Themis Wiccans
Themis Wiccans Schemata
Emergence of Themis Wicca Share
A large proportion of members in Wicca are known as
eclectic practitioners. That is, they are not a part of any Wicca craft, sect and
often not part of any 'coven'. Instead, these eclectic Wiccans drew upon several
sources to form their own individualized and innovative religious practices. *Themis Wicca evolved
out of debate that challenged ancient mystical rivals and their rituals. Over time a modern
eco-theistic spirituality has come to identify a *Themis Wiccan
emergence of the religion.
Themis Wicca sees deity in the totality
of all life energy in Earth's biosphere and beyond.
Many people in recent years of
the 21st century have
moved away from traditional religion looking for spiritual satisfaction. Themis
Wicca has emerged and grown in this time.
Themis, (a Greek Goddess of Justice) her name meaning 'law of nature' rather
than human ordinance, was the mythological Titaness of good counsel. Themis was
the embodiment of divine order, law, custom and conceivably the first true
Wiccan. Themis is patroness of all existing rights.
Themis Wicca is a forward-looking, modern, eco-theistic, eco-feminist spirituality based on
many Wicca traditions but excludes pagan traditional rituals and "Witch Craft".
Themis Wicca has been debated colourfully in the latter part of the first decade
of the 21st century from Facebook to Wikipedia because of its resemblance to
Dianic Wicca or "Goddess Worship". It is neither.
Themis Wicca was born in discussions of spirituality by University Students at
George Mason and George Washington Universities in Washington DC, USA; a student
of Cornell University; students of Oxford University in the U.K. and students
and teachers at University of Southern California, USA.
Themis Wicca began to emerge in 2006.
- Themis Wicca sings praise for nature-based spirituality,
vegan herbivorous habits, feminism and ecology. Additionally, in
the spirit of Themis as patroness of all existing rights, Themis
Wiccans are strong defenders of the rights of all sentient
beings be they vegan or not. The ethics of Veganism are mirrored in the spirit of Wicca but are not concomitant.
- Themis Wicca is a religion of the 21st century and is not
about witchcraft. Themis Wicca is not a cult. Themis Wicca is not
about covens but parishes instead. Themis Wiccans may be
herbivores, homeopaths and herbalists: yes, most certainly, but
not witches in any sense.
- Even Christians feel comfortable making the transition to an
eco-theistic, ecofeministic, nature-based religion which
conflicts with no other religion save maybe in its lack of
ritualistic focus.
- There is none of the ancient ritualism but a firm life-style commitment to the Wiccan practice of "do as you will but harm
nothing"; the universal practice of ecology; conservation; and a higher value given to all life; plus for some Wiccans of this order, vegetarianism;
and for some, even Veganism.
- "Live the life you choose for yourself" is a mantra of Themis
Wicca, "but be responsible for your actions and hurt no living
creature".
- The feminism aspect of Themis Wicca is based on the focus on
the nurturing aspect of "Gaia" ("Mother" Earth as a nurturing
biosphere) and is not to be confused with Dianic Wicca which
excludes men almost completely.
- Themis Wicca is more about the focus on Gaia (Mother Earth)
to some believers.
- In Themis Wicca spirituality, females are respected as equal
but have a slightly higher rank to males perhaps owing to the
focus on nourishing, maternal traits of nature plus importance of
several pantheistic Titans who while being female are at least in
an abstract sense, deities for both genders equally.
- The single most controversial distinction of many Themis
Wiccans from other Wiccan traditions is the belief in a single
Goddess or in other words that "God" is a female and that the
energy of all life in the Universe and in particular, Earth's
biosphere, including the essence and energy of all living things
integrated through all time and all dimensions is a concept of
God. Many Themis Wiccans share this belief that combines the God
and Goddess in a Pantheism that views the Universe (Nature) and
'God' as identical. Likely, most Wiccans may not believe in a
personal, anthropomorphic or creator god.
- By that definition, Themis Wicca spirituality is arguably not
a pagan religion, nor is any Wiccan sect or tradition, although
many religions describe alternative spiritualities to be
paganism.
A strong thread in the artistic work of Themis Wicca Rock Band (https://themismusic.com/) is
the Wiccan love of life and nature. Lyrical references to the "Love of Life",
the "Forest of Life", "the Honeyed Fountain", "the gentle caress of a warm
summer breeze" focus on the Wiccan belief in nature's divinity.
Themis Music has drawn nature-loving Wiccans from all over the world
(https://themismusic.com/).
Themis promotes unity among all peoples through the natural love for music
among earth's peoples; and the common need to love earth and her fragility.
Typically the defining characteristics of All Wicca
are:
-
A reverence for all nature;
-
The Goddess/God are seen as complementary
polarities and this balance is seen in nature;
-
Most believe in the ability to harness the
earth’s energy to work some form of 'magic' be it medicine and healing,
health maintenance, food and nutrition ppreparation, and other eco-based
'tricks' . This is not generally viewed by Themis Wiccans "The Craft" or as
supernatural but as natural as in herbalism or homeopathy;
-
Wiccan mantra: "If it harm none,
do what you will." Members are allowed to follow whatever path they choose
so long as no harm befalls others, including themselves; and
-
A person's deeds
return to him/her. The repercussions of both good and evil behaviour return to their
originator.
Themis Gothic Wicca Rock Band
Themis Music promotes Wiccan eco-philosophy in its
songs and written texts and articles. Embedded in the Canadian band's music and
published explanations of Themis's musical inspirations, is a clear adoption
of Themis Wiccan ecology and feminism.
The Special Holidays of Wicca are
tuned to the seasons of nature:
- We welcome the light, the shadow
and all that lies between in nature.
- We are in Mother Earth's nature, humbled in reverence as if in a temple.
- Not prone to the arrogance of human technology as they touch our souls, we
are healers, teachers, seekers, givers, and protectors of all things. If this
path is yours, may you walk it with us in honour, light and integrity.
- We have a deep love and appreciation
of life and find awe in watching the sunrise or sunset, the forest
in the light of a glowing moon, a meadow enchanted by the first light of day.
- We revere the morning dew on the petals of a beautiful flower; the gentle
caress of a warm summer breeze upon our skin; and the warmth of the summer sun
on our faces.
- We thrive in the fall of colourful autumn leaves; the song and spirit of the
birds and other creatures of the wild.
-
Yule/Winter Solstice - Dec. 22 - The winter solstice occurs exactly when
the Earth's axial tilt is farthest away from
the sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the winter solstice lasts only an
instant in time, the term is also colloquially used as midwinter or
contrastingly the first day of winter to refer to the day on which it
occurs. More evident to those in high latitudes, this occurs on the shortest
day, and longest night, and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is
the lowest. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the
reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.
Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice occurs on
December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 or 21 in
the Southern Hemisphere.
-
Vernal Equinox - Spring 21 March - An equinox happens each year at
two specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when there is a
location on the Earth's equator where the center of the Sun can be observed
to be vertically overhead, occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23
each year. Astronomically, the vernal equinox (usually 20-21 March in the
Northern Hemisphere, and 22 September in the Southern Hemisphere), should be
the middle of spring (based on the angle of the sun and insolation). The
spring equinox is called "mid-spring" by many, but others, especially in the
USA and sometimes in England, regard it as the "first day of spring". For
most temperate regions, signs of spring appear long before the middle of
March, but the folklore of 21 March being the "first day of spring"
persists, and 21 June as the "first day of summer" is common in the USA. In
South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, spring begins on 1 September, and
has no relation to the vernal equinox.
-
Summer Solstice - June 22 - The summer solstice occurs exactly when the
Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the
sun at its maximum of 23° 26'. Though the summer solstice is an instant in
time, the term is also colloquially used like Midsummer to refer to the day
on which it occurs. Except in the polar regions (where daylight is
continuous for many months during the spring and summer), the day on which
the summer solstice occurs is the day of the year with the longest period of
daylight. Thus the seasonal significance of the Summer solstice is in the
reversal of the gradual shortening of nights and lengthening of days. The
summer solstice occurs in June in the Northern Hemisphere and in December in
the Southern Hemisphere.
-
Autumn Equinox - Sept. 22 - Fall - An equinox happens each year at two
specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when there is a
location on the Earth's equator where the center of the Sun can be observed
to be vertically overhead, occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23
each year.
Vegan and Wicca love of life and nature are perfect parallels.
Read More
We thank you our fellow Themis Wiccans and wish you every happiness.
We are lovingly grateful to our beautiful friends, fans and supporters.
May you be blessed in every day with flowers that bloom about your feet;
the tender grass so fresh and sweet;
with the song of the bird and the hum of the bee;
and all the beauty you can hear or see.
By the blue of the stream and the azure sky;
the fragrant sweet air and a cooling breeze;
by the beauty and breath of the blooming tree
and the pleasant shade of it's branches high;
we are all truly blessed.
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