lundi 16 mars 2015

Popular Wiccan Rituals And Ceremonies

By Leslie Ball


You made have heard of a religion associated with witchcraft called Wicca. This religion has been around for quite some time, although it is often mistaken for a religion that deals with the occult and dark magic. As such, it is quite a controversial religion. In fact, Wicca is very peaceful and while linked to magic, it is not of the evil kind. Various Wiccan rituals and ceremonies take place over the course of the year.

Festivals in Wicca are based on the seasons. There are about eight of these festivals throughout the year and they are known as Sabbats. The cycle of these festivals is referred to as the Wheel of the Year. They occur during the four solstices and equinoxes and the four mid points between them. Other pagan religions may only celebrate four of these festivals.

A sacred circle is the space wherein most ritual practices will occur. In this circle, magic can be practiced and spells cast safely without endangering anyone outside the circle. In Wicca, the use of white magic, or good magic, is promoted as opposed to dark or black magic, which is used in religions like Satanism.

Wiccans have a number of reasons for wanting to cast spells and practice magic. These include to protect someone, to heal someone, to help with one's fertility and to get rid of negativity. Chanting, drumming or dancing can be a part of casting spells. Wiccans also believe in the adage that whatever is done in the world comes back to the doer threefold.

During the Sabbats is when a lot of the ritual practices occur. Full moons are taken advantage of for the purpose of conducting a ritual, or sometimes even a new moon. Ritual practices are seen as a way of altering one's level of consciousness and enhancing the religious experience.

Certain objects are commonly associated with these ritual practices. A knife or dagger, referred to as an athame, is almost always present. A chalice, wand and pentacle can often be seen as well. Objects commonly associated with witches, like a broomstick or a cauldron can be present in the circle, as well as candles or incense. These objects, or tools, are usually placed on the altar found inside the circle.

Coveners who want to raise their energy to send to an individual outside of the circle, mainly for healing purposes, conduct a ritual known as Raising the Cone of Power. During this practice, everyone holds hands and forms a circle inside the sacred circle. They direct their chants or the like towards a focal point above the circle, which is where the energy grows towards. This makes the shape of a cone, hence the phrase.

Though there is no central figure or deity that Wiccans worship or pray to, they do believe in the idea of a God and Goddess when performing rituals. Sometimes, the God and Goddess are invoked by a High Priest and High Priestess during a sex magic ritual. During such a ritual, the High Priest and High Priestess engage in sexual intercourse in order to raise the necessary magic energy for a spell.




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