In prehistoric times, people respected the great forces of Nature and celebrated the cycles of the seasons and the moon. They saw divinity in the sun and moon, in the Earth Herself, and in all life. The creative energies of the universe were personified: feminine and masculine principles became Goddesses and Gods. These were not semi-abstract, superhuman figures set apart from Nature: they were embodied in earth and sky, women and men, and plants and animals.

This viewpoint is still central to present-day Wicca. To most Wiccans, everything in Natures -- and all Goddesses and Gods -- are true aspects of the Deityies. The aspects most often celebrated in the Wicca, however, are the Triple Goddess of the Moon (Who is Maiden, Mother, and Crone) and the Horned God of the Sun and harvest. These have many names in various cultures.

Wicca had its organized beginnings in Paleolithic times; co- existed with other Pagan religions in Europe, and had a profound influence on early Christianity. But in the medieval period, the Roman Church directed tremendous persecution against the Nature religions. Over a span of 300 years, millions of men and women and many children were hanged, drowned, or burned as accused "Witches." The Church indicted them for black magic and Satan worship, though, in fact, these were never a part of Wicca.

The Wiccan faith went underground, to be practiced in small, secret groups called "covens." For the most part, it stayed hidden until very recent times.

How do Wiccan folk practice their faith today? There is no central authority or doctrine, and individual covens vary a great deal. Though some practice alone or with only their families, many Wiccans are organized into covens of three to thirteen members. Some are led by a High Priestess or Priest, many by a Priestess/Priest team; others rotate or share leadership. Some covens are highly structured and hierarchical, while others may be informal. You will also find many solitary ‘practitioners’ like myself. I have been to coven meetings before, but I do not belong to one and I prefer to work alone ;)

Coven meetings include ritual, celebration and magick (the "k" is to distinguish it from stage illusions). Wiccan magick is not at all like the instant "special effects" of cartoon shows or fantasy novels, nor medieval demonology; it operates in harmony with natural laws and is usually less spectacular -- though effective. Various techniques are used to heal people and animals, seek guidance, or improve members' lives in specific ways. Personally I believe that you must first improve upon yourself...which can be accomplished through the use of rituals, then you can work on improving you life by mundane means. Positive goals are sought: cursing and "evil spells" are repugnant to practitioners of the Wicca. ‘Do what thou wilt, lest ye harm none.’

Wiccans tend to be strong supporters of environmental protection, equal rights, global, peace and religious freedom, and sometimes magick is used toward such goals.

Wiccan beliefs do not include such concepts as original sin, vicarious atonement, divine judgment or bodily resurrection. Craft folk believe in a beneficent universe, the laws of karma and reincarnation, and divinity inherent in every human being and all of Nature.

Wiccans tend to be individualists, and have no central holy book, prophet, or church authority. They draw inspiration and insight from science, and personal experience. Most practitioners keep a personal book or journal in which s/he records dreams, invocations, songs, poetry and so on. I have an extensive journal that I have kept to record my tarot readings.

To most of the Craft, every religion has its own valuable perspective on the nature of Deity and humanity's relationship to it: there is no One True Faith. Rather, religious diversity is necessary in a world of diverse societies and individuals. Because of this belief, Wiccan groups do not actively recruit, or ‘preach’ there is an assumption that people who can benefit from the Wicca will "find their way home" when the time is right.

There are several tools that are used in rituals…although I don’t think they are ‘necessary,’ they do add a lot to ones belief in what they are doing. I also think that it is best to make what ever of it that you can. Personally I use an athame, incense burner, caldron (no its not large and black and no I don’t use any ingredients such as tongue of frog or eye of newt lol), candle holders, wand and pentacle disk, although there are many more that can be used depending on ones preferences.

From To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver RavenWolf.

• A. Ritual Preparation


1. Define purpose
2. Write ritual
3. Gather necessary tools
4. Prepare area
5. Prepare body

• B. Open Circle
1. Find true North
2. Set up Magickal 'doorway'
3. Call the Watchtowers / Elemental Quarters

• C. Invocation to the deities
1. Align self with deity
2. Invoke deities

• D. Statement of Purpose
• E. Actual Rite
1. Working
1. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
2. Raise power / energy
3. Focus power / energy
4. Ground power / energy
1. Honoring
1. Complete preliminary manual or visual task
2. Dedicate cakes and wine
3. Partake in cakes and wine

• F. Meditation
• G. Thanking the deities
• H. Closing the Circle
1. Mentally and verbally close the circle
2. Physically close the circle
3. Clean up
1. Disposal
2. Washing of plates and glasses
3. Putting away tools and other implements

A better author and guide in my opinion is Scott Cunningham. He focuses more on the solitary practitioner more so than Silver RavenWolf does. Cunningham stresses that initiation comes from the gods and goddesses; initiation by another is not necessary to be dedicated to the pagan path.

Cunningham stresses that the best rituals are personal and created by the individual seeker, and encourages readers of his books to create personal rituals using symbols with special meaning to themselves.

Yule (circa December 21)
(Winter Solstice, December 20-23 (varies according to the particular date on the standard calendar according to when the Solstice will occur astronomically)). Longest night of the year, the turning point when the days shall afterwards grow longer as winter begins its passage into the coming spring. It is, in the Goddess worship, the time when she gives forth again to the birth of the Divine Sun child who shall be both child and eventually lover and father of the next child in the cycle. Winter Solstice for pagans is a time of feasting and the exchanging of gifts and is the original Holiday that the Christian religions modified into their own Christmas, even up to the birth of the child (Most theologians who have spent time studying the birth of Jesus admit he was born in either March or April, not the celebrated Christmas date we all know from the standard calendar - it was moved to this date to help induce Pagans to give up their old ways yet allow them their holidays during the spread of Christianity through Europe and the British Isles). Traditional adornments are a Yule Log, usually of oak, and a combination of mistletoe and holly.

Imbolc (February 2)
(Candlemas, Brigid's Day) Not common to all Pagans, this is very popular with Wiccans and various Celtic sects. Brigid is the Celtic goddess of fire and inspiration (Poetry, smithcraft and healing) as well as yet another representation of the Fertility of Femininity and Love. Brigid had such a strong following among the Celtics that the Catholic church decided it was easier to assimilate her into their own system, and so there came about the making of Saint Brigit and all the stories about her so that her followers would leave their old beliefs enough so they would not side with the Druids, who were known at that time as 'the snakes' because of their tendency to have tamed snakes that were used to help produce various healing mixtures via their venom, and who were violently opposing the Catholic church. In History, of course, the druids lost against the overwhelming odds presented by the church, led by a man who would then be himself sainted by the church, their Saint Patrick (who was no clergyman but a warrior). Thus Christian rule of various sorts came into Ireland. Handcrafts are often dedicated to Brigid as they are started on this day. Its celebration is done with many candles and as usual much feasting. Imbolc marks the recovery of the Goddess after birth of the God. The warmth of the power of the God fertilizes the Earth and so the earliest beginnings of spring occur. This is a sabbat of purification, a festival of light and fertility. This is also a traditional time for initiations into covens and self-dedication rituals. Also known as: Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Oimelc.

Ostara (circa March 21)
(Eostar, Spring Equinox, March 20-23 dependent on actual astronomical event) The Goddess blankets the Earth with fertility as the God stretches and grows to maturity. The hours of day and night are equal and light is overtaking darkness. This is a time of beginnings, actions, and of tending the gardens. This is the start in the pagan year of spring, at least among Wiccans and Celtics. The first flowers are praised and the God and Goddess thanked for the true return to happier times for all. Ostara is one of the more colorful holidays, not one of the somber colors found in Yule and Candlemas. Feasting and socializing are the important factors in this holiday as well as the celebration of the return of color to the natural world.

Beltane (May 1)
(May Eve, April 30th-May 1st) Most important to pagans, save for Samhain, Beltane is the great Fertility rite of life, starting at dusk on the 30th and continuing until the dawn of the 1st. The union of the God and Goddess to conceive the sun-child to be takes place upon this holiday, no matter which tradition of paganism is involved. The Maypole, used in many different pagan religions, is a symbol of the union of the God and Goddess to create life, the pole itself a phallic symbol while the dancers and their streamers or vines of flowers represent the fertile womb of the goddess as it takes in the Phallus of the god and takes in his seed. Besides the Maypole often a bonfire is present, and members of the group are encouraged to jump the flames for luck and their own fertility. Food, drink and love are the order of the evening. In most sects the celebration of unions of love are enacted. Beltane is the time of many marriages/handfastings in the pagan community (in some it is the point where one chooses to begin and end relationships of a physical nature. It is said that a child conceived on this day will grow up to wield great power and knowledge and to be healthier than upon any other.

Litha (circa June 21)
(Midsummer, Summer Solstice, June 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event) Held on the longest day of the year, the Solstice is the celebration of light's triumph over darkness and that of the bountiful beauty that light brings into life. Flowers are common in the circle, roses and bright cheerful wildflowers are upon the altar and usually worn by all. It is the changing point of the year, and the celebration of the spiral dance of the year is common among Wiccans. It a celebration with much joy, and much feasting. Many wiccans will attire themselves in bright colors and equally bright adornments of flowers. Litha's usual food fare may include honeycakes or cornbread. Litha is not celebrated by all sects nor in the same way. In the past, bonfires were leapt to encourage fertility, purification, health and love. Midsummer is a classic time for magick of all kinds.

Lughnassadh (August 1)
The great corn ritual of Wiccan belief (in Celtic realms this is the celebration of the wheat god, corn is an Americanization and it is possible there is an American Indian traditional holiday near this date that was borrowed by the American Neopagans). This is the big celebration of the harvest (Sort of a Pagan Thanksgiving, but the time clock is different as is that of the Celtics). Much feasting and dancing occur, though it is a bit more somber than many of the other holidays. Some Pagans celebrate this day as merely the day to bake their bread and cakes for the coming winter and do no actual rituals save that of blessing the foods prepared. Pagans see this as a time when the God loses his strength as the Sun rises farther south each day and the nights grow longer. The Goddess watches in sorrow and joy as she realizes the God is dying yet lives on inside her as her child. As summer passes, Wiccans remember its warmth and bounty in the food we eat. This sabbat is also called Lammas, August Eve, and the Feast of Bread.

Mabon (circa September 21)
(Fall Equinox, Sept. 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event) A lesser holiday, this is not widely celebrated and is most common with pure Wiccan groups. This is the weavers festival, and a braiding of cords are done in the process of casting a spell to add to ones life from what it is, each person weaving unto themselves what they wish and the coven as a whole weaving all the cords together to unite the power and efforts symbolically. The autumn equinox is the completion of the harvest begun at Lammas. Once again the day and night are equal as the God prepares to leave the body and to begin the great adventure into the unseen, toward renewal and rebirth by the Goddess.

Samhain (October 31/November 1)
At Samhain, the Wiccans say farewell to the God even though he readies to be reborn at Yule. This grand sabbat, also known as Feast of the Dead, Feast of Apples, All Hallows, and of course Halloween, once marked the time of sacrifice. This was the time when animals were killed to ensure food throughout the winter. The God fell as well to ensure our continuing existence. This is a time of reflection and coming to terms with the one thing in life over which we have no control - death. Wiccans feel that on this night the separation between the physical and spiritual realities is it's least guarded and it's veil the thinnest. It is a time for dimensional openings and workings, and also the celebration of the death of the year king. It is a somber holiday, one of dark clothes and thoughts for the dead, it is said to be the time when those of necromantic talents can speak with the dead and it is certainly a time to remember ones’ dead. It is a time of endings of relationships and bad situations and it is the time when one can see the glimmer of hope in the future. There are as many concepts attached to this holiday as any other, truly a time of remembrance of our ancestors and all those who have gone before.

Well there you have the basics, I must say that I don’t follow everything to the ‘T’ that I have mentioned in here…but a lot of it I do. I think a good basic explanation is in the Wiccan Rede, which follows.