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Pagan/Wikkan Culture

© Myrrha

Culture, as it pertains to this article, means the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. What are the characteristics that define the cultural characteristics of being Pagan/Wikkan? Is it the social norms or the religious norms that make it possible for one to define the culture or are there other practices that identify one as Pagan or Wikkan?

Let's start with the social norms. The Pagan/Wikkan community is a diverse community because you'll not only find its members to be from varying ethnic and racial origins but it's individual sub groups may and can be comprised of ethnocentric groups. Diversity is extolled but yet may be qualified by some. Many of us believe not only diversity with regard to ethnic or racial backgrounds but we are supportive of diversity with regard to sexual orientation. Some of us are vegetarian and some of us will eat anything. Earth conciousness is another feature that is common to our community.

Many of us come to the fold from varied religious backgrounds. I was raised a good catholic girl and even went to private schools then moved on to the church of christ and from there I gravitated to Wikka. I've heard many similar stories over the years and have also come to know many who were raised in Pagan or Wikkan families or some other such eclectic upbringing. There is a place for us all in Wikka and room enough as well as flexibility for us to grow into the understanding of our own particular spiritual paths. You'll find no clearly defined dogma in our beliefs but yet we all are bound by the Rede "...'An it harm none do what thou will." Our actions are evaluated by the intent. No list of rules to learn and observe, just the Rede.

The rede itself requires of us to know our own intents for our actions. In knowing our own intents, we have to know our hearts, minds, and souls. If we truly know our selves, we negate the necessity for anyone else to be responsible for our spirituality. We must learn the path that we're called to and only we can truly reap the benefit of our own deeds. The Rede also says : "...Mind the threefold law ye should, Three times bad and three times good...." For every good we do it is visited upon us three times and for every ill we do it is also visited