Wiccans: how can I best assist my girlfriend in her search for knowledge?

Question

She is a recent convert from Christianity. I've assisted her with as much information as I could find about Wicca and other nature religions. I've also taught her all I know about Native American medicine. What else can I do to make her journey easier? I have a great deal of respect for Wicca, and am happy that she, like my daughter, has followed her own path to this particular belief system. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I, myself, am not Wiccan, but do use the rede as my reference point for life.

Answer 1

Your support has already been about the greatest help. There will be tons of books and websites that will be referenced and they all help. but having someone who supports you when you are finding your path, even if they are not on that same path themselves, is a huge comfort, especially when undoubtable she will find a lot of people who do not understand and will act ignorantly or bigoted about it..

Answer 2

I've been Wiccan for thirteen years and teaching for five, and the best recommendation I can give is that she pick up a copy of "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham. It contains everything she will need to start living the religion on a day-to-day basis, and she can branch out from there.

I'll also recommend "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton as a non-Pagan's scholarly perspective on the rise of modern Pagan witchcraft.

I advise her to stay away from anything by Silver Ravenwolf, for reasons outlined in the following essay:

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.shtml

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me.

EDITED TO ADD: You could also point her toward the Witches of the World section at Witchvox:

http://www.witchvox.com/xvn.html

Just use the pull-down menus on the left to find individuals, groups, shops, and events in your area. Connecting with other Wiccans is often a helpful experience.

Answer 3

I say just keep doing what u are doing. I am a pagan convert from christianity and it is a very difficult transition. It comes from what we are taught and of course the guilt they all make us feel for changing our paths. Of course u're made to feel wrong for even researching other faiths which is totally sad. Just be patient with her and let her talk/discuss things if she wants bc she'll be purging what she's always known for a while. The best thing u can do is be there for her and I believe u're already doing that.

Answer 4

Just do what your doing. the best thing someone can do when finding thier way to the Craft is to learn as much as possible. I never stop reading and learning. I buys tons of books, read on-line, virtual seminars on-line, meet-ups etc. She if there are others she can talk to. The support you are giving is wonderful. But in the end, only she can find the way.

Answer 5

Ok, trying to mix in 'Native American' medicine into that makes it new age crap, which I doubt legitimate Wicca would want to be associated with... There is such 'medicine' and ways of other parts of the world, it need not (and should not) be stolen from Native folks.

Answer 6

Do you guys read together? You know, hit barnes and Noble, buy a ton of books and then tuirn off the TV and read together, sharing the interesting tidbits you come across?

Answer 7

all you can do is keep doing what it is you have been doing.
she must make her own way to enlightenment and all you can do is give her the tools to make that path a little less bumpy.
so continue to help her research and continue to support her and she will be just fine...

Answer 8

I'd allow her to explore on her own. If you have any neighborhood "magical" stores, that'd be a good place to start.

PS like you avatar- it's actually the same as my avatar on a message board

Answer 9

As a teacher for well-over a decade, I sincerely wish that every student I met had read http://wicca.timerift.net in its ENTIRETY before meeting me. It would save everyone headaches.

Answer 10

Take her to the book store, often! ; )