Wicca’s world

Thousands pray to the Moon Goddess and the Horned God

Founded on ancient pagan and hermetic beliefs, Wicca is an occult belief which began to attract a growing number of followers during the Fifties. The basic tenets were laid down in books on modern day witchcraft by English writers Gerald Gardner and Doreen Valiente.

Worshippers pray to the Moon Goddess and the Horned God, and their major celebrations, known as sabbats, revolve around the lunar and solar cycles.

They believe in sorcery, and cast spells or “workings” to heal, for fertility or to banish bad spirits. Most believe in the afterlife, in particular that they can be reincarnated as humans or other life forms.

According to the 2011 UK Census, roughly 11,700 people said they were Wiccans in England and Wales.