Wicca, religião e natureza: bruxaria e espaços sagrados no Brasil

Abstract

Wicca is known as the religion of nature and its practitioners consider Earth or the body of Goddess as the life sustaining force. Some claim that it is an ancient religion, with its origins in ancient European times, while others understand it as a fruit religion from the time of Gerald Gardner, its founder in England in the mid-twentieth century, in addition to being today the largest neopagan religion in the world. Wiccans seek a religion of the human being with nature, celebrate their seasonal cycles and understand the mystery of their gods through myths and how they manifest themselves in nature. In this religion or space it is very relevant, it can be presented through important representations, such as the magic circle and the cult of nature in practicing this religiosity. This research aims to analyze how Wicca practitioners use public spaces in cities in Brazil, to practice or exercise their religion, be it through monthly meetings, workshops, celebrations and to perform rituals. Questioning how the historical process of this religion and its adaptation to the urban environment took place, observing how it is practiced in urban public spaces and whether there are problems in the use of these spaces by Wiccans. As main sources that will be analyzed, they are the only religious books of Wicca and the accomplishment of interviews with some Wiccan priests who are organizers of witchcraft events in some Brazilian cities.