Wiccan teen explains her religion

By Alisha Bentley
Sherman High School

Someone who practices Wicca is called a Wiccan, and he or she usually thinks of themselves as a witch. Because so many people are un-informed about Wicca, there are many stereotypes about the religion.

Despite what people might think, Wicca is a very peaceful religion. It’s practitioners have a deep appreciation and connection with nature, and being a witch means being a teacher, healer and giver.

Sherman High School senior Dana Fields is Wiccan.

“I chose [the religion] because several of the research papers I did when I was younger were on the subject of witches, and after so much research, it just kind of felt right.

“I believe in a balance between all things,” she continued. “I pray to a goddess and a god, which shows a balance between the genders.”

“I do not in any way believe in Satan or hell — or heaven, for that matter,” Fields said. “When I die, if I am a good person, then I move on to the next stage of the higher powers’ plan. If I didn’t do as I should, then I keep trying through rebirth.”

Though he doesn’t practice Wicca, Scott High School freshman Josh Nelson is knowledgeable about the religion. He explained some of the Wiccan beliefs.

“Wicca is an animistic pagan religion. It’s very peaceful,” he said. “In this religion, there is not one Supreme Being of evil, and both a god and a goddess are recognized.”

He noted that the goddess, who is the earth, is represented by the moon. (The god, who is the sky, is represented by the sun.) The phases of the moon - waxing, full and waning - are used in the Wiccan triple goddess symbol to represent the three parts of womanhood - maiden, mother and crone.

“The works of Wicca aren’t bad,” Nelson said. “Christians have the Ten Commandments; Wiccans have the Rede. This is a set of principles that followers of Wicca abide by. The two documents are very much alike.”

However, Fields says that Wicca is less binding than Christianity.

“My favorite thing about my religion is the freedom to believe what you feel is right,” she said. “Unlike Christianity, I do not have to follow one set of rules. The only two rules are ‘harm none, do what ye will’ and ‘whatever you do comes back times three.’ Just following those lets me be myself yet follow my faith.”

Unfortunately for her, not everyone accepts Fields’ faith. “One thing that I hate is people that I meet at work handing me pamphlets on how I am going to Hell.”

Nelson agreed that many people are quick to judge Wicca because they do not understand the beliefs of the religion.

“Our society isn’t accepting of anything that is different, and Wicca is included,” he said. “Wiccans have been made out to be evil. They’re misunderstood, and we fear that which we do not understand. I, myself, am a Christian, and I accept people who are Wiccan. I think it’s very sad that the rest of our society can’t do the same.”

Fields discussed the struggles she faces as a Wiccan. “People aren’t accepting of my religion,” she said. “At school, people make fun of me, and at work, people are scared. I can’t even get a boyfriend because they are too scared of the star around my neck to get to know the person behind it.

“A few of my friends do not believe it is a real faith or I have to not tell their parents the truth when they ask about my pentagram necklace that I wear every day,” she continued. “My mother isn’t accepting of it, either. Even though I am 18 and have been practicing since I was 14, my mom thinks I am too young to choose what I want to believe unless I become a Christian.”

“I don’t see why following this religion would make them a bad person,” said Nelson, who has a best friend that’s Wiccan.

Perhaps one thing that causes people to view Wicca negatively is that the religion practices spell casting.

“I do cast spells — mostly to try and improve my life,” Fields said. “Yes, I have cast a spell to benefit myself because a spell is like a prayer with a little kick behind it. One must make some kind of effort to get what they ask.

“Spells are like the Wiccan equivalent of prayers. They’re asking a Supreme Being for guidance and help. It’s just called something different,” Nelson said.

As for the stereotype of witches casting hateful and hurtful spells? “I would never cast a spell to harm someone else,” Fields said. “As a Wiccan, I practice white magic, and it is against everything I stand for to take my craft to a dark place.”