Answers for honoured Fool

["Stefan Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Just putting in my knowledge on the subject, mostly about how was 
done here in Iceland during the time of the Vikings,

> >1) Does Wicca have any sort of hierarchy, even a highly localized 
one or is 
> >it basically just everyone for themselves within the context of 
accepted 
> >rites, rituals etc?

kind of agree with Erin here, although in Norse/Icelandic setup, it 
the hierarchy is kind of based on age and experiance, but for the 
most parts wiccans (in the old Icelandic pratices mostly males) 
aren't much for supervision and Icelandic practicers where solitiary 
beings. Old woman are oftan whats called a "Volva" or "Vala" kind of 
an Oracle that reads into the future via runs. But Men are the 
dominant magic users in the old ways.

> >2) does Wicca have set rites for certain events of spirtiual 
significance, 
> >ie, marriage, death, birth etc? And if so who decides what these 
rites will 
> >be?

In the Icelandic Practice it's connected with the Norse Mythology, so 
marriage, usally means cutting your palms and bindin them together, 
death two versions on this, but always supervised by a "Godi" 
or "As". You are burned or buried with your weapons and tools for the 
afterlife. In birth you deticated your child to your choosen god and 
have it's fortune read (this is optional)
You can declere vendattes on others by erection a pole carved out 
with runes and with a skull on top (horses) and it's also used to 
show contempt.

> >3)Who are the Wiccan dieties?

Kind of with Erin on this. In Icelandic practice, Odinn is connected 
to Magic, wisdom and War, Thor is the protector of Earth (Midgard) 
and banisher of all things evil.
Freyja is the fertility goddess and her brother Freyr is also. Loki 
is the god of cunning and trickery.

Some of the basics which all good Norse wiccans should have.
Runes, to read the future and also used to cast spells.
Bones, for the same purpose.
-You can make spells by writing runes, the act of writing is the 
summongin.
Tools to carve runes, a special knife is usually involved, but any 
woord will do. You can draw runes in sand even or just make the signs 
in the air.
Potions and the means to make them.
Some magic are done by prayer to the gods, so a small statuee should 
always be carried with you. 
A small thor's hammer should have the same effect as a croos or and 
Ankh.

I'll let that be enough for now,
Cilia




Hope this gave some insight, I know more, but I don't want to go 
overboard here.