Im interested in Wicca.....?

Question

Not saying I want to become Wiccan (well not yet anyhow).

Where can I find out all the things I need to know before conidering becoming Wiccan?

Would you recomend becoming Wiccan? If so please tell me why?

Answer 1

http://www.witchvox.com/ Is a good place to start. They have information on Wicca, as well as other Pagan paths.

For books, I'd recommend "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, as well as any of the books by Raymond Buckland. I would stay away from Silver Ravenwolf; many say that she is ill-informed and more so geared towards teenage fluffy bunnies.

Really, if you are meant to be Wiccan, you will be Wiccan. It is not up to us to try to coax you into this religion, but rather for you to collect the information, study it, and find if it sits well within you.

Good luck :-)

)o(


EDIT: Thank you great_wiccan_god for the clarification! You too Crystal Dolphin :-)

Answer 2

I've been Wiccan for over 20 years, and if it's the right religion for you, you'll know very shortly.

I disagree with those who say don't look for a coven, or even that covens are de facto overly structured.

What covens are, generally, is based upon a single tradition (sect) of Wicca.

If you stick around here long enough, you'll come upon questions that say things like "I am a Wiccan and I don't understand how if we believe X we do Y."

Almost all of these questions are from mixing traditions randomly and coming up with contradictions- kind of like if the anti-Mary Protestants were trying to figure out why they prayed the rosary...

Learning a single tradition at a time gives you a coherant system and theology (assuming it's a decent tradition.)

You don't necessarily have to join a coven to find a tradition, http://www.witchvox.com/xtrads.html is a good intro to traditions, many of which allow and welcome solitary practice.
Any member of a coven HAS to know his own beliefs and his own will, so don't let anyone tell you that your personal journey will be hampered by having mentors and peers. Would you want to learn how to fly a plane from a book or website or by practicing with a pilot who's logged hundreds of hours?

That being said, the website http://wicca.timerift.net is probably a good place to start because it dispells myths that people like me have heard from students. When you're teaching for 15 or more years, having students approach you believing the myths that you probably got over decades before is painful, especially now that there are so very many sources that dispel them. Read the site, read every page, and THEN find a good tradition.

Even if you decide to then follow a different tradition, having learned in a coherant system, based in reality, is helpful for discovering your beliefs.

Lastly, if you think Wicca is about Magic, or about anything other than a living relationship with the gods, please consider another religion altogether. Wicca needs no poseurs...we have enough.

Answer 3

A few corrections here...Andrew M - It's Coven...not "covern", and since our questioner is only interested in learning about Wicca at this point, a Coven would not be the way to go. Consider a Coven to be like a church congregation which one would become a member of because they are of that faith. I would also ask you to please do a little more homework before making statements like you did about sex magik. It's statements like this that prompt people to believe Wiccans promote having wild orgys. Not true. Practicing skyclad is a personal choice for some, not a requirement. And if sex magik is used, it is kept private between consenting adults - or those involved in a relationship with each other - it is not the norm that this is something that is practiced within the group meetings for all to see.

Some Covens do hold open Sabbat circles and invite "Pagan Friendly" people to join in the circle who need not be Coven members - if you could find something like this I would recommend attending to learn how rituals work within a group and meet some Wiccans. Check local earth spiritual shops for information about events in your area - and in the world-wide networking section of The Witches Voice (www.witchvox.com).

Ultraviolet - it's Silver Ravenwolf, not "Raven Silverwolf" though I agree with the fact that her books may not be the best to learn about Wicca for the beginner as she tends to be commercialized and geared toward teenage wannabes.

I see someone mentioned witchschool.com It is true that Witch School has some great online lesson programs - but keep in mind that through this course, you would be learning about Correllian Wicca, which is just one particular tradition, not Wicca in general.

Personally, I no longer support Witch School. While the idea of this program was a good one to start, I think their criteria for accepting students is not strict enough and I have seen too many "McWiccans" emerge from their first degree programs and become mentors when they really have not had enough practice and experience themselves.

I would say that witchvox.com is the first place to start learning more about Wicca. I have also included a link to a recent article my High Priestess posted on her website, on what to read regarding books on the subject - how to sift out the "good" from the "garbage", so to speak. She has a lovely website with a plethera of information that is Wiccan and generally Pagan related - you may want to read various articles there as well.

Regardless of whether you decide to follow a Wiccan path or not, I am glad you are willing to learn more about it.

Blessings.

Answer 4

I was Wiccan for several years, but felt that traditional witchcraft (pre-gardnerian witchcraft) was better suited to me. I have been a Traditional witch since age 19--I'm 32 now.

There are several good Wiccan authors out there. Scott Cunningham's books were written specifically for the seeker. Also, a good book for the seeker is Raymond Buckland's 'The Complete Book of Witchcraft' (lovingly known by wiccans as "Uncle Bucky's Big Blue Book"). Just do *not* read anything by Silver Ravenwolf. Her Wiccan scholarship, as well as her morals, are at best obscure. Also, ignore any sites/books/articles by Rose Ariadne. She's an fluffy idiot who actually thinks the show "Charmed" is based in reality.

Also, read a lot of mythology and history. Yahoo Groups is also a good place to start. There are lots of groups for wiccans.

I would recommend becoming wiccan, that is, if you think it is for you. It is a beautiful and meaningful religious path for many. Explore several traditions and authors. Try to find a coven or make some Wiccan friends. Also, if a teacher is available, do not pay them. They're not supposed to charge.

Good luck in finding your Path.
Blessed Yule.

Answer 5

Merry meet. I am sure the Goddess will find you. The best thing is to not try too hard and just relax. It's a wonderful path to follow but be warned take care if you do your research online there are some dodgy sites stick to good old books. Eileen Holland has written some great books try A Witch's Book of Answers it will tell you most of what you want to know. written easy to understand. Good luck on your adventure. Blessings and merry part. X X X X

Answer 6

Bucklands workbook, Scott Cunningham, Yasmine Galenorn among others. Those are great starts. Wicca is an earth based religion. I wouldn't suggest looking for answers in a coven. I've been solitary for 8 years, and just like anything, you must arrive to your own conclusions and beliefs based on personal preference and understanding.

Joining a coven is something very structured, and can be wonderful, but I'd advise doing your research first, make some decisions before hand. Most covens are difficult to get into because of certain criteria. That's how it is.

Bright Blessings,
Loh.

Answer 7

For most Wiccans, Wicca is a duotheistic religion worshipping a God and a Goddess, who are seen as complementary polarities, and "embodiments of a life-force manifest in nature."They are sometimes symbolised as the Sun and Moon, and from her lunar associations the Goddess becomes a Triple Goddess with aspects of "Maiden", "Mother" and "Crone". Some Wiccans see the Goddess as pre-eminent, since she contains and conceives all; the God is the spark of life and inspiration within her, simultaneously her lover and her child. This is reflected in the traditional structure of the coven.

Answer 8

Listen to Ultraviolet1127. She's right in all but one thing. If you are meant to be a Wiccan, you already ARE a Wiccan. For most of us finding Wicca was like coming home. It wasn't really a departure from what our spiritual lives had already evolved into.

Answer 9

Hm-mm...you do not 'become' Wicca, its something you are. Like all beliefs it speaks to you and you follow your heart. I am pagan and part of my practise is Wicca but I do not class myself as solely Wicca, I'm eclectic.
If you are serious get yourself a copy of the Witches Bible by Janet and Steward Farrar, learn about the eight Sabbats and talk to other like minded people. Feel free to email me if you need any more help.

Answer 10

try local new age shops


Now Im an athiest but wicca looks very cool as has very good attiudes towards women and their and both sexes seaulity.

no sexsim, oppression, sexaul repression, homophobia.

its sees no problem with sex or nudity as sees sex as something that brings lonley people together and very nautural and flirting and short skirts etc is just a means of getting guys and girls together. its into humans being harmonious with nature so environmentally sound.

Its morailyt is based around the ideas of as long as it harms none do as you will.


ie have fun just avoid hurting others where you can... so swingers party fine, affair bad and affair hurts.

Gays fine but peadophilia is not as gays aint hurting anyone, peados are.

Dating is moral, not using condoms is not as putting peopel at risk

you getting the idea? no history of inquisitions, witch burning, terrorisim or war, basicially nice peacful and hippy like and intio equality