Polytheistic (almost)
Wicca is a polytheistic religion, in that Wicca embraces two gods namely The Goddess and The God. Even so, it isn't quite as polytheistic as the old religions of Europe which had large pantheons of gods and goddesses. To fill in the gaps, Wicca considers all of the old gods aspects (faces of, or sides to) of The Goddess or The God.
This is a convenient way to keep everyone happy because they can choose the gods of old that they are drawn to, and yet still everyone is worshiping the same The Goddess and The God.
The contradiction between Wicca and historically accurate information regarding the old religions of Europe becomes obvious when one looks at the old gods being represented as aspects of the Wiccan God/Goddess duality.
Deity
Primary Deity
In the earliest writings by Gerald Gardner (most accurately described as proto-Wicca), The Horned God was primary deity with no mention at all of The Goddess.
In 1953 Wicca The Goddess was the primary deity with The God being her consort and generally viewed as equals. That continues today in the Gardnerian Tradition, with a few traditions downplaying or eliminating The God.
The Goddess
Because Christianity is a patriarchal religion (male god), people sometimes have trouble relating to a female god, The Goddess. With a little bit of adjusting of one's thinking on the role of gods, The Goddess being female can make a lot of sense.
The role of The Goddess is to bring and nurture life, which is very similar to a woman's role (sorry if this sounds sexist) of bearing children and caring for them. All things of life are the children of The Goddess, hence she is our mother which relates well with a feminine deity image.
The Goddess is symbolized in Wicca by the moon. The symbolism extends to cover the phases of a woman's life namely, child, mother, old woman, and then death with rebirth. These three are reflected as waxing moon ) full moon O and waning moon (. Combined they form a symbol widely known among Wiccans as The Goddess Symbol )O(
The three phases of The Goddesses life have formal names. They are: Maiden (youthfulness), Mother (birthing and nurturing), and Crone (wisdom and protection).
The God
The role of The God is hunter, protector and provider which is similar to a man's role (again sorry for the sexism). Another significant part of the role of The God is... to fertilize The Goddess so she can bring life. In doing so, the circle of life is completed and that which is born, lives and dies to be reborn again.
That brings us to a central element of Wiccan belief...
THE GREAT RITE
The spelling of the word rite is significant. It isn't right, as in right and wrong, or right and left. It is rite as in ritual. The greatest of all rituals is the marriage and fertility of The Goddess and The God.
In the original Gardnerian Wicca ritual, the High Priestess would invoke (call into her) The Goddess, and the High Priest would invoke The God. Then the High Priest would, uhmmm... "fertilize" the High Priestess with the rest of the Coven present (and possibly participating). This was seen as a way to honor the divine creation of life.
In modern Gardnerian practice, the physical joining of the High Priestess and High Priest is seldom if ever done. It has been replaced with a symbolic coupling of The Goddess and The God using a chalice (stemmed cup) and an Athame (ceremonial knife). The ritual still honors the divine creation and some find it more appropriate than the earlier practice.
Relationship with The Goddess and The God
In some ways, Wicca is very unique in that there are no long lists of rules laid down by the gods as to how we are to live our lives. Ethics and personal actions are determined by oneself based on the Rede and the Law of Threefold Return.
ONE WITH NATURE
One With Nature
The emphasis of Wiccan belief is that we humans are one with nature. We are not master over it, nor subservient to it. An owl is your brother in that both you and the owl are life from The Goddess.
While that may sound like a beautiful concept, in reality it is a difficult practice. If the owl is your brother, so is that groundhog you hit with your car. So is your dog, and your plant. All of a sudden there is a whole world which is now your family and simple things like squishing a spider have serious ethical implications.
Reincarnation
To my knowledge, nowhere in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows is it stated that reincarnation is a tenet of Wiccan belief. On the other hand, almost all of the theology points to the pattern: birth, life, death and rebirth.
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WICCAN REDE
(Full Version)
Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.
For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"
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