Pentagram of the Five Elements
Wiccans, or Wicca, is/are a modern pagan religion focused around witchcraft. Developed in England during the first half of the 20th century, it draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan religious motifs for its theological structure and ritual practice. In the story, Wiccans are witches/warlocks that draw their power from the Elements.
History[]
Origins, 1921–1935
In the 1920s and 30s, the Egyptologist Dr. Margaret Murray published several books detailing her theories that those persecuted as witches/wizards during the early modern period of Europe were not, as the persecutors had claimed, followers of Satanism, but adherents of a surviving pre-Christian pagan religion - the Witch-Cult. Despite now being discredited by further historical research, her theories were widely accepted and supported at the time.
It was during the 1930s that the first evidence appears for the practice of a pagan Witchcraft religion (what would be recognisable now as Wicca) in England. It seems that several groups around the country, in such places as Norfolk, Cheshire, and the New Forest had set themselves up as continuing in the tradition of Murray's Witch-Cult, albeit with influences coming from disparate sources such as ceremonial magic, folk magic, Freemasonry, Theosophy, Romanticism, Druidry, classical mythology, and Asian religions.
Five Elements and Charms[]
Many traditions hold a belief in the five classical Elements: Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, and Spirit, as well as the secondary elements: Wood, Ice, Electricity, Light, and Darkness. Although they are seen as symbolic as representations of the phases of matter. These elements are invoked during many magical rituals, notably when consecrating a magic circle. The five elements are air, fire, water, and earth, plust aether (or spirit), which unites the other five. Various analogies have been devised to explain the concept of the five elements; for instance, the Wiccan Ann-Marie Gallagher used that of a tree, which is composed of earth (with the soil and plant matter), water (sap and moisture), fire (through photosynthesis) and air (the creation of oxygen from carbon dioxide), all of which are believed to be united through spirit.
Charms are a sort of accessory to being a Wiccan, the number of charms you have, the better control of your powers are. They are usually a sort of jewelry or item, always with a gem that act as the main conductor. Without it, using or controlling a Wiccan's power is nein in a category of usage. However, the more charms you have, the more power you can access. But also this leads to making the user a better conductor, which isn't a good thing most of the time.
Dangers[]
There are dangers in drawing too much power in the elements for a Wiccan. If a Wiccan draws too much power from their element, it could destroy their humanity, making them living elemental Avatars. This in turn makes them more powerful than ever being gifted, but it destorys their humanity, discarding the hope that they could ever be human again.