Where Wicca Started from
Wicca is believed to start from an ancient religion called Shamanism. The Shamans were medicine people, the power wielders, male and female. They wrought magick and spoke to the spirits of Nature.
From these primitive beginnings arose all magick and religion including Wicca. Though refined and changed for our world, Wicca still touches our souls and causes ecstasy--awareness shifts--uniting us with Deity. Many of the teachings of Wicca are Shamanic in origin.
As told from Eileen Hollands book "The Wicca Handbook"
pg 5
Modern Wicca began in England in 1939, when Gerald Gardner was initiated into a traditional British coven by Dorothy Clutterbuck (Old Dorothy). He later broke the coven's seal of secrecy and published books about the beliefs and practices of British Wiccans, because he feared the religion would die out. This began what continues to be a groundswell of people converting to Wicca.
Debate currently rages over whether Wicca is a new religion or the oldest of all religions. Some say that Wicca has been practiced continuously in Europe at least sinnce the Ice Age. they cite paleolithic carvings of female figures, such as the Venus of Willendorf, as evidnce of Goddess worship having been the origin of all religions. No, say others, Wicca is a neo-pagan faith, a 20th century construct.
Before Time Was
Wicca
How Wicca Started
What Wicca Is and Is Not
Law of Power
Balance
The Path
What is Wicca
Nature of Our Ways
Code of Chivalary
Wiccan Rede
Wicca & Practical Magick
Wicca & Paganism
Wicca & Witchcraft
Ten Things About Wicca
Wiccan Keys
Wiccan Creation
Places Of Power
Wiccan Alphabet
In Defense of Wicca
Basic Facts
A Wiccan Story
Wiccan Symbols & Meaning
Why Study?
Religion
Comparative Religion
Wiccan Glossary - A to E
Wiccan Glossary F to P
Wiccan Glossary P to Z
New Book Of Laws
Principles Of Wiccan Belief
Wiccan Faith
Concept of Deity
Natural Wiccans/Pagans
Words To The Wise
Circle - Why We Use Them
Circle Casting
Casting - Another Method
Erecting The Temple
The 4 Directions
Circle Etiquette
Sacred Circle
Smudging
Doing Magick
Magickal Definitions
Definitions - Continued
Skyclad
Skyclad - Page 2
Meditation
Thoughts
Some More Thoughts
Morality
Old Spells
Spells and Soil
Sacred Space
Sacred Water
Sacred Woods
Trees
Celtic Tree Astrology
Which Tree Are You?
Gardening
Gardening Therapy
Taking A Trip
Past Life Regression
Age of Innocence
Tips For Solitaries
Organizing A Group Ritual
Finding A Teacher
The Lore Of Numbers
A Life Well Lived
Wicca - Links Continued