What is Wicca? The answer to this question can vary, depending on who you ask, but below you’ll find a general introduction to this fascinating spiritual path.

Wicca is a modern, Earth-centered religion with roots in the ancient practices of our shamanic ancestors. Its practitioners, who call themselves Wiccans, honor the life-giving and life-sustaining powers of Nature through ritual worship and a commitment to living in balance with the Earth. Wicca is technically classified as one of many Pagan religions, though not all Wiccans would identify as Pagans—and plenty who identify as Pagans are not Wiccans.

In truth, Wicca is extremely dynamic and ever-evolving, so it’s difficult to make very many statements about it that every single person identifying as a Wiccan will agree with. However, it’s probably safe to say that when looking at the night sky, or the view from the top of a mountain, or the glassy surface of a lake, most—if not all—Wiccans will feel very much in the presence of the divine. So then, what is Wicca? What does it mean to be a Wiccan? And what are the core religious beliefs?

LIFE CYCLES: THE WICCAN GODDESS AND GOD

The deities of Wicca are the Goddess and the God, who are the feminine and masculine essences of the all-encompassing life force responsible for all of creation, including the cycles of life and death on Earth. Wiccans believe that these deities are multi-fold; in that sense, it is a duotheistic religion, rather than traditionally monotheistic religions like Christianity.

The Goddess is sometimes known as the Triple Goddess, because she is split into three identities, or parts: the Maiden Goddess, the Mother Goddess, and the Crone Goddess. This Maiden, Mother, Crone triad is believed by Wiccans to symbolize the dividing of the year. Springtime, when life is blooming and beauty abounds, is the time of the Maiden goddess, whose youth and energy are worshipped at this time of year. In the summer, where the days are long and happy, the Mother goddess is worshipped for her fertility and maternal skills. And the long autumn and winter are the domain of the Crone, who is not as scary as her name will suggest! Although autumn and winter can be harsh and cold, the seasons traditionally associated with death and decline, Wiccans acknowledge the Crone’s wisdom and the peace that she brings, and during this time of the year, they often rest, soothed by the knowledge that the earth will turn again and restore light and beauty once more.

The God, meanwhile, is known sometimes as the Horned God, sometimes as the Green Man, and other times as the Oak and Holly King. Although that first one might sound a little scary, don’t worry! This iteration of the God has nothing to do with Satanism or devil-worship; rather, the horns represent his masculine virility and connection to nature, as Hellenic forest deities such as Pan were often represented with antlers. Like the Goddess, the God also splits the year: in autumn and winter, he is the Holly King, and in the spring and summertime, the Oak! The connection of Wiccans with nature is therefore very strong, found represented throughout their beliefs and the characteristics of their deities.

The God and Goddess are worshipped at regular intervals throughout the year. Festivals emphasizing the masculine are known as Sabbats. Corresponding with the Earth’s position relative to the Sun, they include Click here to read the rest of this