So what is this thing we call Witchcraft?
For a long time now (around 1000 years) there has been a lot of bad press about witchcraft even though it is an ancient religion that has stood the test of time. The ethos of Wicca and its related religions is peaceful coexistence and the idea of the threefold rule.
The threefold rule is the set of guidelines for the life of a Wicca practitioner and simply states that whatever you do to others will be done three times back to you.
This rule makes Wiccans probably the nicest people in the world leading to my question about the press. Over the years groups of people who wish to do truly evil things, such as murder, have decided that they can hide behind the guise of organised religion, since Wicca is little understood by the population at large it is picked up as their "religion of choice". These people are not true Wiccans just claim to be so to cover up their deeds. Secondly in Europe Wicca and other forms of paganism had been precursors to the spread of Christianity. Many missionaries of the first few centuries after the advent of Christianity had the task of converting these heathen tribes to the Christian ideal. Those who would not convert were persecuted in what would now be called ethnic cleansing. During this time, ie. between the spread of Christianity until the beginning of last century, Christian religious fervour has meant that the religions it replaced have been at first outlawed, then scorned and even defamed simply to preserve the position of the church.
In addition to both of these effects magic, as practiced by Wiccans, has been turned into something that only children can believe in.
Wicca has overcome its enemies and still survives today, indeed the ranks are swelled by new converts who are disenchanted with the "mainstream" organised religions. It also has the benefit of being a widely accepted religion, at least in all western nations. However surely the greatest benefit it has received has come from the media and shows like Buffy the Vampire slayer, Charmed and their ilk which all show Wicca in a good, if biased, light. We still await a program which has male witches in and removes the lesbian bias that has become apparent since the 1960s.
So what is this thing we call Witchcraft?
There is no simple answer to that question since there are so many forms which witchcraft takes. The practice ranges from the plodding druids of North Wales to the ecstatic Mambo of Voodoo, all of which practice ancient pagan religions. Yet none of these groups own as a matter of compulsion any of the following: pointy hats, Broomsticks nor black cats
These items are mostly the invention of the medaeval Witchfinders and their ilk. A rather surprising omission from that list is of course the cauldron, an item that many groups of magic practitioners commonly use and (hopefully will to continue to into the future). The common misconceptions aside there is one major link between the vast range covered by the term "Paganism"; these religions are by far the eldest in existence. Christianity may be traced back around 2000 years, Islam about the same along with Buddhism, Judaism is older but has little to compare with the age of the Greco-Roman pagan religions. These religions are around 8000 years old and yet are still relative youngsters compared with the eldest religion of all; early Paganism which is impossible to date being older than writing its self. Paganism consists of a polytheistic belief that a god may be attributed to each and every thing in nature ie. there would be a deity covering rainfall, another the harvest, another for the home, another for death and so on. Prayer to these gods specifically to help them in their everyday life for example by keeping their house safe from fire. As well as simple prayer a sacrifice may also be necessary to buy the god's favour. The sacrifice is highly dependent on the deity, some may accept bread whilst others may want an animal or indeed human sacrifice. In return for this sacrifice, dependent also upon its value to the god, the worshiper will be granted either what they ask for or a compromise that the god feels is fitting. An especially good sacrifice could even end up in more than just one simple wish being granted upto the stage that the god takes them as its favourite bestowing riches beyond imagination upon the lowly mortal. The riches of magic are the most prized.