ABSTRACT
This chapter will feature a more “scholarly” discussion on the crucial religious systems that underlie the spiritual practices of Slavic witches and the spread of neopagan beliefs in present-day Poland:
Wicca. Although it is predominantly a Western spiritual movement, present especially in the UK, Wicca has gained significant popularity, including across Slavic societies. Followers of Wicca practice witchcraft and worship nature and two deities: the Triple Goddess and the Horned God;
Native Slavic beliefs. These are primarily the pre-Christian beliefs of the Slavic communities, with elements also based on Celtic, Germanic, and Prussian origins, i.e., the former tribes that inhabited the present-day Slavic territories. For the indigenous Slavs' religiosity, the common denominator is the sacredness of nature. It is a system of beliefs with a pantheon of Slavic deities and extensive demonology;
Eclectic paths. These combine various traditions and beliefs of other spiritual systems to design a unique, solitary path. As the most liberating type of practice, eclectic witchcraft is gaining in popularity.
This chapter will also describe the meaning of the term “witch” through the prism of each religious movement described above.
