The 19 Languages of Wicca
At the Parliament, Rev. Don Lewis had the opportunity to speak to spiritual leaders from around the world. One powerful tool Rev. Don Lewis had when speaking was his ‘What is Wicca?’ brochure. It was true many of the religious faiths had wonderful literature from simple one-page fliers to colorful magazines to DVD’s in great numbers. So, in many ways, the ‘What is Wicca?’ Brochure was very humble, and ‘Come Join us for a Wiccan Ritual?’ was very plain. Yet, Don could not keep a hold of them, and people absolutely wanted them. Don gave out every single one of them we had, and Don could have given out literally thousands if we had the budget to have them printed. It was amazing at this interfaith group how many brochures he gave away, and how many people really wanted them.
What was striking people so strongly was the belief that Wicca was and is a English only faith practice. They said they thought it was European in origin and American by acclimation. That while we had a strong and growing presence in Australia, and they were surprised to discover we had a strong presence in South Africa (ie Don’t they kill witches in Africa?), they were blown away the fact that we had members across the world. They would never have believed it until Don offered them flyers in their own language. They saw he was telling the truth, and that these were hand translated and not some machine, and they were impressed. The truth was powerfully demonstrated, and awakened in their minds that Wicca was not some small indigenous tradition, but a vibrant global faith.
Rev. Don Lewis was spreading a message of Wicca as a modern multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, Earth as Sacred movement, which offered a wide range of choices, and was by all means accepting and open to anyone of any nation, ethnicity, race, sex, and religion of origin, and does not even require you to give up any ideals except one, that the Earth is disposable. This was almost a counter movement against the tide of defining and redefining in the minds of the Parliament participants of Paganism being of Indigenous European Origins (Traditional Paganism) or Neo-Pagansim (which includes Wicca). The Pagan representatives from parts of our community called Wicca a Neo-Pagan faith, that is not part of Traditional Paganism, and is better labeled as part of the New Religious Movement. When Don heard that, his heart changed, and scales fell from his eyes. He always felt his family tradition was indigenous, but now he embraced and glowed with the affirmation that his Correllian Wiccan faith has surpassed those roots. He was holding that evidence in his hands, in the 19 languages of Wicca he was handing out. While Don changes the lives of the Correllians, the Correllians who translated the materials changed him, in that lightning of a moment. He would explain later, it recommitted him to his community, and not his definitions.
So when Don handed people fliers in their own language, from people in their culture, the Spiritual Leadership and Interfaith facilitators he spoke with had no choice but to recognize that they too have Wiccans in their midst and they needed to include them in Interfaith talks. This was only truly possible because Don had in his hands the 19 Languages of ‘What is Wicca?’.
So in closing, I want to personally thank the translators, the individuals who helped bring this powerful tool to the Parliament. In many ways, you made a significant contribution that will have spiritual dividends down the road. It will help fight discrimination and it will allow our very unique multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-origin faith move forward to help people everywhere, and help us each as individuals. After all being a Wiccan is more than a word, it is a life-affirming path towards a Sacred Earth, and a peaceful future.
Blessings
Ed Hubbard
