does anyone have any info on wicca?

Question

where can i read up about wicca?? is there a good site ... and is it safe?.... and do the spells really work ??

Answer 1

Wicca is a nature based religion that focuses on celebrating nature. If you are truly interesting in learning about wicca. Start off by reading the book "Wicca for the solitary practioner" by Scott Cunningham.

Realize there is only so much you can learn from books and websites. You will eventually need to learn from someone. Do your research and have fun.

Answer 2

You have been given some very good answers. To put them in a nutshell. For a website the absolute A+ site to go to is www.witchvox.com It has stuff in there from many people from many traditions and solitares alike. These are people that have been practicing for years and are not in it for power or money. The articles cover everything from day to day activities to formal rituals, to music. There is a page of wiccan/witchcraft contacts across the globe also so you can contact someone in your area. Also the best book to get is Drawing Down the Moon and Spiral Dance (Spiral Dance is written by Starhawk, a member of my tradition, but a respected person in the witchcraft community). Both are available at a bookstore. The site is safe. They don't spam, gather info, or send viruses it is clean and perfect for research.

Do the spells work? Well yes they do. However the degree of success depends on the degree of focus and intent you put into it. Honestly when you start off you will be shaky and nervouse (I was) as you get comfortable with your beliefs and religion (yes that is what it is) your focus and intent will be stronger there by focusing your energies better to make the spells work. Here is the Caveat: Do not cast any type of spell that will do the following: Hurt anyone in any way, to increase your own personal gain, to cause another to loose in any way (money, job ect), to bend anothers will to your own, or any other form a negative magic. Wicca and witchcraft abide by the same rule : An it harm none do what you will. In other words do what you want as long as it harms noone even yourself. By harm it means ANY harm. Also consider that Karma plays a big part, you get back what you do three times over. In other words do good and you will recieve 3x's the blessing do bad and it will bite you in the @ss 3x's as bad and it will too.

Caveat #2: If you are asking this to study the religion and beliefs because you feel that the goddess has called to you then brightest blessings. However if you are doing this so you can learn to cast a love spell on the cute boy you met last week, don't bother. It is not just casting spells, it is a lifestyle, religion and a complete mind set.

Caveat #3: If you want to learn, the best way is by a teacher. Witchvox like I said has a listing of groups that you can contact. Some of them will take in newbies and teach, but be prepared for the long haul. The traditional time it takes to be initiated is a year and a day. That is how it was done with my tradition of NROOGD however the elders have the privilage of postponing the initiation if they feel you didn't learn properly and will keep teaching you until you have learned. It will be hard and difficult but worth it if you make it through.

Good luck

Answer 3

Wicca is an ancient tradition that many believe to be much older than Christianity. Much as Christianity has divided and diversified into many varying beliefs over the centuries so has Wicca - perhaps more so since it lacks the large over-riding structure of most Christian denominations.

So, to answer your questions: You can read up on Wicca at your local library or and most bookstores carry many of the more popular books (I've often been recommended 'Living Wicca' but I've yet to read it). As for the web 'The Wiccan Glade' seems like a pretty good start (link below).

As to whether or not it is safe, I guess that depends on what you mean. In the most literal sense of the word it is a safe as any spiritual pursuit. However, if you mean magick in particular, most Wiccans believe there are consequences to certain uses of magick. For one, it is not to be used against other people. So, casting a spell to make someone fall in love with you would be bad and bring about consequences. On the other hand, you could cast a spell to give yourself the confidence to ask said person out. For many Wiccans that would be OK, for some others no magick can be used for personal gain, but only to help others or as a manner of 'praying'.

As for whether or not spells work, I guess this too depends on what you mean by 'work'. Can you summon piles of gold, bring the dead back to life, or shoot lightning from your eyes? Highly unlikely. On the other hand, if have seen Wiccan Magick have a noticeable effect that it would be difficult to explain otherwise, however I don't want to get into specifics and send you searching for something that can not be found.

Wicca, is by nature a very personal brand of spirituality. There is no one widely accepted dogma, or doctrine, or institution. To understand it completely you must explore for yourself. An experienced practitioner can guide you to understanding the core concepts, but much of what you must learn is within you.

Answer 4

There are plenty of sites around, just google Wicca and you will come up with so much you won't know where to start. But as far as spells working? I equate spells with prayer. It's all just wishing for something to come true. But if you feel comfortable worshipping through the Wiccan religion, then by all means, do so. But remember about the spells, there are always consequences meaning that if you wish harm you will have harm done on yourself. But a true Wiccan will never try to change the pattern of things, they don't believe in that. That is part of black magic and is considered dangerous.

Answer 5

Wicca is a religion, and although its adherents often identify as witches, Wicca and witchcraft are not necessarily the same thing.

Wiccans may worship a Goddess and a God, or just a Goddess; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; and they have a code of ethics that most live by. Wicca is thus generally considered to be distinct from witchcraft, which does not of itself imply any specific religious, ethical or ritual elements, and is practiced in various forms by people of many religions, as well as by some atheists.

Wicca does, however, incorporate a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics require that magical activities are limited to good purposes only.

According to Gerald Gardner, the religion derives from a secret but widespread witch-cult of early modern Europe, which incorporated all of the key religious beliefs and ideals and the distinctive ritual structures found in modern Wicca. While this historical interpretation is now much criticised, it makes it difficult to conclusively say whether Wicca is a religious form of witchcraft or a religion incorporating witchcraft.

While most Wiccans practice magic, a few do not, and do not identify as witches. Similarly, many Wiccans, though not all, call themselves Pagans, though the umbrella term Paganism encompasses many faiths that have nothing to do with Wicca or witchcraft.

Answer 6

Start with Starhawk. She's awesome - and totally NOT evil.

http://www.starhawk.org/

There are some practices that are nasty, but those are fringers and honestly there are always going to be people who do stupid, awful things, whether it's in whatever God or Goddess' name.

What I like about Starhawk is how she relates Wiccan practice to real-world issues. She's an activist, a writer, and a teacher, and you could do a lot worse starting with her writing.

As far as whether the spells work, well, they're really like prayers, only sometimes they use specifically charged objects or words to help manifest the energy you're looking to enhance.

And I think prayers work, too.

But Wicca is not Satanism, and it's important to make that difference any time it's discussed.

Answer 7

Wicca is the commune of White Witches. Their Creed is "TO DO NOT HARM". I have a very good friend who is a witch, and I have never known her to do anything but good, yet she is ostracized by her co-workers. When I needed help, she was there for me. Her spells do work, but only in as much as her current powers let her. She is a very young witch, being trained by her mother. If you are serious about learning, I know she has mentioned books that are very important to start with, and she has also mentioned that there are bad books and bad websites which should be avoided, so be very careful.

Answer 8

The best source of information on the various sects of Paganism is the Witches' Voice..... http://witchvox.com/

There are so many links, you'd never follow them all and so many articles, you could read forever.

Under people who know what they're doing, witchcraft is perfectly safe. One of the most important rules of Wicca, if not THE MOST improtant one is to harm none.

The danger is when you come across powerhungry people who are just trying to impress others and fool with the natural balance, but that usually only brings repercussions upon the doer of the careless acts.

Magick definately does work if you believe it does.

Brightest Blessings!

Answer 9

You can learn more about Wicca at http://www.religioustolerance.org/ and http://www.avalonia.co.uk/ and also http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/chaney/191/id86.htm
These are some good sites for anyone who wants to learn more about the religion.
Of course it is safe. The spells that we do are just like prayers that use nature and the elements. If you believe in them, they will work!

Answer 10

For a brief but IMHO very good summary of Wicca, read the "US Army Chaplain's Handbook" entry:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_usbk.htm

It covers the basic beliefs, a brief history (and a pretty ACCURATE one, which is a refreshing change. As much as we might want to think otherwise, Wicca itself isn't an "ancient religion". Some of the beliefs and myths may be, but the religion itself isn't, and IMHO we do a disservice to ourselves by trying to claim otherwise), magic, Sabbats (holidays), the fact that it isn't "Satanism", the Rede, and additional sources for information.