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A COMPARISON OF WICCA PAGANISM AND CELTIC PAGANISM

(This article is a more focused version of an article by Ian MacAnTsaoir and Dawn O'Laoghaire entitled "WHY WICCA IS NOT CELTIC"

     We all attempt to define our lives so that it is more structured and orderly and this does not exclude spirituality.  Although I left the very structured dogma of Christianity for what I bragged was a free, unencumbered path, I soon realized that I still had a need to define who and 'what' I was.  Even if I avoided labels for my new life, others demanded them.  Therefore, this article addresses one of the most common "errors" in spiritual definitions.

     Many people who are new to their chosen alternative path have not taken the time to research it.  These "newbies" fall into a category known as "neo" or "new age" and sometimes erroniously assume that they need to follow a "high priest or priestess" to practice this new found spirituality.  Of course we all want guidance and it is not a mistake at all to locate a group of like minds and ask for help.  What IS a mistake is to assume that you need one or two people to interpret every aspect of your study.  THIS, in my opinion, is the major reason that those who follow an older form of spirituality have a problem accepting those who really need their help.

     This article compares and contrasts Celtic Spirituality with Wiccan Spirituality.  When we discuss Celtic Paganism, we must consider the time period of the Golden Age of the Gaelic Celts (400 BCE - 1300 CE).  As you can see,  this form of Paganism is ancient and is fused so closely with the Cultural influences of the people as to be inseperable.  Traditionalists; (Celtic Pagans) sometimes resent the young upstart Wiccans because the formation of that spirituality is very new and although linked with Pagan Spiritualism, it is very different in many ways.  

     In this article, I will talk more about the fundamental differences in the two bodies of thought and only mention a few specifics briefly.  For example, both consider that life is sacred and embrace the Mother as a creator.  They both honor sacred space and promote benevolent ideals and believe that we are either rewarded or punished according to our actions. (Karma).  (Remember, I am being very general and ask you to research each in depth at a later date or check out a more detalied article on this site..)  However, when we peek below the surface, we find the fundamental differences between the two and can better understand any animosity that may exist.

     The traditional Gealic view point is that the many gods that make up Celtic Paganism are true Ancestors!  They are not just some manifestation of an ideal.  Furthermore, to ignore the knowledge that has been passed down, corrupt the rituals by inattention to detail or to allow others who have not rightfully descended from these ancestors to twist this knowledge is to dishonor the ancestors!  This is very similar to the ideals of the Native Americans!  On the other side of this mirror is the much newer spiritualism called Wicca.  There are several schools of thought as to the origin of the word Wicca which we will not discuss here but we need to know is that the foundation is Jungian.  

     Jung is famous for the Archtypes he introduced to represent society.  He felt that most people fell into a category of sorts and used these to define and predict the behavior of society.    Gardnerian Wicca is based on this.  (Read more about Gardner and the foundation of Wicca to better understand.)  Wicca is very new to the world of theology and even though it is backed by Celtic Paganism, the details are often left open for interpretation and are accepted to different degrees by different groups.  Wiccans are often known as new agers or neo pagans and this just references their abrupt appearence in our society.  (to be continued)