Ok, so some would like to believe that Wicca is THE Old Religion, surviving the 'Burning Times' and other Christian misdeeds. Margaret Murray was an Egyptologist who believed Wicca to be ancient etc but she has been largely disproved.This idea belongs to the anti-Christianity school of Wicca's origins. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I've heard/read that Silver Ravenwolf is quite anti-christian.. and her books are supposed to be good introductions catered for teenagers.
The most accepted view is that it was started by Gerald Gardiner and Doreen Valiente in the 20th Century, but before the 1960s. Gardnerian Wicca is your traditional Wicca with covens and rituals and so on. It is said that Gardiner was influenced by Alistair Crowley and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, something I find interesting but know nothing about :)
Over the last 60 or so years, different forms of Wicca have arisen, which will all be discussed in The Different Kinds of Wicca. Learning about these and finding what suits you is all part of the process, so deserves its own post :) The history of modern Wicca can be better understood in its' offshoots.
But some mentionable ones are Alexandrian, Dianic, Kitchen Witchery, Universal Eclectic, Druidry, Faery Wicca.. there are sooo many. It will be interesting having a look.
While it has come from a history of demonisation and disneyfication, Wicca is really something that while recently constructed, it is based on old pagan beliefs and the Earth herself. The energies of the Universe are revered and honoured. Even encouraged/directed/ put to use by Magick.
I'm not that interested in repeating the specifics of the origin and history of Wicca, hence this post is tiny :) But I've read a few intro chapters in places and they all say much the same thing. Don't forget, everything I write here is my interpretation. Read around and decide for yourself. My posts are organic.. they will change as I learn, I will adapt them and change them :) Its all part of the journey to my own rightness :)
Raymond Buckland's Complete Book of Witchraft gives a nice intro to the history of Witchcraft - I like how the religio-magick of the early humans are detailed here - gives some credence to Murray's theories. Sounds logical. I find it interesting how the magic we know today came out of rituals for fertility and hunting. They were the most important keys to survival back then, and it's funny how now, centuries and centuries later, while we have taken care of that aspect of survival, humanity now needs love and magic on a different level for spiritual survival.
Scott Cunningham concentrates on the shamanic origins of Witchcraft, and seeing as his book was the first one I read as a bright eyed and bushy tailed 16 year old, I can see why it appealed to me. At that time I was really into lucid dreaming and Carlos Casteneda and Don Juan the Yaqui Indian. The main link here is the alternate states of consciousness - which ties nicely with distracting the Id with shiny things (rituals, tools, chanting) in order to get it to direct those creative energies towards personal and universal goals.
All the books I have come across have chapters on the history .. so you will not be lacking for general infomation there.
So what is Wicca then?
That I cannot answer. Or the answer is found in Earth herself. I can tell you that it is a religion where the individual has a spiritual relationship with Earth, Nature and their understandings of God, Goddess and the Divine Universal Energy. Some are in covens. Others are solitary. They follow the seasons, sun, moon, planets and intuition in celebrating and giving honour and respect to their deities, the elements and the Earth. Some work magick. Some don't. Some are awesome and crafty with Herbs and spells. Others aren't. What links all are the pagan beliefs that underlie the spiritual relationship.
We are of the Earth. We are all made of Stars.
