEW is the Church of Universal Eclectic Wicca, or UEW, an incorporated church with tax exemption in the United States. Universal Eclectic Wicca - History. UEW is not a "familial tradition" and does not claim existence from ancient times. UEW does claim existence from previous incarnations beginning in about 1969. Universal Eclectic Wicca - Core Beliefs. Intellectual responsibility is one of UEW's highest goals, and they do not compromise on the educational requirements for thei ...

Including:

• Universal Eclectic Wicca - History
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Core Beliefs
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Role of Clergy
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Organization of Groups
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Standards of Conduct
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Ways of Worship
• Universal Eclectic Wicca - Reading and Other References

Read more here: » Universal Eclectic Wicca: Encyclopedia - Universal Eclectic Wicca

Eclectic Wicca is a widely accepted branch of Neopaganism, where followers include any aspects involved in the other traditions. This may include the belief in the Celtic deities as well as deities from other nations and cultures, and a strong belief in Buddhism. At the same time, followers worship the God and Goddess of Wicca. With these ideas, one can choose what they wish to follow, which they feel would be b ...

Read more here: » Eclectic Wicca: Encyclopedia - Eclectic Wicca

Alexandrian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca, founded by Alex Sanders (also known as "King of the Witches"[1]) who, with his wife Maxine Sanders, established the tradition in the 1960s. Alexandrian Wicca is similar in many ways to Gardnerian Wicca, and receives regular mention in books on Wicca as one of the religion's most widely-recognized traditions^Including:

• Alexandrian Wicca - Origins and history
• Alexandrian Wicca - Practices
• Alexandrian Wicca - Ranks and degrees
• Alexandrian Wicca - Relationship to other traditions
• Alexandrian Wicca - Notes and references

Read more here: » Alexandrian Wicca: Encyclopedia - Alexandrian Wicca

Christian Wicca combines Christian and Wicca beliefs, embracing reincarnation and worship of nature and fertility as key aspects. Christian Wicca - Principal Tenets. Christian Witches may follow either the Wiccan idea of "Harm none and do as you will" or typically the traditional Golden Rule. God (and sometimes angels) are the central focus. Mother earth is commonly viewed as the goddess in Wicca, which results in a conflict with traditional Christian monotheism. However, some of these same witches believe ...

Including:

• Christian Wicca - Principal Tenets
• Christian Wicca - Prayer and Witchcraft
• Christian Wicca - Comparison with Christianity
• Christian Wicca - External link

Read more here: » Christian Wicca: Encyclopedia - Christian Wicca

Blue Star Wicca is one of a number of Wiccan traditions created in the United States in the 1970s based loosely on the Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions. It continues to be practiced today in areas of the United States (including Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington, and others), as well as having members in the United Kingdom and Canada. Blue Star Wicca - Origins and history. The "Coven of the Blue Star", established in Philadelphia in 1975 by Franque D "the Wizard", gave birth to both the na ...

Including:

• Blue Star Wicca - Origins and history
• Blue Star Wicca - Practices
• Blue Star Wicca - Ranks and degrees
• Blue Star Wicca - Relationship to other traditions
• Blue Star Wicca - Notes and references

Read more here: » Blue Star Wicca: Encyclopedia - Blue Star Wicca

Gardnerian Wicca is a tradition of the Neopagan religion of Wicca. Gardnerian Wicca is named after Gerald Gardner (1884-1964), a British civil servant who studied magic, among other topics. He knew and worked with many famous occultists, not the least of which was Aleister Crowley (1875-1947). After his retirement Gardner moved to Christchurch near the New Forest on the south coast of England, where he says he met a group of people who had preserved certain traditional practices. As an amateur folklorist, Gardner ...

Read more here: » Gardnerian Wicca: Encyclopedia - Gardnerian Wicca

Belief in the psychological sense, is a representational mental state that takes the form of a propositional attitude. In the religious sense, "belief" refers to a part of a wider spiritual or moral foundation, generally called faith; historically generated by a group's need to provide a functionally valid foundation to sustain them. The generally accepted faiths usually note that when oppressive states are generated by it being exercised, and not a fact of reality, it was ...

Including:

• Belief - Belief knowledge and epistemology
• Belief - Belief as a psychological theory
• Belief - Is belief voluntary?
• Belief - Delusional beliefs

Read more here: » Belief: Encyclopedia - Belief

Celtic Wicca is a synthesis of Wicca with Celtic or Celtic-inspired traditions. Some Celtic Wiccans claim that the tradition is an ancient practice, which originated in the British Isles and has not been attributed to one teacher. Other Celtic Wiccans, and most mainstream scholarship, views Celtic Wicca as derived from Wicca combined with elements from attempted reconstructions of ancient Celtic religions. Wicca as established by Gardner contained Celtic elements, along with elements from many other cultures. Celtic Wicc ...

Read more here: » Celtic Wicca: Encyclopedia - Celtic Wicca

Scientology beliefs and practices - Daily Practices. Churches of Scientology are busy places. Courses are taught days, evenings and weekends. Auditing goes on during many of a church's public hours. This is a contrast to the Sunday Church Service found in many Christian Churches. Scientology is an applied spiritual philosophy based on Mr. Hubbard's writings (perhaps as many as 25 million words); thus, education is a key element of what goes on in Scientology Churches. Parishoners can attend Sunday Service, though ...

See also:

Scientology beliefs and practices, Scientology beliefs and practices - Beliefs, Scientology beliefs and practices - The Goal of Scientology, Scientology beliefs and practices - Core beliefs and central tenets of Scientology, Scientology beliefs and practices - The Dynamics, Scientology beliefs and practices - Reactive mind and engrams, Scientology beliefs and practices - The Tone Scale, Scientology beliefs and practices - The Bridge, Scientology beliefs and practices - Standard Tech, Scientology beliefs and practices - Past lives, Scientology beliefs and practices - Secret levels and writings, Scientology beliefs and practices - Scientology and the Supreme Being, Scientology beliefs and practices - Practices, Scientology beliefs and practices - Daily Practices, Scientology beliefs and practices - Scientology Holidays, Scientology beliefs and practices - Auditing, Scientology beliefs and practices - The Purification Rundown, Scientology beliefs and practices - Auditor Training, Scientology beliefs and practices - Ethics, Scientology beliefs and practices - Patter drills, Scientology beliefs and practices - Other Aspects, Scientology beliefs and practices - Salaries, Scientology beliefs and practices - Legal waivers, Scientology beliefs and practices - Scientology language, Scientology beliefs and practices - Squirrels

Read more here: » Scientology beliefs and practices: Encyclopedia II - Scientology beliefs and practices - Practices