Hello, my name is Shannon and I am semi-new to Wicca (dabbled a bit throughout high school). I am looking for advice/mentors/teachers to help me learn about this chosen religion. I am in the process of reading "Wicca: A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham. I am not interested in joining a coven at this time, the area I live in shuns Wicca and everything associated with it, so solitary is best for me. If you can help then please send me a message. I am looking forward to learning all I can and to making new friends who share a common interest.
Hello, welcome to the site Shannon! I hope you enjoy your time here and find what you are looking for, if anything.
That is a marvelous book, I read it when I first hit high school and have been hooked with scott since. As you probably have noticed by now, many people don't teach. Teaching itself is very time consuming, and one has to be dedicated to the student as much as themselves.
The best teachers, in my experience, have been the very books you are seeking. Reading will give you just as much, if not more, out of traditional teaching methods. :)
Cunningham is an excellent source. Raymond Buckland is another one along that path you might find helpful. how long have you been studying? [excluding your high school years] meditation is a good thing to do, look into herbalism, or some type of nature thing to learn about. sorry to hear about your area not liking Wiccans, it's all misconceptions, it sucks, but that's life. coven's are overrated anyway, it's nice to have like-minded people over for the sabbats, but other than that, no big deal.
I am reading Cunningham and am also new to the path. Quite a lot to take in there and thats just a beginners book. I am taking it slow. Right now I am just getting out in nature as often as my schedule allows, and acknowledging sabbots. If Wicca still feels right a year from now, after having read as much as I can I will commit myself more. Actually, I did try a few spells, and figured I better know what I am doing before trying any more! I am also interested in Greek and Roman neopaganism because I like their mythology and might end up joining one of those organizations. Feel free to PM me.
I haven't really been studying Wicca for too long, it is something that has peaked my interest for a while just didn't know it had a title, Wicca. I have always been in tuned with nature and have made it a point to respect it to the fullest, I am an amateur photographer and nature has been very kind to me with some awesome shots, just never really paid attention to what it can help me with in other ways.
I have just started reading Scott, this is my first book, but I plan on getting more of his works. I find that he is more towards the ancient Wicca rather than the many ways others have combined different crafts to create their own versions. I recently starting searching for eBooks online and have found a couple more helpful books that teach of the history of Wicca and mastering of witchcraft but I am looking more for the ones that teach me about all aspects of how to do things like recharging crystals and meditations and such. Haven't started reading the newly found books yet and don't know if they contain what I am after, but still going to read them.
My mom and sister are also interested in Wicca so it is sort of becoming a family thing and they are looking to me for the how to's and the learning of the what not's. Other than the internet and common sense, I have figured out a pretty good portion into Wicca and things about it. And I'm sure, with time, I will learn more and find my own nitch in to the religion and it's many perks.
Hi there, I’ve been practicing Wicca for a good nearly 30 years now and one of the first questions that comes up is the one about where to start. My suggestion is always to start by doing some reading and studying to make certain that you understand what Wicca is really all about, and so that you can then decide whether this is truly the path that you want to follow. So with that in mind I thought I would offer some books and websites that are full of sound I information which can help you get started on your path.
To start with, here are some books that I would suggest.
"A Witch Alone" by Marian Green
"The Elements of Ritual" by Deborah Lipp
"Witchcrafting" by Phyllis Curott
"21st Century Wicca" by Jennifer Hunter
"Before You Cast a Spell" by Carl McColman
"When, Why...If" by Robin Wood
"Practical Pagan" by Dana Eilers
"Wicca; A Year and a Day" by Timothy Roderick
You can also find the recommended reading list that my coven uses at: http://www.tangledmoon.org/reading_list.htm
Here's some websites that you may find useful in helping you with questions.
http://www.witchessabbats.com/
http://wcc.on.ca/faq/faq1.html
http://www.widdershins.org/vol10iss3/04.htm
http://wicca.timerift.net/
http://www.witchvox.com
http://www.tangledmoon.org/wiccan-exercise.htm
http://www.tangledmoon.org (this is my own coven site.)
Hope this helps you get a good start on your studies. And feel free to ask me, or the others here on the board if you have any specific questions we can help you with.
