If Wicca was a tree, the core belief each Tradition shares would be the trunk and all the branches would be different ways to connect with that core belief. So what is our core belief? It is that Deity is imminent. This is why we call ourselves an Earth-based spirituality.
Christianity and other Abrahmic religions believe that God is transcendent. "He” made the creation and someday we will return to “Him” if we follow the rules. Taoists believe that Deity is real but the world is not real, merely an illusion, and someday if we become “enlightened” we will merge back into the spiritual consciousness. Secular people believe that the world is real and that is all there is. There is no Divine here or anywhere else. Wiccans believe that Deity, God and Goddess, is present in the world and that the world is therefore sacred. For us God/dess is imminent AND transcendent. Our spiritual path changes us so we can interact and experience Deity in nature and in our lives. It is because of this main difference in theology that trying to be Wiccan and Christian at the same time, or Wiccan and other religions, doesn’t work.
The BOS in each Tradition is their system for spiritual transformation leading to the awareness and realization of this belief. In other words, if you practice the Craft, you will experience the Sacred here and now. Of course if you don't practice, don't celebrate the Sabbats, and only come to Coven once in a blue moon nothing will happen. The BOS also gives guidelines for teachers, such as how to teach a session, who is ready for Initiation, Coven structure and so on.
The Greenwood Tradition has a BOS. If you follow it you will become transformed and experience Deity. When Seekers come they sometimes want to argue with the Priestesses. They don't like or agree with something in the BOS. They are surprised when we tell them we don't want them to believe what we are saying indiscriminately, with blind faith! Don't mindlessly follow the BOS as if it were the Christian Bible. Just keep an open mind and see what happens when you try it. We know our system works because it has worked for us.
We practice Celtic Shamanic Wicca. How do you know it's right for you? All bonafide Wiccan Traditions have at least one thing in common, they lead you to the same core experience...Deity is imminent. This is the way WE practice the Craft. It is right for us and we welcome sincere Seekers to share our way. Don't waste your Priestesses precious time by debating the value of our Book of Shadows. We welcome questions and the more the better. Saying things like: “I don't like the way your Tradition is run” or “I don't think Silver Moonbeam should be initiated” or “We should be able to vote on the BOS,” are not going to help you understand our Mysteries. You could ask WHY we do what we do and we will gladly explain. There is a reason for everything. If you don't like the way we do it, that's okay! You can join another Tradition, be a Solitary, or even start your own Tradition. The Craft transforms us...we know this because it has. If you open your heart and mind you will be transformed too.
The Book of Shadows is not open to debate but it is open to testing, questioning and exploring. It is our way of transformation and we gladly share it with you in love. Take it, try it, keep some of it, keep all of it that is up to you. Your relationship with Deity is yours. If you want to stay with us and share our branch on the Holy tree that is Wicca, you are welcome to do that. This is the way we do it: from our heart to yours, the circle is cast.
Christianity and other Abrahmic religions believe that God is transcendent. "He” made the creation and someday we will return to “Him” if we follow the rules. Taoists believe that Deity is real but the world is not real, merely an illusion, and someday if we become “enlightened” we will merge back into the spiritual consciousness. Secular people believe that the world is real and that is all there is. There is no Divine here or anywhere else. Wiccans believe that Deity, God and Goddess, is present in the world and that the world is therefore sacred. For us God/dess is imminent AND transcendent. Our spiritual path changes us so we can interact and experience Deity in nature and in our lives. It is because of this main difference in theology that trying to be Wiccan and Christian at the same time, or Wiccan and other religions, doesn’t work.
The BOS in each Tradition is their system for spiritual transformation leading to the awareness and realization of this belief. In other words, if you practice the Craft, you will experience the Sacred here and now. Of course if you don't practice, don't celebrate the Sabbats, and only come to Coven once in a blue moon nothing will happen. The BOS also gives guidelines for teachers, such as how to teach a session, who is ready for Initiation, Coven structure and so on.
The Greenwood Tradition has a BOS. If you follow it you will become transformed and experience Deity. When Seekers come they sometimes want to argue with the Priestesses. They don't like or agree with something in the BOS. They are surprised when we tell them we don't want them to believe what we are saying indiscriminately, with blind faith! Don't mindlessly follow the BOS as if it were the Christian Bible. Just keep an open mind and see what happens when you try it. We know our system works because it has worked for us.
We practice Celtic Shamanic Wicca. How do you know it's right for you? All bonafide Wiccan Traditions have at least one thing in common, they lead you to the same core experience...Deity is imminent. This is the way WE practice the Craft. It is right for us and we welcome sincere Seekers to share our way. Don't waste your Priestesses precious time by debating the value of our Book of Shadows. We welcome questions and the more the better. Saying things like: “I don't like the way your Tradition is run” or “I don't think Silver Moonbeam should be initiated” or “We should be able to vote on the BOS,” are not going to help you understand our Mysteries. You could ask WHY we do what we do and we will gladly explain. There is a reason for everything. If you don't like the way we do it, that's okay! You can join another Tradition, be a Solitary, or even start your own Tradition. The Craft transforms us...we know this because it has. If you open your heart and mind you will be transformed too.
The Book of Shadows is not open to debate but it is open to testing, questioning and exploring. It is our way of transformation and we gladly share it with you in love. Take it, try it, keep some of it, keep all of it that is up to you. Your relationship with Deity is yours. If you want to stay with us and share our branch on the Holy tree that is Wicca, you are welcome to do that. This is the way we do it: from our heart to yours, the circle is cast.
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