What is Wicca, Exactly? (pt. 2)
Hello! Welcome to part two of this series on Wicca! If you have not read Part 1, I suggest you start there. In part one, I talked about basic beliefs, traditions, ritual dress, and holidays. Yesterday at the time of writing this was the summer solstace, so I thought I would talk a little bit more about the Sabbats and Esbats, specifically relating to my own practice.
The summer solstace is also known as Midsummer or Litha, and typically takes place somewhere between the 20th and 21st of June. It represents the longest day, and the height of strength of the Oak King <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_King_and_Oak_King>_; the spring and summer incarnation of ^The Horned God. It is a day of power, and can be used in Craft to further empower spells of growth, strength, and sexuality.
I will note here that no white witch seeks to dominate another's will through magic, like one might try by attempting to cast a love spell on a specific person. This is manipulative and generally considered a harm and against the Wiccan Rede, the moral basis upon which Wicca is built. There is only one law in Wicca that is recognized by all covens, being "An it harm none, do what thou wilt." This is a warning, based on the natural law called in witchcraft the Threefold Law, which states that any energy released into the universe is returned threefold, be it good or ill. Scott Cunningham states that there are only neophyte black magicians, as any serious commitment to the Left-hand Path will eventually destroy the would-be magician. Ye be warned.
So what does the Midsummer celebration look like in my practice? Well, I spent it alone, as I was unable to make it to Pagan Spirit Gathering this year due to prior commitments and how my paid time off shook out. To prepare my alter, I swept the floor where I would be sitting, put my fruit offering in my offering bowl (we never make offerings based in suffering to the Goddess and God, such as meat) and took a shower, making sure to thoroughly clean myself. I then dried myself off, and stood skyclad in front of my alter, first lighting the coal for my incense (I craft my own granular incense), placing a small amount of the incense on the coal in my salt dish on my altar, and lit the candles I burn for the Lady and Lord. I then cast a circle by invoking the elements, and began my communion with the Lady and Lord. I thanked them for the good things they have given me recently, and requested their guidance. I then drew four tarot cards as instructed, talked with them about the reading, and meditated for a few minutes. I then said my thanks, took down the circle, and extinguished the candles. At a later time, I would bring my offering out to a body of water or a hole in the earth, and relinquish it to the Goddess and God, perhaps saying a short prayer while doing so. I then watered my plants and went to bed.
This weekend I will be attending the solstace celebration in my city, and will be meeting up with a couple from my coven there. I'm greatly looking forward to seeing them again, they were handfasted this last Beltane, and were a joy to spend time with. I'm looking forward to picking their brains on the book I'm reading (Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler).
This is a great opportunity to say that while I am not sponsored by half-price books, I deeply appreciate them and their selection. While buying used books doesn't support the authors as much, it does help reduce paper waste, and they have a great metaphysical section. Given that most of the authors I read are dead, I hope they don't mind me reducing my impact on the environment by giving life to used books.
Bright Blessings, readers!
Rowan