Wicca in Night Soldiers

In a nutshell, Wicca is a modernized form of Witchcraft, and it is something I intend to
properly protray here.  This is why I've been studying the neo-pagan religion.  However,
from the sources it might not be this cut and dry:

Wicca is a recently created Neopagan religion. It is based largely on symbols, seasonal
days of celebration and deities from ancient Celtic society fleshed out with Masonic and
ceremonial magickal components. A follower of Wicca is called a Wiccan. Wicca and other
Neopagan religions are currently experiencing a rapid growth in the U.S., Canada, and
Europe. Many North Americans of European descent, who are keen to discover their
ancestral heritage, are being attracted to this religion.

Wiccans generally consider themselves to be Witches, Neopagans, and Pagans. However, not
all Witches, Neopagans and Pagans are Wiccans. The terms Witch, Neopagan and Pagan can
also refer to followers of many other faith traditions. (Source:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm)

Wiccan believes include the two rules I'm listing below, but also Wiccan Deities which
include The Goddess, a female entity of creation, and The Horned One, her male
ounterpart.  (Not demoniac as some would instantly think:  Look below)  It needen't be
one of each--there can be multiple deities in both genders.  There is also a divine
respect for nature involved, with everything in creation having their own life.  And
there is also an equality of the sexes involved. (Source:  http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_beli.htm)

It is neither a Satanic Cult, since there's technically no Satan in the beliefs (nor do
they usually resemble anything from primetime television.) This Horned One doesn't have
those ram or bull horns one would expect of the Devil, but actually has antlers like a
dear or my personal favorite, a single horn of a unicorn; and he could be either the
significant other of The Goddess, or her Offspring. (Oh, and should I say that the
pentagrams are almost always pointing upward?)

However, they do involve themselves in rituals and majicks, yet you would never have them
turn people into newts or sacrifice animals.  In fact, their practices are governed by
two basic rules.  One is the famous Wiccan Rede--if it harm none, do what you will--which
is the primary governer of a Wiccan's life.  The second is a karma-based belief that
whatever you do, be it good or bad, is returned to you threefold, either in number or
intensity or both.  This second rule--and how it's put into play--will make for some
debate in this comic, as well as a guiding force in the stories therin; how it is put
into play, the passive or active efforts made in asserting itself, when and if human
agents are used, even agents who play backyard extreme wrestling scenes with the bad
guys.

And for the record, how far I would personally go into Wicca is iffy.  On the record,
dispite my belief of what Jesus Christ himself has done which is much appreciated, I can
no longer with a clear conscious consider myself a Christian because of current trends,
apotacies and hyprocracy at large and especially in the media. In fact, there is a
prequel for Night Soldiers that I may or may not make, which tells of Richard's crippling
injury and the actions of a popular religious leader that would remind some of Job's
counselors in his biblical book, which will lead to Shazell's Act of Kindness which
converted him to Wicca himself.  I don't know if I'll be going much into Wicca in Real
Life outside of research.  But then again, I've only been studying for a short time.
Take it for what that's worth.

Shazell and the realism factor, or "Please Excuse her outfit before The Goddess kicks
your @$$, Daveykins!"

I have made it a goal for me to present Shazell's Wiccan practices as realisticaly as
possible, which is why I have studied this religion through books and web pages.  At this
time I haven't had the chance to show this, but by the time you see Shazell's first
ritual, probably in Ish. 2, you'll find out what I mean.  The rituals, actions, charm
creation, poppets, and so on will be taken from various web-based  spells that are shared
in the Internet's global Grimore (Wiccan Spellbook, or "Book of Shadows") and will be
protrayed as correctly as possible.

You would also note that I do have some cliched trappings with Shazell, mainly her dress
and hat.  This is mainly for the non-wiccan reader, who would see her, have what she is
in mind, and then find out more about Wicca which is very different from their initial
considerations.  I hope that any Wiccan readers, who would probably never wrear a brimmed
pointy hat in their lives, would understand this and keep in mind that this is, after
all, a comic book.

I will also have a quickie-type ability for Shazell that would reek of the TV Shows.
Shazell will have in her ability a genetic mutation-based 'hex' power.  It is purely a
defensive power,  and she uses it as such.  When put into play, it takes the karma of the
person she's targeting, good and bad, and makes the Law of Return occur
_instantaneously_.  For example, a purse snatcher would rip a purse off somebody, Shazell
would cut loose an hex and the snatcher himself not only gets robbed himself, but will
also get the snot beaten out of them and then the cops add insult to injury and have him
arrested. Meanwhile, the hero who returns the purse to the initial victim would have his
palm greased with a $20 bill for returning it.  This is purely a plot contrivance that
can be used to push the story along in slow chapters.  And that's not including
the occasional comic effect.