Newbie

[misty]

Hello everyone. I am a newbie to this forum and to Wicca. I just wanted to pop in and say hello and let you know that I hope to stick around this forum and learn as much as I can.

Thanks!

[Chantrea]

Lol. Welcome! I'm new here and to the pagan paths too .... everyone's so friendly though and helpful with questions, I'm sure you'll love it. :smile:

[AterCorax]

Welcome! :halohead:

Wicca is something you grow out of....

j/k ;)

No, seriously, I don't see why Wicca is the main reason for newbies. I used to be Wiccan (not a good one, but that's beside the point) and I finally moved (or grew) out of it.

So, here's something to think about:

If you wanna practice magic, go to witchcraft or any other magical system.

If you wanna celebrate nature, you can do that without changing your current religion (if you have any) or look into the many other pagan traditions that respect nature.

If you like the idea of a God and a Goddess, Wicca is not the only religion/tradition that has that.

If you wanna look into pre-Cunningham (aka 'do what you want') Wicca, look into the Garderian or any other serious tradition.

I just think that many people choose Wicca for all the wrong reasons. On the other hand, if you're a serious seeker, ignore everything I've just said.

-Ater

PS: Don't worry, other people are much nicer than me.:) I just needed to vent...

[WickedBttrfly]

Welcome to MW. :floating:

[Sibylle]

Wicca is simply the best known group in paganism, which is why most beginners start by exploring it. And there are many who stick with it! I come from a different angle, and I live so far off the main roads of the pagan 'scene' that I never even heard the term Wicca in the first 14 years of my practise, lol.

Mistyann, welcome, and ask all the questions you like! You learn most by reading this forum and starting to practise for yourself :)

Hugs!!

[FairyMoon]

Welcome! You'll love it here and you'll learn so much. I'm new too and this seems to be a very loving, supportive, and close community, and everybody is helpful. Have fun :D

[nocisdove]

Im a newbie around here too

[frigga]

Hello, hello! Don't just hang out in here! Get out and see the rest of us too! As you may have already found out, most of us love answering questions and pointing the the way to the ones we know nothing about. And check out the circle of teaching for areas of interest. Welcome :cool:

[Fairyelf]

Hi!
You will learn plenty here at Mysticwicks,
its a great community!!

[Aquarian_Moon]

I've been completely uninterested in religion my entire life, despite my adoptive family baptizing me when I was a baby (I'm now 22). The Pagan/Wiccan path grabs at me in some mysterious and undescribable way. For 3 straight nights now, I've studied as much as I can fit into my conscious hours; and even started my BoS. But I began my research and learning with little more than a calling, and it will take time for me to come to a clearer understanding of what I've embarked upon.

One question; whatever amount of knowledge one such as myself might posess, can he/she still be considered a Wiccan? Or must that person grow (spiritualy) before taking upon the name/title?

[Sibylle]

One question; whatever amount of knowledge one such as myself might posess, can he/she still be considered a Wiccan? Or must that person grow (spiritualy) before taking upon the name/title?
If you ask three different Wiccans, you'll likely get three different answers to this ;)

I am not Wiccan myself, but several of my friends are, and from them I've learned that usually you first take on the title of an apprentice. There's a period of study and most of all practise (meditation, energy work, visualisation and the like is something you need to LEARN by patiently practising over several months, just like any other skill), and then usually an initiation to your chosen tradition. Some traditions take the study period of "a year and a day" literally, others are more flexible and adapt to the individual needs of an apprentice.

If you're a solitary, it is very much up to you when you feel ready to call yourself Wiccan. Many people practise for years before they decide to dedicate themselves to the path, and then start calling themselves Wicca.

But there are others who say that as soon as your interest is serious and you begin to study in earnest, you have the right to take on the title.

In the end, it's a label like many others, and you have to fill it with your own meaning :)

Hugs!!

[fay]

heya mistyann! (nice name btw)
welcome to mw! i'm sure you'll like it here. i agree with frigga that you shouldn't just stick round here, have a look at lots of different forums. i would definately recommend the paths forum, you can learn about lots of people's ways of living and at the very least it's very interesting. (and it might help to stop ater ranting :tongueout just kidding ater! )
happy seeking

I've been completely uninterested in religion my entire life, despite my adoptive family baptizing me when I was a baby (I'm now 22). The Pagan/Wiccan path grabs at me in some mysterious and undescribable way. For 3 straight nights now, I've studied as much as I can fit into my conscious hours; and even started my BoS. But I began my research and learning with little more than a calling, and it will take time for me to come to a clearer understanding of what I've embarked upon.

One question; whatever amount of knowledge one such as myself might posess, can he/she still be considered a Wiccan? Or must that person grow (spiritualy) before taking upon the name/title?

there's a thread on this in this forum
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=59098
i personally think that once you begin to live like a wiccan, once that is part of your day to day life, then you are a wiccan. others may disagree. it's like stella said "ask three different Wiccans, you'll likely get three different answers" lol
blessed be