Although the origins of the word Wicca are unclear, some speculate that it comes from the Old English word for wisdom. Wicca is now another word for Witchcraft, "the Craft of the Wise." Many believe that Witchcraft is based on the pre-Christian nature religions of Western and Central Europe. A Witch is known as a Wiccan, a practitioner of Wicca.

Beliefs

Generally, most Wiccans share some form of the following beliefs:

1.  A reverence for all nature
2.  A belief that the deity--God and Goddess--is represented in nature and nature's rhythms.
3.  A belief in the ability to work magic.
4.  A belief that what one sends out--in thoughts, words, and actions --will come back to oneself in time.

Wicca is a totally positive path whose followers observe only one rule, the Wiccan Rede: "If it harm none, do what you will." Participants live their lives as they see fit, provided they do not intentionally hurt any one else.

Rituals

Wiccans observe the cycles of the moon and the seasons of the year and attune themselves to these cycles. Most Wiccans hold rituals at seasonal holy days and at the full and new moons. Some prefer to worship alone; these Wiccans are called solitaries. Many prefer to meet in groups known as covens. Some covens are run by consensus, while others are run by leaders referred to as High Priest or High Priestess.

Most ritual work is done in a circular space, traditionally nine feet in diameter. The circle is considered a sacred shape because it has no beginning and no ending. Often an altar is set up within the circle to honor the God and Goddess.

Magic

Most Wiccans believe in the ability to harness the earth's energy to work magic, to create change on the physical plane. This is generally not thought of as a "supernatural" idea, but something that is actually quite natural, and very much aligned with the laws of physics.

When working with magic, Wiccans generally use simple items from nature and work with the elements earth, air, fire, and water. These 4 elements are represented in the pentagram, the Wiccan 5-pointed star. The top point represents Spirit; thus the pentagram symbolizes Spirit presiding over the elements.

Wiccans for the most part are ordinary people leading ordinary lives. Wiccans are bank tellers, police officers, school teachers, mechanics, doctors, secretaries. One could pass 100 Witches on the street and never know it! [Yes, both men and women can be Witches. The term "warlock" is not used.] But like most other minority groups, they have been oppressed and misunderstood. Today Witches are coming forward to speak out against this injustice. They want the truth about their way of life to be made clear, to be heard and respected for what they are.