Cultural Approaches to Pediatric Palliative Care in Central Massachusetts: Wicca

Beliefs

• Polytheistic – many gods and goddesses
• Principal deity is the Earth/Mother Nature
• Concern for ecological issues
• Reconstructs the ancient worship practices of pre-Christian civilizations such as the Greek, Norse, Celtic, Sumerian or Egyptian
• Law of Nature; no action can occur without having significant repercussions throughout the world, eventually returning to affect the original actor

Daily practices

• Individual study
• Principal form of worship is usually called ‘ritual’ or ‘circle’

Dying and death

• Beliefs and practices vary
• No restrictions on autopsy

Facilitating practices

• Make time and space for rituals; provides privacy and quiet
• Consecrated items must not be removed from patient or handled by anyone but the wearer

Food

• May not desire various foods due to beliefs; ask for preferences

Health

• Patient may want to contact his or her coven to request a healing rite

Holy days and festivals

• Various

Pregnancy and birth

• Rituals for blessings of pregnancy performed by women of community and are held every three trimesters of pregnancy 
• Ritual of naming and blessing of children

Rituals or ceremonies

• Rituals are a large part of the Wiccan faith
• Full moon held to be a time of great magical energy, a good time for putting a lot of effort into one’s spiritual life and work

Spiritual instruments

• Written works and codes of conduct
• Consecrated pendant in the form of a pentacle/pentagram (interlaced five pointed star within a circle) is often worn; don’t remove without asking
• Various sacred objects including a wand, chalice, wine or juice, incense, candles, images of gods or goddesses, herbs, oil

Social Structure

• Weekly worship and classes
• Priests and priestesses perform special rituals

Symbols

• Five-pointed star inside a circle
• Varity of symbols are used