Friday, March 6, 2015

Commonly Practiced 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.

Wiccan festivals are primarily seasonal-based. For some pagans, there are only 4 festivals which occur during the equinoxes and solstices of the year. In Wicca, however, there are 8 festivals, which include the 4 midpoints between the solstices and equinoxes. These festivals are called the Sabbats.

Many ritual practices in this religion are conducted in what is known as a sacred circle. The reason for this is that the magic is contained and therefore cannot get out of control. The religion of Wicca is aligned with the use of white magic as opposed to religions like Satanism, which are strongly associated with black magic.

Ritual practices in Wicca are usually for one of the following reasons: to offer protection, banish negativity, to heal or to aid fertility. Spells are cast, accompanied with chants in order to bring about desired results. Wiccans generally believe that whatever they put out into the world will come back to them three times greater.

Ritual practices mainly happen during the Sabbats. Pagans like to take advantage of the full moon or even a new moon in order to enhance magical powers. The purpose of a ritual practice is to alter one's conscious level and also to enhance his or her religious experience.

There are very specific objects that have an association with a ritual practice. There is almost always a dagger or knife known as an athame present. Coveners may also use a wand, a pentacle or a chalice as part of their spell. Witchcraft associated items like a broomstick or a cauldron could also be present, as well as incense or candles. These things are usually placed on an altar inside the sacred circle.

The cone of power is a way for those conducting a ritual to send energy and healing to someone who is not in the circle. The group of coveners form a circle and hold hands and chant, dance or drum to raise the energy in the circle. This energy is focused to a single point above the circle centre, thereby creating a conical shape. This entire ritual is known as Raising the Cone of Power.

Wiccans do not have a specific God or figure that they pray to. However, they do have representations of a God and Goddess through the Sun and Moon. These figures can be embodied by a High Priest and a High Priestess for the purposes of conducting a sex ritual. During such, the two fornicate in order to increase the sexual and therefore magical energy. This can then be used to work magic or cast a spell.




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