Q: One of the more vicious rumors about Wicca is that it's a sister religion of Satanism. Many Wiccan texts appear to feature a pentagram symbol which people also associate with the Devil. Are there any truths to these concepts?

A: Both Wicca and Satanism are religions and are very misunderstood. Wicca uses the pentagram as a sign of the goddess, a sign of protection, and it also represents the four elements and spirit. Satanism has adopted an inverted pentagram into the religion. (Satanism has also adopted an inverted cross into the religion, but only the pentagram is feared.)

Wicca and Satanism are not sister religions, as both religions have different beliefs. Wicca is a religion of peace, magic, following the old rituals and Sabbats, and worshipping a male and female deity. We do not believe in a devil, let alone worship a devil. Wiccas believe in balance, and would not believe that a being could be pure evil. Giving evil a name only gives it power. You will find that true Satanists who follow Satanism as the founder, Anton LaVey, intended in "The Satanic Bible" do not believe in a devil either.

Q: I've run into many female Wiccans but nary one male. Is there a reason behind this apparent lopsidedness?

A: It is true that a majority of Wiccas are female. The dominant religions of the world are monotheistic and worship a supreme male, God. Some of these religions have a very negative and disrespectful view of females. More women are drawn towards pagan religions, especially Wicca, because male and female are both worshipped and considered equal.

Q: Do you cast spells? If so, does the process involve strange concoctions and ingredients, or is it language based?

A: Wicca is a magical religion, and we do indeed cast spells. Language is a part of almost all spells, and there are spells that consist of only language. A lot of spells include herbs, oils, incense, candles, various colors, and many other factors to go with the language. There is a lot that goes into casting a spell from the lunar cycle, day of the week, visualizing, the right herbs/incense/colors/etc. to match the purpose of the spell, and many others. Casting spells isn't like you may see on television. Witches don't stand at a cauldron twice their size on an open fire throwing random animal parts (i.e. bat wings and eye of newt) into a broth to make a potion that will make your every wish come true. It is also important to know that no Wicca would ever perform a spell that would harm any living thing or affect a person's free will.

Q: What is a Wiccan's view on Heaven and Hell?

A: Wiccas share different views on what happens to us in the afterlife. Most Wiccas believe in reincarnation, and very few believe that there is a Hell. Our souls are reincarnated as humans over and over again until our souls are perfect, meaning that we have nothing left to learn on this plane of existence. There is no eternal punishment for mistakes made in one lifetime. We simply come back in our next life and try to improve and learn the lessons set for us in this lifetime. The biggest contrast of beliefs is about what happens after our souls reach perfection. There could be other planes of existence that we are reincarnated on until we learn the lessons of that plane. Our final resting place, which is similar to the idea of Heaven, is called Summerland. Our perfected souls will remain in Summerland with the god and goddess.

Q: Does Wicca allow for more sexual freedom than other religions?

A: Wicca does offer more sexual freedom because we have no sexual restrictions (other than the restrictions that are part of state/federal law). There is no requirement of marriage, or only having sex to reproduce, and all people are welcome no matter their sexual preference. Sex, in Wicca, is seen as a sacred act between two people. There are even spells that are performed during sex. A very large amount of energy is released from a person during orgasm, and there are Wiccas that use this energy in magic.

I would also like to clear up the rumor that although Wicca is more sexually open than most religions, this doesn't mean that a Wicca is more likely to sleep with you than anyone else. It also doesn't mean that Wiccas are more experimental with sex than anyone else.

Q: Who is the deity in Wicca?

A: There is no specific deity in Wicca. Most Wiccas worship a male and female deity, some will worship one deity with male and female aspects, and others will only worship a goddess. Each individual may call the god and goddess by a different name, if he/she gives them names at all. Wicca is a very diverse religion when it comes to beliefs and deities worshipped. It is likely that the only things that all Wiccas have in common is the celebration of Sabbats and full moon rites.

Q: What are three characteristics you often find in people who practice Wicca?

A: Not all Wiccas share the same beliefs or characteristics, but there are a couple characteristics that are commonly found among Wiccas. Wiccas are very open-minded and accepting of others. We do not think that Wicca is the one true religion and that all others are incorrect. Everyone has their own path to get through life and to worship. We do not judge others for their different beliefs, instead we appreciate the diversity in the world. Wiccas are also caring individuals. We abide by the Wiccan Rede which forbids any Wicca from harming anyone. Wiccas also appreciate that everything in nature has energy and a spirit. A lot of Wiccas are also very supportive. When Wiccas first mention to new people, family, or friends we sometimes get some hostility and it can be hard to handle. I have had other Wiccas that I have never met before talk to me and share stories, and they are supportive because they went through the same thing.

Q: How would you respond to people who think the religion is nothing more than a popular fad?

A: I have no doubt that there are people who call themselves witches solely for the title and the shock factor when they tell people. However, Wicca is not just a popular fad. The number of Wiccas is growing, but not to the point where you can call it popular. If I talk of my religion to others I find that most people have never heard the word "Wicca" before (which I prefer to people who look at me in terror). Wicca is not a religion people practice to be popular and get attention. It is a religion to honor the Earth, every living thing, and the god and goddess. Anyone who would like to tell me that Wicca is just a popular fad should walk in a Wicca's shoes for a couple days. I love my religion. I am happier and more at peace now than I have been before I began practicing Wicca. Wicca does not get you the attention most people would want, and not many people would choose the Wiccan path if it were just a fad. There is a lot of animosity towards Wiccas. I have had friends and family members stop talking to me, tell me to "ride my broom straight to hell", and spread rumors between people I know that I sacrifice animals. As well as reading articles from other religions saying that I should be killed. Live through this and lose loved ones, and please tell me if you think that a fad would be worth the pain. These are my beliefs and my way of life.

Q: Does Halloween have any special meaning to Wiccans?

A: Halloween is called Samhain to a witch. There is a story of birth, death, and rebirth involving the god and goddess throughout the year. Samhain is the time of the year where the god dies to be reborn at Yule. It is a time for us to honor our ancestors and to honor and reflect upon those that we have lost. It is also said that the barrier between our plane and other planes is the thinnest on this day, making divination very common.

Q: Why should people learn more about Wicca?

A: People should learn about Wicca for the same reasons they should learn about anything else. Knowledge is power. Stereotyping and fearing what one doesn't understand is not a healthy way of living life. If more people would try to learn more about things they don't understand rather than attacking and fearing these things the world would be a much nicer place. There are people in this world who believe Wiccas to be devil-worshipping cultists who would be just as quick to sacrifice you as to say hello. If only they would take the time to look up more information about Wicca they would find that Wicca is a very peaceful religion and we would never hurt anyone.

If anyone is interested in information there are many books about Wicca. Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland are very good authors, and are both seen very highly in the Wiccan community. If you look online for information www.wikipedia.org and www.about.com are good sources. Be careful looking up information online, however, because there are a lot of bogus and bias sites on the web who will talk of nothing but stereotypes. Or you can ask me a question. Even if I do not know the answer I will make sure I find out if you are curious about Wicca.