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Paganism is an ancient pre-Christian, polytheistic religion which also includes the neo-Pagan offshoots of modern Witchcraft and Wicca. Wiccan is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word, Wicce which is pronounced Witche which means practitioner of the Old Religion or the Craft. Pagans and Wiccans are most notable for their tolerance of other paths; their emphasis on the importance of also honoring the goddess, the feminine aspect of divinity; and their focus on the personal connection to immanent divinity through natural magic. Both Paganism and Wiccan incorporate non-dogmatic, dynamic religious practices based on comprehensive systems of discernable beliefs and accessible practices that facilitate the personal experience of the sacred mysteries of life. Today's tapestry of Pagan and Wiccan practices is woven from some common threads of past beliefs: life is a journey to gain knowledge and wisdom; the Earth and all the animals, nature spirits, trees, plants, rocks, and the land are sacred and worthy of respect; the individual is responsible for personal thoughts and actions; the body is a precious gift worthy of wholeness and wellness; and the practice of Magic can alter reality and your life for the better. Magical incantations or ritual activities; prayers or a set of actions; thoughts or projections that are intended to produce certain results such as healing or banishing; or, are directed to achieve goals like granting wishes or changing conditions. For many practitioners of the Craft the neo-Pagan Wiccan Rede and Three Fold Law act as ethical deterrents to spellcraft that controls or manipulates others. There are many different types of spells, from a few simple phrases to complex rituals. Most practitioners believe that it is more important to individualize spells, adapting them to personal circumstances and desired outcomes, than it is to follow a precise pattern. Many of the Heathens who followed the Nine Noble Virtues preferred to be called Heathen rather than Pagan because they did not wish to be associated in any way with people who called themselves Pagans yet did not espouse the Three Principles of the Pagan Federation listed below or adhere to the Wiccan Rede, An It Harm None, Do As Thou Wilt.
There are some magical practitioners who do not heed
the karmic "Threefold Law", who use their knowledge of magical
principles to control, manipulate, or harm others through dark practices like hexes, jinxes, curses,
and vexes. Such magical practitioners do not follow Paganism or Wicca as a Sacred Pathway.
The viewpoint of Blessings Cornucopia is that any pathway that does not include virtuous behavior is not in actuality a sacred one. Many Pagans and Wiccans today use the common phrases Blessed Be and Bright Blessings when they greet others, when they close a letter or other correspondence, and when they make statements of agreement. Although Pagan in origin, both of these phrases have now made their way into mainstream usage. The sacred aspects of Paganism and Wiccan can also be readily seen in the Three Principles of the Pagan Federation, the Wiccan Rede, and the Threefold Law listed below. Three Principles of the Pagan Federation are: Love for and Kinship with Nature. Reverence for the life force and its ever-renewing cycles of life and death; A Positive Morality, in which the individual is responsible for the discovery and development of their true nature in harmony with the outer world and community. This is often expressed as: Do what you will, as long as it harms none; and Recognition of the Divine, which transcends gender, acknowledging both the female and male aspect of Deity. The Wiccan Rede An It Harm None, Do As Thou Wilt. This is the fundamental ethical guideline of the neo-Pagan Wiccan movement founded by Gerald Gardner in the mid 1950's which has also been embraced by many Pagans as well. The Wiccan Rede is a benevolent moral code interpreted to mean, "Do whatever you wish as long as it harms no one." It prevents Witches and Wiccans from harming themselves or others by either their actions or their inactions. Freedom of choice allows each individual to follow their own inner guidance on how to best live their life while maintaining harmony with the connectivity of all things; yet, also holds them personally accountable for both their actions and their inactions during their pursuit of spiritual transformation.
Threefold Law states that
All that one does returns three times over in the same lifetime. If you do a good deed for
another, three times that good will manifest as blessings in your life.
Likewise, if you harm another, three times that harm will manifest as
misfortunes in your life.
May the Spirit Circle All Ways Be Open
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