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I am interested in learning more about Wicca. Can anyone reccomend any good books or web sites to read on getting started. Thanks!
There are many good books out there. If you have a Borders around you they have a new age section with lots of books there. In general, they'll all say basically the same thing. Differences could be something like some Wiccans believe that you must be initiated into Wicca by a coven and that you will become part of that coven after certain rituals which depend on that coven's tradition. Other authors are solitary Wiccans who feel that you don't need a coven to practice Wicca.
I have a few books, but I'm not sure exactly where they are or I'd give you the titles. One I think was called The Wicca Handbook. It was ok. Gave some basic spells but not enough background info on Wicca for my tastes. More of a spell cookbook, imo. Good luck.
Actually if this was moved out to the R&P forum you might get more response, since Wiccans aren't atheists or agnostics
Though, we do read the A&A forums, too.
As for the OP -- I highly recommend Scott Cunningham's books, 'Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner' and 'Living Wicca'; both are very well-written and lay out precisely what Wicca is (and is not, which is an important distinction to make!).
Otherwise, I recommend some of the articles on the Witche's Voice. Lots of good stuff there, from *many* points of view. They don't teach any particular religious path, but they provide the articles.
I recommend you stay away from Silver Ravenwolf, at least for the beginning -- she *does* provide an overview of Wicca, but she tends to focus more on spell-casting over actual religious practices.
I did a project on Wicca in Appalachian once and I found it extremely interesting 'Appalachian Granny Magic.' They were more like country doctors than witches as we think of the term. Witchvox Article then I went on to interview a high priestess but she was really disappointing; just a lot of anti-Christian babbling. It's nothing like it used to be. Anyways, looking into these people from the past is quite something. Check this part out- "The people of the mountains still relied upon Mother Nature in a way, that 'city folk' did not anymore. The fertility of the crops, the livestock, and of the people themselves was as paramount to the Appalachians of 1900 as it was to the early American colonists in the 1600's. Therefore, fertility, and the worship of Mother Nature, Jack frost, Father Winter, Chloe, Spider Grandmother, Demeter, and such varied deities continued in the Appalachian region, staying a current part of the people's faith, rather than becoming a mythic memory as such 'nature worship' did elsewhere. In fact, we still see "Lady Plenty and Lady Liberty" Goddess of the harvest, with cornucopia in hand, and Goddess of freedom, on the official North Carolina State seal." "
I think Wicca is interesting, and is one step closer to reality than the major religions, as it is at least based on natural phenomena. That doesn't make it credible, but it is interesting.
A book of shadows is an individual's workbook, not a how-to text. You could learn about Wicca from reading one -- assuming that the owner of the book lets you read it -- but you'd only be learning about one particular Wiccan's views and opinions.
I second FrednotBob's suggestion of Cunningham's books and not Ravenwolf's. Another suggestion is to go to a metaphysical store and talk to the people there. Way back when I was going through a phase, I did that, and it really helped me realize that was not for me.
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