Herkimer, USA - When members of the local Coven of the Crow gathered together to celebrate the autumn ritual of Mabon recently, there were no dark robes, no drunken revelries and no animal sacrifices.
But there were Oreos.
And homemade soup.
Wicca has been a recognized religion for more than two decades, and by some estimates is among the fastest growing religions in America. Yet many local followers say they and their beliefs remain largely misunderstood.
Janina Giordano, high priestess of the Crows, regularly hosts rituals for about a dozen Wiccans at her home in Herkimer. She and other members of the group were hesitant to speak about their religion publicly, but agreed to meet with the O-D in hopes of dispelling the idea that Wiccans are “Satan worshippers” or “kooks.”
“There needs to be an educating of people, because Hollywood has really done us a disservice,” Giordano said.
Wicca, Giordano said, is “a new religion based on very old, ancient practices.” It formed in the first half of the 20th century but incorporates various pagan beliefs that predate Christianity.
“Basically it is the belief that there is a creator, a divinity, and that the divinity lives within us. And that the divinity lives within everything,” she said.
In general, Wiccans worship a God and Goddess representing the male and female energies of the Divinity, and honor the natural elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. Most believe in reincarnation, and many believe they can work “magic” by harnessing and redirecting natural energy, she said.