What is the Wiccan view on birth control?
143075
If four wiccans are having a discussion there may be 12 different opinions.
166817
Birth control pills are usually used to regulate your cycles.  Vitex/Chasteberry is a good herb that also does this, but a capsule that is 80 mg, rather than the ones you see that are 500 mg.  Natural Factors makes this particular potency.
1068896
I take St. Johns Wort and it does cause your birth control to be totally ineffective. I dont know why but thats what my doctor told me. St Johns Wort does work for me. Its just like when you take an antibiotic and it has something in it to make your birth control ineffective as well.
522754
You need to use birth control.
1144203
I don't know any group that reads more than Pagans! \n\nThere's a book called Wise Woman... er something about the Child Bearing Year, by Susun Weed that she might like.\nOr Circle Round by Starhawk (I am not a personal fan of this because it doesn't relate to my tradition in the slightest, but alot of people I know rave about it)\nA subscription to Blessed Bee Magazine might be nice. That's a Pagan parenting magazine.\n\nPregnancy is a very special time in a Pagan woman's life as she gets to serve as a vessel of creation, the image of the Goddess incarnate, a living celebration of Her gift to women of the power of creation. Anything that will help her commemorate or celebrate this time will be wonderful as well as anything to pamper her to honor the Goddess in herself, especially in a natural, organic or aromatherapeutic way.\nMotherlove gift basket here might be appreciated http://store.kidbean.com/2000013.html\n\nMeditation or nature sound CDs are nice for the labor room too. If she's into it. Not all Pagans are that far out. Stay away from the Goth and Hot Topic stuff too, though someone suggested it, contrary to popular belief, the majority of Pagans are, in fact, not into the Goth scene. Granted, quite a few are, but if you assume she is, she'll probably just be offended. Wouldn't you be offended if someone bought you a Pilgrim outfit cause they heard you were Christian?\n\nIf you want to go for candles, or candle holders, as so many other folks are suggesting (and it's true we can never have too many) some symbolic shapes relating to pregnancy, fertility and having a healthy baby are the cauldron, a Goddess image with a pregnant belly, of course, anything involving the union of male and female, wells, fruiting trees, any sort of fruit, rabbits, eggs, birds. Mother and child images are also very nice and you can find lots of them. I personally get weepy over these.\n\nYour first poster is ignorant. Most Pagans already own Bibles and have read them cover to cover multiple times.
601917
I consider myself Wiccan.  To me, it's an emerging movement that is still in the process of defining itself- initial trends included negative-definition (wicca is defined be what it is not, commonly "'wicca is not christianity' or 'wicca is not devil-worship' etc), non-definition (either because the group is too eclectic to attempt a definition, or out of a desire to maintain a hands-off approach), victim-definition (victimization, or the self-marginalization produced by emphasis on 'burning times' or historical religious persecution; irrelevant to modern practice, but it seems to be a popular method of forging ones identity, and there's alot of rumor-mongering in the pagan community to support this theory), and pseudo-historical-definition (claims to a prehistoric origin, etc).  \n\nNone of these cut it for creating a spiritual identity; Luckily, Wicca is moving away from these, as well as its habit of 'borrowing' (heritage theft, put shortly) and developing its own symbols, myths, jargon, and even deities.  There is getting to be less pressure for validation (via lineage, accounts of intolerance, etc).  Also a good sign- people need to feel confident that they are what they believe they are and not need to defend themselves to other Wiccans.\n\nA fend-for-yourself attitude in regard to dogma might be appealing if we want a truly open and freeform religion, but if Wicca doesn't provide something truly solid for people going through tough or troubled times it will fail as a religion.  Spells and magic aren't enough- Wicca needs to work on developing its philosophy and actually ask some of the harder questions.  But its starting to happen.  I am blessed to be living at a time when my religion is kicking its way out of the universal womb- ten or twenty years from now we'll have the first real generation of Wiccans who were raised in the tradition (current demographics are between 92 and 99% converts).  I look forward to hearing what they have to say about it.\n\nWicca has a few things that have been established- the importance of elemental divisions, duality in divinity, emphasis on systems of correspondences, the Magic Circle as both battery and sacred space.  All good tools; it's a starting point.  There is a current trend of wiccans turning to or creating particular Trads; I think that will continue, because the generic 'wicca' identifier is too big and unwieldy to provide as strong a sense of community.  We hesitate to come up with statements about who we are for fear of leaving some members out- how often do we have to qualify that most wiccans are nature worshippers but some aren't, that most use the god-goddess model but some don't, that some wiccans cast spells but some don't?  I'm all in support of breaking Wicca into smaller sects, so that people can actually feel like they know something about their fellow practitioners.\n\nSo, Wicca is an opportunity for creativity.  No religion can stay undefined for long and still survive, but for now, we are the ones who will help to shape what Wicca becomes.  Tis both an exhilerating and humbling thought.\n\n(NOTE- my ideas of Wicca being in transition are my opinion, and only that- I don't mean to offend people that feel they already have a solid community identity or that come from an actual hereditary tradition that recently adopted the name 'wiccan', or anyone else.  But I'm all about the chaos.  :)
776959
Birth Control \nIn principle, birth control is permitted, so long as the couple is committed to eventually fulfilling the mitzvah to be fruitful and multiply (which, at a minimum, consists of having two children, one of each gender). The issue in birth control is not whether it is permitted, but what method is permitted, and under what circumstances. \n\nBirth control is rather clearly permitted in circumstances where pregnancy would pose a medical risk to the mother or her other children. For example, the Talmud recognizes the use of birth control by very young women, pregnant women or nursing women. However, there is some variance of opinion as to what other circumstances might permit birth control. If this is an issue for you, you should consult a competent rabbinic authority. \n\nIt is well-established that methods that destroy the seed or block the passage of the seed are not permitted, thus condoms are not permitted for birth control. However, the pill is well-recognized as an acceptable form of birth control under Jewish law. I have also heard some say that a condom would be permitted under Jewish law to prevent the transmission of AIDS or similar diseases, because preserving the life of the uninfected spouse takes priority; however, I am not certain how authoritative this view is. If this is an issue for you, you should consult a competent rabbinic authority.
627154
Welcome friend, and blessings on the opening of your mind and heart.\n\nAs other answers have said, wicca is not a dogmatic religion. It seeks to put human beings, and humanity in general, in touch with what it calls the 'divine creative principal of the cosmos'. This divine principal resonates through wicca in the religion's veneration of nature, and its appeciation of polarity - the male and female - in all things.\n\nWhat that tells us directly about the origins of the universe is not exactly stated, and that's pretty much the point. Not being dogmatic and saying "this is exactly how it happened, and why, and what human beings are here for" allows wiccans the freedom to find their own explanations, their own sense of how and why things are how they are, within broad guidelines. \n\nThese guidelines include things that have already been mentioned: respect for the creative force within the universe, respect for nature (and some sense of good guardianship of our environment), respect for men and women both equally, and so on. You've already had something called the Wiccan Rede quoted at you - what this amounts to is the strictest doctrine we have - "As long as you harm no-one, do what you will". Sounds simple, but isn't, because it forces you to take account of your actions every day, rather than for instance, the concept of sin and damnation, which gives you a reckoning after death.\n\nSimilarly, a thing called the Law of Threefold Return is key to understanding Wicca. It just says that whatever you put out there into the universe comes back to you three times - good or bad. So self-discipline, self-reliance, and the quest to be a positive influence on the world are pretty big in Wicca.\n\nTo try and sum up and answer your questions directly, there's no one idea in Wicca of who created us, or why we are here, or if we get reincarnated.\nThere is an idea that nature - the stuff we see around us every day - is an expression of divinity and creative power, and that it's probably the same divine creative power that made the universe, and all that lives, including us. Why we are here is a mystery and a journey that is probably supposed to be in harmony with nature and that divine creative principal - to bring light, in whatever way we are each uniquely gifted to do - to the world, to other people, and to the community of which we feel a part, which is the communtiy of the world. This is what makes Wicca a very personal religion - you bring to it what you have, and you improve the world by your being in it. Some Wicca, as has been said, believe in the reincarnation of spirit energy in new bodies over time, and there are ideas that our spirits learn lessons about life while here, and may need to learn other lessons as they develop, so we may take many earthly lives to learn all we need to know.\n\nWhatever others believe, if you explore a Wiccan path, it will be personal to you; your reasons for being here, your reasons for being on the path you follow, will be unique to you, because you yourself are a unique expression of the creative wonder of the universe.\n\nI've attached a link from the UK Pagan Federation, which might give you more eloquent information, and wish you luck and joy upon the pathway that is right for you.
578416
Well since you're a Christian, here's what one Christian website respectfully says about Wicca.\n\nhttp://www.allabouttheoccult.org/wicca-spells.htm\n\nWicca Spells - What is Wicca?\nWhat is Wicca and what are Wicca spells? While it is rooted in ancient pagan beliefs, the Wicca religion, as it is practiced now, is only about 50-years-old. Wicca is a belief system cobbled together in the 1940's and 1950's by Gerald Gardner from a variety of religious traditions and beliefs as well as Freemason rituals. Since Gardner published several books espousing his system of worship, many offshoots and variations of Wicca have sprung up. \n\nThere is no particular agreement between Wiccans, or "wise ones" concerning what they believe and worship. Some worship the "Goddess," some worship the "God," and some worship both. Others worship nature. Some Wiccans say they embrace Christian doctrine, while others reject it. Most promoters of Wicca believe in reincarnation. \n\nOne thing most Wiccans agree on is the fact that Satan is not a part of their pantheon and they vehemently deny Satan-worship as one of their practices. This is because they disavow the notion of moral absolutes. There is no such thing as good or evil, because it is all relative. Wiccans have only one law that they bind themselves to, called "The Rede." It simply states, "Do what ye will, harm ye none." In other words: "Do what ever you want to as long as no one gets hurt." The Three-fold Law governs consequences, and is a law of returns that states, "All good that a person does to another returns three-fold in this life; harm is also returned three-fold." \n\nWicca Spells - Mind Control\nWhat about Wicca spells? Not all Wiccans practice witchcraft (which they call "magick" to set themselves apart from illusionists and magicians). Magick is to Wicca what prayer is to Christianity. Wiccans claim that the practice of magick is simply using their minds to control matter, while Christians call upon God to heal people and to intervene and work in their lives. Because the Rede forbids harming others and the Three-fold Law sets forth consequences for those who do, Wiccans view themselves as "white witches" or "nature witches." \n\nWicca is basically a religion that is about minding your own business and living peaceably with your neighbors and environment. Wiccans are eager to draw parallels between themselves and biblical Christianity for the sake of earning credibility, but what does the Bible have to say about this religion? You won't find the word "wicca" in the Bible, so let's evaluate the beliefs in light of what God says about them. \n\nWicca spells are idolism - Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things, rather than the Creator…" Who wants to settle for second best? In Isaiah 40, God paints a very cool picture of how much greater the Creator is than His creation. If you are worshipping anything besides the Creator, you are just spinning your wheels.\n\n\nWicca spells bring false hope - Hebrews 9:27 says, "…Man is destined to die once, after that, to face judgment." God says we get one chance at life, and that is it. There are no do-overs. If we don't accept God's gift of Jesus in our lifetime, He judges us as unwilling to be in His presence, and we are sent to Hell. \n\n\nWicca spells bring disillusionment - Mark 7:8 says, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men". God is God, and we are not. We have a decision to make. Are we going to take God at His word and adopt His worldview, or not? Knowing God is hard work that takes a lot of discipline. Wicca is a religion that takes a pack of lies, ties it in a romantic ribbon, and searches out a well-intentioned, but lazy and gullible mark to sell its hollo
728099
There is a great Wiccan E-zine called "the Wiccan-Pagan Times" you might want to check out...\n\nhttp://www.twpt.com/\n\nAlso Witches Voice http://www.witchvox.com has a lot of great articles.\n\nThere are also quite a few Yahoo group E Newsletters...just do a search in the Yahoo Groups under Paganism/Wicca.
620696
It's totally relative. I don't think that there's anything wrong with having pre-marital sex if the context around it is right. There's no way for us to know what God thinks about it. Some religious people would think that it was alright if it was in the context of a loving and caring relationship and birth control were used. Others would say that it is a terrible sin and that we shouldn't even use birth control. What could possibly make one of these views more valid then the rest? I think that a lot of people would think that at 17 you are ready to make a responsible decision about sex and I am one of these people. If you think that you are going to feel guilty about it then don't do it. If you think that you love her and it will help you express your love, then consider it.
822438
Wiccans are typically nature worshipping or Goddess/God worshipping people who believe that any harm they bring into the universe will be revisted upon themselves. Pagans can be anything from Wiccans to Druids to people who don't believe in a corporeal god. There's tons of info out on the web.
1091063
Yes of course.  Wicca is not so pushy, nor do they tend to kill those who disagree.
1110930
Birth control pills is good also to prevent the formations of cyst in the oavrian and to shrink them too, because of a condition known as Policysit Ovariun.\nI don't know from where he and you got the information that birth control is responsable for 70% of defective baby !!!!!\nWhat is really going on between the two of you is he wants to get you pregnent, so if you don't want this be careful.\nHe seems to be a very controled person that wants things done by his wishes and not being resonable on listening to you and respecting your opinion and choices....the wosre is him frating to leave you if you don't do what he wants....Well, today is the birth control, tomorrow he will frat  to leave you again if you don't do what he wants...If you really want to make your point about birth control, get an appointment with your gynecologist and ask him to come with you, there, with a specialist he won't be able to use this ridiculous argument, than I can bet, he will say something Iike I don't care what doctors say or you stop with the pill or I leave you.\nThe thing isn't about the sides effects of brith control pill but is him to get what he wants without being honest with you and tell you his real reasons....perharps if he tells he will feel obligated to you and he doesn't that.\nI would leave him, not only for the frat which is inmature, ignorant and selfish, but for the fact of him being a person whom don't value your opinion and don't give you the right of make your own choices and decisions. \nI hope you don't get upset with what I just told you, but I have good intentions on trying to give you a good advice.
1120395
Actually, the Pill and other hormonal birth control actuall DO casue abortions. It's one of the ways they work...if an egg does get out, the lining of the uterus is too hostile to allow implantation, and baby gets flushed down the toilet.\n\nYou are exactly right. And that is the point the Catholic prolife movement has been trying to get out ever since the days Catholics were the only ones protesting and praying in front of abortion mills.\n Women have been flat out LIED to about birth control, baby manufacturing, abortion etc.   And where have all these things that were supposed to 'liberate' us gotten us? \n\nA world of men who see us as nothing more than sex objects. They can have sex with no commitment, and no consequences.\n\nDon't get your self pregnant...if you do, kill it, I don't want it.\n\nI'm not saying all men are like that, but anytime a guy wants to get in your pants....do you think he is considering the possibility the 2 of you might be creating a child?  Probably not.\n\nI don't know if you are Catholic, but thank you for having a level head and seeing the Truth in Catholic teaching....that all life is precious.
140492
Wicca although based on European Pagan beliefs in a goddess and her consort it is a modern recreation based on archeology and the few texts available.\n\nIn fact Silver RavenWolf stated about Wicca, “Wicca, as you practice the religion today, is a new religion, barely fifty years old.”  \n\nSince  there is very little reliable documents from the time the religion is probably very different from the roots that it claims to recreate.  Although wicca is a legitimate and fulfilling religion  it is quite new.\n\nUnfortunately, the problem you have with Christianity, I have with most covens that i have associated with.  The members are fake and trying to be something that they are not and that everything has to be done this way or that.  This is not a problem that is just with Christianity or Wicca  most organized religion has people that are fake and hide behind their religion and try to be someone they are not.\n\nI have given Christianity an honest try for most of my life and when Christianity did not work for me.  As much as I wanted to be Christian and gave myself over to god I could not reconcile life with what I was being taught.  I had several friends that were wiccan and decided to give that a try and found out that that was definitely not for me.
210423
Wicca is a religion that is based on Nature and its elements.  Its polytheistic, that means they have many Gods and Goddesses.  Wiccans are both male and female.  They are practicioners of Wicca.  Not all Wiccans practice magick, but many do refer to themselves as Witches.