Category: Information

This category houses most of the posts on Pagan Roots; basic information for those new to Wicca; herbal and gemstone encyclopedias with detailed entries for many plants and crystals; a collection of data on gods and goddesses from various pantheons; pages on different forms of divination such as Tarot cards and rune stones; and a lot more.

If you are looking for specific information you may want to use the drop down menu at the top of the page, or the list in the right hand column, to narrow down the category of posts.

All Gods Are One God

In your exploration of Wicca, you may have come across the ideas that ‘all gods are one god’ and ‘all paths lead to the same place’. I had read these many times, in many places, and never really given them more than a passing thought. It was Kaatryn MacMorgan-Douglas that made me start to think more deeply on them when she addresses them in her book Wicca 333: Advanced Topics in Wiccan Belief.

In her book, Kaatryn objects quite strongly to both ideas. She says this;

Pentacle

The word pentacle, meaning the five pointed star in a circle, is derived from ‘penta’ meaning five, and the ending of the word ‘circle’. The five pointed star without the surrounding circle is called a pentagram. This symbol is used by many Pagans today as a symbol of their faith. It is unclear exactly where it originated, however it has been used by many groups including Pythagoreans who used it as a secret symbol to identify themselves, and by early Christians who wore it for protection and as a reminder of Christ’s wounds suffered on the cross.

Book of Shadows

These are a few ideas for beginning your Book of Shadows. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and there’s no reason for you to include everything here if you don’t want to.

Deity: Information on Gods and Goddesses in general; what each deity represents, as well as more detailed information on the God(s) and Goddess(es) that you feel a particular closeness with.

The Sabbats: Information on when the eight Sabbats are, and what things are associated with them, as well as the story they tell about the cycles of nature. You may wish to include rituals and activities for each specific day.

Altar

Your altar does not have to be paticularly big, or highly decorative. These are the basic things you will need to create your own altar;

A table, positioned traditionally in the north. The ideal size is held at waist high, and an arm’s length wide, but a smaller one won’t make a difference; it’s just easier to fit all you might want to on a bigger table.

An altar cloth, which can be just a plain cloth all year round, or different colors, matched to the season or sabbat. You should choose a cloth made from natural fibres, if at all possible. PVC has a time and a place, and this is neither.

Traditions & Faiths

This page gives you a quick look at some of the better known Wiccan traditions, and other Pagan paths. Wicca is a very open religion, with a focus on finding what works best for the individual, and there are almost as many different ‘flavours’ as there are people practising them. Many of these will follow a similar core set of ideas or beliefs, and from there a new tradition is born. One of the benefits to following a set tradition is the guidance available to you from people who have walked that path ahead of you, but it can be just as rewarding and fulfilling to find your own path as you go, practising a form of eclectic Wicca or Paganism.

Tools of the Craft

This page is a glossary of different tools used by Pagans and Wiccans. Some of them are everyday items that have special names, meanings or significance for Wiccans, while others you may never have heard of before. I’ve tried to give a simple definition for each object, as well as including links to more information where possible.

Altar: An altar is an area set aside, normally a table, where sacred items are placed. There are many altar layouts that can be used, though most have something to represent the God and Goddess, as well as earth, air, fire and water. Altars are used during ritual or spell crafting as the focal point. They can be placed in one of the four corners (north, south, east, west) or in the middle of the circle and are used as a ‘workbench’ by the witch.

Words & Phrases

This page can be used like a simple Wiccan or Pagan dictionary, listing many of the terms commonly used. I’ve tried to provide a quick definition for each word or phrase, as well as links to more information when possible.

Adept: A person who is highly talented at a particular type of magic, for example kitchen magic, ceremonial magic, Egyptian magic etc.

Akasha: The fifth element, represented on a pentagram by the topmost point. Spirit, and spiritual power, this is the energy which forms the other four elements. Akasha can be thought of as that which everything else is part of – the Lord and Lady, spiritual energy, physical objects, human souls – everything is connected through Akasha.

Nine Noble Virtues

The Nine Noble Virtues are ethical guidelines, based on virtues found in Ancient Norse Paganism and set out in this form by the Odinic Rite in the 1970’s. Instead of saying that I choose to follow these guidelines, a more accurate description would be that these nine virtues mirror my own personal thoughts and feelings on morality and ethics. Instead of telling you what you must and must not do, the Nine Noble Virtues show you how to be the best person you can be. There are no hazy grey areas where you’re unsure of what the right course of action is, instead by striving to always uphold these ideals in all areas of your life you’re actively working to become a better person.

Becoming A Wiccan

Becoming a Wiccan is, in one sense, very easy; if you’ve read or heard anything about it and decide that it fits the way you feel and describes your beliefs then there is no further test or qualification you need to have to describe yourself as a Wiccan. That having been said, it’s foolish to claim to follow a religion that you know hardly anything about – if nothing else you may find, on further investigation, that Wicca is not the right religion for you.

What Is Wicca?

Wicca is a positive, polytheistic, nature religion.

Wicca is positive; it is a religion that has nothing to do with evil, hell or the devil. Wiccans do not worship Satan. Wiccans do not sacrifice goats, children, or anything else you may have heard mentioned. Wicca is all about balance – God and Goddess, light and dark, good and bad. You cannot have one without the other, and so you cannot have an all-evil entity, like the devil.

You cannot have an all-good entity either, like the Christian idea of God. Wiccan Gods can be identified with as they are not infallible. They have personalities which hold a mirror up to human nature as we know it, and have virtues and flaws that we can easily relate to.