Fertility and Birth
As Wicca is a religion that celebrates the fertility of land, nature,
mind, body, and in fact, of all things, a sexual union is considered
by us to be a sacred act. The union of the male and female is the
generating moment of all life. And as the act of generating a child is
a Holy act, the fruit of that union is a precious jewel of the Goddess.
To practitioners of the Wiccan faith, the birth of a child is a time for
celebration, joy, and giving thanks to the Goddess for this
wondrous gift of new life. This special time can strengthen the
bonds between a man and woman as well as their extended
families. For most women, pregnancy is a time of radiant good
health, as she literally glows with the extra power and intensity of
the life force during gestation. Sometimes both parents seem to
glow with the wonder and awareness of new life, as they under-go a
transformative experience and become connected to the Primal
powers of Creation.
Giving birth is also a physical and psychological transformation for
the woman as she passes from her Maiden stage to Motherhood.
Thus our rituals not only celebrate the arrival of new life by
welcoming the child, they also incorporate the acknowledgement of
the responsibilities of this rite of Passage. We of the Old Religion
also walk a path in the higher realms, so we know that there are
ever-present dangers on both the physical and psychic planes for
the unwary, and unprotected. For these reasons our Rituals of
giving thanks for the birth of the child also invite blessings and
protection for the infant until he or she is able to protect his/herself.
Also common with Wiccans are Godparents who help the parents
care for and assist in raising the child. Godparents are sometimes
baby-sitters when the child’s parents need a break or some quality
“alone time.” Godparents also fulfill another role, in the advent of
the unfortunate death of both parents. They would assume full
guardianship and responsibility of the child. Godparents are often
aunts, uncles, or grandparents to the child, but they also may be
very close and trusted friends of the mother and father. Sometimes
relationships break up, and until the problems are ironed out, very
often the child would be placed into the care of the Godparents so
that he/she is spared much of the pain and uncertainty that can go
on at such times.
WICCANING RITUAL
As the Rite begins, the High Priest (HP) and High Priestess (HPS)
stand behind the Altar, he on the right, she on the left. The Maiden
Priestess (Mp) who is the assistant to the High Priestess stands to
the right of the High Priest and the Red Priest (Rp) who is the High
Priest’s assistant stands to the Left of the High Priestess. The
Parents, while holding the child, stand before the altar with the
mother opposite the High Priest, and the father opposite the High
Priestess. There should be holy water and burning incense upon
the altar, the Ceremonial Sword, and bell should be at hand, and the
Red Priest should be holding a staff or wand....... The Rituals of the
rites of passage follow in "A Handbook For Wiccan Clergy"
mind, body, and in fact, of all things, a sexual union is considered
by us to be a sacred act. The union of the male and female is the
generating moment of all life. And as the act of generating a child is
a Holy act, the fruit of that union is a precious jewel of the Goddess.
To practitioners of the Wiccan faith, the birth of a child is a time for
celebration, joy, and giving thanks to the Goddess for this
wondrous gift of new life. This special time can strengthen the
bonds between a man and woman as well as their extended
families. For most women, pregnancy is a time of radiant good
health, as she literally glows with the extra power and intensity of
the life force during gestation. Sometimes both parents seem to
glow with the wonder and awareness of new life, as they under-go a
transformative experience and become connected to the Primal
powers of Creation.
Giving birth is also a physical and psychological transformation for
the woman as she passes from her Maiden stage to Motherhood.
Thus our rituals not only celebrate the arrival of new life by
welcoming the child, they also incorporate the acknowledgement of
the responsibilities of this rite of Passage. We of the Old Religion
also walk a path in the higher realms, so we know that there are
ever-present dangers on both the physical and psychic planes for
the unwary, and unprotected. For these reasons our Rituals of
giving thanks for the birth of the child also invite blessings and
protection for the infant until he or she is able to protect his/herself.
Also common with Wiccans are Godparents who help the parents
care for and assist in raising the child. Godparents are sometimes
baby-sitters when the child’s parents need a break or some quality
“alone time.” Godparents also fulfill another role, in the advent of
the unfortunate death of both parents. They would assume full
guardianship and responsibility of the child. Godparents are often
aunts, uncles, or grandparents to the child, but they also may be
very close and trusted friends of the mother and father. Sometimes
relationships break up, and until the problems are ironed out, very
often the child would be placed into the care of the Godparents so
that he/she is spared much of the pain and uncertainty that can go
on at such times.
WICCANING RITUAL
As the Rite begins, the High Priest (HP) and High Priestess (HPS)
stand behind the Altar, he on the right, she on the left. The Maiden
Priestess (Mp) who is the assistant to the High Priestess stands to
the right of the High Priest and the Red Priest (Rp) who is the High
Priest’s assistant stands to the Left of the High Priestess. The
Parents, while holding the child, stand before the altar with the
mother opposite the High Priest, and the father opposite the High
Priestess. There should be holy water and burning incense upon
the altar, the Ceremonial Sword, and bell should be at hand, and the
Red Priest should be holding a staff or wand....... The Rituals of the
rites of passage follow in "A Handbook For Wiccan Clergy"
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