Spend at least two weeks deciding which Pantheon appeals most to you. If no pantheon listed here feels right, research other pantheons until you find one with which you resonate and feel comfortable.
Sacred Symbols
Choose the symbols you think best describe yourself at this point in your studies. Write them in your notebook. At the end of six months, look at these symbols again, and see which ones you would not choose.
Hexagram- The hexagram is made of two triangles. They represent the God and Goddess. It is a necessary balance between the God and Goddess that makes life what it is. The Goddess is the one who brings forth life, yet she could not do that without her cohort. Feminism has gotten a bad name recently due to extremists. As with every oppressed group of people, we have those who go too far and sully the movement they claim to believe in. Feminism at its purest does not state that women are better than men. We just see no reason we should not be considered their equals.
Trefoil- The trefoil represents the three forms of the Goddess. It was this discovery that peaked my interest, and longing, for Wicca. The three forms allow women to relate to the Goddess at any stage of their lives. There’s no age limit for the three stages. Nor can one be expected to go through all three stages. The stages are all encompassing for each and every women, regardless of whether every woman reaches those stages.
Robe
Purchase a robe. Write down why you are choosing a robe. Are you reasons on practicality or past programming.
I have purchased a long, dark green, and velvet hooded cloak. I intend on getting a gown in the color that represents whichever for of the Triple Goddess I relate to at that time. I chose green because I feel strong ties to the Earth.
I believe it was past programming and practicality that led me to this choice. A cloak is easier to wear, and provides a different tie to the Goddess by dressing accordingly. I also would like to honor those Wiccan who came before us. I feel as though a nice and simple gown, plus the cloak, pays a certain respect to the past.
Overwhelmed
Sometimes I get overwhelmed. And whenever I do, I always wonder what I did to deserve being in that position that causes me so much stress. I am a very firm believer that everything happens for a reason. That, whether intentional or not, we put out energy. Sometimes that energy is negative, and unbeknownst to us, we have now sent repercussions to ourselves. Actions, words, and thoughts all impact the atmosphere or subject that we direct them at. No one is immune from Karma. It provides a crucial balance, and I’d like to think it helps those of us who are connected to energy to stay in line.
My family has been through a lot this year. A lot of negative. We cannot seem to catch a break at all. I know that the Goddess knows what she’s doing. All I can do is wonder why. We’ve had car issues three times since June, it’s now October. We’ve had health issues and marital issues. We’ve proven strong, in relationships, monetarily, and those with the health issues have seemed to avoid any major results. Looking back at every incident, I realize that She must have been looking out for us. Each incident could have been monumentally worse. In two cases, we could have died. But we didn’t. We have walked away each time.
While I am incredibly grateful that my family is well, despite all that has happened, I can’t help but be at a loss as to why we have been dealt with so much. What kind of energy have we sent out? Who was it directed at? I worry about this, just as I worry if we’ve seen the end of this stress. I suffer heavily from mental illness, and stress and anxiety are the two things I do not handle well. Blind faith is extremely difficult for me to grasp. It’s one of the reasons Wicca was so interesting to me. I don’t know whether to believe that this is all happening for an unknown reason, or just sit and worry.
Hopefully things will reveal themselves soon. I will update if I ever get some enlightenment as to our series of bad luck/good luck issues.
Ritual Tools
- Dagger
- Element of Fire
- Recommended length is between 9-10 inches from hilt to point
- A means of Summoning, Controlling, or Banishing Spirits and/or Otherworldly powers
- Used to trace a circle
- Wand
- Element of Air
- Witches Will of Power
- Directs energy
- Tool of Persuasion
- Different wands for different purposes
- Two Goblets
- Metal, ceramics, glass, pewter
- One for water
- One for wine
- Pentacle Disk
- Element of Earth
- Wooden, ceramic
- The grounding point for the Altar
- Manifestation point for the arrival of spiritual energy into the physical world
- White Pillar Candle
- Element of Spirit
- Placed on Altar
- Lit before ceremonies, blown out after circle has been broken
- Incense Burner
- Element of Air
- Place in sand, which is in a jar
- Bottles for Consecrated Water
- Element of Water
- Always purify before pouring into bottle
- Store in small bottles
- Bottle for Salt
- Element of Earth and Spirit
- Small bottles are better, less likely to spill
- Sea Salt, Kosher Salt
- Candle snuffer
- An elegant way to snuff out ceremonial candles
- Non-Flammable Candle Holders
- Metal is best
- Place atop small tables, 4 for the 4 directions
- Small Metal Cauldron
- Represents the womb of the Goddess
- Cast iron
- Broom
- Used to deflect evil and bring good luck
- Clean area of negativity before beginning new ritual
- Bune Wand
- Forked stick or staff
- Represents Horned God
- Mortar and Pestle
- Used to grind up herbs
- Produces a magical connection to the herbs for the ritual
- Concentrate on the herbs while grinding
- Ladder
- A string with 40 beads or knots to help keep count while chanting
Reactions of Friends and Family
The reactions I’ve received after informing my friends and family that I have embraced the Wiccan religion have been rather disappointing.
My mother is perhaps my only supporter on my Wiccan journey. My husband shows his support, but it feels more like he’s placating me. It’s hard, considering for the first five years of dating I’ve never voiced an opinion or interest in religion.
As a young teen, I looked into several different religions, trying to find a religion that called to me. Judaism was the “closest” to my inner beliefs, but it never really set in. As I’ve gotten older and became a mother, I’ve been reminded of that hole. It wasn’t until I began to read about Witchcraft for a book I’m writing, that I realized I’d found the last piece of the puzzle. It was so obvious that I nearly hit myself on the head with my book. After more personal research, I discovered the Trinity Goddess.
I haven’t spoken to anyone about that hole, that emptiness. I thought I would be blow off, and unfortunately my current situations have shown me not to discuss the rest. I’ve told my friends that I am interested in Wicca, tried to explain the religion to them. None of them criticized my choice, but I felt I wasn’t being taken seriously. One friend seemed taken aback and not too receptive to my explanation, while another friend is a strong Christian who seems very suspicious of the idea and quickly changes the subject.
Overall, the vast majority of people in my life didn’t allow me the opportunity to explain the hole I felt. I have always struggled with mental illness, and regularly feel overwhelmed by my life and my mind. I needed something to help me. To show me that I am strong, regardless of the weakness I fear I have.
Honestly, I have to say that beyond feeling disappointed, I feel hurt. Why can’t they take me seriously? Why do they assume it’s a phase, or that maybe I’m just in a crazy point in my mental illness. I don’t want to be placated, I don’t want to be brushed off. I want people to hear me when I say I am a Wiccan. Wicca is one of the oldest religions, and yet people associate it as a trend. It is not a trend, for me, it provides a calm when my mind is anything but.
Familiars
The following information has been researched by D.J. Conway in their book, Wicca: The Complete Craft.
Familiars are both astral and physical creatures. It takes a Witch embarking on a spiritual journey to the Otherworld. We Witches use the familiars’ energy from the Otherworld to shape-shift or become invisible.
The act of becoming invisible and shape-shift is not the fantastical magic you see in books and on television. This is a mental state that the Witch places herself in, as to borrow the Familiar’s abilities or to remain so inconspicuous as to seem invisible.
- Badger
- Help you learn to fight for your rights and spiritual ideas
- Bat
- Creature of the night
- Bear
- Learning patience, transformation, balance, harmony, and defense
- Bee
- Harmony and balance with others
- Blackbird
- Associated with Goddesses. Help with deep meditation, learning of trance, and how to discover mystical secrets
- Butterfly
- Immortality, beauty in age, long life, and joy. Helps to study reincarnation, transform your life, and to divine the future
- Cat
- Fight fiercely when cornered or threatened. A strong protector. Help with astral journeys for hidden information, and to see spirits
- Cattle
- Learning how to be more aware of what happens around you, how to be content with your life, when to retreat from danger
- Cheetah
- Help develop self-esteem, fearlessness, a more confident bearing
- Cock/Rooster
- How to dispel evil and negatively by the use of voice, excellent psychic guardian
- Crane
- Sacred bird, messenger to the Gods. These Familiars carry the souls of the dead. It aids in learning to enter a higher state of consciousness, learning mage and astral travel, reaching the deeper mysteries
- Crow
- Teaches prophesying, shape-shifting, boldness, skill, cunning, and how to access past lives
- Deer
- Discovering alternate paths to a goal, interpreting dreams, understanding a necessary transformation, and how to accept others as they are
- Dog/Hound
- Tracing information through a confusion of situations, thus finding the truth. Companionship, intuition, and protection
- Dolphin
- Aide in discovering truth, learning elemental magic, releasing negatives, and learning eloquence, trust and change
- Dragon
- Earliest symbol of the Goddess. Symbolizes royalty and power. A dragon will help any Witch who seeks its assistance. Teaches spiritual subjects, the powers of change and transformation, and protection
- Dragonfly
- Teaches the meaning of dreams, uncovering and identifying illusions, and receiving mystic messages from a spirit
- Eagle
- Solar creature. Associated with power, courage, and victory. Gain keen insight, take swift action, find hidden spiritual paths, create strong connection with Otherworld entities and guides
- Eel
- Helpful in teaching how to get out of a bad situation
- Elephant
- Help with removing obstacles and barriers to success. Represents wisdom, strength, prudence, and fertility
- Falcon
- Connected with magic, shamans, and astral travel. Witches can use the Familiar to send healing energy to a dying person, or in any healing
- Fox
- Great cunning and endurance. Aides in the ability to turn the tables on its opponent. Helps Witches when dealing with difficult people or when you want to be inconspicuous
- Frog
- Symbol of the Goddess in the Mother phase. Helps with initiation, transformations, clearing negatives from your life
- Toads
- Help with long life, prosperity, new beginnings, and good luck
- Griffin
- A huge animal. Head and front look like an eagle, while the bottom half is a lion. Associated with solar deities. Helps with balance between psychic energy and spiritual enlightenment
- Hare/Rabbit
- Associated with the moon. Help Witches with transformations, intuition, quick thinking, and hidden wisdom
- Hawk
- Solar bird. The greatest and wisest. Help to develop clear-sightedness, recall past lives, overcome problems, and make the right decisions
- Hedgehog
- Protect ones self without harming others
- Heron
- Mystical, carries messages from the Gods to humans. Helps with gaining self-confidence, being patient, and succeeding by methodical work
- Horse
- Aides as Guardians on journeys. They help overcome obstacles and is the symbol of freedom
- Jaguar
- Largest cat. Cunning and fearless. Helps Witches to walk fearless in Otherworlds
- Leopard
- Cunning, fierce, and intelligent. Astral leopard helps wit perseverance and cunning, particularly on astral journeys
- Lion
- Helps with family problems, especially when trying t strengthen family ties. Teaches Witches to release stress and tension
- Lizard
- Symbolizes good fortune and mystical wisdom. Aide in understanding dreams and facing difficult decisions.
- Chameleon
- Aides in staying out of trouble and to be aware as danger approaches
- Magpie
- Symbolizes joy and good fortune. In the West, is symbolizes trouble and bad news. Aides in learning divination
- Mouse
- Aides in cunning, ability to remain inconspicuous, have attention to small details, and harmony
- Otter
- Aides in uncovering hidden talents and treasures, gaining wisdom, surviving a crisis, and making new friends
- Owls
- Associated with Goddesses, wisdom, Underworld deities, prophecy, and the Goddess of Death.Aides in interpreting dreams, prophecy, unmask people who try to deceive you, practice magic and shape-shifting, and find hidden spiritual truths
- Pig
- Boar
- Aides with courage, concealment, and protection
- Sow
- Represents cunning, intelligence, and knowledge of past lives
- Boar
- Rat
- Japanese culture/zodiac says they represents wealth, cunning, stealth, and tracking what you seek
- Raven
- Aides in divination and travel through the Underworld on astral travels
- Salmon
- Associated with great wisdom (spiritual wisdom). Aides with deep mediation and divination
- Scorpion
- Good at sending negative energy to senders
- Snake
- Aide in developing psychic talents and creative powers. Transmuting your life to a higher level of goals. Provide knowledge about reincarnation, and how to shed one life for another. Aides in seeking the spiritual Goddess of Wisdom
- Spiders
- How to get out of negative situations, making new beginnings, finding wisdom, and starting a new life
- Squirrel
- Messenger of the Gods. Aids in preparing for the future, how to rest when not busy. This Familiar can also assist with a Witch to be aware of subtle messages of upcoming change and potential danger
- Swan
- Aide in the interpretation of symbolic dream images, help you develop intuition and psychic abilities, and help you with transitions in life
- Tiger
- Ally in learning how to deal quickly with problems without overthinking them
- Turtle
- Lunar animal that supports the world. Aide in learning patience
Greek Gods and Goddesses
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Aphrodite
Aphrodite was the goddess of love, sex, and beauty. Unsurprisingly for a love goddess, she was said to have emerged from the foam generated when the severed testicles of her father, Uranus, were thrown into the sea by his son, the Titan Cronus. (Or is that surprising?) Kind of makes Botticelli’s surreally lovely Birth of Venus—which depicts Aphrodite’s Roman counterpart emerging from the waves—a little more visceral, doesn’t it?
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Athena
© Sergey Rusakov/Shutterstock.com Athena was the goddess of reason, wisdom, and war. She famously sprung fully formed from the forehead of Zeus. A major figure in the Odyssey, in which she instructed Odysseus, she also guided Perseus and Heracles through their trials. The Parthenon was her chief temple in Athens, which is named in her honor. Her Roman equivalent was Minerva.
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Artemis
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Ares
Anderson—Alinari/Art Resource, New York Ares was the god of bloodlust. (His half-sister Athena represented the more “noble” aspects of combat and civil conduct during war.) Though his fellow deities weren’t particularly fond of him, the Spartans had no problems, er, donating some prisoners of war to his worship. And sacrificing dogs…yeah, that’s right, Ares liked dead puppies. Jerk. His Roman equivalent was Mars.
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Apollo
Alinari/Art Resource, New York The twin brother of Artemis, Apollowas among the most important (read: feared) of the gods. Son of Zeus, he disseminated the will of his divine compatriots through various means, notably oracles. The Oracle at Delphi was his mouthpiece; a 2001 study determined that the oracle was likely hallucinating due to ethylene gas rising from the rocks beneath the temple.
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Demeter
© Magryt/Dreamstime.com Demeter, an agricultural goddess, was mother to Persephone, who was abducted by the underworld god Hades to be his bride. While searching for her stolen daughter, she accepted the hospitality of the royal family of Eleusis. The Eleusinian Mysteries, perhaps the most important religious rites in ancient Greece, are attributed to her teachings. Her Roman equivalent was Ceres.
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Dionysus
© Photos.com/Thinkstock Dionysus was a son of Zeus born to a mortal mother. When Zeus accidentally killed her, he sewed the young Dionysus into his thigh and, when the young god emerged, passed him to the care of the maenads. The cult of Dionysus revolved around intoxication, sex, and savage ritual sacrifice. He was often symbolized by a bull due to his association with the sacrificial animal. Elements of his character are seen in the Roman god of wine, Bacchus.
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Hades
Anderson—Alinari/Art Resource, New York Hades ruled the world of the dead, with which he was sometimes synonymous. The chilly lord of the underworld was among the few Greek gods to come across as dispassionate. He was not the ultimate judge of the souls that wandered his domain nor did he mete out their punishments for sins committed during their mortal lives. He was, however, cunning; he tricked Persephone into eating enchanted pomegranate seeds so that she would have to remain with him for a portion of the year.
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Hera
Alinari/Art Resource, New York The queen goddess of Olympus, Hera was both sister and wife to Zeus. Though she is often depicted as reserved and austere, she was mercilessly vindictive when it came to her husband’s [many] extramarital adventures. Unfortunately for the objects of Zeus’s godly affections, Hera tended to torment the “other women” (and their offspring, including Heracles) rather than Zeus himself. Her Roman equivalent was Juno.
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Hermes
Courtesy of the trustees of the British Museum Like many gods in the Greek pantheon, Hermes presided over multiple spheres. He was a pastoral figure, responsible for protecting livestock, and was also associated with fertility, music, luck, and deception. In the Odyssey, he is depicted as a messenger god. His Roman equivalent was Mercury.
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Poseidon
WGS Photofile Poseidon is best known as the Greek sea god, but he was also the god of horses and of earthquakes. (Thus, many of his temples were inland.) And he had some seriously strange children. Though humanoid, he fathered both the winged horse Pegasus (by Medusa, no less) and the Cyclops Polyphemus, who is blinded by Odysseus and his crew in the Odyssey. His Roman equivalent was Neptune.
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Zeus
Anderson—Alinari/Art Resource, New York With the assistance of Hades and Poseidon, Zeus overthrew his father, Cronus, king of the Titans, and became the chief deity in a new pantheon comprising mostly his siblings and children. In addition to controlling the weather, Zeus was noted for his chronic infidelity to his sister-wife, Hera. Among the results of his weakness for comely mortal women was Helen of Troy. His Roman equivalent was Jupiter.
Daemons
According to D.J. Conway; Daemons/Shining Ones are astral beings in human form that provide guidance between the Goddess and God, and humans. In Christianity they are known as Angels. Daemons are one of the three types of Guides.
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Incarnated People-
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People who have reached a higher levels in reincarnation and can now provide guidance to others
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From the past
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Deceased Ancestors-
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These ancestors can be present day, or further in the past
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Daemons/Shining Ones-
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Ethereal in nature
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In human form and human thought
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Can see far in the past and future
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Not all knowing
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Elemental Spirits & Nature Entities
ELEMENTS AND ELEMENTALS
FOUR GROUPS AND THEIR ELEMENTS
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Gnomes, Dwarves, Trolls, Large Fairies
GNOMES:
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Range from four to twelve inches tall
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Found in forests
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Healers and Magicians
DWARVES:
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Larger than other Otherworlders
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Ruled by a King
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Knowledgeable in Metallurgy and gemstones
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Oral history is passed down through the clan
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Associated with NORTHERN DIRECTION/QUARTER OF CIRCLE
TROLLS:
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Come in all sizes
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Change their form to be less visible to humans
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Active at night, avoid Sunlight
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Live in mountains, forests, or underground
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If they choose to, they can help teach a Witch Magic of the stones and mountains
SEELIES:
BLESSED
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Human sized Fairies without wings
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Travel from one location to another ‘Trooping Fairies’
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Usually friendly to humans, but if offended they will quickly exact revenge
UNBLESSED
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Unfriendly to humans at all times
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To be avoided unless the Witch is a firm believer in the ‘Old Ways’
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Fire Elementals
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Salamanders and Dragons
Salamanders:
- Images in the fire
- Very unpredictable
- Rarely follows a Witch’s will because they ARE will
Dragons:
- Power over the fire
- More likely to help a Witch
- Help with change, transformation, and protection
Air Elementals
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Sylphs, Zephyrs, Winged Fairies/Wind Faries, Elves
Sylphs:
- Help Witches to open their minds
- Wispy in nature with fleeting attention spans
Winged Fairies/Wind Faries:
- Very small
- Help Witches communicate with plants
- Wind Faries are the most elusive
- Help in spreading seeds of plants to new locations
Elves:
- Taller than humans
- Ruled by a King and Queen
- Live for thousands of years
- Protectors of knowledge and all libraries
- Help Witches with foretelling
Water Elementals
Undines, Merfolk, Other Fairies
Undines:
- Name means “wave”
- Found in non-ocean waters such as: springs, creeks, rivers, and lakes
- Leaders name is Niksa/Necksa
- Scaled with webbed hands and feet
- Various sizes
- Can live on land for long periods of time
Mer-Folk:
- Upper body human, lower body fish with large scales
- Have their own language, but also know the languages of humans
- Can grant wishes and give Witches psychic powers
Water Fairies:
- Found around water plants
- Have wings
- Appear iridescent with white hair
My Wiccan Story 