Wiccans only please!??

Question

When choosing a teacher or mentor to help you with your study of the craft, is it better if that person is a man if you are a woman or a woman if you are a man? I ask this because I have read that it is better if a member of the opposite sex is your teacher when learning the craft. Elders what say ye?

Answer 1

The sex of the person really does not matter either way, so long as they are learned and have a true focus on spirituality. Make sure you find out how long they have studied, how long they have been teaching, who their teachers were, and if they have taught others like you. Ask to speak to other students of theirs. If something just seems too fantastical to be true, it probably is. Be wary of teachers who just want more students out of a power trip, or have any sort of hidden agenda, and if they refuse to give you any of the information I have told you, go somewhere else.

Also, if you are looking around for Wiccan teachers or groups, you can find information about them in your area on this website:

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

If you do decide to find a coven, group, or teacher, always meet with people you do not know in a public place first and ask lots of questions. If something seems off to you something probably is. Like in any large community of people, there are at times bad ones, people who are lying or even just people who have read 2 books, have been practicing less than a year, and think they are a High Priest of Priestess. I HIGHLY suggest reading this document and using it to evaluate any group, coven, or teacher before joining.

http://www.theequinox.org/groupteacherevaluation.pdf

If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask on this forum to email me personally through my profile, I am always happy to help.
Blessed Be,
Lord AmonRaHa

Answer 2

Tessa, allow me to answer the last question first. Yes, Wicca IS real. Wicca is a Religion and as such, we give honor to BOTH a Goddess and a God (although there are exceptions to that (Dianic Wicca, being one)). We also acknowledge the Divine as being manifest in the Natural world around us, which kind of gives non-Wiccans the impression that we worship Nature. It is not Nature that we worship it is the Divine, and nature is only the conduit through which we do so. Wicca do not worship idols, we worship in front of statues (again there are many exceptions to this as well (Green Witches come to mind)). Christians do not worship the cross, they worship what the cross represents, it is precisely that same principle in Wicca. We conduct our ceremonies during the full moon (some also the new moon), and eight Sabbats which are spread out over the year (What many Wicca call the Wheel of the Year). These celebrations re-live certain phases in the life ages of the Gods and Goddesses and are done in commemoration of these Divine events. The Wicca recognize the existence of good and evil as inherent is ALL things, everything and everyone has the capability for BOTH (Even the Divine). Evil therefore, is an integral part of everything and one can not have one without the other. The key to this is balance, Wicca hold the concept of balance to be one of the core principles of the universe and al which exists. So, to answer your first question, there is NO being which is totally good or totally evil, only the intent of the individual determines whether a thing or an action is for good or evil. Therefore, as there is NO being assigned the nature of total evil (ie, a devil) it is impossible for us to worship such a being. NOw, as many member of Judeo-Christian-Islamic Faiths are so fond of stating in unequivocal terms, "if you do not worship the god of light and love, then you are worshiping the devil". They fail to realize that in order to worship anything or anyone, then worship MUST be the intent. There is no such thing as unknowingly worshiping anyone. We can NOT worship a concept which does NOT exist to us, therefore we do NOT worship the "Devil", as the "Devil" is NOT one of the Divine being concepts which exists within the Faith system of Wicca. It is as simple and direct as that. Does this make sense to you? Brightest Blessings, Raji the Green Witch

Answer 3

Some traditions insist on cross-gender teaching. For those who do not wish to follow that line of thought, don't go with that tradition.

In traditional Wicca both male and female learn the same things, so this isn't about quality of training or some sexist power trip, it's about balance, knowing how to balance your partners energy and your own, there are things a teacher of the opposite gender will notice that a teacher of your own might take for granted.

Answer 4

I think if you really want to dedicate yourself to the Wiccan path it is better but not absolutely necessary to have someone of the opposite sex. If you do not, you will need at least someone of the opposite sex that you can talk to about spiritual matters even if it is not your main mentor... Don't stress if you do not, they will come in to your life when needed...often from an unlikely direction.

Answer 5

I've read that it's better to have a mentor of the opposite sex also, because it reinforces the masculinity and femininity aspects of the God and Goddess. In my personal opinion, I'd say just go with who you feel comfortable and can offer good instruction.

Answer 6

As with any teacher-student relationship, the best learning with happen when you are comfortable with your teacher and when your questions are not only welcomed, but encouraged.

Back in the early 80's, when I started on this path, I was fortunate to find a group that was well established with rules and was incorporated as a legally recognized church in the state of Wisconsin.

First, I needed a "sponsor" who brought me to the group; to their rituals and helped introduce me. Instruction was informal, and my sponsor answered my questions, and was my first teacher. After participating with the group for a while and deciding this was the path for me, I followed the groups' rules for formal instruction, which meant that my teacher had to be a male that was 2nd degree or higher (females were formally instructed by males and males were formally instructed by females). That teacher was the person who then formally initiated me after the period of formal instruction. (Sex was not only NOT a requirement, but it was NOT allowed). I was always very comfortable, and I was encouraged to ask questions. Other members of the group (male and female) were involved in various aspects of instruction. My formal initiation took place in 1982.

Good luck, and Blessed Be!

Answer 7

"When the student is ready a teacher will appear."

I don't know where I read that but I truly believe this to be true. I don't think it matters the gender of either individual teacher or student what matters more is the comfortably of each of them with the other.

Answer 8

As an elder- 37 years of practice - I would say choose your teachers based on their knowledge and skills, not based on sex. My teachers for various aspetcs were both men and women, it made no difference to my learning.

However, having said that, some women do learn better from men than women, and some men better from women. Other women are not comfortable with men in a teaching role of this sort, and same goes for the men.

basically, it comes down to choosing the one who can teach you the most - and that is based not just on knowledge and skill, but your level of comfort and compatibility with them.

Answer 9

It's the lessons to be learned, not the gender of the teacher. Chose a mentor you are comfortable with who can teach what you wish to learn.

Answer 10

You should choose whomever you are most comfortable with.. the easier to spend a lot of time with..
The one who's opinions you respect..
The wiser one..
Ask them both the paths they are on and why.. Wicca has many paths and you want someone to teach you the path you have chosen..]
You also want someone who is going to teach you the historical aspects, the spiritual aspects of wicca..
A lot of young people today think it is just about magik and it is so much more.. it is a life change, a spiritual awakening..
It is a religion..
Best of luck to you.. Ask the God and Goddess to help you choose your teacher wisely...

Blessed Be
Moon