The Fascinating History of Wicca
The ancient art of witchcraft is the basis of Wicca. However, the witchcraft traditions that comprise Wicca are merely a component of overall Wiccan culture and belief systems. It is entirely possible to be a Wiccan without being a witch. Perhaps this is best understood by accepting that there are multiple denominations within Christianity, without one having to subscribe to any individual group like Methodists, Protestants, Baptists or Catholics. Believe it or not, Wicca is a religion while witchcraft is considered a cult. There is a difference between the practices of the two, and it is apparent in the way that Wiccans live their lives with all the forces of nature – physical and metaphysical, et al. It comes as a surprise to some but Wicca is in fact a harmonious religion which promotes peaceful coexistence with the universe. Light plays an important part in Wicca, and sunrise and sunset are central. The warmth of summer, the coolness of spring, the chilly embrace of winter – these are all important tenets of the overall feel of the Wiccan culture. Mother Earth and the divine feature prominently, and the witch component has no correlation to the ominous undertones that have been propagated in pop culture.
Witches are seen as magical, mystical, supernatural beings – teachers and protectors, with an eye to honour, integrity and purpose. Wiccan culture and lore goes way back to pre-Christian times in Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The medieval church attempted to remove all traces of Wiccan life from the land, but it endured and these beliefs which are held dear today remain. Such is the fascinating history of Wicca that it predates the Paleolithic people, and there have been cave paintings and artwork that span over 30,000 years with all manner of Wiccan symbolism such as stags, circles and the like. Witches are an indelible component of Wiccan beliefs systems, and arguably the oldest of all the pagan belief systems. Witchcraft was deemed so because it was the wise people who practiced such craft – they had an understanding of the forces of nature, medicine, supernatural elements and more. Oneness with the Earth is an intractable part of the belief system that eventually became a religion. The misconception of the witch as a force for evil has been dispelled by Wiccan beliefs systems. Witchcraft is in fact deeply spiritual and it allows for freedom of thought and expression of the individual and full comprehension of the Earth and its bountiful treasures. There are spells, potions and magic that are capable of transcending the boundaries between the physical and metaphysical, and that is precisely where tarot in Wicca enters the scene.
Tarot Cards and Wicca: An Enchanting Journey into Soothsaying
Tarot cards come in many different formats, and there are different meanings to each of the many suits available. Naturally, tarot cards are symbolic of so much more than the card being held in the hand of the tarot card reader. The imagery on the cards is reflective of concepts, realities and fluid dynamics that cannot be seen in any other way. The cards are spread in such a way as to generate a basis for divination. One effectively begins to predict the future, or rather a map of the future. The tarot card reader may not see events unfolding precisely as one might imagine; there is a certain haziness and obscurity to the imagery that lends itself to visions of probability and likelihood. It becomes an intuitive process, almost mythological in nature, and the goal of course is to select a deck that simply feels right. The purpose of reading tarot cards is to gain a deeper insight into the unseen world; a confluence of the spiritual and physical realms much like what is described in Kasamba’ Wicca psychics. Psychic readings have transcended beyond the gobbledygook of naysayers and there is tremendous importance placed on the insights of veteran Wicca tarot card readers.
The selected decks of cards will vary from one reader to the next. Typically there are 78 cards in a traditional tarot card deck with 22 of them featuring as the Major Arcana and 56 of them in the Minor Arcana. Among the many visible symbols on tarot cards are cups, swords, pentacles, coins and life – all of which represent unique aspects of physical, moral and spiritual significance. This is how tarot cards tie in with the Wiccan religion. There is a confluence – a symmetry and co-alignment – of beliefs, ideas and values which a skilled Wiccan tarot card reader can put to good use. It should be borne in mind that tarot card reading is a process of intuitive divination; it is an art form that is felt from one’s very core but which needs to be learned and studied with the finest attention to detail. There are many unique spreads in tarot cards, including the Pentagram spread, the Romany spread and the Tree of Life layout.
It is absolutely imperative to understand the meaning behind tarot card readings. Every single card is symbolic of something and it is supremely important to learn how cards interact with one another to be able to understand the big picture more clearly. Recall that there are 4 unique suits in every deck of tarot cards. The Major Arcana comprises 22 cards with individual components of the overall human experience. The intuitive mind, change, and the material world that we live in are represented. There is the Fool, the Magician, the High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, and scores of others. These are but a handful of the many interesting symbolic references that are available in the Major Arcana. The Minor Arcana includes the likes of Plates, Swords, Cups, Wands and others. Cards are numbered in every suit from Ace through 10 as well as a King, Queen, Knight and Page. An especially important rule with tarot card reading is not to apply present-day constructs when interpreting these ancient symbols!