Hello! New here!

[*~Ardere~*]

Hi! My name is Haley, and for years now I have considered myself agnostic, but wicca has always intrigued me. I really don't know what to believe about it though, it seems like websites are constantly contradicting themselves, so if anyone here could explain to me the basic principles, or beliefs, none of that lets make wicca what i want it stuff, but the actual facts of the religion/ way of life/ what ever it is to you, id be really gratefull! thanks so much!!!

[Ben Trismegistus]

Hi! My name is Haley, and for years now I have considered myself agnostic, but wicca has always intrigued me. I really don't know what to believe about it though, it seems like websites are constantly contradicting themselves, so if anyone here could explain to me the basic principles, or beliefs, none of that lets make wicca what i want it stuff, but the actual facts of the religion/ way of life/ what ever it is to you, id be really gratefull! thanks so much!!!
*grin* Oh, is that all? *smirk*

Well, the reason why all the websites contradict each other is because there really isn't an official set of principles or beliefs shared by all Wiccans. And whereas I agree that Wicca shouldn't just be "whatever you want it to be", a lot of its adherents are very reticent to say conclusively what Wicca is and isn't.

That said, check this site out - it's the most even-handed one I've seen:

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

And in particular, this is a good description of Wiccan beliefs: http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_beli.htm

Good luck!

[Shutter Bug]

*grin* Oh, is that all? *smirk*

Well, the reason why all the websites contradict each other is because there really isn't an official set of principles or beliefs shared by all Wiccans. And whereas I agree that Wicca shouldn't just be "whatever you want it to be", a lot of its adherents are very reticent to say conclusively what Wicca is and isn't.




Okay what about the thirteen principels? Are they truely universal?

The golden rule I have adapted is - As ye harm none do as you will - I have seen it in almost everything I see. I started my search from a very general view of pagan and have yet to find my specific path.

But those two thigs helped me develope an understanding

[Ben Trismegistus]

Okay what about the thirteen principels? Are they truely universal?
Here's the deal with the thirteen principles. Yes, there's plenty in them that a majority of neopagans agree with. However, the principles were written in 1971, and the community and its belief system has changed a lot since then. The most significant difference is that most people no longer consider "Wicca" and "Witchcraft" to be synonymous.

Therefore, I believe that the thirteen principles are not universal, but rather a good idea of where the religion was 30 years ago, and a good starting point in discovering what we're about today.

The golden rule I have adapted is - As ye harm none do as you will - I have seen it in almost everything I see. I started my search from a very general view of pagan and have yet to find my specific path.
FYI, "An' ye harm none..." is a Wiccan concept, not a general pagan concept. That's as universal a concept as you can find in Wicca, and there are plenty of people who disagree with it. I don't disagree, but I do think that it's a guideline, rather than a hard-and-fast rule.

[DebLipp]

Haley, the reason you've read contradictory stuff is that there are many contradictions. And as you ask people here for the "real" stuff, you'll just hear each person's version, and those versions will probably also contradict to some degree.

Wicca is a huge religion. Within Wicca there are many dozens of traditions, as well as many dozens of different styles of eclecticism. The majority of Wiccans are solitary, so their individual, private interpretations of the religion are their own.

There is little that is universal, although there is much that is generally agreed upon. For my own definition, which I worked hard on to make it fit many different traditions, look here (http://www.deborahlipp.com/html/wicca.html).

[LadyWillow]

The thing is, everyone sees things differently, which is what makes Wicca so great! That's why everything seems to contradict themselves. I hope you seek what you wish!