information on the wiccan religion?

Question

ive been very interested in wicca for almost a year. ive got a book called "a wiccan bible" and a book about witchcraft, and a spells book that i bought from a book store and ive read about it for hours on end on the internet, but something seems to be missing... id really really really like to know more about it and be able to work with it myself. itd be nice if i could find a teacher, if possible.

PLEASE, no smartass comments or remarks. if you're not wiccan, or you're not going to help, id very much like for you NOT to comment. thanks.

Answer 1

Merry Meet,



If you are interested about learning more about Wicca and/or Witchcraft here are a few legitimate sources to glean knowledge from. First being Witchvox at http://www.witchvox.com/. Here you will gain knowledge through fellowship with other of like mind and knowledge through the countless articles posted. If this is not enough one could look into getting online training through the Sacred Mists athttp://www.sacredmists.com/ or OZ Wicca at http://www.ozwicca.com/, and Witch School at http://www.witchschool.com/ has some really good resources plus they have a free first degree program. All are pretty decent for learning the Craft on the Web though like any site they have some issues, take what you can and leave what does not work. Also if you are close enough to an active group that specializes in education and development like the SCWF try and join them even if it’s on a limited capacity.



Not all DVD’s are equal, but if that’s what you like to use to learn try Witchcraft Rebirth of the Old Religion by Raymond Buckland (DVD), Discovering Witchcraft by Janet and Stewart Farrar (DVD), Ancient Mysteries Witches by A&E (DVD), Craftwise Volume 1: Candle Magick by Peter Paddon (DVD), Craftwise Volume 2: Cord Magick by Peter Paddon (DVD), Wish on a Spell, Vo. 1 by Deborah Gray (DVD), Practical Magick (DVD), The Craft (DVD).



I also suggest that you get your hands on Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin and/or The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan. Both of these books are very good reading and both will give you some deeper insight to the Craft and how it relates to you. Also you cannot go wrong with anything by Scott Cunningham. Try your local public library for resources and recommendations, many people donate directly to them for the community to use.



If you are a teen, Elements of Witchcraft: Natural Magick for Teens by Ellen Dugan, and Teen Witch by Silver Ravenwolf is also good. But neither is completely accurate in regards to history, but they will help you out nonetheless. Also check out http://www.teenwitch.com/ for more information, it’s a pretty good site for base information.



Study as much as you need to before deciding that you are Wiccan. Find those near you who are reputable and knowledgeable. Also stay away from those who are playing Wicca if you are serious about the religion and the craft, they will only slow you down and/or mislead you. Also, read all the books you can get your hands on, the good ones as well as the bad ones. Ultimately, study, study and then study some more. Find all you can and definitely cross reference whenever possible, this way you can get the best out of all you learn.



Remember, you are the only one that decides what’s good for you, not someone else because. Because as far as I am concerned, every author in has something to offer, all you have to do is ignore the information that is not accurate and/or wrong and keep the good information. Oh and I suggest staying away from groups and/or web sites that slander other people’s names, because they tend to generate and cultivate an atmosphere of negativity and that will start your walk in the path with a biased light and you would miss out on some good information and resources.



Just my thought on the issue, take from it what you wish and leave what you don’t like.



I hope my blurp helps out.



Blessed Be



Nyjh



Links for more information:

http://www.cuew.org/whatiswicca.html

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/?once=true&



Networking:

http://www.wiccantogether.com/



E-Books:

http://www.scribd.com/search?cat=redesign&q=wicca&x=0&y=0



Classes;

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccaandpaganismbasics/u/WPBasics.htm#s9?nl=1

Answer 2

Hi There --



It depends upon which "Wiccan Bible" you've got -- some (like the one by Janet and Stewart Farrar) are very good; and some are *not*.



You also need to know that spellcasting is an advanced skill set that should not even be attempted until you've mastered the BASICS, like Centering, Grounding, Cleansing, Shielding, Visualizations, setting Wards, Creating Sacred Space (including Casting Circle).



Yes, the very best way to study Wicca is with a good, expereinced High Priest or Priestess teacher. Here (below) are some Resources, which can provide information and networking - maybe even help you find a teacher or Coven. However, be advised that if you're under 18, reputable Wiccan Teachers will require signed permission from your parents or guardians to teach you, and many Wiccan High Priest/esses would prefer that you finish school before attempting to take Wicca training.



If you're over 18, I do teach an (Internet) Wicca 101 Class; if you'd like more info on that, email me [e-mail].



RESOURCES FOR WICCANS:



CoG - Covenant of the Goddess - http://www.cog.org

CoG is a national organization of (legally-recognized Wiccan "churches) - Wiccan covens, clergy and solitaries -- with local "councils" in many cities.

CoG provides general, basic information, links to resources and other organizations, Groups, Covens, teachers, High Priest(ess)es, and much more.



2. Circle Sanctuary - http://www.circlesanctuary.org

Circle is a Pagan (not just Wiccan) Sanctuary, working farm, and learning center. It offers training, workshops, festivals, networking, and sponsors other organizations (notably, Lady Liberty League (http://www.ladylibertyleague.org) which offers support, resources, networking and advocacy for any Pagans experiencing religious persecution.



4. Witchvox - http://www.witchvox.com

Witchvox is a wonderful resource that offers general, basic information, referrals and links to local and regional resources on Pagan Classes, Groups, Organizations, Merchants, and more.



5. Wicca For the Rest of Us

- http://wicca.timerift.net/ -

One of the better Pagan internet sites; lots of good information, articles, resources, links, networking, etc.



4. “Beginning Wicca” Yahoo Group -

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BeginningWicca/

- One of the better Yahoo groups with several High Priests and Priestess members, so there are lots of good discussions and good information available in both the online discussions, and the Files section.



5. Religious Tolerance – Pages on Wicca:

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



Conflict Between Wiccans and Christians: http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_conf.htm





B. BOOKS:

1. Books And Authors To Avoid:

I don't want to be negative, but since these books tend to be very popular (and often recommended by beginners who don't know better) I thought it might be wise to include just a few words on which books should be AVOIDED due to factual errors or ethical problems: (I can provide more info on this, for anyone who requests it).

AVOID anything by:

Silver Ravenwolf Douglas Monroe's "21 Lessons of Merlin", Kisma Stepanich,

Edain McCoy

Mary Summer Rain





3 . Good Book Resources On Wicca:



a. Ellen Cannon Reed's "The Heart of Wicca" --

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Wicca-Wise-Words-Crone/dp/1578631742

NOTE: This is the very first and major book i would reccomend!

b. Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance",

c. Janet and Stewart Farrar's "The Witches Bible" -

d. Ray Buckland's "Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft" –

e. Gerald Gardner's "Witchcraft Today" and "The Meaning of Witchcraft"





Of course there are many, many other good books, and new ones coming out all the time -- These are what might be considered "classics".





I hope all of that is helpful --

Blessed Be - Gaia

Answer 3

"We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous. We are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes, and dreams. We are not a cult. This religion is not a joke. We are not what you think we are from looking at T.V. We are real. We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor. You don't have to be afraid of us. We don't want to convert you. And please don't try to convert us. Just give us the same right we give you--to live in peace. We are much more similar to you than you think." Margot Adler 4





"If you take [a copy of] the Christian Bible and put it out in the wind and the rain, soon the paper on which the words are printed will disintegrate and the words will be gone. Our bible IS the wind and the rain." Herbalist Carol McGrath as told to her by a Native-American woman. 5





"I don't think witchcraft is a religion. I would hope the military officials would take a second look at the decision they made." G.W. Bush (R), as Governor of Texas. Interviewed on ABC's Good Morning America, 1999-JUN-24. He disapproved of Wiccan soldiers being given the same religious rights as others in the military.





"We should educate people that 'Witch' is not evil but ancient and positive. The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life." Margot Adler. 4





"When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple, its plants and creatures our partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is both male and female, a mother Goddess and father God, who together created all that is, was, or will be. We respect life, cherish the free will of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of all creation." Edain McCoy



"Neo-Pagan Witches aren't Satanists. The Christian anti-God, Satan, has no place in Pagan pantheons, either mythologically or theologically. Plainly and simply, to non-Christians, Satanism is the dark side of Christianity." Otter and Morning Glory Zell 6







About this section:

Wicca is the largest of the Neopagan religions. Wiccans have great reverence for the Earth and for their Goddess and her consort, the horned God. Their main rule of behavior is the Wiccan Rede which forbids them from harming people, including themselves, except in some cases of self-defense.



Many, perhaps most, are solitary practitioners. Others form small groups of believers, called covens, groves, etc. Because of centuries of religious propaganda and misinformation, many conservative Christians, and others, associate Wiccans with Satanists even though the two belief systems are as different as Christianity and Atheism.



Our essays on Wicca are very different from those on Christianity.



Wicca is a very decentralized religion; many Wiccans develop their own beliefs, rituals, and other practices. The latter are often not known outside the solitary practitioner or Wiccan coven. So we describe the beliefs and practices that most Wiccans hold in common.





Most of Christianity is highly centralized within denominations whose beliefs, rituals, and other practices are well documented and available to us. So we describe the diversity of Christian beliefs in great detail

Answer 4

the international is changing and disaster grips the international locations: economic uncertainty, wars, the possibility of terrorism... the place can we stumble on desire in those unclear situations? As distressing because it style of feels, there's a disaster much extra pressing: the indisputable fact that loss of existence awaits us all. as quickly as we die, we can all stand till now the choose of the Universe. how are you going to do? Ever lied, stolen, or regarded with lust? Ever taken God's call in ineffective or did no longer placed Him first? in case you have broken even a sort of rules, God sees you as a lawbreaker. image your self in a court docket docket to blame of many severe crimes. The choose's sentence is: a million greenback wonderful, or existence in penitentiary. you're no longer able to pay the wonderful, so the shield starts to lead you away. abruptly, somebody you do no longer even understand steps in and could pay your wonderful in complete. meaning you're unfastened to pass! that's what Jesus did for you 2000 years in the past. He took your punishment upon himself by using taking God's wrath on the go. Then he rose from the grave, defeating loss of existence. Repent (turn from sin) and placed your believe in Jesus Christ to maintain you. God will supply you eternal existence. do no longer wait till the following day... you won't have yet another day.

Answer 5

not sure what you're looking for, but as for your spellbook you purchased... see what others did, but make your own. 99% of the time, other people's spells wont work for you. a good forum that i'm a part of is www.paganforum.com they have a lot of people that would be willing to help you explore your spirituality further.

Answer 6

Not all Wiccan are witches. Wicca is a religion, Magic is not. As for a teacher, you have to be over 18. If you have specific questions I would happy to see if I can answer them. I am Wiccan, not a witch.

Answer 7

http://witchvox.com is a good site with lots of good articles and local listings.

Answer 8

Here's a very good site with lots of good info and links and whatnot: http://wicca.timerift.net/

Hope it helps.