Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Part 1 What Is Wicca?
A Living, Evolving Spiritual Path 3
The Old Religion 5
The Various "isms" within Wicca 7
Wiccans, Witches, and the Capital W 9
One Name, Many Paths 11
Wiccan History: Facts and Mystery 13
Timeless, but Not Quite So Ancient 15
Claiming "Wicca" in the Twenty-First Century 16
Core Beliefs of Wiccan Traditions 18
Nature's Divine Presence 19
The Deities of Wicca 21
The Wheel of the Year 27
The Sabbats 29
The Esbats 38
The Elements 40
Other Beliefs 44
Reincarnation 44
The Afterlife 45
Animism 46
Stars, Numbers, Tarot, and More 47
Part 2 Wiccan Ritual
From Belief to Practice 53
Communing with the Divine 53
Wiccan Ritual and Ceremonial Magic 54
The Wiccan Altar 57
What Do "Tools" Have to Do with It? 59
Core Components of Wiccan Ritual 61
Casting the Sacred Circle 62
Marking the Circle 63
Calling the Quarters and Invoking the Deities 64
The Heart of Ritual and the Book of Shadows 65
Cakes and Ale 67
Closing the Ritual 68
The Tools of Wiccan Ritual 69
Core Ritual Tools 70
The Altar 71
Deity Representations 72
Candles 73
Elemental Representations 74
Wand 76
Pentacle 78
Athame 80
Chalice/Cup 81
Incense 83
Cauldron 87
Cake Plate 89
Optional/Adjunct Ritual Items 90
Broom 90
Sword and/or Staff 92
Bell 93
Divination Tools 94
Book of Shadows 94
Ambient Music 95
Altar Cloth 95
Anointing Oils 96
Fire Accessories 97
Ritual Wear 98
Ritual Robes 98
Cloaks 99
Pentacle 99
Other Jewelry 100
Building Your Collection of Ritual Tools 103
Moving Into Magic 103
A Clearing and Consecration Ritual 104
Part 3 Wiccan Magic
The Study and Practice of an Ancient Art 111
Practical Magic 112
Magic and Science 114
The Hermetic Principles: a Foundation for Understanding Magic 115
What Does Manifestation Look Like? 118
Tools and Ingredients in Wiccan Magic 120
Crystals, Herbs, and Oils 121
Candles 124
Other Items Used in Spellwork 124
Charging Magical Ingredients 127
Tables of Correspondence 128
Crystals and Other Gemstones 129
Colors 130
Magical Essential Oils 131
Magical Herbs 132
Next Steps 135
Part 4 Advice for Aspiring Wiccans & Witches
Finding Your Way into the Craft 138
Read and Reach Out 139
Choosing a Path 140
Living the Wheel of the Year 143
Deities and the Divine 145
Meditation and Visualization 147
A Ritual of Magic and Celebration for the Autumn Equinox 149
Conclusion 152
Acknowledgments 153
Suggestions for Further Reading 154
Picture Credits 156
Index 157
About the Author 164
