JERRY WOLKOWITZ Toni Silvano of Atlantic Highlands uses a wand to “cast a full moon circle” at the Earth Spirit New Age Center.

There are no bubbling cauldrons, black robes or tall pointed hats when a group of local witches gather in a wooded area Oct. 31 to celebrate the beginning of a new year.

The circle of followers of the Wiccan faith is held to mark Samhain (pronounced Sowen), the end of summer, commonly known as the witch’s New Year.

"Samhain is the last of the harvest festivals, a time to reap what we’ve sown in our gardens and spiritual gardens," explained Toni Silvano, a Wicca practitioner and teacher.

The ancient Celtic festival has themes that gave rise to modern-day Halloween traditions, she said.

"At Samhain the veil between this world and the spirit world is very thin," explained Silvano, who teaches Wicca 101: The Path to White Magick at Earth Spirit New Age Center in Red Bank. "That’s why you see Halloween costumes of ghosts and witches. It’s a great time for divination," she said.

The word Wicca means "wise one" in Gaelic, said Silvano. "The ancient witches that were pre-Christian were actually midwives, medicine women, and women who healed with herbs," she said.

According to Silvano, Wicca is a neopagan faith that combines traditions from the British Isles, where it was founded in the 1950s, as well as folklore, astrology and traditional spiritual practices from other parts of the world.

Wiccans are pagans and are polytheistic, she explained.

"Wicca is a belief that we’re all on different paths to one source, and we view God as a duality, as having aspects of God and Goddess," Silvano said. "Wiccans also view God as having many facets so we see divinity in all things; honor divinity in all things. We see the spark of the deity in everything around us."

Wicca is a nature-based religion and honors the Earth, according to Joycelyn Midose, owner of Earth Spirit New Age Center.

"Someone who takes the time to look at it, realizes it’s about environmentalism, taking control of your life, respecting others," said Midose. "Wiccans look at Buddhism, Native American spirituality, at all the religions, and see that which is good and honorable. They’re all interconnected."

"The biggest misconception about witchcraft is that we’re Satan worshippers, noted Silvano. "It’s just the opposite. The truth is, we don’t believe in Satan."

According to Silvano, witchcraft got a bad name during the Crusades, when pagans were driven underground.

"The fact they were hidden became something bad, plus the negative image has been reinforced by movies and the media," she noted.

Silvano leads a weekly Wicca discussion group that has about 50 members, men and women, from all walks of life.

"You work with them. They’re your bankers, brokers, teachers and policemen," said Silvano. "There are no warts on their noses or green hats."

"It’s more acceptable now; we’ve come out of the closet," said Wiccan Christine Schweickert, Lakewood.

"Out of the broom closet," segued Silvano, who also is a Tarot card reader and reiki master. "Wicca is a path to know yourself. It brings inner peace, tranquillity and a healing path."

In Wicca 101, Silvano instructs novices in the basic tenets of Wiccan belief which includes various gods and goddesses, candle magick and herbology, how to use the moon phases, and the energy of the plants to enhance white magick spells.

The creed Wiccans live by is expressed in the last eight words of the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do as ye wilst."

"Wicca honors ourselves and all others," explained Silvano. "It’s harm no one, including yourself. We believe in the web of life. The whole world is connected."

Another Wicca precept is the threefold law of karma.

"What you do comes back to you three-fold in this life or the next," explained Silvano, adding reincarnation also is a basic Wiccan belief.

For Wiccans, God has a dual nature.

"Wiccans believe that there are female and male aspects to the One, or All, and without the union and balance of these two aspects, nothing can exist," she added.

A nature-based religion, Wicca celebrates nature with eight sabbats (Wiccan spelling) that last from sundown to sundown and coincide with seasonal changes.

In addition to Samhain, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, the beginning of the Wiccan year, sabbats include Yule, or winter solstice, which occurs around Dec 20-21, the longest night of the year, spring equinox, around March 21, which marks the passage out of winter, and the summer solstice, around June 20-22 when the sun is at its highest point, and Wiccans believe the veil between the worlds is again very thin and nature spirits walk among them.

Wiccans take pains to distinguish the magick they practice with prayerful intention from the magic of illusionists, even spelling the word differently.

"Magick is really prayer; its intention is to use the energy around you to bring about change in your life and the world," explained Silvano. "Just like anything else, some people can use it for dark or light. Magick in and of itself is neutral; it’s how you use it.

"Witches don’t have to be Wiccan; they can just practice witchcraft," she continued. "Wicca is a religious belief, witchcraft is a practice, so all witches are not Wiccan and all Wiccans are not witches."

The malevolent rites commonly attributed to witches are not a part of Wicca.

"Curses, hexes and black magic are not accepted by Wiccans," Silvano said. "Magick is energy. Once they decide to live by the rede, Wiccans don’t use magick to harm, but there are people who will. Wiccans won’t manipulate others."

Curses aren’t a part of the Wiccan belief either, she noted.

"If you want to wish someone harm, you can put it out there," she acknowledged. "It’s negative energy, but it’s not a part of Wicca belief. Everything should be done in a positive light.

A common misconception is that Wiccas "are a bunch of moon worshippers," Silvano said. Wiccans acknowledge the pull of the moon on the Earth, and work within the framework of the moon cycles, she explained.

"The new moon is a time to plant the seeds of what you want to bring into your life," she said. "When the moon is waning, it’s a good time to go within and look at what you know you need in life; a good time for banishing something from your life you no longer feel is necessary."

Wiccans practice their faith without an intermediary and worship where they choose, whether that is together in a circle or in solitude, she noted.

"Wicca is working the spiritual and the magical in with the mundane," Silvano explained. "It is more of a way of life. You honor the Creator on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be within a church; it can be within your own heart."