SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF WICCA IN THE U.S. MILITARY David L. Oringderff, Ph.D. Ronald W. Schaefer, Lt Col USAF SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY and PRACTICE of WICCA In the U.S. MILITARY David L. Oringderff, Ph.D. Ronald W. Schaefer, Lt Col USAF Acknowledgments This work developed out of an identified need for clear and concise information regarding the practice of Wicca, particularly as it pertains to US military members and their families, friends, commanders, and chaplains. Many people were significantly involved in this effort. The authors would particularly like to thank Reverend Selena Fox and Circle Sanctuary, the Reverend Rene Delaere of Greencraft and the Sacred Well for their direct and substantial contributions, as well as Silverdrake for their work in the previous editions of this guide, Overview and Guide for Wiccans in the Military. We would also like to recognize the energy, love and support given by the International Executive Council of Clerics of the Sacred Well Congregation, Hera, Odinda, Itárilde, Arghuicha, and Gayomard. Special thanks goes to Father Timothy Ullman for his assistance in researching constitutional law and applicable service regulations. The Sacred Well Congregation PO Box 58 Converse, Texas 78109 Samhain, 2001, First edition The authors and the Sacred Well Congregation extend use of this copyrighted material to military and governmental agencies and other educational and non profit institutions and organizations so long as copyright notices, credits, and integrity of the material is maintained and the material is not used for any commercial purpose. 2 Spiritual Philosophy and Practice of Wicca in the U.S. Military 2001 The Sacred Well Congregation Table of Contents TITLE PAGE, First Edition, Oct 2001...............................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................5 PART I: SPRITUAL PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS AND PRACTICES COMMON TO MOST WICCAN GROUPS AND TRADITIONS......................................................................................................6 WHAT IS WICCA? ............................................................................................................................7 NEO-PAGANISM AND WICCA .........................................................................................................8 DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN WICCA ............................................................................................9 MODERN MAN AND THE “OLDE RELIGION” ...............................................................................11 WICCA OR WITCHCRAFT?............................................................................................................12 THE MAJOR TRADITIONS OF WICCA...........................................................................................13 WHAT IS MAGIC?...........................................................................................................................14 ELEMENTS COMMON TO TRADITIONAL CRAFT WICCA (TCW) AND OTHER WICCAN TRADITIONS...................................................................................................................................14 TRADITIONAL WICCAN HOLIDAYS ..............................................................................................16 RITES OF PASSAGE......................................................................................................................16 HANDFASTING .............................................................................................................................17 HANDPARTING.......................................................................................................................................................................17 WICCANING.................................................................................................................................17 WELCOMING ..........................................................................................................................................................................18 INITIATORY RITES ........................................................................................................................18 CROSSING—REQUIEM ................................................................................................................................... 18 MOON RITES (ESBATS) ................................................................................................................18 SPIRITUAL PHILOSPHY AND ETHICS OF WICCA........................................................................19 THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS.............................................................................................................. 21 THE WICCAN REDE—THE CENTRAL LAW OF WICCA............................................................................. 22 THE LAW OF THREES (LAW OF RETURNS).............................................................................................. 23 MODERN CRAFT LAWS .............................................................................................................................. 24 PRACTICES COMMON TO MOST WICCAN GROUPS AND TRADITIONS ...................................25 SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES .................................................................................................................25 SPIRITUAL VALUES.......................................................................................................................26 CONCEPTUALIZING THE DIVINE .....................................................................................................26 NATURE......................................................................................................................................26 THE CIRCLE...........................................................................................................................................................................26 FIVE ELEMENTS OF NATURE .........................................................................................................26 CEREMONIAL TOOLS IN SPIRITUAL PRACTICE..................................................................................29 TYPES OF CEREMONIAL TOOLS .....................................................................................................30 SABBATS AND THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR: SACRED CYCLE OF SUN AND SEASONS.....................33 SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS............................................................................................37 PART II: THE US MILITARY AND ALTERNATIVE RELIGIONS .......................................................39 THE LAW OF THE LAND AND WICCA...........................................................................................40 THE MILTARY CULTURE AND RELIGONS ...................................................................................40 IMPLEMENTING POLICY ...............................................................................................................42 TITLE: DODD 1300.17, ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES WITHIN THE MILITARY SERVICES, FEBRUARY 3, 1988, ASD(FM&P), THRU CH 1, OCTOBER 17, 1988 .....................................42 ACCOMODATING DISTINCTIVE FAITH GROUPS .........................................................................46 SPECIFIC REGULATIONS: .............................................................................................................47 ESTABLISHING A DISTINCTIVE FAITH GROUP ...........................................................................47 BECOMING A DISTINCTIVE FAITH GROUP LEADER...................................................................48 BASIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR DFGLs. .........................................................................................50 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DFGL CANDIDATES........................................................50 3 Spiritual Philosophy and Practice of Wicca in the U.S. Military 2001 The Sacred Well Congregation STRUCTURING YOUR GROUP................................................................................................................... 51 WHEN WILL THE GROUP MEET?............................................................................................................... 51 WHERE WILL THE GROUP MEET? ............................................................................................................ 51 HOW WILL THE GROUP BE FINANCED?................................................................................................... 52 WHAT IS THE GROUP FOCUS?.................................................................................................................. 53 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR MILITARY GROUPS ........................................................................... 53 DFGL ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES.........................................................................................55 EMISSARY OF THE SPONSORING CHURCH TO SPONSORING CHAPLIANS........................................ 55 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GROUP............................................................................................................. 55 ETHICAL STANDARDS AND BEHAVIOR ...................................................................................................