"Solitary" Wiccans?

Question

It seems to be that I keep coming across Wiccans who preach love and exceptance, but also condem anyone who is solitary. They claim that they are not true Wiccans, but just sexually deprived christains. Isn't this just like christians comparing you to a satanist? Just because you dont have a coven doesnt mean that you do not share the same books, beliefs, practices, and rituals as other Wiccans. What if you have left a coven, then are you automaticaly a christian?

I do understand that there are many pretenders, and those who are just searching for their own path. But for those who have found Wicca their path, who is it to say they are not what they believe in? There are so many different types of Wicca. It seems some reverting to the view that my path is the only way, and if you dont follow it then you are condemed. Isn't this why so many left Chritianity? Considering half of Wiccans are currently soiltary, I believe Solitary Wiccan is a vaild title.
Okay my rant is over thanks.

Thanks I feel better knowing that there are others here that agree with me. Thanks for listening to my rant.
)O(
~~blessed be~~

Thanks Epona,
I myself have been both a solitary practioner and a member of a coven, but we had never had a grude against any solitary, and often answered some questions of those trying to learn. I am no longer a coven member, (life happens) and I feel very comfortable with my solitary/family trad path, although there are lessons to be learned from both. I beleve that being solitary helps every Wiccan find there own strengths, and self reliance. honestly I learned the most about Wicca from my mother, and from being solitary, when I was in high school.

Answer 1

I certainly agree with Epona Willow, and you sweetie. If it hadn't been for me starting out as a Solitary, I wouldn't have gotten my start in BTW. I think what people like Jadea (No, I'm not picking on her, she's a great person and does good works!) forget is how hard it is to be NEW to something.

I know the first day I heard the word Wicca, I wasn't ready to go out and join a Coven. I wasn't even ready to join one after a Year and a Day of study, But that doesn't mean, that I didn't work my butt off to learn everything I could, read everything I could get my hands on, and put forth 1000% effort.

I did my own SELF dedication, and ya know what? I was a Wiccan on that day. I personally loathe the term "Neo-Wicca". My Path is my own, and I did not, and still do not need anyone else's validation.

Yes, I did go on to be initated and recieve my degrees in the "Initatory, oath bound, Priesthood" that is British Traditional Wicca, but I don't think that my time before I was Intiated, wasn't important, emotionally and Spiritually.

As a matter of fact, I was told I couldn't be Initated without that level of study and involvement and dedication.

Just keep in mind, just because someone doesn't agree that you are XYZ, doesn't mean you aren't.

Just practise the way you feel is right, and don't worry about people who don't agree with you, because there always will be those people.

Blessings

Answer 2

I do not condemn you for being a solitary practitioner, nor do I attack you for it. What I do not agree with is your use of Wicca. Wicca, despite Epona Willow’s beliefs, was started by Gardner. Wicca has very specific beliefs and rituals. You can be a Witch, you can be a solitary practitioner I hope you find your path rewarding but do not call your self Wiccan because you are not. To call your self a Wiccan is like a Buddhist calling himself/herself a Hindi, or a Methodist calling himself/herself a Catholic. I am not against you being a solitary practitioner. By the Gods of my Ancestors I’m a solitary practitioner. But I am not Wiccan and I have enough respect for the Wiccan faith not to try to make it something it is not. Why do you insist on calling yourself a member of a faith that you do not follow? If you play ping pong even if you play it very well does not make you a tennis player, so why clam to be a tennis player? Just be proud that you are a good ping pong player.

Answer 3

Oh, I know how you feel! I have often been bashed for being solitary and have been told that I CANNOT in any way shape or form, be a Wiccan if I am not ititiated into a coven! What tripe! My beliefs are my beliefs regardless of whether I practice alone or in a group. What does it matter?

I have been on many forums that have stated that Wicca should be kept to how Gardner founded it, in that everyone should be part of a coven. Now, these people seem to forget that he did not invent this religion out of thin air, he extracted parts of it from many different sources and put them together. If he can change one thing into something else, why is it so wrong for us to do the same???

As for sexually repressed, I have had that launched personally at me by several people here at Yahoo! Answers. Suffice to say, they are few in number, and I have not seen them in a while, and I am glad about it! They were rather immoral people, to say the least.

Ball part is, stick to the way you know and feel comfortable with. Your beliefs are your own, and no one can change that.

BB
)0(

Answer 4

I understand what you're saying.
I like the word Mason and that's what I want to call myself. Some people don't like me calling myself a Mason just because I am not initiated into the Masons and I don't really know all of the things they do and believe in cuz they're a secretive society. Besides, some of those Masons are too ridgid in their beliefs anyway. I just wanna to believe in what I believe in and call myself a Mason. A Mason is whatever you want it to be! It makes me so angry that those Masons think they know the ONLY ways to become a Mason. They're so closed-minded. They can't tell me what to believe or how to do my rituals and I can call myself a Mason if I want to. As long as I practice a couple of their beliefs and decide that I wanna be a Mason, I'm a Mason.

Answer 5

I am a solitary practitioner, too. Merry Meet!

I have always thought that if a witch knew every spell, could work with every element to the fullest potential, could know every sign, rune, symbol, etc, then the world would only need one witch/wizard. But we all practice something slightly different, with different disciplines. We can't know everything, but collectively we would know much. The bottom line, as I see and understand it, what I practice as a solitary, is still earth and elemental based magic. My spell may be less than yours or greater. Or with a different result altogether. It is a journey of learning and knowledge of indefinite end. It is a process of growth and understanding. We are all on different paths, really, using the same guidebook. When we meet and talk, we teach each other something.

We all practice under the same rules and admonishments, the most important of these is :"Do what thou wilt, Harm none!" I have met other wiccans who believe in Christ and Mary. I have met others who stick mainly with the Saints. But in every case, the magic works. The path of the mystic, someone once said, crosses the paths of other mystics, and all paths are one. (Who said that?) I have not seen, however, and coven of witches or member of a coven who looked at a solitary as an equal, but always the solitaries treat each other the same; as equals. I have noticed, too, that we solitaty practitioners are more genuine than those coven based practitioners; we can use our knowledge and skills without a back-up group, or a crutch of people.

Anyway...thanks for opening this up and letting ME rant! LOL
Blessed Be!
Peace!

Answer 6

If someone is claiming to be solitary self-initiated high priestesses then yes, they will be condemned, a person needs to be initiated into a wiccan coven in order to be recognised as such, if they are not initiated into wicca then they are not wicca – no argument, no if ands or buts, as if they do not follow what wiccans follow they themselves are not wiccan……its a matter of logic.

Such people bring it on themselves when they decide 'oh wiccans are cool i think ill be that today' this is exactly the attitude they read a few books and think they can be wiccan then refuse point blank to listen to people who correct them…..have you actually considered that 'Solitary Wiccans' are in fact not wiccans and the people telling them that are just trying to defend their faith from a bunch of ignorant fad followers?

Step out of your comfort zone and study wiccan path further and youll understand just why this is the case, wiccans have to put up with a lot of ignorance and these people are far from helping prevent this!!

Answer 7

You may be referring to some of the FMPPH's that browse the boards.
They are trying to point out and preserve what Wicca originally entailed.
I personally think the title is open to who ever chooses to use it.
Don't put too much stock into what others say. Everyone is entitled to their opinions...some just feel a need to spout them in public forums without exercising tact. It's good to know facts, but to use them as a way to build yourself up and insult others is wrong.
(((hugs)))

Edit: I have also noticed that some solitaires make snide remarks towards traditional practitioners. It is sad. If we are all serving a good God/dess I see no reason for "witch wars" they do no justice to any of us and serve no purpose other than to bolster egos.
(((hugs ))) Just keep doing what is right for you and you can't go wrong!
One more note: I did not always feel the way I do now. It's amazing what a near death experience will do to you!!!

Answer 8

Oh, I don't know who's giving you a hard time, but most of the Wiccans I know ARE solitary, and would never condemn someone for being solitary! Sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience =(

Answer 9

I wouldnt worry. Although I have noticed it too, I have been a solitary Witch for 11 years now and certainly do not feel like a fake!!!!
Sometimes it just isnt possible to get to a coven or your belief's differ slightly!

Answer 10

I'm a proud solitary; my beliefs are too unorthodox for most covens.

Worry not about those who say such things. They are just bad people. Every "group" has those types of people, so don't worry; just enjoy the path you are on, and continue to learn all you can.

Blessed be
)O(