Ask a Wiccan! (believe, miracle, religion, religions)

[Kitteneater]

I feel really out of place and strange. I've been interested in Wicca since I was 11 or so. But I never really understood what it was. I'm 16 right now, and I'm having trouble, still, with it's meaning. Here's what I've found in common with most info I've read on Wicca. Please correct me If I'm wrong.

1) Nature based
2) Magick
3) Energy manipulation.

After all this time of reading about Wicca, I still don't know if it's right for me. I've heard of god/goddess worshiping. I appreciate nature, but I don't think I could acknowledge any sort of sexually oriented thing as ruling a season. Could you help me with the god/goddess thing? Is this a worshipping system? I've heard it being called a lifestyle. How is it a lifestyle? Is that just speaking of the ritual part of wicca?

I really love nature. I feel alive at night. I love the way the moon looks. It makes me feel weird too, but I like it. That's what draws me into wicca. Isn't it about getting closer to nature? How do you do that when you're in the city? Where do you find covens when you live in a holier-than-thou town? I see you've posted something about being trained by a priest/ess. That's not likely in my situation...

Is there a solid website or book (a cheap book) that could give me info on Wicca and what it is, rather than just the magick aspect of it?

I can't really find anyone knowledgeable on this subject. I don't know what to ask and I'm feeling very overwhelmed with information. I'm very confused about this. Sorry if I sound like some weirdo teenager. I'm just really confused about this subject. @.@

[FredNotBob]

You're correct on all points; Wicca is a very nature-based religion, and magic and energy work often play a large part.

The goddess/god don't 'rule' a season, per se; they're more evocative of the 'growth' aspect of life -- ie, the god is born of the goddess every year in a continuous cycle of death and rebirth.

A lot of Wicca, for me, is about connecting with the natural world; as many Wiccans feel that the world around us has a 'spark' of divine energy within, protecting the environment is a very important thing for most of us.

As for finding a coven or a teacher -- in a very religious community, we're likely to be very cautious about showing our faith. There's just too much risk involved in that situation, unfortunately.

A good place to look for local covens may be www.witchvox.com. Wren and Fritz have put together an amazing networking site (though they don't teach any religious path, it's still a good place to 'connect').

For a solid overlook of 'What Wicca Is', I'd recommend 'Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner' by Scott Cunningham. He wrote primarily for the solitary Witch, and his books explain the basics of Wicca in a clear and concise manner.

To address 'connecting with nature' in a city environment -- local parks are nice, especially if they're the larger type. The seaside is another place, if you live near the shore -- you don't have to wear a pentacle 'out and proud' to appreciate the Gods and all They give us!

If you can't find a priest or priestess, Scott Cunningham is again a good place to start. 'Wicca' is a good beginner book that explains the basics of the religion, its origins and its outlooks, while 'Living Wicca' (the sequel volume) goes a bit deeper and walks the reader through setting up an altar, dedicating tools, and basic ritual structure (plus, he very generously included his own Book of Shadows so that the reader can draw ideas and experience from it!).

Sadly, Mr. Cunningham passed beyond the veil in 1993, so the man himself is unavailable for comment -- but he left us a wonderful legacy.

Also, as stated earlier, read authors such as Silver Ravenwolf with a critical eye (and avoid any books of 'love spells' like the Black Plague!) -- most of them tend to cater towards the 'I'm-16-and-angry-at-my-parents' style of Wicca, and not all of them present a very 'balanced' view of the faith.

:Edited for PS:

PS. For legal reasons, most respectable covens will refuse anyone who is younger than 18 (or the age of majority for the given country); it's nothing personal, we just like to keep ourselves clear of possible lawsuits, especially when the coven in question practices Skyclad (naked)!

[wallflower71327]

Hi. First off, let me say I'm seventeen years old. I'm not as mature as a thirty year old but I and others find I'm not as immature as other seventeen year olds. I don't take the thoughts of being wicca or even changing religion lightly. The more I think about it the more it seems right,though. I've never been religious, my father is agnostic and my mother a sort of psuedo-christian. They instilled in me that God was good and no matter what you do, he will forgive you. I never really got how they knew this. You can't see the christian god,at least I can't. I've always been searching for something more concrete,I guess is the way to put it.

I have a question based on a feeling. Since I first watched a program on wicca on the National Geographic when I was about thirteen, I started getting this feeling in my stomach. It's sort fo like butteryflys but is not incomfortable. When I read about anything wicca related,from the God and Goddess to spells and even color signifigance, I get this feeling. It makes me want to do these things I read about. Also, when I go outside the feeling appears when I sit on the ground or am otherwise close to the earth. Anyone have an idea why this happens or what it means?

[Katzpur]

Is it just a coincidence that I know many more female wiccans than male wiccans? Is there something about wicca that attracts more women than men? Or is my experience not typical?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Is it just a coincidence that I know many more female wiccans than male wiccans? Is there something about wicca that attracts more women than men? Or is my experience not typical?

It's not a coincidence. Short explanation: Wicca has a lot of appeal to those who feel disfranchised or denigrated by mainstream religion. That also explains the disproportionate gay presence in Wicca. One might say that Wicca is composed in the main of people Christianity alienated, insulted or drove away.

Longer explanation: put simply and bluntly, Wicca is a girl power religion. It not only is okay with having women run the show, but at least a healthy percentage of practicing Wiccans wouldn't have it any other way. In a time when a lot of society and mainstream religion (being again blunt) still tells women what they can't do, or that their natural desires and ways of looking at things need to be adjusted, or that their bodies are somehow not okay the way they are, Wicca affirms those natural desires, realities, factors and outlooks--from the way things should be run to sexuality to just about anything else. Wicca not only recognizes a feminine divine, but tends to emphasize that over the masculine. Also, Wicca is very ecumenical about individual outlooks, which means that it's not very often someone in Wicca tells a woman her feelings aren't valid.

While I knew a lot of people in Wicca who let it take them mentally and spiritually around the bend, I also knew (and know) a lot of really confident, competent women who really felt/feel as though becoming Wiccan was tantamount to coming home: to becoming what and who they were meant to be. Irony: while plenty of Wiccan women have a warrior streak, there's a great deal of interest in and appreciation for crafts commonly identified with traditional femininity. Whether it's beading or scrapbooking or bellydancing or midwifery or cooking or weaving or dressmaking or (you get the idea), my guess would be that by feeling liberated of the idea that women's traditional crafts and skills equate to barefoot pregnancy, they seem to feel free to enjoy (and often display impressive skill in) traditionally feminine pursuits, hobbies and careers.

I'm sure you'll get some authentically female perspectives on this as well, but that's my observation as a male who, since he wasn't feeling the same things, was in a detached position to observe--and who posed this question to himself throughout, and took time to arrive at some opinions. Frankly, I felt more appreciated as a man among Wiccan women than in just about any other walk of life. I don't regret being part of it one bit.

[Katzpur]

Thanks for the info, j_k_k!

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by wallflower71327

Hi. First off, let me say I'm seventeen years old. I'm not as mature as a thirty year old but I and others find I'm not as immature as other seventeen year olds. I don't take the thoughts of being wicca or even changing religion lightly. The more I think about it the more it seems right,though. I've never been religious, my father is agnostic and my mother a sort of psuedo-christian. They instilled in me that God was good and no matter what you do, he will forgive you. I never really got how they knew this. You can't see the christian god,at least I can't. I've always been searching for something more concrete,I guess is the way to put it.

I have a question based on a feeling. Since I first watched a program on wicca on the National Geographic when I was about thirteen, I started getting this feeling in my stomach. It's sort fo like butteryflys but is not incomfortable. When I read about anything wicca related,from the God and Goddess to spells and even color signifigance, I get this feeling. It makes me want to do these things I read about. Also, when I go outside the feeling appears when I sit on the ground or am otherwise close to the earth. Anyone have an idea why this happens or what it means?

I was raised as an Episcopalian. I did believe in God but knew that some of what I was told was not true... how could animals not have souls? Why would kind behavior not bring salvation even if not through Christ? After a time I just came to know things. That the Earth had life, that there were energies which filled the world, that we lived multiple lives. I was still attending church but only went to evensong, a chanted candlelight service that even today I would attend because it is so spiritual. I didn't know anyone else felt this way.

I've also always felt very very close to Earth. Gardening and touching the earth has always been special to me.

I know those "feelings". Those little butterflys, and that sense of it being right. We each have a path and we each find our own. That you have these connections is a reason to learn and try wicca. Your parents don't follow formal religon but do know faith. And that they gave you. God is a concept with many aspects. The wiccan "god" is a duality of male and female, but is of the same spirit.

Wicca does not have a standard belief system aside from some basics. Thus there are many variations and many who practice as solitarys and use their own words. That you feel this draw is reason to explore. Perhaps it will not be the full answer, but it also incorpreates other elements as we find them. There are many websites that will give you the basics and areas for discussion. There is no need to commit yourself unless you feel its right for you.

There are multiple traditions too, celtic and others. I follow one which relates to the oldest known repersentation of faith, the "mut" figures of neolithic times. But the Mother has many representations and you can find the one that most relates to you and the kind of ceremony/level that works. Talk/read/research many.

You feel close to earth. Sit and meditate, listen for the music of the trees. Let it inside you and be a guide.

In the last years I've had a hard life. That the Lady was always there, that I could call on her for strength when I lacked it, that I knew that doing bad, wishing to harm was a choice I did not want to make carried me through a very hard passage. It has grown more intense since I've stopped worrying about survival, and have grown spiritually to where I see the whole world in a very different way. If this is your path then it will lead you far. Only you will know when you walk it.

You are very lucky that now there are websites, it is featured on National Geographic and any bookstore will have a slew of books (though usually in "new age" rather than religion). When I was your age I did not know others had these feelings. When I discovered that I was not alone was a very joyous time. But you don't have to wait years to find them.

[arod0331]

I notice a lot of teens here interested in Wicca.

For further reading might I suggest "Teen Witch: Wicca for the new generation" by Silver Ravenwolf.

[kdbrich]

Originally Posted by FredNotBob

In the fine traditions of 'Ask an Athiest!' and 'Ask a Jew'!, this is Ask a Wiccan!

We do many things that some would consider 'strange' -- even 'frightening' if the observer doesn't know what they're watching.

This thread will answer most of your questions. I say 'most of' because I'm far from an absolute authority on Wicca, and paganism in general. Therefore, I'll answer your questions to the best of my ability, but I welcome contributions from the other Wiccans and pagans here.

One thing I *do* ask is that we at least *attempt* to keep the thread on topic and respectful: it's a place to answer questions, not debate the accuracy, age, or source of the religion.

To that end, I'll kick things off by immediately answering several of the most popular (and infamous) of questions:

Wicca is not a 'do whatever you want' religion: we actually do have structured ritual elements in our ceremonies and circles. My roomie likes to bug me about that; she can't understand the use of ritual in my faith.

Wicca is *not* devil-worship. The devil is a construct of the Christian and other religious paths; Wicca is not one of those other paths. This doesn't mean we're immoral, it just means that we're moral with a different set of guidelines.

Modern Wicca is only around 50 years old. Not twelve hundred, not sixty thousand --*fifty*, five-zero. We're a relatively good-natured lot, but this one (based on works by writers such as Margaret Murray) has started to make us groan, and we'd rather not have to restate it every second page!

And finally, before I send this thread out into the Great Electronic Ether:

As Hagrid told Harry Potter, 'Not all wizards are good'. And not all Wiccans are angels, either. Some are violent, manipulative, even abusive. Many of them go to prison claiming to be 'Wiccan'; while I'm not prepared to comment on the validity of the claim in such circumstances, I *will* freely admit that, yes, we *do* get some bad apples.

In closing, I apologize for the length of this intro thread -- I simply don't want it to get bogged down by a lot of back-and-forth 'you're-evil-no-we're-not' arguments.

May whatever god or gods you revere watch over you, now and for the rest of your days.

Enjoy!

What is the purpose of your religion? what, ultimately, do I get if I become a wiccan?

[witchseavey]

Just to make things a little more complicated, not all witches would call themselves Wiccan. Wicca has come to be identified with a particular type of neo-paganism.

More than you ever wanted to know about the term in this article by the ever brilliant Mike Nichols. A Witch by Any Other Name by Mike Nichols

As FredNotBob puts it, Wicca is not a do whatever you want religion. It has common rules and forms. Witchcraft, in contrast, can be a lot more loosey-goosey. I am a witch but not Wiccan in the commonly understood derived from Gardner and British Traditional Witchcraft sense of the term. I practice my religion the same way that my ancestors did. I make it up as I go along.

A quick aside to wallflower, that's exactly where I started back in the 1960's!