The Old Ways

Wicca is an Initiatory Mystery Religion at its heart. Each Witch, Priest/Priestess/Priestix, and High Priest/Priestess/Priestix must be initiated- accepted by process and ceremony into a group of those practicing the religion- into the mystery- a religious experience that is personal to each and cannot be accurately or meaningful described or explained to others. This is a religion of clergy. Most all participants become clergy or Sacerdos; acting as guides and facilitators for neo-pagan people and those who walk this kind of path. ​                 The People of the Woods Church of the Old Religion is a congregation of the old Native European religion, also called the Wicca or Witchcraft. Members of the church get together to celebrate the ancient festivals that mark the natural cycles of the year. Some of our religion has been transmitted through oral tradition that is thousands of years old. It is the mission of our church to rediscover the lore and practice that were lost in the persecutions of the Middle Ages. Some of the rediscovery or recreation was done in the 20th century and some continue to this day. We are creating a new culture that echoes the pagan villages of the past. Members of The Church meet for the ancient festival days of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasa, and Samhain, and also the solar events, solstices and equinoxes. We observe these festival times with ritual, feasting, fun, and pleasure. Sometimes we join other pagan groups from the Spokane area for a community celebration. Sometimes we travel to regional or national Pagan or Wiccan gatherings. We practice the Old Ways in our lives, based on love and acceptance of the earth and ourselves as fundamentally good. ​                 Wicca is a religion, and a way of life based on the natural cycles of the Earth, and the natural cycles of human life. We celebrate the events of the natural cycles, such as full and new moons, equinoxes, and solstices, to attune ourselves to the Earth's rhythms. Being in tune with the Earth helps us to feel and rejoice in our physical and spiritual reality as part of the good Earth. Wicca is one of the few nature religions to have survived the spread of Christianity. For hundreds of years, Christianity and pagan ways coexisted; Christianity spread mostly in the cities and paganism continued to flourish in the countryside. Then in the late Middle Ages the conflict between these two ways exploded into Witch hunts. Practice of the Old Ways was almost eradicated; much lore and history were lost. But the oral tradition persisted despite persecution. ​                 The Church is concerned with helping members to identify and shed the internalized values of the surrounding culture, values that we have each inherited to some extent, often without being aware of them. Western monotheist dominated culture operates on values that oppress the human spirit and repress human feelings. Civil law often codifies Christian morality. Literature, movies, and popular songs express the perspectives of a culture founded on a religion whose values are radically different from paganism in general and from Wicca in specific. Even such an apparently basic concept as "right" versus "wrong" stems from the black-and-white thinking of monotheistic religion. In many ways, pagans are an occupied culture. We seek to create a culture with different values, a culture based on acceptance of human needs and feelings, a culture focused on enjoyment of life. ​                 The Church is formed around a coven, which is the group of Priests and Priestesses trained in theology and religious leadership according to traditions of our religion and dedicated to the work of The Church. Members of The Church who are interested in becoming clergy of our religion may apply to the coven. All coven members are expected to contribute their energy, work, and resources to The Church according to their abilities. We respect the confidentiality of members and participants. Names of individuals and activities at rituals are not revealed outside The Church without specific permission. ​                 For much of the history of Wicca the religion was organized into secret "covens" or meetings of the clergy, similar to a religious seminary, monastery or convent. The coven structure still dominates Wicca, however there is a growing number of other people who think of themselves as Wiccan. You don't have to be part of Wiccan clergy to participate in our religion and church. Individual or "solitary" Wiccans are often invited to our seasonal Sabbat and community events. In addition there are often family of our members who also participate in our Sabbat events. If you want to be a lay member of our Wiccan Church, let us know that you would like to participate.                 We suggest that serious seekers join our Coven and becoming an Initiated Witch and Priest or Priestess of Wicca. The heart of Wicca is an initiatory mystery religion, and the mysteries cannot be explained or learned from books. They can only be experienced. Lay members are welcome to participate with the church at most Sabbats, and outings such as attendance at regional pagan gatherings.