139 lines
7.1 KiB
Plaintext
139 lines
7.1 KiB
Plaintext
...::::....::::::::........::.........:::..
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| : ø ø : ~,~~
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- (.) - : ø ø ø ø : /-)(
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| t-file : ø Hallucinatory Oyster Burrito ø : ()=
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assault : ø ø ø : HOOKA!
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.:.....:......::::........:::........:::.:.
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18 March 1995 Issue #40
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Wicca: An alternative path to deity
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By: The Dark Jester
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Witchcraft, also known as Wicca, is a diverse and decentralized religion
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that is part of the nature-based religious movement which is emerging in the
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world today. At this moment, there are thousands of individuals and groups
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who practice Wicca in North America and many others in Europe and South
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America.
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There is no "holy book" or great man who inspired or created Wicca.
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Instead, Wicca is a religion based upon the centries old traditions of the
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pagan peoples of Old Europe. It incorporates ideas from MANY pagan paths,
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and puts them all together in an understandable, natural way. Wicca isn't
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about sin, or hate, or eternal damnation. Instead, Wicca is about life. The
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plants, animals ... all that is alive, incuding humans, are a part of
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"deity". In Wicca, god(ess) isn't in some celestial palace or in a fiery
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pit, but instead is manifest in the universe as all that is - the life force
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if you will. Nature is used as a teacher.
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Wicca is a religion of common sense. As we are all a part of deity, it
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makes no sense to destroy the environment or to hurt other people since when
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you do so you only hurt yourself. While Wicca has many traditions
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(denominations) including some homemade ones (which is just fine) it has
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some central ideas that most all Wiccans ascribe to. The most important one
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of which is the Wiccan Rede: "It it harm none, do what thou wilt". If
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followed to its logical conclusion, the Rede is a key to responsible,
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ethical living and can arguably be considered more responsible than some
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more mainstream religious "commandments".
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Witchcraft incorporates into itself the use of magick. Magick is
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important to Wicca, as it enables Witches to help themselves and other
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people (provided they WANT the help). Witches don't cast curses, or summon
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negative spiritual entities. Instead, Wiccans use their magick to heal and
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to improve the quality if life. In short, Wiccan magick is POSITIVE magick.
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Wiccans use nature as a guide. In nature, there is birth ... growth ...
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and then finally ... death. With the coming of spring however, there is
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re-birth! Wiccans believe in reincarnation. When someone dies, their spirit
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passes into a place called by many names in many cultures. Wiccans commonly
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call it the Summerlands. A place of rest and love where the spirit is allowed
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to grow strong again. After this occurs, the spirit is returned to earth to
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live another life again and again gaining experience and knowledge from
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each life. The rebirth is NOT locked into linear time. (If it was, it would
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be impossible as there are now more people living today than at any time in
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history.) What life you live each time is based upon a plan beyond our
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understanding AT THIS TIME. It doesn't depend on "karma" as the people of
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the East understand it.
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For purposes of relating to deity, Wiccans use many symbols. As there is
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duality in nature, Wiccans use both the male and female to represent the
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"image" of the deity. Both God and Goddes, Lord and Lady are symbolized as
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the deity. This makes sense, as both sexes are a PART of nature. Various
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deities from the different cultures of the world are used as symbols as well.
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Some Wiccans might call upon the symbol of Tyche, the Greek goddess of luck
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for aid. Other Wiccans might call upon Forseti, the Norse deity of Justice
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to deal with someone who has wronged them. Different traditions use different
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deities.
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There are really two groups of Wiccans. Those who practice together, in a
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group called a "coven" and those who practice alone called Solitares. Both
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ways are fine, although a coven can be a great way to meet new people and to
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learn more about oneself and others.
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At the last, it's time to talk about the Wiccans worst problem: bad press.
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Many Christian groups have made a concerted effort to spread lies about Wicca,
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calling it "Satanic" and insisting that Wiccans in reality are worshipers of
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their devil. This is absolutely untrue. The devil, or Satan is a Christian
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concept. Wicca has nothing to do with Christianity, and so does not believe
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in the Christian Devil or any other Christian theology. The press also has a
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tendency to call any female magician a "witch" which is not accurate. Male
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Wiccans are not called Worlocks.
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There is much more to Wicca than what you're read about in this article.
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I suggest that you pick-up a few books on the subject and then decide for
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yourself whether Wicca is for you. Wiccans don't go looking for converts, so
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asking questions isn't going to put you in danger from people coming to the
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door with books to press on you. You should, however, be polite and careful
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if you want to talk to someone who you think IS a Wiccan. Many Wiccans have
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been harrassed by many well meaning, and sometimes not so well meaning
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members of other religions who want to convert them and might not want to
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come "out of the broom closet" so to speak. Ask, but don't press. If you DO
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find someone who says they are Wiccan, check with your "inner self" when
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you hear what they say. If their views and practices don't work for you,
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just don't do it. Find a tradition that's right for you, or when you've read
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more, come up with your own as I have. It's ok.
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** Suggested Reading:
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Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft - Raymond Buckland
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The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess -
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Starhawk
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Earth Magick - Marian Weinstein
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Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practicioner - Scott Cunningham
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Real Magick - Isaac Bonewits (A little heavy, read the others first if
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possible.)
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`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'
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Hallucinatory Oyster Burrito
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An AUFHEBEN Production! support: tyrant: numbah:
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"Why, I don't know much of The Seinsfrage .. HOB WHQ!.. 216.966.7453
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anything!" -Eraserhead Radio KAOS ... Moonshadow .. 216.830.4657
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_Submission Policy_: Hallucinatory Oyster Burrito is into subs!
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If you write something - anything - send it to us and we'll get it
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to press. For contacting HOB, see below.
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Want to be a support board for HOB? Download ALL the HOB's and DDE's
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create a file sig on your board, and let me know. Your BBS will
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be listed. TO CONTACT US: Call the WHQ (The Seinsfrage) or you
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can send e-mail to: amphgobb@frage.aldhfn.org
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`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'
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-eof-
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