Wicca is the native traditional path of Britain. The tradition teaches that individuals are enlightened by their own actions. Knowledge is at the heart of the tradition and its most sacred site, Stonehenge, is an astronomical observatory. There is an avoidance of hierarchy as all rituals are based on the circle as the central feature. The ancient megalithic sites of Britain, generally circles, are sacred to the tradition, and the mythology of Britain based on the round table is its sacred literature. The purpose of this site is to assist those who wish to adopt the Wiccan tradition. We provide links to native British mythology and literary traditions and their interpretation, including Brythonic literature such as the Mabinogion. We also provide an interpretation of sacred sites, and the cycle of the year. Wicca Introduction All countries have an indigenous spiritual tradition which existed before monotheism. In Japan it is Shinto, in Hawaii Hula and in Britain Wicca. The word itself dates back to 890 when it was used in the laws of Alfred and there are many other pre 1951 references. Sometimes the word Wicca is used interchangeably with Witchcraft, however Witchcraft is a generic word to describe all native traditions globally, whereas Wicca is purely the native British strand. Native traditions were often surpressed by the rise of monotheism, however following the second world war the law was changed. The Witchcraft Act of 1951 allowed the publication of material on British pagan traditions. This led to the free flow of information and was a key reason for the new age movement. The central purpose of Wicca is to strengthen the will of the individual without harming nature. The heart of the tradition is facilitating that people decide what they want to do and help its achievement. The methods used to achieve the will of the individual are a central feature of the Wiccan tradition. In general they are based on forming a circle and carrying out practices within that framework with other Wiccans. There are two main strands of Wicca. These are linked to the fact that the British diaspora has spread the tradition all over the English speaking world. Where there are no local sites or folk traditions Wicca is largely based on written material often mixing British mythologies with those from other parts of the mediterranean. These traditions such as Stregaria, Seax Wicca, Blue Star Wicca, Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca are widespread across the USA, Australia, and Canada, and also have practicioners in Britain. Within the UK local control over sacred sites, original texts, and folklore based traditions has tended to result in forms of Wicca that claim a more significant pre 20th Century base for their practices. These consist of traditionals who claim that their practices go back into the medieval period and beyond, hedgewitches who follow traditional paths, Glastonbury and Goddess centered groups,Shamanic and Folk Dance based traditions. The pre Iron Age Wiccan traditions have manifested themselves in two distinct strands. The first of these are traditions from the neolithic period prior to 2300BC. These traditions were based around hunting and the moon and are centred on cloven hooved animals such as the horse, cow or deer. These traditions are shamanic in nature and include the Derby tup, The Mari Llwyd, the Gloucestershire bull and the Hooden horse. These traditions are tied closely to particular areas and to open folklore and morris groups. The traditions coming out of the Bronze Age are based on the circle and include circle based Wiccan traditions which have no Shamanic element, such as Gardnerian and its related traditions. What Wiccans believe varies from one individual but the main thread is that the tradition is polytheistic with locus dei or local spirits linked to rivers, mountains and the natural features. There is also an overriding deity, mother earth. The protection of the natural world is very important to Wicca. Wicca has an afterlife concept, Avalon, to which everyone is admitted, good or bad, from whatever tradition. There is no concept of evangelism in Wicca, as Wiccans generally have no wish to include or exclude anyone from the tradition. When Wiccans meet they almost always cast circles as the circle, where all are equal, is sacred to the tradition. When the circle is cast gods and godesses are invoked, generally by calling the four quarters, or invoking the gods of north, south, east, and west. Then various activities take place focusing on strengthening the will of the participants or celebrating native British (or other) traditions. These often include trance or imagination sessions. Next the sharing of cake, cut with a knife and alcoholic liquids, in a cup, takes place. This is a symbolic reconstruction of the grail feast. Finally the circle is closed. Wiccans hold sacred many sites around the UK, particularly stone circles, of which the most important is Stonehenge. Many Wiccans are to be found at Stonehenge and other magalithic sites at the solstices, and equinoxes. Some sites are also used at the cross quarter festivals and for lunar cycle based celebrations. Wiccan traditions in the UK today tend to consist of groups of friends casting circles, although there are groups that are open to varying degrees. Many groups are formed on a fairly ad hoc basis and then close or break up into private groups. Wicca believes in the individual creating their own strong will to carry out what they need to do, and the purpose of the tradition is to strengthen the will of the individual without harming the natural world. Most Wiccan groups also have a taboo against harming others with the motto 'An it harm none do thy will' being widely accepted. There is a lot of cross over between these groups, and relations between all sections of the Wiccan movement tend to be good. How Wicca Works Wicca generally teaches that the individual controls their own destiny and does not teach the need for intercession between the practicioner and the fulfillment of their will. There is therefore no confession or exorcism. This is a very significant differentiator between Wicca and all mainstream religions which have priests whose status is more than mere expertise as is the case in Wiccans. The situation is slightly more complex in initiatory traditions, but being initiated is not required (or the norm) for British Wiccans. For most Wiccans there is no action that cannot be carried out by one Wiccan that cannot be carried out by any other Wiccan, even sharing of bread and wine. Beginners or unknown individuals also often play central roles in the casting of circles without anyone being particularly concerned whether they are even Wiccans. Everything is constrained by the credibility of the individual. This can cause complications. This website for example cannot be a definitive definition of Wicca, it takes its place alongside all other material and it is the sysnthesis of that material that defines Wicca. It cannot however be declared definitively as not Wiccan no matter what it says becuase no individual has the power to define this - everything depends on credibility. In order for the individual to achieve their will it first needs to be determined and wished for. The key is that rather than wishing for the abstract fulfillment of will the motivation to carry out the acts necessary is what is wished for. This is often accompanied by visualisation exercises. Sometimes these wishes are accompanied by acts such as placing coins into water, writing and burning the wish, burning a candle whilst thinking of the wish etc. These actions are sometiomes referred to as spells. Additionally various ingredients are used in some situations to achieve certain things. It is not, however, necessary to have special forms of word or cast spells for these actions to be effective, and many Wiccans do not cast spells. A key issue for Wiccans is working out what to wish for. If you wish for something and visualise it, and therefore the blocks to it occuring, you increase the chance of it occuring if it is under your control. There is a widespread taboo in Wicca about casting spells for things that are outside your direct control, especially if they are against the will of another person. There are many sites around the UK which are sacred to Wicca. These include Stonehenge, Avebury, Stowes Pound, Rollright, and Stanton Drew. In London the sacred sites include Primrose Hill. All areas of the UK have their own sacred sites. The following are Wikipedia links to all known sites that are relevant to Wicca. Rollright Stones Stonehenge Stanton Drew Mitchells Fold Ring of Brodgar Stanton Moor Doll Tor Arbor Low Castlerigg Swinside The Merry Maidens The Hurlers Boscawen Long Meg King Arthurs Round Table Thornborough Henge Avebury Avebury is an important site to Wicca. Unlike Stonehenge which is more important internationally Avebury is administered in a more relaxed way which makes performing rituals easier. Avebury is also a larger and more diverse site than Stonehenge. The Avebury site is in Wiltshire and is 20 miles due north of Stonehenge. Since the sarsen stones from Stonehenge come from a location near to Avebury the fact that the longitude of the centre circle of Stonehenge is literally identical to that of the sanctuary it has led to speculation that the two might be linked. Avebury consists of a large circle in a henge and two smaller circles inside. There were two avenues of stones. These have been damaged by the activities of various groups who tried to destroy the site. Some of the stones were buried, however a number have been dug up and re-erected in this century. The site of Avebury has a mound nearby called Silbury Hill. This is reputed by legend to be the home of King Sil. This charcter is unknown but may be linked to Zeal Monachorum in Devon. The name of this town is supposed to be named after the cell of the monks, however this would appear to be a Christian overlay of an earlier pagan character. Recent investigations of Silbury have shown that it was built as a spiral, reminiscent of the turning castles of the grail legends. Its form is as an island with a single entrance point, again similar to the castles of the grail legends. A nearby smaller mound built in a similar form is called Merlins Mound and Stonehenge, built at a similar period was reputed to have been built by Merlin. The site is now no longer accessible to the general public. This is due to a dig by the BBC in the 1960's which damaged the internal integrity of the site. There were concerns that it might collapse, but this now appears not to be likely. Avebury Silbury Wiccan Texts The key texts of the Wiccan tradition are the mythologies of Britain. These were held largely as an oral traditions until the 12th century. At this point two events occurred which brought these traditions into written form. The first of these was the removal of the Saxon Kings in 1066. These Kings had their own traditions and had little interest in those of the native British. The Normans had been assisted in their conquest by the Bretons who were of native British origin. They also had a greater appreciation of British culture as William of Normandys maternal grandmother was Breton/British. As a result the Normans had a far greater appreciation of local traditions. The second event was the wider availability of parchment which was used to record the legends. In 1138 the History of the Kings of Britain was written by William of Monmouth, which recorded the building of Stonehenge and the History of King Arthur. Within one hundred years a vast array of local traditions had been recorded both in Britain and on the continent. These include the Mabinogion, The Story the Grail and Parzival. In 1485 Caxton printed the most well known of the Arthurian texts, the Morte d'Arthur by Malory. This was largely a reworking of the material from this period. The following is a full list of all known texts and Authors relevant to Wicca up to 1485 Berol Robert de Boron Chretien de Troyes - Story of the Grail Eschenbach - Parzival Layamon Malory - Mort d'Arthur The Mabinogion Geoffrey of Monmouth = History of the Kings of Britain Roman de Perceforest Wace Wiccan Jewellery Wiccans use a range of jewellery including pentacle necklaces and precious stones, generally crystals. Each crystal has its own significance. A short list of examples is as follows, Amethyst Dreams, imagination Emerald Love, communication Garnet Passion, courage, prosperity Jade Prosperity and health Quartz Focusing energy Rose Quartz Love, friendship Turquoise Reconciliation Pagan, Wiccan Jewellery The Pagan and Wiccan Jewellery selected below reflects the symbolism associated with ancient traditions, the old religion and modern nature based beliefs. The symbols cover the paths of the Witch, Shaman, Magician, the Mystic and the Sage. There are many paths to explore; the journeys along each one offer vistas to expand the consciousness and enrich the soul. The Pagan, Wiccan Jewellery inspired by these symbols is beautifully crafted in 925 sterling silver and it is presented in attractive gift boxes.

"Large Triquetra " The sterling silver Large Triquetra Pendant is a representation of the famous Celtic symbol. The Triquetra symbolises the triple aspect Goddess – maid, mother and crone and it also represents the triplicities of mind, body, and soul, as well as the three domains of earth, sea and sky. And let’s not forget the new TV series Charmed, where the Triquetra symbol can be seen on the Book of Shadows, and were it signifies 'the power of three’! Classical References The site maintains a list of all know classical references of relevance to Wicca or issues of interest to Wicca. The works of Caesar are not fully covered here because they are vast and refer mainly to the conquest rather than culture of Britian. Also the Twelve tasks of Hercules are not covered because of their scope. The main authors of relevance are Hesiod, Plutarch, Diodorus and Pliny Diodorus Siculus Opposite that part of Gaul which borders on the ocean, and directly across from the Hercynian forests, reported to be the largest in Europe, lie many islands. The largest of these is called Britain. In early times this remained free from foreign influence; for neither Bacchus nor Hercules nor any of the other heroes or mighty men, so far as we know, waged war with it. In our time, indeed, Caius Cæsar, who has obtained the name of a god because of his great deeds, became the first one of all those whose memory is preserved to reduce the island to subjection, and to force the conquered Britons to pay a fixed tribute. These things will be recounted in detail in their own place; at this time we shall speak a few words about the island and the tin taken from it. It is triangular The shape and size of Britain in shape, the same as Sicily, but its sides are unequal. Since it extends obliquely from Europe the headland next the continent, which they call Cantium, is only about one hundred stadia from the mainland, at which place a strait runs between. A second angle, Belerium by name, is four days sail from the continent. The last, called Orca, is said to project out into the sea. The shortest side faces Europe and measures 7500 stadia; the second, extending from the channel to the extreme north, is said to be 15,000 stadia in length; while the last side measures 20,000 stadia; so the entire circumference of the island is 42,500 stadia. They allege that the residents are the original inhabitants who still retain their primitive manners and customs. For in their battles they use chariots in the same manner as it is reported the ancient Greek heroes fought in the Trojan War. They live in small huts usually built of reeds or wood. When they have reaped their grain they store the ears cut from the stalk in underground storehouses. From thence they take as much of the oldest as will be needed for the day, and after grinding it they prepare their food from it. Their customs are simple, being far removed from the craftiness and wickedness of our time. They are content with frugal fare and do not have the desires which come with riches. The island has a large population, and has a cold climate, since it stretches so far to the north, lying directly under the Great Bear. Many kings and chieftains rule there, usually keeping peace among themselves. The production of tin Concerning their institutions, and other things peculiar to the island, we shall speak specially when we come to the expedition of Cæsar into Britain. At this time we shall treat of the tin which is dug from the ground. Those who dwell near Belerium, one of the headlands of Britain, are especially fond of strangers, and on account of their trade with the merchants they have a more civilized manner of living. They collect the tin after the earth has been skillfully forced to yield it. Although the land is stony, it has certain veins of earth from which they melt and purify the metal which has been extracted. After making this into bars they carry it to a certain island near Britain called Ictis. For although the place between is for the most part covered with water, yet in the middle there is dry ground, and over this they carry a great amount of tin in wagons. . . . Thence the merchants carry into Gaul the tin which they have bought from the inhabitants. And after a journey of thirty days on foot through Gaul, they convey their packs carried by horses to the mouths of the Rhone River. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Diodorus Siculus As for the inhabitants, they are simple and far removed from the shrewdness and vice which characterize our day. Their way of living is modest, since they are well clear of the luxury which is begotten of wealth. The island is also thickly populated and its climate is extremely cold, as one would expect, since it actually lies under the Great Bear. It is held by many kings and potentates, who for the most part live at peace among themselves. Of those who have written about the ancient myths, Hecateus and certain others say that in the regions beyond the land of the Celts (Gaul) there lies in the ocean an island no smaller than Sicily. This island, the account continues, is situated in the north, and is inhabited by the Hyperboreans, who are called by that name because their home is beyond the point whence the north wind blows; and the land is both fertile and productive of every crop, and since it has an unusually temperate climate it produces two harvests each year. The Hyperboreans also have a language, we are informed, which is peculiar to them, and are most friendly disposed towards the Greeks, and especially towards the Athenians and the Delians, who have inherited this goodwill from most ancient times. The myth also relates that certain Greeks visited the Hyperboreans and left behind them costly votive offerings bearing inscriptions in Greek letters. And in the same way Abaris, a Hyperborean, came to Greece in ancient times and renewed the goodwill and kinship of his people to the Delians. Certain sacred offerings wrapped up in wheat straw come from the Hyperboreans into Scythia, whence they are taken over by the neighbouring peoples in succession until they get as far west as the Adriatic: from there they are sent south, and the first Greeks to receive them are the Dodonaeans. Then, continuing southward, they reach the Malian gulf, cross to Euboea, and are passed on from town to town as far as Carystus. Then they skip Andros, the Carystians take them to Tenos, and the Tenians to Delos. That is how these things are said to reach Delos at the present time. On the first occasion they were sent in charge of two girls, whose names the Delians say were Hyperoche and Laodice. To protect the girls on the journey, the Hyperboreans sent five men to accompany them The two Hyperborean girls died in Delos, and the boys and girls of the island still cut their hair as a sign of mourning for them There is also a Delphic story that before the time of Hyperoche and Laodice, two other Hyperborean girls, Arge and Opis, came to Delos by the same route. Arge and Opis came to the island at the same time as Apollo and Artemis And there is also on the island []Hyperborea] both a magnificent sacred precinct of Apollo and a notable temple which is adorned with many votive offerings and is spherical in shape. Furthermore, a city is there which is sacred to this god, and the majority of its inhabitants are players on the cithara; and these continually play on this instrument in the temple and sing hymns of praise to the god, glorifying his deeds They say also that the moon, as viewed from this island, appears to be but a little distance from the earth and to have upon it prominences, like those of the earth, which are visible to the eye. The account is also given that the god visits the island every nineteen years, the period in which the return of the stars to the same place in the heavens is accomplished, and for this reason the nineteen year period is called by the Greeks the "year of Meton." At the time of this appearance of the god he both plays on the cithara and dances continuously the night through from the vernal equinox until the rising of the Pleiades, expressing in this manner his delight in his successes. And the kings of this city and the supervisors of the sacred precinct are called Boreades, since they are descendants of Boreas, 'and the succession to these positions is always kept in their family.' ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Pliny Opposite to this region [the Rhine delta] lies the island of Britannia , famous in the Greek records and in our own; it lies to the north-west, facing, across a wide channel, Germania , Gallia and Hispania countries which constitute by far the greater part of Europe. It was itself named Albion , while all the islands about which we shall soon briefly speak were called the Britanniae . Its distance from Gesoriacum on the coast of the Morini tribe by the shortest passage is 50 miles. Its circumference is reported by Pytheas and Isidorus to measure 4,875 miles nearly thirty years ago, its exploration was carried by the armed forces of Rome to a point not beyond the neighbourhood of the Silvae Caledoniae Agrippa believes the length of the island to be 800 miles and its breadth 300, and the breadth of Hibernia the same but its length 200 miles less. "Hibernia lies beyond Britannia, the shortest crossing being from the lands of the Silures, a distance of 30 miles. Of those remaining (islands) none has a circumference exceeding 125 miles, so it has been said. Indeed, there are 40 Orcades [Orkneys] separated narrowly from one another, 7 Acmodae [Shetlands], 30 Hebudes [Hebrides], and between Hibernia and Britannia (the islands of) Mona [Anglesey], Monapia [Man], Riginia [Racklin], Vectis [White-horn], Silumnus [Dalkey] and Andros [Bardsey]; beneath (Britain) are Sambis [Sian] and Axanthos [Ushant], and in the oppposite direction, sprinkled in the Mare Germanicum [North Sea], are the Glaesariae [Glass Islands], called by the Greeks in recent times the Electrides, from the amber which is produced there." "The most remote of all those recorded is Thule,1 in which as we have pointed out there are no nights at midsummer when the sun is passing through the sign of the Crab, and on the other hand no days at midwinter; indeed some writers think this is the case for periods of six months at a time without a break. The historian Timaeus says there is an island named Mictis lying inward six days' sail from Britain where tin is found, and to which the Britons cross in boats of osier covered with stitched hides. Some writers speak of other islands as well, the Scandiae, Dumna, Bergos, and Berrice, the largest of them all, from which the crossing to Thule starts. One day's sail from Thule is the frozen ocean, called by some the Mare Cronium [Chronian Sea]." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Juvenal You have an omen (quoth her) of a great and brilliant triumph. You will capture some king or Arviragus will fall out of a British chariot The Pentacle The Pentacle is the sign of Wicca. It contains the Golden Ratio and is therefore the sign of nature. The sign exists in the legends as the sign on the Shield of Gawain and the Green Knight, itself a tale of the cycle of the year. This text, where it describes the shield, also contains a number of other reasons for its importance. The text is as follows Then they brought out the shield of shining gules With the pentangle painted on it in pure gold. He swings it over his baldric, throws it round his neck, Where it suted the knight extremely well. And why the pentangle should suit that noble knight I intend to explain, even should that delay me. ..... The fifth group of five the man respected, I hear, Was generosity and love of fellow-men above all; His purity and courtesy were never lacking, And surpassing the others, compassion:these noble five Were more deeply implanted in that man than any other ..... Therefore the knot was fashioned on his bright shield Royally with red gold upon red gules That is called the true pentangle by learned people. The famous "Pentacle of Solomon" as given in the medieval grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon. Its purpose is to constrain spirits during magical evocation. A pentacle (or pantacle in Thelema) is an amulet used in magical evocation, generally made of parchment, paper or metal (although it can be of other materials), on which the symbol of a spirit or energy being evoked is drawn. It is often worn around the neck, or placed within the triangle of evocation. Protective symbols may also be included (sometimes on the reverse), a common one being the five-point form of the Seal of Solomon, called a pentacle of Solomon or pentangle of Solomon. Many varieties of pentacle can be found in the grimoires of Solomonic magic; they are also used in some neopagan magical traditions, such as Wicca, alongside other magical tools. The words pentacle and pentagram (a five-point unicursal star) are essentially synonymous, according to the Online Oxford English Dictionary (2007 revision), tracing the etymology through both French and Italian back to Latin, but notes that in Middle French the word "pentacle" was used to refer to any talisman. In an extended use, many magical authors treat them as distinct. In many tarot decks and in some forms of modern witchcraft, pentacles often prominently incorpora