A Witch's Book of Answers - I
©Cerelia and Eileen Holland, All Rights Reserved
Available at Amazon and coming to bookstores soon.

This book is based on questions that have been asked on the OpenSesame e-list
over the years, and our responses to those many questions.
Here are some of the questions and answers from the book. This material come from our manuscript. It's pre-copy-edited (is that a word?), so there may be some differences between this and the published version. - Cerelia & Eileen

WHO IS THE GODDESS?
     The Goddess is not a little man or woman sitting up in a cloud, making all the decisions, and bestowing wrath or gifts. The God/dess is a concept for all of Nature. S/he is the sum of male and female energies, not a physically existing god. S/he is all of Nature, every living creature, and the Earth herself. - Cerelia

IS THE GODDESS REAL?
     Discussions about the reality of the Goddess strike me as being like debating whether the Moon is actually a planet or a satellite. Whatever anyone says about it, the Moon will still be there in space, visible to Terrans on most nights. However each of us experiences the Goddess, however we define her or explain her, relate to her or deny her or ignore her, she is still the Goddess and the Universe continues to exist. Starhawk wrote, "People often ask me if I believe in the Goddess. I reply, "Do you believe in rocks?" That's one of my favorite quotes. Denying the existence of the Goddess is like denying the Moon. You can disbelieve it all you want, but it's still there, even during the phase when it isn't visible. - Eileen

WHO IS THE GREAT GODDESS?
     The Great Goddess is our prime deity. She is a personification of the Universe itself, just as Gaia is a
personification of the planet Earth. All the other gods and goddesses are aspects of the Great Goddess. Aspects such as Aphrodite, Ma'at, Athene or Brigid are easier to contemplate on the personal level. - Eileen

WHY DOES SHE HAVE ALL THESE NAMES?
     S/he is from many different cultures. That is why there are so many names for the God/dess. - Cerelia

IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE POWER OF THE GODDESS?
     There is no 'party line' in Wicca, so to this as well as to other theological questions you will get different answers from different Witches. To me, the Goddess (and all the god/desses She contains), is the Universe itself. She is therefore subject to the same laws of physics as everything else in the Universe. However, humans have only begun to understand just what those laws of physics are. It is not possible for a Witch to fly or change into an animal on Earth (except in the psychic sense), but it may be possible for Witches to do so in other solar systems. We think we know so much, but we are really just children, still on the threshold of scientific discovery. We will have to travel into space and learn more about this Universe before we can really know what the limits of the powers of the Goddess are. - Eileen

AREN'T WE SERVANTS OF THE GOD AND GODDESS?
     We are servants of no god. - Cerelia
      I serve Justice when I work with Ma'at, serve Love when I work with Isis, and so forth. - Eileen

IS IT POSSIBLE TO PRACTICE WICCA OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAGANISM WITHOUT BELIEVING IN A DEITY OF ANY KIND?
     Absolutely. As with any tool, a deity helps you to focus, or gives a name to a certain aspect or energy. Nature is the all important aspect of Wicca and other forms of Paganism, not the belief in any existing god. Some Witches find it hard to focus their minds without something to guide them. You can use nothing, if you wish, or think of Nature itself. - Cerelia

IF THERE IS ONLY ONE GODDESS, WHO ARE ALL THE OTHERS? I AM CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAVE READ CONTRADICTORY TEXTS.
     Over the generations, many names have been given to the gods and goddesses. This was done to help represent the energies of the Universe more clearly in the minds of humans. We are all attracted to different named deities and what they stand for, but they are not real. This is just a way to become focused. - Cerelia
     All the gods and goddesses are aspects of the Great Goddess, the Queen of the Universe. You find such a variety of thoughts on this because each Wiccan ultimately creates his or her own theology. There is no group-think or party line for us. Our religion challenges us to find our own answers, instead of looking for someone to spoon feed them to us. - Eileen

I DON'T UNDERSTAND A DUAL GOD/DESS. PLEASE EXPLAIN.
     A change in thinking is needed, to understand a dual god/dess versus one god. If you look at it in Nature though, it isn't hard at all. We must have male and female energy to make the world grow and repopulate. That's natural. The God/dess encompasses all of Nature, including both the female and male aspects. Although some Wiccans only revere the female energies, I can't honor one without the other. They are equal, and that is beautiful. We were taught to forget the female power, when Christianity took over. I do not want to act like they did, and try to forget the god. It is impossible for me to not honor both, because together they make life itself. - Cerelia

DID A DEITY CREATE US?
     You can believe in human evolution as Darwin and others have explained it, or you can believe that Khnum literally shaped the human race out of clay and formed us on his potter's wheel. Creation myth, science... you get to decide what you believe. My opinion is that our ancestors created the gods, as personifications of human emotions and the natural world. Humans do sometimes create things nobler and more powerful than ourselves, such as poems, symphonies, cave paintings... and deities. We further empowered the gods through centuries of worship, and made thought forms of them.
 This is no way lessens the reverence and respect I feel for the god/desses I work with, but it is more correct to say I honor them than I worship them. The only thing I worship is the Universe itself, the sum of everything. That's my view, but it doesn't make me right and other views wrong. We each believe whatever we believe; we each work it out in the way that makes sense to us. - Eileen

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I THINK OF SOMETHING, AND THEN IT HAPPENS?
     Don't be alarmed, that's very common - especially with Witches. Don't be frightened or surprised if you dream something, and then it comes true. This also happens to many Witches. All humans are psychic to one degree or another, but some people are just more gifted than others, or more in tune with their psychic selves. - Eileen

DO WITCHES WORSHIP THE DEVIL?
    No. Take the D off d-e-v-i-l, which Witches do not believe in, and what you have left is something that Witches certainly do  recognize: e-v-i-l. Satan is a personification of evil. A constant mythological theme of many cultures throughout history is a god of darkness (or evil, chaos, or sterility) who usually stands in opposition to the god of light (or goodness, civilization, or fertility). Examples of this include Satan and Jehovah/Yahweh, Shaitan and Allah, Mot and Baal, Apep and Ra, Set and Osiris, Ti'amat and Marduk, and so on. - Eileen

IF WITCHES DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE DEVIL, WHAT IS EVIL REPRESENTED BY?
     Evil is found in man himself. Witches take responsibility for their own actions. We blame no one else. - Cerelia

SO IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS EVIL, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?
     We call it what it is: evil. We don't blame an entity called Satan for evil. As Pagans, we hold each human responsible for his or her actions. There is no excuse of 'the devil made me do it' in Wicca. If you are a person who harms people, animals, the planet, or anything else, your negative actions will rebound upon you, threefold. - Eileen

DO WITCHES BELIEVE IN SOUL MATES?
     Some do, and some don't. I believe in soul mates, but not in the way that a lot of others perceive the idea. Most people who believe in soul mates or twin flames, as I do, think this is something romantic. They think it means never having any problems, just joy and bliss. To me, having a twin soul is completely the opposite, most of the time. A twin soul is one flame, split in two. The souls have to constantly teach each other very difficult life lessons. It's not easy, and it's not fun, but when you both start to get through the lessons, and learn to listen to each other (another hard lesson), you learn to deal with all the heartache that learning these lessons can bring. This happens if you are determined enough, and have a deep enough love (even if you sometimes don't understand it). You know, in the back of your mind, that this person has been in your life before, and will be again. There is such a deep love, and such a connection, that you know that you can never leave each other. You know that you will always feel love for each other.  Having a twin soul is knowing that you belong together, no matter what. This is because you are actually of one soul. One of the problems though, is that as with anything else, one soul mate may never learn, and never change, no matter how deep the love is. If having found your twin soul results in an abusive situation, then all you can do is bail out. You have to recognize when there is nothing you can do with a given situation. Wish them well, and move on. This is just my opinion on the subject of soul mates - Cerelia
     I'm the wrong Witch to ask about this. I'm the bah humbug type who doesn't believe in twin souls, soul mates, true love, or any of that. Physical love makes more sense to me, as a Taurus, than romantic love does. What I do know is that we humans are very complex, each with many aspects. I believe it's very possible to find someone who strongly resonates with a particular aspect of your self. This usually makes for a very intense, very meaningful connection or relationship, but not necessarily for a lasting connection or relationship. That's just my view of things though, and it doesn't mean that I'm right and others are wrong. If I were a Native American goddess, I'd be Moving On Woman. I think it's a blessing when you find someone who makes your body sing. It's a greater blessing if they can also make you laugh. It's the greatest blessing if you can still enjoy that person's company, can stand to have him or her around, after the passionate stage of the relationship evolves. - Eileen

DO WITCHES WORSHIP A HIGHER BEING?
     Worship is a very strong word. I don't worship a higher being. I believe in none as a God, or Goddess. I worship nothing, having left Christianity a very long time ago. Honor is a better word. I honor the male and female energies of the Universe. I honor and tap into the magic of the Earth and all of its life and energies. I honor all of Nature and its forces. - Cerelia
     This is true for me as well. The idea of divinity doesn't compute with me, so I serve god/desses rather than worship them. I honor, serve, or work with god/desses, with their energies. If you think about it, everything in this Universe shares atoms, so in a way we are the gods and goddesses. - Eileen

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO COME OUT OF THE BROOM CLOSET?
     Witches have to make this decision for themselves, as to when the time is right to tell anyone. There are many factors to take into consideration. The number one fear is usually for our children, our jobs, and so on. Times are changing. Though Wicca is becoming more known, it will take time before everyone feels safe enough to say they are a Witch or Wiccan. Some Witches have the freedom to do just that, but some don't. The decision is yours and only yours, as to if and when the time is right. You have to live your life, no one else. If you're not able to tell very many, or no one at all, that's OK. It is your spiritual path. There are Witches out there who are able to put their lives in the light and speak and teach others about Witchcraft and Paganism. To them we should be very grateful, but we also have to honor the decision of those who cannot do so. - Cerelia

WHY SHOULD A WITCH EVER BOTHER TO COME OUT, IF THERE IS SUCH A DOWNSIDE TO IT?
     For me, a big part of being Wiccan is reclaiming the right to live openly as a Witch in the world. We cannot change minds about who and what we are unless we reveal ourselves. This is, in many places, a very dangerous thing to do. - Eileen

WHAT CAN I DO WHEN SOMEONE ASKS ME DIRECTLY WHAT MY RELIGION IS?
      When I lived in Egypt I would answer, "My family is Christian". Muslims would assume that I also was, and I would avoid having to explain things to people who could simply never understand. - Eileen

HOW CAN I ASK SOMEONE WHO I SUSPECT IS A FELLOW WICCAN IF HE OR SHE PRACTICES, IN A WAY THAT WON'T DRAW ATTENTION IN PUBLIC?
     Try mentioning the Goddess, or working Blessed Be or Merry Meet into the conversation. If someone didn't know, they probably wouldn't get it. - Eileen

HOW CAN I GET THROUGH TO HATEFUL CHRISTIANS ABOUT THE TRUTH AND BEAUTY OF WITCHCRAFT AND WICCA?
     Sadly, the people that we want to listen, rarely do. We can choose, by our examples and the way we live our lives and treat others, to show those who are filled with hate what truly wonderful people Witches or Wiccans can be. - Cerelia

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO HARM YOU? AND WHAT SHOULD ONE DO?
     I get a deep foreboding, or maybe a very dark feeling that doesn't go away, and then I know someone is either talking about me in a not so friendly way, or wishing ill will towards me. I really can't say if it is at the exact same time that it starts to happen, but as soon as I feel it I will do a protection spell for myself, my family and my home. When this feeling lightens, then I know it is working. - Cerelia

WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO LIGHT A CANDLE?
    I only light a candle with another candle, one that I use only for the purpose of lighting my ritual candles. It is always white or silver. - Cerelia

MUST A CANDLE BURN ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM?
    It's a personal choice which, of course, depends on how much time you have to let your candles burn. I love long tapers. I start them early in the evening and let them burn out on their own. If you can't do this, you can snuff them out when you need to. Votive candles and tea lights burn quicker. - Cerelia
    Different Witches feel differently about that. I always burn a candle until it extinguishes itself, if it's for a spell. But if I am burning a pillar candle for no particular reason, I will blow it out before I leave the house or go to sleep, and light it again another time. - Eileen
    You can do anything that feels right to you. I burn a candle all the way down for one spell or ritual, because I believe that this is needed. You may not believe this. After so many years of doing things the way I do, I can't tell anyone else that their way is wrong. Sometimes I don't even remember why I may do something differently from other Witches. I cannot blow out a candle, because it feels like I am blowing away all the energies I am trying to attract (like, poof, they're gone), so that is why I don't. I hardly ever put myself in that position though, because I always (unless there is an emergency) let my candles burn out on their own. That's not easy, since I love long tapered candles, so I make sure I am going to be home and awake before lighting candles. As I said, do whatever works for you. You have it in your mind a certain way. Your mind believes this, so it would work for you, but not for me. The power of the mind is different for each of us. - Cerelia

 WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF YOU TRY TO EXTINGUISH A SPELL CANDLE, AND IT WON'T GO OUT?
    I'd take it as a sign of the spell working, working strongly. - Eileen

CAN I USE A CANDLE MORE THAN ONCE?
    Most Witches use a candle for only one ritual or spell, and burn it down completely. The exception is a special candle, such as my huge pillar candle, which I burn on occasion for healing and protection for my family and loved ones. That is why shorter candles are easier to work with, if you cannot burn your candles all the way down for one spell. - Cerelia
    This is something that different Witches feel differently about. Some say you should never re-use a candle but instead melt the wax down and make a new one. Others say it's fine to re-use candles. I would re-use candles (such as big pillar candles) for rituals, but would never use anything but a new candle for a spell. What do you think? Go with whatever feels right to you. - Eileen

WHY DO WITCHES CLEANSE OR CONSECRATE CANDLES?
    Witches cleanse candles because candles have been through a lot of hands before we buy them. When we cleanse a candle, we are getting rid of any negative energy that may have become attached to the candle by the people who handled it on its way to the store. Candles are also touched by a great many people in stores, so that is why so many Witches feel a need to cleanse and/or consecrate not only candles, but any tool they may buy. Remember though, that all Witches have different ways of conducting themselves in how they handle their tools, candles, and so on.  - Cerelia

MUST A CANDLE BE DRESSED, FOR USE IN A SPELL?
    A topic that Witches can really get into a snit about is "How To Dress Candles". You can find all sorts of advice on how it MUST be done, but there are plenty of Witches who cast powerful, effective spells by doing it differently. Or without dressing their candles at all. Or without even using candles. - Eileen

HOW DO YOU DRESS A CANDLE?
    When I consecrate my candles (or whatever else), I use rose oil, my personal favorite, but you should use whatever calls to you. I hold the taper, and dab my finger with the oil. If I am doing an attracting spell, I would rub the oil from top to middle, and then bottom to middle. A banishing spell would be middle to top, and then middle to bottom. I then say "I consecrate this taper (or whatever I am consecrating) in the name of the Goddess." - Cerelia

WHY ARE TOOLS SO IMPORTANT?
    Ritual and tools are very important to a beginner. That is where it all starts. Many Witches continue using ritual, but after a certain time, some Witches become adept enough that ritual is used only because it is enjoyed. It doesn't make you any less of a Witch if you decide not to use tools or elaborate rituals. The magic is not in the ritual, it is in the Witch. - Cerelia

IF TOOLS ARE NOT THE IMPORTANT PART OF MAGIC, WHAT IS?
    My favorite word... INTENT! It wouldn't matter if you had five of every tool imaginable. Without INTENT, they are all powerless. They serve a great purpose for a new Witch though, to help train and focus your mind through ritual. The magic is in the intent, not in the tools. Some Witches never even have to pick one up. - Cerelia

HOW DOES ONE DEVELOP PSYCHIC ABILITY?
     The first step is opening the third eye and learning to perceive the flow of energy around us, to see the unseen. The next step (an on-going process) is learning to integrate this information and discover what it all means. - Eileen
 

A Witch's Book of Answers - II