Books that may be of interest -- ask your librarian or local bookstore. Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Drulds, Goddess-Worshippers, & Other Pagans in America Today.Boston: Beacon Press, 1987. Budapest, Zsuzsanna. The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries.Berkeley, CA: Wingbow Press, 1989. Campanelli, Pauline. Wheel of the Year. St.Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1989. Crowley, Vivianne. Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Age.London: Aquarian, 1989. Vision: Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1989. Farrar, Stewart & Janet. Eight Sabbats for Witches. The Covenant of the Redmond,WA. Phoenix, 1983. Gardner, Gerald B. High Magic’s Aid. London, Goddess envisions a world Houghton,1949. Guiley, Rosemary. The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft. where all living beings New York: Facts on File, 1989. K, Amber. True Magick A Beginner’s Guide. St. Paul, MN: are honored and Llewellyn, 1990. Leland, C.G. Aradia: Gospel of the Witches. Custer, WA cherished as Phoenix, 1990. Starhawk. The Spiral Dance –A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. New York: Harper & Row, manifestations of the 1989(2ⁿd ed.). Valiente, Doreen. Witchcraft for Tomorrow. Redmond, WA Sacred. Phoenix, 1978.

Mission: WICCA We, the Covenant of the --- sometimes called Wicce, the Goddess, through Craft, or The Old Religion by its advocacy, education, practitioners --- is an ancient religion of love for interfaith action, and life and nature. resource sharing, empower Witches and Wiccans to protect, MORE INFORMATION: strengthen, and enrich Visit our web page at www.cog.org WHAT IS or write to us at: our religion, society, and Post Office Box 12193, San Bernardino, CA 92423-2193 Facebook: covenantofthegoddess the Earth. TWITTER: @cogtweet PINTEREST: CoG Pins WICCA? INSTAGRAM: CoGPIO

A GENERAL INTRODUCTION PRESENTED BY THE COVENANT OF THE GODDESS Version 201905-1 WICCA: THE OLD RELIGION BASIC PHILOSOPHY HOLIDAYS Wicca is a life-affirming, Earth-and nature oriented At the major seasonal holy days, called Wicca is an Earth religion. In city apartments, in religion that reveres the natural world as the sabbats, Wiccans celebrate oneness with suburban backyards, in country glades, groups of embodiment of Divinity and experiences the Divine life. The myths of the holiday are enacted women and men meet on the new and full through dancing, singing, feasting and as feminine and as masculine—Goddess as well as revelry. Wiccans visualize the calendar of moons and at festival times to attune themselves God. sabbats as a Wheel of the Year with eight with the life force of nature and the energies of spokes—four pastoral and agricultural the Earth. They create circles of love and trust in festivals and four solar festivals of the Like the spiritual world view and practices of Native solstices and equinoxes. which, through creative ritual, they celebrate life, Americans and Shintoists, Wiccan spiritual raise magical energy, and honor the old practices are intended to attune humanity to the SAMHAIN-OCTOBER31-Known also as Goddesses and Gods. In Old English “wicce” cycles of nature as a means of personally November Eve or Hallows. The Celtic New Year, where the dead are remembered means “to bend” or “to twist;” and evolved into experiencing Divinity. Wiccans tend to be and divination is performed. Wicca. Many contemporary Witches use the individualists, and have no central holy book, term as a less misunderstood term for prophet or church authority.Wiccan practices YULE-DECEMBER21-Known also as Witchcraft. Wicca is the most common form of enable an individual to experience the divine that Winter Solstice. The longest night, when some covens commemorate the Goddess Neo-Paganism, a group of modem Earth dwells within and fills the world around us. as Mother giving birth to the Sun God. religions which borrow and adapt from pre- Christian Pagan religions, sometimes with For Wiccans, concern for the environment is not IMBOLC-FEBRUARY 1-2-Candles are lit merely scientific or utilitarian, but a visceral and to hasten the journey of the sun and additions from contemporary religious thinkers. celebrate rebirth at this festival of Bridget, profound spiritual reality. Divinity is not believed to the Celtic Fire Goddess. exist separately and apart from humanity, or from the Earth, but to imbue every aspectof it. The Earth OSTARA-MARCH 21-Also known as MAGIC AND RITUAL does not belong to humanity. We belong tothe Vernal Equinox. Day and night are equal. The Goddess Ostara (or Eostre) returns The primary purpose of magic is the Earth. Wiccans consider the Earth, our bodies, and bringing Spring, new life and fertility. transformation of the self to fully develop one’s the natural cycles of life to be sacred. gifts and capacities to live a full, joyful and spiritual BELTAINE-APRIL 30-Known also as May life. Magic is also used for practical ends suchas Wicca honors nature and the feminine in a way that Eve. The plant world blossoms and folk dances celebrate fertility and pleasure. In healing, divination, purification, and blessing, and many religions do not. These values, the Goddess, some traditions the Maiden Goddess raising energy to achieve positive goals. and the other Gods of Wicca provide a spiritual meets Her lover, the Young God. model for treating all of life with reverence. LITHA-JUNE21-Known also as Magic is an art. It requires careful training and self- Midsummer or Summer Solstice. As the discipline to achieve the conscious direction of will longest day, we honor the union of sun toward a desired end. It also requires wisdom and and earth, and for some, the marriage of maturity, patience and passion, and an abiding the Goddess and the God.

commitment to the sacred. Magic is never used to LUGHNASADH-JULY 31-Known also as gain power over anyone, or to manipulate, injure August Eve.The Celtic Sun God Lugh is or control another. honored as His energy is transformed into grain and the days diminish in length; also The Wiccan Rede: Lammas, the Saxon Feast of Bread. Most rituals are performed within sacred space “An it harm none, do what ye will.” demarcated by a circle. Magical work may include MABON-SEPTEMBER21-Also known as Harvest Home or Autumnal Equinox.With singing, ritual drama, chanting, dancing, This honors the freedom that each light and dark again in equal balance, this drumming, meditation, visualization, trances, and individual has to ascertain truth, harvest festival is held to thank the other techniques. Ritual usually includes the experience the divine directly, and Goddess for Her abundance. invocation and honoring of the Goddess and/or determine how best to live one's the God, and when the celebration, teaching or own life. magical work is done, food and drink are blessed and shared by all.